I have known Andrew Barnes for more than 40 years, as we attended high school together; we were friends then, and we are friends today. He is a man of the utmost integrity and sincerity. I am honored as a Saratogan that he is running for one of several open seats on the Saratoga City Council.

I resist lowering myself or Andrew Barnes' campaign by answering questions such as those Ms. Fariss asked. Mr. Barnes has even offered to be included in the Saratoga Woods Homeowner's Association meeting and Ms. Fariss refused his presence. Instead, only the three slate candidates will be present. Ms. Fariss should let anyone interested in a Saratoga City Council seat know upfront that she is biased and is a partisan, and that she is simply not just a concerned citizen of Saratoga.

Regarding the creek cleanup, Mr. Barnes attended the Coastal Cleanup day and helped clean the creek behind city hall and found that one of the major polluters of the creek was the city of Saratoga itself! Mr. Barnes has attended many Saratoga City Council meetings, planning commission meetings, finance commission meetings and youth commission meetings. Except for Mayor Nick Streit, I believe that, of the present Saratoga City Council candidates, Mr. Barnes has attended more Saratoga city meetings than any other candidate.

Regarding the posting of signs, some of Mr. Barnes' signs were mistakenly placed in certain areas without permission. Once Mr. Barnes and I found out, they were immediately removed. A concerned citizen even removed and dropped them off during the Saratoga League of Women Voters meeting. Unfortunately, where Mr. Barnes had permission, there were several signs stolen or simply removed without permission from Mr. Barnes or the resident who granted the permission.

As a member and vice chair of a finance committee, and as a technically trained engineer and "bean counter," I am extremely concerned about all aspects of finance and the use and preservation of capital. The recent spending of more than one-third of city reserves to purchase the North Campus property I believe could not have come at a worse time. This is at a time when our local, national, and world economies are in a recession that may last for years.

—Sam Ochi, vice chair of finance commission, city of Saratoga


Chamber comments were inaccurate

Regarding the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, [Victor] Monia apparently isn't aware that the Chamber and the city have made considerable progress in negotiating drafts of contracts for rent, fees for services and Celebrate Saratoga! assistance.

In Mr. Monia's letter (Saratoga News, Oct. 9), he wrote that:

1—"The city has subsidized the Chamber with direct grants of money and with free rent for many years."

FACT: The city gives the Chamber $3,345, use of the McWilliams house and Celebrate Saratoga! assistance as payment for contracted services. There is no "subsidy," as the Chamber's cost to provide these services exceeds this compensation.

2—"For several years, the Chamber has promised the city a statement of measurable performance objectives and evaluation of the achievement of those objectives in providing general information and tourist information on behalf of the city."

FACT: Past contracts did not contain a practical way of defining nor measuring performance. Instead, performance was discussed and accepted at meetings with the city council. The revised contract will incorporate a method of verifying performance.

3—"The city has also taken the position that if the Chamber is subsidized by public money, then the Chamber's board meetings should be open to the public. The Chamber refuses to do that."

FACT: The Chamber is not "subsidized" but paid as an independent contractor for services rendered. For years a portion of board meetings have been devoted to the city, and city representatives are always included. In addition, board meetings start with an open session for public input.

Mr. Monia has never discussed these items with the Chamber. We invite him to meet with us at the Chamber, discuss these issues with us and contribute his constructive suggestions for these contracts so that he can be part of the positive steps the city and the Chamber are taking together.

—Kristin Davis, executive director, Saratoga Chamber of Commerce


Trash container is an eyesore

Our new library has much visual appeal and architectural interest, except for one big faux pas [the trash container]. To what or whom do we owe this blot on our new library's street side elevation, and what must be done to move it to a more appropriate location? This concrete block trash container is currently 50 feet long by 8 feet high, and covering it with ivy won't help.

I know of no other $15 million building that makes trash collection, with its attendant odors, more important than the building's main façade and principal access. If a village merchant wanted to put a walled trash collection pad of any size in front of their establishment, or if I wanted to put one on my front lawn, I'm sure the city would insist on it being put in the back or side yard and refuse approval.

—George Faraco, Saratoga


Saratoga council is at it again

The Saratoga City Council is at it again! A recent correspondence, signed by Mayor Nick Streit and Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith on behalf of most of the council, was forwarded to all city council members in the West Valley­Mission Community College District. The letter asks support for three candidates endorsed by most of the Saratoga City Council in the upcoming board of trustees election.

Not only does it ask for the support of these candidates, but states, "If for any reason you cannot endorse these three candidates, we would ask that you do not endorse anyone in this race." How outrageous can you get?

Residents of Saratoga should be embarrassed by the actions of these elected council members who want to play kingmaker. Our council should begin negotiating in good faith with the West Valley­Mission Community College District Board of Trustees to resolve issues rather than create new issues.

I know Jack Lucas, and he is eminently qualified to be a college trustee. As a past board member of the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District, I worked with him for many years.

He has stated he opposes a stadium at West Valley College, and I resent council members presenting his position incorrectly. Let him speak for himself!

—Maxine McGinnis, Saratoga


Opposing stadium, but not seating

As a candidate for the governing board of the West Valley­Mission Community College District, I was invited to participate in the League of Women Voters candidates' forum, held last week.

At the time, I stated unequivocally, I am opposed to the building of a "stadium" at West Valley College. My opposition is based on two conditions:

1—A "stadium" constructed at the location of the current playing field would impinge upon and destroy the character of the neighborhood and community.

2—A "stadium" designed for large-scale public attendance would violate the use permit granted to the college by the city of Saratoga on Jan. 9, 1967.

This opposition does not preclude my willingness to study the possibility of installing permanent seating on a side of the current playing field. If engineering studies show that low-profile permanent seating, accommodating a limited number of spectators, is feasible, I would support this proposal. This is based on two major criteria.

1—Permanent seating "carved" into the bank of the playing field significantly increases the safety of and decreases the risk of accidents that spectators now experience.

2—Permanent seating will allow students, parents and the community to enjoy athletic events and other activities in comfort and safety.

As a high school educator, I am a strong supporter of a school's cocurricular programs. Cocurricular activities enrich a student's total educational experience and prepare that person in achieving personal goals.

—Jack Lucas, Monte Sereno


Schwartz writes to answer critic

I was not surprised by Karin Dowdy's thinly veiled diatribe against me that masqueraded as a discussion of the football stadium at West Valley College (Saratoga News, Oct. 2). After all, I am running for reelection to the West Valley­Mission Community College Governing Board and Ms. Dowdy supports one of my opponents. However, her letter is substantially inaccurate and misleading and there is a need to set the record straight.

The track and practice field at West Valley is not "a regular field surrounded by a running track." It was designed and excavated as the base for a 25,000-seat stadium. It is not true that people must bring lawn chairs to track meets and football games. The college provides hundreds of its own folding chairs. Those chairs are set up on a flat area at the top of the embankment. There is no need to sit on the edge of anything. As far as a "promising young person slipping on the loose rocks, resulting in death or severe injury," I am sorry reality must intrude on Ms. Dowdy's sense of the dramatic, but there are no loose rocks. (Also, wouldn't we be concerned even if a young person were injured who was not "promising"?)

Some of Ms. Dowdy's charges are quite strange. My family and I have lived next to the college for 27 years. We have never shut down the college's perimeter road, nor have we ever made such a request. I have never tried to stop cheerleaders from writing the scores of football games on paper, as Ms. Dowdy suggests (but, of course, I have never tried to stop student government leaders from using the water fountains on campus either).

Had Ms. Dowdy followed this issue, she would know that the college's neighbors have twice formally proposed seating at the facility and, on both occasions, the district rejected those proposals.

Perhaps Ms. Dowdy did not read that the California Supreme Court ruled that West Valley College may not develop that site and is bound by the contractual obligations that it entered into with the city of Saratoga in 1967 and then again in 1979. The college district has spent more than $500,000 dollars in legal fees trying unsuccessfully to break those agreements, and has cost the city of Saratoga more than $250,000 dollars in the process.

Ms. Dowdy also may be unaware that the city, the college district and the neighborhoods surrounding the college, have been meeting for the last several months trying to find a permanent resolution to this 35-year conflict. I am one of two individuals who initiated these meetings. I hope they are successful so that our district can focus on educational matters and on restoring trust within the communities we serve.

—Jeffery A. Schwartz, trustee, West Valley-Mission Community College District Governing Board


Former athlete praises Marshall Clark

Twenty-four years ago I had the honor and privilege of meeting a wonderful man, Marshall Clark. Coach Clark came to the University of Montana in Missoula, Mont., while I was a member of the Montana Grizzly track and field team.

Before coach Clark arrived, I was a conference contender who couldn't find a way to fulfill my potential. By the time coach Clark left Montana, I was a three-time conference champion and my team's MVP and high point man. I traveled the United States and Europe competing with and against many of the world's best track athletes as a high and intermediate hurdler. Coach Clark opened many doors for me, and I thank God for his presence in my life.

It takes an uncommon coach to bring out the best in a common athlete. Coach Clark was that uncommon man. He had a knack for bringing out the best in his athletes, both on and off the track. He was a good technician, that is true, but his true strengths as a coach always came from his love of the sport, and his care and concern for his athletes.

Coach Clark cared about me, and I am sure he cared about every young person he ever came in contact with. I am a better person for knowing Marshall Clark. I shall miss him greatly.

One of the most important things that coach Clark taught me was that to be the very best student athlete I could be, I needed to first get squared away spiritually and academically. He constantly encouraged his team to do well in school. He took pride in the fact that his team had the highest grade point average of any of the other varsity sports programs at the university. Even more important, coach Clark wanted each of his athletes to live a life of character, high ideals and spiritual strength.

It was through an invitation from coach Clark that I attended a combined Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting while I was a junior in college. My life changed for the better when I later accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I won a lot of races, and I set a few records, but all the glory goes to God. I am thankful that God used coach Clark to help lead me to salvation.

Please accept my sincere condolences at the loss of coach Clark. I hope that the present members of his cross country and track and field teams will dedicate their 2002-03 seasons to his memory. As for me, tonight I will wander onto our local track here in Helena, Mont., and I will take a lap or two in honor of coach Clark. Then I will tell my 9-year old girl, Caroline, stories of coach Clark tonight before saying our prayers and going to bed. I will never forget coach Clark.

—Timothy C. Fox, Helena, Mont.