Saratoga News Letters Chimneys are open invitation to birds We would not want anyone else to go through what we experienced on Saturday evening, Sept. 27. We had our house built 27 years ago. It has a Spanish-style tile roof, and the two fireplaces were equipped with gas heaters and gas logs. Evidently, this is the reason no screens or spark arrestors were put over the tops of the chimneys. In the changing weather in the last few weeks--heat one day, air conditioning the next--we had used our family room fireplace to "take the chill off." We evidently didn't close the damper after we used it the last time. On Saturday evening, we heard a rumbling sound and an undescribable mower or electric-motor sound coming from the family room fireplace wall. We thought it was possibly an earthquake. Looking outside through the west-facing sliding glass door, we saw a huge flock of birds flying over. Then the birds started flying out of our fireplace in the family room, into the kitchen, dining room and living room--all rooms with large windows. We managed to get the two opposite sliding doors in the family room opened, and many birds flew out, but others had to be chased out. Many clung to the drapes or windowsills and behind the furniture--these had to be removed by hand. They were all covered with soot, which scattered all over the floors, furniture, counters, tables and chairs. There were at least 75 to 100 birds; it was unbelievable! Needless to say, we are having the chimneys covered properly. Just once in 27 years is too much. What if we had been gone for the weekend or longer? It's too horrible to think about. We just hope it doesn't happen to anyone else. Please check your chimneys! Gene and Glenna Tritt Stewart Court Candidates will keep quality of local life With the City Council race drawing to a close, we voters are reflecting on our own vision for Saratoga, and are looking for candidates who share that vision. Many of us chose to settle in Saratoga for the same reasons: excellent schools; beautiful and friendly neighborhoods where our kids and grandchildren pull wagons, ride bikes and walk to school; great recreation opportunities ranging from the Santa Cruz Mountains and local youth sports leagues to cultural events in San Jose; open space; strong community involvement and volunteerism; the rural character of our community, including the remaining orchards, creeks and majestic oaks; the fabulous backdrop of the hills--the list goes on. What these attributes collectively describe is a certain quality of life. As a voter, I am looking for city leadership that understands the value and importance of our quality of life and refuses to sacrifice it in the name of "progress." If you agree that we should not sacrifice our quality of life for ourselves and our children, then John Mehaffey, Erna Jackman and Evan Baker are your candidates. Through their work in the community, Mehaffey, Jackman and Baker have demonstrated their commitment to the Saratoga we cherish. They are experienced and principled; they do not compromise on integrity, and they refuse to sacrifice our quality of life. Meg Caldwell La Paloma Avenue Senior issues need council attention I am a candidate for the Saratoga City Council in the Nov. 3 election. I visited the Saratoga Senior Center and Adult Care facilities last week. As a registered nurse and former administrator for a residential care facility for the elderly, I have worked with senior needs for many years in Santa Clara County. I knew that the Saratoga Care Center is an outstanding facility and has been used as a model for other facilities. The care center has 21 seniors per day for six hours a day and serves 40 different seniors. They do not have space or finances to increase the size of the program, although they have a waiting list. The senior center is housed in the same building. Between 200 and 400 seniors use the center on a regular basis. They have a program that provides a large buffet luncheon once a week for $3, along with a speaker. Through West Valley College, they offer classes in such things as aerobic exercises, computers and music appreciation. Other classes and groups include money matters, living trusts, memory improvement, healthy lifestyles and support groups for recent widows and widowers. The city provides the center and care facility with building and utilities and passes along a portion of Community Development Block Grant federal funds. The Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council needs to come up with the other funds, and there is never enough money for needs. Eighty-five-year-old residents may have had a very comfortable income when they retired at 65. Could you live on the same income you had in 1978? I know I could not. Even though they live in Saratoga, many of our seniors do not have much spending money. The same concept of "Saratogans must have money" makes it hard for Mary Richards, SASCC executive director, to obtain private foundation grants. Ms. Richards states that she hopes the new City Council will be supportive of senior issues. She is a very capable person to lead our SASCC. The council and our residents need to support our senior needs. Please vote for John Mehaffey, Erna Jackman and Evan Baker on Nov. 3. We will support our seniors. Erna Jackman Council Candidate, Oak Street Creek lawsuit could have been avoided Hank Bates, an author and attorney, described the actions of our city government regarding the Saratoga Creek issue as a "marathon of ineptitude, foot dragging and denial." In the upcoming election, five candidates will compete for three City Council slots. All five candidates publicly acknowledge the bacteriological pollution problem in the creek and say that if elected, they intend to do something about it. That's encouraging. However, incumbent councilmember Gillian Moran has been the lead runner in the city's four-year-long marathon, rejecting all offers to engage in direct discussions to resolve the issue. Apparently, Ms. Moran expects voters to believe that she will suddenly reverse course if she is reelected. Don't count on it. The city could have avoided the lawsuit entirely by agreeing to a few simple, common-sense measures that would have cost the city only a fraction of the expense that has been incurred in the ensuing legal battle. The water district was wise enough and responsible enough to do exactly that. Don Whetstone Saratoga Thanks to Celebrate Saratoga volunteers Our 10th annual Celebrate Saratoga Street Dance soon became our first "Rain Dance." The sky may have been gray and dismal, but on Big Basin Way there was sunshine and cheerful people. The rain brought our community closer together and before long, everyone was dancing and tasting the delicious food and fine selection of wine, margaritas and beer. A special thanks goes out to our 1998 steering committee. Many committee members began the day early Saturday morning and continued working until early the next day. Hundreds of community volunteers donated their time to work in the beer, soda and bank booths. Chamber members and community volunteers help set up the street dance and clean up after it was over. A special gold star to our official Celebrate photographers, Kathi and Jeri Venz of Venz Fine Photography. They were taking pictures all evening, rain or shine. We have many others to thank: the city of Saratoga, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department and the Saratoga Fire District for their encouragement and assistance; our many sponsors for their generous financial support and donations; the Village merchants, who are the most inconvenienced every year, for their support and cooperation and for the thanks from those merchants who used this opportunity to promote their business and reap the benefits of having so many potential customers on Big Basin Way. Our "Rain Dance" was a success and old acquaintances were renewed, new friends made and fond memories created. Pat and Fran Andreson Celebrate Saratoga Chairs, Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Keeping up on the old familiar places I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy reading the Saratoga News online. I lived in Saratoga from about 1972 to 1984, graduated from Saratoga High School (Class of '82) and since 1985, I've lived in Washington state, and I do get a little homesick now and again. It's great to see familiar names and locales! I think it's great that you have a Web presence, and I look forward to reading issues as they come out. Dianne C. Pfister Washington Moran is ready to serve everyone We wholeheartedly recommend for Saratoga's City Council Gillian Moran, who has demonstrated to Saratoga her dedication to fairness with consideration to all during her outstanding service as mayor and councilmember. We have found her generous service to various volunteer organizations in the community to be exemplary, reasoned, sensible and open to all points of view. How fortunate to have a woman with such stellar credentials and experience willing to serve all of us! Ed and Chick Porter Butano Terrace Anderson endorsement not much to be proud of Ms. Moran is running for City Council again, and her longtime friend Karen Anderson is writing to us from Morgan Hill asking us to vote for her. Let's see now, Karen Anderson is the former Saratoga councilmember who sponsored racial hate mail in the 1992 City Council election and was nearly recalled for it. Ms. Moran never did renounce Karen Anderson's actions even though the hate mail was targeted against a fellow planning commissioner. Now Karen Anderson is endorsing Gillian Moran. That's quite a recommendation. V. Nikkie Hamner Saratoga [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, October 21, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.