Saratoga News

LETTERS

Avoid water contact with Saratoga Creek

The Urban Creek Assessment Project (UCAP) is being conducted under the terms of an agreement between the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the Friends of Santa Clara County Creeks and the San Francisco Baykeeper.

Part of UCAP is a three-year program of systematic testing of Saratoga Creek and its tributary storm drains to determine the degree of bacteriological pollution. The testing program was proposed and designed by the Friends and is being carried out by contractors under the direction of the district. The test results are public records on file at the Santa Clara County Health Department (and the district). The purpose of this public information release is to disclose information about the results of these tests to Saratoga Creek volunteer monitors and to teachers at schools who take children to the creek on field trips.

Tests began in November 1995. Through February 1996, nearly 100 sets of samples of water from Saratoga Creek and tributary outfalls were analyzed to determine concentrations of total coliform, fecal coliform, fecal streptococci and enterococci bacteria.

The coliform bacteria groups are considered indicator organisms. As in previous tests, more than half of the samples failed to pass the EPA water-contact criteria for total coliform and/or fecal coliform.

Enterococci, a subgroup of the fecal streptococci group, are pathogens. Prior to the UCAP tests, no enterococci testing had been performed on samples from Saratoga Creek.

The UCAP test results were:

.874 of 93 tests failed to pass the EPA enterococci criteria for water contact; .37 of 93 tests exceeded 15 times the EPA criteria; .11 of 93 tests exceeded 100 times the EPA criteria.

Volunteer creek monitors and students on field trips should periodically be reminded to take appropriate precautions to reduce the possibility of infection. At a minimum, this should include common-sense measures such as:

* Minimize unnecessary contact with the water.

* Avoid water contact with the face or with skin cuts, scrapes or lesions.

* Wash any exposed skin with antibacterial soup and water as soon as possible.

If you have questions about this information, ask your physician or contact the Santa Clara County Environmental Health Dept., 299-6060.

Craig Breon
Meg Caldwell
Linda Elkin
Marjorie U. Foote
Michael Lozcau
J. A. Schwartz
W. D. Whetstone
Urban Creek Assessment Project Oversight Committee

So what's really wrong with great big houses?

I read with amusement your front-page story about the "Huge House OK'd Despite Some Objections From Nearby Residents" [July 3]. This appears to be yet another example of what I like to call the "Northern California Big House Phobia."

Over the years I have noticed that a remarkably high fraction of people around here appear to have a strong aversion for what they perceive as overly large houses. I often hear the phrase "monster houses" in this regard. This I view as most peculiar. What's strange about it is that most people who live in the various suburban neighborhoods in the rest of this big country of ours have essentially the opposite position. What most people fear is that someone will build a house too small, not too large, and thereby lower their property values.

The article stated that the proposed house is to be 6,133 square feet and it's on a 2.8-acre lot. This is a really big house? This house will occupy only 5 percent of the lot. Aren't people around here familiar with those gorgeous three-story mansions that typify the smaller towns in New England. Are people aware of what's going on in places like Dallas or Atlanta? In North Dallas, for example, one routinely finds 5,000-square-foot tract homes on less than quarter-acre lots. I hesitate to tell you what a really big house is like there. But do you remember the story about the Texan who was so rich that he had his own airport? Indoors.

At a public hearing, the article claims, one neighbor complained that "he's worried about high traffic caused by guests to the house." Chairwoman Kaplan "expressed concern about the proposed home's long driveway". These are comments from rational people?

My house is 3,250 square feet and rests on a one-third acre lot. I'm told that I can't add another square inch. So be it, but Saratogans should be aware that restrictions this tight are essentially unique to this area; most people in the rest of the country would find them ridiculous.

I can see certain environmental arguments against big houses that might make some sense. And I've heard about the rural-look position. But I don't think that these feelings adequately explain the real origin of the deeply felt aversion to size that one sees around there. Maybe someone would like to write in and explain it to me.

James A. Cunningham
Junipero Way

It's a shame the press covers some people

Your article on Uelmen was well-balanced and showed journalistic integrity.

Uelmen was widely publicized in the '80s as a strongly vocal supporter of Rose Bird, the pro-criminal California Supreme Court justice who was soundly thrashed and booted from office by the voters.

Uelmen and Bird appear to worship at the altar of technically perfect law practice with right-and-wrong and justice very distant priorities. Better for a vicious criminal to get off than for there to be a technical irregularity.

Perhaps it's a shame the press elects to give folks with these beliefs any coverage.

Todd Walsh
Plymouth Drive

Don't Montalvo-area residents have parties?

I can't help being amused on recent Wednesdays about the flap over a July Fourth party at Villa Montalvo. For several years, I was involved with a professional theater group that performed at Montalvo, among other places. On more than one occasion, the audience could not hear actors' lines due to amplified music coming from surrounding residences.

Unless Montalvo-area residents no longer have parties, or their high-school/college-aged children no longer have band practice, I can't see that whatever noise that may come from the Villa during the Independence Day celebration could bother anyone, particularly in light of the fireworks displays that occur every July Fourth.

Charles Swan
La Paloma Avenue

Bureaucrats with egos are not limited to India

After reading Mayor Jacobs' letter dated May 11 to Mr. Wanka, I felt anger mixed with sadness.

In the 1970, my Peace Corps job took me to a remote corner of Northwest India, where the local officials routinely justified their unpopular policies by claiming that there decisions were mandated from the central government. By passing the buck to a central government in a faraway place, they at least showed that they were somewhat sensitive to the sentiments of the local residents.

Our Mayor Jacobs was not so timid. The manner in which he brushed aside Mr. Wanka's opinions clearly showed that, being mayor, he feels he should make decisions for our neighborhoods with or without our support. Apparently bureaucrats with inflated egos and imperial manners are not limited to rural India. You'll find them wherever there are people and government.

What happens if Mr. Jacobs decides to hold a New Year's Eve party that's noisy and unruly on the block where I live? Do I dare to object? Would he also brush me aside as another pesky whiner?

I can't wait for the next election so I can correct my mistake of voting for Mr. Jacobs the last time. His kind of bureaucrats are not needed in rural India or suburban Saratoga.

Jackson Lee
Scotland Drive

Thanks, Montalvo, for a great Fourth of July

The Saratoga Good Government Group would like to thank Montalvo, the Saratoga City Council and all the Saratoga volunteer groups that participated in the "Home Town Fourth of July Celebration."

GGG distributed a guide to Saratoga government listing important phone numbers at City Hall and City Council members. A listing of commissions, advisory committees and their meeting dates are included. GGG will continue to hand out the guide at the Farmers' Market July 20 and we encourage Saratogans to stop by the community organizations table to pick one up.

Marlene Duffin
GGG vice president

LARRY'S ON TV ON SUNDAYS

Larry Lam, owner of Studio Kicks in Saratoga, appears on television on Sundays at 1 p.m. on KBAK, Channel 44. An earlier story about Lam erroneously said the martial arts show was broadcast on Saturday.