Letters

Fire department did a good job saving home

We all know how important location is in terms of the value of our homes, as well as the accessibility of being served.

I have been a Saratoga resident since 1968, and have nothing but praise for our present Saratoga Fire Department. It is only because of them that I did not have to rebuild my home in Tollgate. During a grass fire that was started on Pierce Road, the fire spread down the canyon and over to my property. It caught the roof on fire and because of the proximity of the fire station, the firemen responded immediately. They not only saved the house, but kept most of the trees from going up in flames, as well.

Therefore, as a concerned and grateful citizen of Saratoga, I believe the Saratoga Fire Department should remain as it is. Bureaucracy only means more red tape and less service. Even though, the county has an excellent fire department, they have much larger demands and needs than we do, and we would only be a little frog in a big puddle and have less chance of being heard. Let's keep the big frog we have now in the same location.

Carolyn Buszdieker
Tollgate Road

College stadium would decrease property values

I am writing this letter, both as a resident of Saratoga and as a Realtor serving both the Saratoga and Los Gatos communities. For over 15 years, my husband and I have lived across the street from the college. We have listened to the ball game announcer on weekends during the season, we have heard the music and announcements from the Rotary Art Show and Strawberry Festival and we have "attended" commencement exercises without ever leaving our property. But we didn't have a problem with these activities because we knew it only happened very limited times during the year and it happened during the day.

I am very concerned about the plans that West Valley College has for building a stadium for the following reasons: 1) A stadium will inevitably be used on an ongoing basis at all hours of the day and night. 2) The traffic from Highway 85 to West Valley College is already horrendous throughout the day and evening, not to mention traffic during pick-up and drop-off times at Argonaut School, St. Andrews and Redwood Middle School. 3) Statistics show that crime increases in areas where stadiums are built. 4) West Valley is small campus situated in the middle of a predominantly residential area; Mission College, their sister college, is a very large campus situated in the middle of a commercial area which, for the most part, is vacant in the evening and is easily accessible via Highway 101 and 237. If they really feel the need, it makes much more sense to build the stadium there. 5) West Valley College is reputed to be a good academic college, not one specializing in sports. Therefore, why the interest in building a stadium at the obvious risk of a knock-down-drag-out fight with the community--a flight they can't win and one that would cost them dearly, both in dollars and community support.

As a Realtor serving the community, I am extremely concerned about the effect a stadium would have on property values. We have all reaped the financial benefit of the increased desirability of Saratoga and have enjoyed watching home values skyrocket over the last couple of years. What do you think will happen if a stadium were to be built; it would not only affect the neighboring properties, but would affect the entire community--how many of us can hear the traffic noises from Hwy. 85 and how far are our properties located from the freeway and still we hear it. Having attended both the City Council meeting and the West Valley College Board meeting, I have already heard recent homebuyers mention they'd wished they'd heard about this situation before they bought their home--and it will only get worse!

I would encourage every homeowner in Saratoga who is the least bit concerned or in search of more information to attend the upcoming West Valley Board Meetings and make your own decision based on the information you receive firsthand. The future Board meetings are scheduled for April 19, June 5 & 21, August 2 & 16, October 4 & 18 and December 13. All will be held at the West Valley boardroom at 7 p.m.

Mary Cohen
Kenosha Court

An open letter to cartoonist DeCinzo

I feel that I must respond to your cartoon which appeared in the Feb. 28 issue of the Saratoga News.

The firefighters of the fire district are having a difficult time comprehending what you are attempting to accomplish by questioning our professionalism.

While you may not agree with our position for contracting with the Santa Clara County Fire Department as a means of increasing our safety or the safety of the citizens we protect, I find it unfathomable that you would lower yourself to such an unprofessional manner as to implying that we would ever run away from a burning building. We have always prided ourselves in "being there" when someone needs us.

In addition, we gladly accept the responsibility of being a role model for our children. Your cartoon implies that we teach children that money is more important than life safety. This insinuation cannot be further from the truth.

Based on this and your previous cartoons, it appears to me that you may not fully understand all of the facts regarding the issues surrounding the fire protection in our community.

Please contact me at 408.867.9001 so that I can give you some insight regarding our position.

Bill Morrison
Saratoga Firefighters
Local 3875

Corrections

In the article about the Saratoga Creek pollution in the Feb. 28 issue of the Saratoga News, Don Whetstone, president of The Friends of the Santa Clara County Creek, was incorrectly quoted as saying that the bacteria levels for the outfall at the end of the Fourth Street drain system in Wildwood Park were not as high as at the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road location. Test results show the opposite, that water flow from the outfall at the Fourth Street/Wildwood Park location is highly polluted, according to Whetstone.

Celebrate Saratoga! will be held Sept. 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. A tentative date previously published was incorrect.

Sheriff's Report

Dale Bryant: Social capital investment good for democracy

Home sale listings

Anniversary: Eleanor and Augrey Gray

Saratoga Sampler

Sports Briefs

High school track & field

High school volleyball

Photo: Redwood Middle School's eighth-grade girls' soccer team wins league championship