Saratoga News

Letters

Pastor tells church not to get hopes up

There is a story of significance unfolding in Saratoga. However, instead of reporting on the pioneering vision of a group of women who, more than 135 years ago--long before elementary education became a legal requirement in the United States--were providing secondary and college education for young women in San Jose, instead of recognizing their long history of work in education here in Saratoga that began before Saratoga existed as a city, or instead of exploring how they are dealing with the escalating cost of care for increasing numbers of elderly and infirm members by selling property that has been home to them for more than 90 years, the Saratoga News offers a cartoon. A cartoon that would not even be a cartoon if it depicted any other property owner in Saratoga; a cartoon that offers a stereotype in lieu of any insight or information.

I am not surprised. I tell my congregation to expect nothing from the press when it comes to reporting on church-related activities. Real journalism takes an investment of time and interest, which, more often than not, the press is unwilling to make in church-related articles.

Although it brings me no joy, it is no surprise to me that the credibility of the media continues to decline.

Alexander C. Larkin
Pastor, Sacred Heart Church

Newspaper should apologize to nuns

The publication on Aug. 5 by the Saratoga News of a so-called cartoon depicting a money-grubbing, greedy Notre Dame nun in a traditional religious habit was offensive to not only the good Sisters of Notre Dame religious order and all Catholic people, but to all people of good will. It reflects bigotry on the part of the cartoonist and your establishment, and a lack of professionalism on your part as an editor. You, the paper and the cartoonist should feel great shame and should publicly apologize for such a hateful, slanderous depiction.

These nuns, especially the women at the Villa, are people the world can be proud of. It is a vile and vicious insult to depict these women as greedy, women who have voluntarily vowed to God a life of poverty, chastity and obedience in order to better serve God through the service of his people. Most of these women worked their entire lives for often no more than a $35- to $50-per-month stipend and, in many cases, for nothing at all. They continue to teach the young, many non-Catholic, in schools throughout California with little or no recognition from the public. When mostly nuns staffed their schools, tuition was unrealistically low, and many poor children were able to get a quality education that would have been otherwise impossible if real salaries had been paid. We are still feeling the effects of their generosity.

The sisters have done all of this joyfully and simply for the love of God and, hence, the services of their neighbors. They have taught their students not only academic studies but also the need to love one another, including your enemies, and to forgive one another.

Those who can no longer teach offer their prayers and physical sufferings as expiation for the injustices of the world, as well as for the conversion of those who commit injustices. They are motivated to do this through their love of Jesus Christ, who died to set us free from all our sins--even sins of hatred and bigotry. One does not have to be a Christian to appreciate their contribution to society.

The overall message of this cartoon is cynical: No one is truly good or truly holy. Everything is done for a selfish reason. Thankfully, the testimony of these women's lives stands in defiance of that dark view.

The Notre Dame sisters no longer wear habits, so the inclusion of a traditional habit can only represent an attack on the Catholic Church. One is tempted to think that the cartoonist and the paper must be ill at ease with their own conscience that they would lash out at the church and its workers of goodness.

Generous people, for the support of these courageous women and their works of goodness, gave the Notre Dame Villa property to the sisters. It is a matter of justice that they should get a fair price for it and thereby be able to take care of their aging population.

I close with a question for the editor and cartoonist: Are you giving up everything to serve other people and to teach them to love God and neighbor? Are you willing to give your property away and become a ward of the state?

Patrick Driscoll
Bohlman Road

Children will miss Mother's Day Out

It is ironic that at the time you were quoting Rev. Russ Ikeda from Saratoga Federated Church as saying, "the church must reach out nowadays. It can't be passive," in your July 29 issue, the church was sending out a letter to close its Mother's Day Out program. This program has offered an important service to many families in the community and will be missed.

For eight years, Marilyn McKevitt has overseen this program with a loving hand. She has assembled an excellent staff, many of whom are doing this because they love the children. Part of the appeal of this program is the low turnover of staff. Our children will miss these wonderful women.

There are very few of these programs available in this area. They provide an invaluable service to stay-at-home moms. Many moms have made commitments to our schools and churches based on the assumption that our younger children would be taken care of here and now have been forced to find alternative care on very short notice. Most comparable programs have waiting lists that are six months to a year.

What was so special and unique about this program is that it offered children the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe, Christian environment. It was not day-care, and it was not preschool. It was a place for our children to play and have fun, do a little art and make new friends. I guess the parents on the Children's Board Ministry at Saratoga Federated Church who are responsible for the program's closing, have forgotten how much they loved and depended on this program for their own children.

Grace Cantoni
Saratoga

Safety is not the real issue for Oak St. trees

Regarding the proposal to cut down trees at Saratoga School: By now you are aware that many people are very upset by this proposal. We have spoken with our two children and some of their friends, who have all attended Saratoga School. They are shocked at the news.

They recalled their very specific memories of events, encounters and friendships under the protective arms of these trees. While they all enjoy field games and realize flat fields are a requirement for those games, they agreed cutting down the trees would be too great a price to pay.

I hope the school board will listen to the voices of those who have more recently experienced the feelings, impressions and sense of place created by these trees. Their views should weigh heavily in the decision.

Many school decisions can be changed if desired, but the decision to cut down theses trees will be irreversible.

I would guess these trees were alive long before the structures were built. Along with many other qualities the trees bring, they speak to the children and to the community of the longevity of life and survival in a constantly changing human environment. The sheer age of these trees commands respect and deference. Cutting them down for the convenience of a playing field is unthinkable.

Finally, cloaking this proposal in the mantle of "child safety," as described in the Saratoga News, is laughable. The [Saratoga Union School District Board of Trustees] should require the proponents to produce a study showing the number of child injuries sustained from free-falling tree limbs contrasted with the number of student injuries sustained during field sports in California schools over the last 100 years. If safety were truly an issue, field sports would not be allowed.

The real issue is the preservation of these mighty trees. Please allow these trees to nurture generations of children yet to come.

We plan to attend the Aug. 18 board meeting to hear the discussion and decision.

John and Carol Armstrong
Sobey Road

Bikes need to follow the road rules, too

I can't help but respond to the letter in the July 15 issue by Mr. Ken Biester, the Saratoga Public Safety Commissioner ["Cars don't belong in the bike lane".] I think he has overlooked several issues and is a little incorrect on one.

Over the years, the auto manufacturers have been producing smaller and smaller engines in order to meet ever-tightening mileage standards. I think you would be hard-pressed to find the majority of autos entering the bike lanes weighing in at 4,000 pounds. Even if they only weigh 2,000 pounds, it is academic if they tangle with a bike and a rider.

No, I am also not a bike enthusiast. Iam concerned about the inequality of requirements between bike and auto. To drive a car, one must have a license, insurance, license plates with current tags and lights for night use. Since I have seen children riding bikes in the bike lane, I must assume that a license for riding a bike is not a requirement. I have not been able to see any sort of license plate that is visible on bikes, even though they want equal rights to the streets. I constantly observe these pusillanimous peddlers three and four abreast, which puts two outside the lane. Or they ride right on the line, not wanting to puncture their tires, forcing cars to swing wide of them. Only in the heaviest traffic do they obey red lights. Stop signs are virtually ignored.

I live on Pierce Road, and since it is very narrow, I have given a short toot on the horn to let them know I'm coming around. My reward for this courtesy is to receive a hand gesture that is anatomically impossible.

If autos are not allowed in the bike lanes, why are motorbikes allowed to weave in and out of the lanes on the freeway? I thought there was a law regarding frequent lane changes. Is it OK to jog in the bike lane when there is a sidewalk right next to it? I have seen ladies jogging in the bike lane while pushing a baby carriage. Is this a prudent thing to do?

I would never consider entering a bike lane after passing or having a bike next to me, or even seeing one in front of me. Yet, I was issued a citation for entering the bike lane 125 feet too early when making a right turn from Saratoga Avenue onto Cox Avenue.

The warm weather does bring out more cyclists, but we drivers are subjected to radio ads that want us to spare the air. Then we are expected to sit in rush-hour traffic emitting pollutants because the internal combustion engine is at its least efficient while idling. Maybe this law should be reviewed.

Brian Bernard
Saratoga

Downsizing DeCinzo could upgrade News

Many times, I have read the Saratoga News and thought seriously of canceling my subscription. This thought usually occurs after reading the DeCinzo social commentary--always negative, always insulting.

I wonder how many of us alumnae of the Notre Dame nuns could identify with his depiction of money-hungry nuns? My recollection of my teachers is of selfless ladies doing an excellent, much-needed job for less than minimum wage.

Now, our selfless nuns are aging. They have no retirement benefits. Young women are not attracted to this life of service.

My son did not appreciate his teachers while he was being educated. Now he has to evaluate work that comes across his desk. "No nun would have accepted this in third grade," he says. How he wishes he could hire nuns.

I love reading Willys Peck and Carl Heintze, but why don't you upgrade your paper by getting rid of DeCinzo?

Jeanne Roths
Via Ranchero Drive

Mayor is just doing his job with panel

Three cheers for Saratoga Mayor Don Wolfe.

From where I stand, he is an honest and independent elected official.

I did not vote for him, but I am pleased with his conduct while in office. He has shown the courage to stand up for what he believes is right.

Mayor Wolfe announced he will not run for a second term, but he will complete his current term by working on the critical issues facing the city, like its weak financial position. He doesn't have the support of the City Council on his proposed Blue Ribbon Panel to review city revenues, but he does have the responsibility to vigorously represent the voters on such issues until the end of his term, and he is doing it.

Jack Mallory
Former City Councilman

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