Saratoga News

Letters

DeCinzo needles us in imaginative ways

I note in today's issue that DeCinzo's cartoons draw the ire of Forrest Pontenberg [Letters, July 31]. Mr. Pontenberg does not seem to understand that the function of a cartoonist is to draw ire, not to soothe the reader--as a means of drawing attention to some of the absurdities of daily life.

Personally, I think De Cinzo is doing a very good job, because he does needle us, and in very artistic, humorous and imaginative ways.

Loosen up!

Robert E. Wallace
Foothill Lane

Minimize contact with creek water

The Urban Creek Assessment Project 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. UCAP is being performed by the district under the oversight of an independent, community-based oversight committee.

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 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:

* 84 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 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 anti-bacterial soap and water as soon as possible.

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

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

Lions were proud to celebrate Fourth

The hometown Fourth of July Celebration at Montalvo was a very patriotic and colorful event. Adding to the color were the many red, white and blue flags our Saratoga Lions were happily selling to benefit the Lions' Blind Center.

We were proud to be a part of this occasion and to watch so many children honoring this holiday by getting a flag of the United States and some information about our history.

Bob Louden
president, Saratoga Lions

Willys Peck is one of the town's treasures

As 29-year residents of Saratoga, we had to write to say how much we are enjoying Willys Peck's articles about Saratoga as it was long ago.

He paints such a clear picture of people, places and events, we can almost smell the blossoms. He is one of our town's treasures, and we look forward to more of his stories.

Lynne and Jerry Gurley
Oak Street

What's happened to genteel community?

I was angered by the fact that the only letter regarding Gerald Uelmen, the esteemed former dean of law at Santa Clara University, was by a crank full of hate. It's difficult for me to believe that there were no other letters regarding this highly respected attorney.

P.S.: It would seem that the Saratoga News staff agrees with the crank that there's a "vicious murderer on the loose." What has happened to the genteel community and the respectable newspaper that serves it?

Nora Campbell
Saratoga

It is the policy of the Saratoga News to print all letters, even when we disagree with the opinions expressed. --Editor

Correction

The photo caption accompanying Willys Peck's "Saratoga Stereopticon" column on July 24 was incorrect. The caption should have read that the view of the hills in the photo was from Aloha Avenue. Also, Isabel Stine's name was misspelled.