We held Sacred Heart School's Spring Gala on April 4 at Villa Ragusa in Campbell, which is owned by school and parish family Nick and Sueanne Gera. It was a huge success; 400 people attended and our most popular auction items were those made by our students called Class Creations, a collaboration with our fabulous art teacher, Ms. Roberta Taimano!

Teachers, faculty, clergy, alumni, parishioners and parents of both alumni and current students attended the event.

To all who worked on and at the event, to those who attended, to all those who donated from the community's businesses and to those who bought items at the auction—thank you! The tallying is not finished yet, but it looks like we exceeded our goal!

—Debbie Colyar, Rachel Garcia, Lyn Patton, Kira Miller, Doreen Morales, Julie Stallman, Sacred Heart Spring Gala Committee


The Every 15 Minutes coverage 'disturbing'

The photos accompanying the article about the Every 15 Minutes program were very disturbing.

For those of us who feel the pain of loss every day, opening the mailbox on April 9 and seeing the images in your newspaper was horrific.

If this had been an actual accident I believe you would not have printed such graphic photos in deference to the families' feelings. None of us can know the pain that others suffer, yet we can all be respectful of their feelings. I hope you will consider commenting on the unfortunate choice of images in your next issue.

—Renée Macklin, Saratoga


Issue should have been covered with 'sensitivity'

I am writing in regard to the Saratoga News coverage of the Every 15 Minutes program conducted at Saratoga High School. While I completely understand that the Every 15 Minutes program is taken very seriously, it is still a staged, theatrical production of real-life horror. I was surprised to see a mock funeral and car accident on the cover of the Saratoga News, when students at Saratoga High have attended many real funerals of their peers due to car accidents in the past few years. To mention a Saratoga High School student who couldn't "bear the thought of losing such a great person" and also referring to that student's "bad memories" of the accident on Fruitvale Avenue in September 2000 that killed two Saratoga High School junior girls is highly insensitive and inappropriate.

As someone who is not so far out of high school to remember exactly what it is like, I wonder about the lasting effects of a program like Every 15 Minutes. I think the recent occurence of this program at Saratoga High School was greatly enhanced by the involvement of Judy Peckler.

I strongly feel that the way to make teenagers understand the risks of reckless and drunk driving is to tell them real stories, not to create fake scenes. Along the same lines, I was surprised the article did not mention the recent drunk driving tragedy at Los Gatos High School.

I hope that in the future the Saratoga News will regard this issue with more sensitivity and focus on ways to eliminate drunk driving.

A community that promotes designated drivers, with the support of parents who choose not to ignore the fact that high school kids drink, will have a longer and more successful effect than two days of a staged production.

—Michelle Charters, Saratoga High School class of 1997, Encina Court


It's a good team running Saratoga

During the 40 years we have lived in Saratoga, we have seen the city staff go from very small (and knowledgeable and resident-friendly) to quite large (and—during one long period—arrogant, incompetent and absolutely resident-unfriendly).

Thank goodness the latter days are behind us. The majority of our present staff are excellent—both in their competence and their attitudes. I'd rather like to offer two recent examples.

First, we noticed a potentially dangerous road defect on Pierce Road. I accidentally drove over it at an off angle and, although I was going only 25 mph and was driving a Jeep Wrangler, I would have hit my head on the ceiling of the vehicle had I not been wearing my seat belt.

I emailed a note to John Cherbone, the director of public works, explaining that I felt the hole was a real hazard. I received a return email from John assuring me that the problem would be fixed. I knew from experience that, under previous staff members, such a promise could mean that we might see a repair in a month to six weeks—if at all.

Imagine my delight when I saw that the hole had been filled and leveled the next day!!

A short time later, I emailed a question to John Livingstone, a member of the planning staff. He responded quickly, saying he was unsure about one or two details, and he promised to find out for me. Instead of blustering and intimating that I was asking a stupid question (as had occurred with previous staff members), John gave me an honest answer—and researched to find what I had requested!

I have heard similar comments from people throughout Saratoga. We're all proud to have city council members who care about their city's residents. Add to that an administration and staff members with the same positive attitudes and we have a true team in our town!

—Dora Grens, Old Oak Way

CORRECTION

A name was misspelled in the March 26 article regarding the director of Levity. The correct spelling is Ed Solomon.