Saratoga News

Letters

Argonaut style is Egyptian hodgepodge

The purpose of this letter is to give a hearty thumbs-up to Councilman Paul Jacobs and his last-ditch opposition to the redesigned Argonaut Shopping Center. Shame on you other four for not joining him and forcing a fifth revision to the plans!

As Mr. Jacobs said, "It has no character, it has no identity." Worse yet, its architectural style is best characterized as modified Egyptian hodgepodge; it bears more than a passing resemblance to that miscellaneous array of buildings now rising within the jurisdiction of San Jose, formerly the very attractive El Paseo Sshopping Center. How could you have done this to us?

Ralph and Helen Metcalf
Douglas Lane

Thanks, Louise

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Louise Webb and the Saratoga News for the "Shipboard Menus" article which appeared in Louise's column on March 5, 1997. I was thrilled when Louise wanted to write about this special-interest story. I felt the article was exceptionally well written and appreciate the Saratoga News for publishing the story.

I always look forward to reading the Saratoga News each week. I especially enjoyed Louise Webb's recent column on "Random Acts of Kindness."

Mary Perino
Saratoga

Thanks, Carl

I would like to thank Carl Heintze for his meditations. I enjoy reading them very much and have especially enjoyed two of them. One was his thoughts upon hearing the garbage truck in the morning, the other is his latest one about Glorianna. That article prompted me to remember the wonderful people who were guides and hosts on trips I've taken.

Lyle Fries
Los Gatos

Much care was taken in Argonaut remodel

The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors was delighted to hear that the City Planning Commission and the Saratoga City Council approved the plans to remodel the Argonaut Shopping Center.

We applaud the owners and developers in their efforts to improve and extend the shopping center in a manner we feel will attract shoppers, increase awareness of businesses and create a desirable and pleasing environment.

We were pleased to note that so much care had been taken by the city staff, Planning Commission, owners and developers and the City Council to give the Argonaut center an upscale look and at the same time keep the Saratoga image.

We are looking forward to the much needed changes and improvements that will be taking place at Argonaut.

Pat Andreson, president
Saratoga Chamber of Commerce

Redrawing boundaries aids community values

One only has to drive down Sobey Road, Chester Avenue, Ten Acre Road, Apricot Hill, Sobey Meadows Court, Gypsy Hill, Evans Lane and other roads to see that these residents are paying a large amount of school district taxes to the Campbell Union School District. Wouldn't you rather have these taxes for the Saratoga School District to help with the needed funds?

Proponents of redrawing boundaries are interested in community values, not property values.

We believe that it would be an advantage to us as well as the other residents of Saratoga to be a united community and not fragmented by different school districts. By the way, the Campbell Union School District and its employees are working overtime to see that Saratoga does not get our school-tax dollars. The Campbell School District and its employees are sponsoring a bill, SB #1258, placed before committee by Sen. John Vasconcellos, making it virtually impossible to change to a different school district.

To those who are angry about this bill, please call your representatives to complain. Ask for a copy from Vasconcellos' office and state that your rights as a taxpayer are being infringed upon.

Darwin Barrett
Marilyn Lane

Cartoon suggests illegals trying to get in

What has been characterized in the media recently regarding the school boundary study does not identify the real issues which concern the Los Gatos residents involved. I live in a beautiful, peaceful neighborhood in the town of Los Gatos (down the street from the Claravale Dairy) and am in the Campbell Union School District. Clarence Cromwell, in his article about the study in the Feb. 10 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, referred to our children as kids from fringe areas and also stated that transferring property to another district is as good as a check in our pocket. The DeCinzo cartoon on March 26, showing a border patrol van and a chain-link fence, implies a group of "illegals" trying to get into Los Gatos/Saratoga schools.

Families in this neighborhood are not looking to make a profit. Our homes are already in the town of Los Gatos. We shop, dine, worship and participate in recreational and social activities in the town of Los Gatos. Because our children attend Campbell schools, however, our access to "community" benefits is often restricted.

Our children can play soccer but not baseball or basketball in Los Gatos because we do not attend Los Gatos schools. Our town tax dollars are sometimes spent on services that we cannot access since we are not part of Los Gatos schools.

For example, the town of Los Gatos currently spends $24,000 annually on ball field maintenance and $75,000 on a police department school resource officer.

In our fast-paced, technologically driven world, it is nice to have a place to call home. Community identity is one of the ties that bind. Noncontiguous school and town boundaries lead to community fragmentation. The schools are the pulse of the community. They are the vehicle for communication from the town to families with children. They are also the link for businesses to participate in the education of our children.

Our neighborhood families work very hard to support whatever "community" is available to us, but it is increasingly apparent that the absence of a relationship between our school and town boundaries only serves to fragment several parts of the Los Gatos community.

It is our hope that the study will look at boundary options which can strengthen the schools and community for all Los Gatos residents.

Bernadette Frager
Old Adobe Neighbors for Community and School Inclusion