Letters

Parents and teachers should be recognized and thanked

The schools in Saratoga are excellent. Better than many schools in the country. However, I think we need to give some very important people a lot of credit for that. The PTA is as important to our schools as the teachers are. They put together all the activities that take place at the schools. I'm sure most people are aware of the annual gift-wrap sale that the elementary schools participate in. The PTA is completely in charge of that. They put together the whole affair. Being in the PTA is no joke.

Sometimes it is like a full-time job to moms who are heavily involved. They put together every fundraiser and every art project, which benefits students so much. The money raised by fundraisers that they put together can be used to buy new learning tools, new textbooks, art supplies or even used for construction. The PTA makes the schools better. The people involved do everything without any complaint, and they aren't paid for their hard work. All they want is for their children and all the other children to have the best education possible. I think that the PTA should be recognized for what it does, and I just want to say, three cheers and thank you to the PTA for all it does for our schools!

Divya Valluri
Russell Lane

Adult Care Center is unique and valued in community

I am writing in response to a letter to the editor in the Aug. 23 issue of the Saratoga News by Pat Bortle, concerning the inclusion of the Adult Care Center in the city's remodeling plans.

I want to assure members of the community that the needs of the center will definitely be considered in the study of a new civic center complex. The Adult Care Center is a unique and much valued facility in our community.

Dave Anderson
Saratoga City Manager

City should halt increase in deer, one way or another

I read with equal dismay the article written by Donna Dittrich in the Aug. 23 issue of the Saratoga News regarding Ann Waltonsmith's misinformation.

Obviously, she has never had to deal with deer. I lived on the hillside above Parker Ranch for 15 years and had the great displeasure of having deer eat everything in sight!

There is no such thing as deer-proof plants. Ms. Dittrich is also misinformed. I have first-hand knowledge that they will prune the new growth on oleanders and eat agapanthus to the ground--flower, leaf and all. They stripped both the leaves and fruit off my lemon and kumquat trees. They decimated my star jasmine, petunias and veggie garden as quickly as I could plant it. We planted $200 worth of mums for a wedding reception the day before the wedding and that night they ate them all!

I moved off the hill to get away from the gophers and deer that destroyed anything that I planted so I could have a nice yard. Now I live on Farwell Avenue near the creek and lo and behold the #$%@# deer followed me. My garden and fruit trees are being consumed by deer. I have tried to use an electronic device to keep them out to no avail.

There are no natural enemies of the deer in populated areas and they multiply like rabbits. Why shouldn't we reduce the population of these parasites? I have as much right to enjoy a nice yard as they do for being here and humans should take precedence over wildlife in metropolitan areas.

If you use lion manure, rotten eggs, or blood, etc. to scare them away, you have to replenish it every time you sprinkle your yard, which is every other day. The deer population must be reduced one way or another. When hungry, they will eat anything.

Find something else to worry about.

Gene Carter
Farwell Avenue

More seats at winery means more cars

Regarding the expansion of the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, please, city council, help me with something. How can you possibly figure that increasing seats at the Mountain Winery will not increase the traffic to the Winery?

Now, I understand there is going to be a reduction of parking spaces, at least initially, but do you honestly think that they are going to sell less tickets because there are less parking places?

How do they know how many ticket buyers are driving alone, in pairs or in a full car?

And, do you really think they are going to stop letting people with tickets through the gate after all the parking spaces are full?

Let's be real! More seats mean more tickets can be sold. More tickets mean more people. More people mean more cars. Come on, people, it's not rocket science.

Dan Eastman
Pierce Road

Plaintiffs in Saratoga creek lawsuit must be biased

I always listen to what is said and written by Mr. Don Whetstone and Dr. Jeff Schwartz. I usually agree with their goal and sometimes disagree. But when they talk about the sewer ordinance, resulting from a court case, I have forced myself to "turn off" and "tune out." Why? Because I have to remember that they are the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the city. It's just human nature that their thoughts and comments must be extremely biased.

Mr. Whetstone said, "It's true that the septic system issue was first brought forward in settlement demands by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit." That's OK, but I cannot understand how it ever prevailed. In fact, I can't understand a "ton of things" about this lawsuit. I can't understand how I ever got involved in this mess. I can't understand how those 700 people over there, hiding behind that rock, ever got involved in this mess.

Please somebody... help! Would some uninvolved Saratogan go down to the federal building at San Carlos and First Street, go to Records on the second floor and look at this case and show me where I came in. The so-called civil case is No. 95-20059. Any sensible expatiation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much.

Bert Martel
Fruitvale Avenue

Sheriff's Report

Home sale prices

Wedding: Valerie Bowlin and Eric Shaw marry at the Chapel at Yosemite

Saratoga Sampler

Sports Briefs

Saratoga & Lynbrook football preview

Westmont & Prospect football preview

West Valley Community College football preview

High School Football Schedule

Saratoga's Hazen a close 2nd in Catfish Swim

SCVAL coaches win national crown at Corporate Relays