To Ron Boley, Ken Barker and Amy Zullo, from the Los Gatos­Saratoga Girls Softball Association:

On behalf of the thousands of young girls you gave the opportunity and resources to play fast-pitch softball, we thank you. As president, vice president and treasurer (respectively) for the association, you unselfishly gave your time and energy to enrich the lives of many girls. The cities of Los Gatos and Saratoga have benefited greatly from your efforts. Many of the players have gone on to play higher levels of softball, including high school and college play.

Together you have made the dream of playing softball a reality for the girls of Los Gatos and Saratoga. The smiles, laughs, friendships and skills as a result of the league are due to your efforts. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

—Board of Directors, Los Gatos­Saratoga Girls Softball Association


Community should nurture children

I am writing this letter to address an issue that amazes me. I have lived in this community for 11 years and I have noticed a very disturbing trend—the intolerance of our community members toward our youngest community members.

Children need to be loved, not only by their parents and family members, but more importantly, since this is such a transient area, by their neighbors and other community members. I'm very disappointed in our community and hope that this letter will move our members to think about their actions and the repercussions and will encourage more kindness and affection.

—Maryam Azizi, Purdue Drive


Improvements help on El Quito streets

We would like to acknowledge the efforts of the city managers, namely Lorie Tinfow, for improving traffic management in the El Quito neighborhood. Recently speed bumps and islands were built throughout our neighborhood to help slow traffic. We are very happy with the response and implementation, and have noticed a significant decrease in the speed and volume of traffic.

—Scott and Tenaya Adams, Heath Street


Mom appreciates new Redwood principal

My third child will enter Redwood Middle School in September and I was very pleased to see that Vice Principal Beth Polito has been made principal. This is a well-deserved promotion and I am pleased to see Mary Gardner and the school board promote someone from within.

I have worked with Beth on a couple of projects at the middle school and I have found her to be professional, considerate, and a consensus builder who supports her staff while listening carefully to the needs of the students and their parents. Every time I see her, she not only asks about my children she knows at Redwood, but she also asks about my children she hasn't met yet. I like that in a school administrator.

—Kathleen King, Canyon View Drive


Saratoga must share some responsibility for Blue Hills

In 1999 there was an opportunity for the city of Saratoga, Cupertino Union School District, sports groups and the neighbors of Blue Hills to enter in a joint development, use agreement. The plan included 65 parking spaces off Goleta Avenue. This plan was a beginning, a talking point for changes and development. However, neighborhood outcry of this "first step" resulted in the city council [three members are still seated] totally dropping all discussions involving the school district and the land.

Today, there are continued neighborhood concerns over traffic. Now, the city council is stating the entire problem of traffic and the safety of our children is the responsibility of the school district. Blue Hills School is physically located in Saratoga and over 90 percent of the students are residents of Saratoga. Therefore, some of the responsibility for a solution must fall on the city of Saratoga.

Perhaps encouraging (compensating?) school neighbors to put in sidewalks so families can safely walk, thus alleviating traffic all together, could be pursued? This is a joint problem and needs a cooperative, joint resolution—not finger-pointing and threats.

I am offended by the negative attitude and disrespectful comments made during the June 4 council meeting regarding our school community. Council's disgust with the safety commission's proposal and the lack of confidence in its success creates greater obstacles in the relationship of the school with the neighbors and the city.

Mayor Streit's alternative of making children walk three extra blocks to school with no sidewalks would only displace the problem and increase safety concerns.

Blue Hills' parents care greatly for the safety of their children and are looking to the city and district to assist in solving traffic and safety concerns. We are residents, we elected our city council, and it is the council's responsibility to treat all residents equally, objectively and respectfully, not showing favoritism—especially during a public meeting.

—Judy Alberts, Lowena Court

Correction

Two items were incorrect in the council voting box in the June 11 issue. Councilman Stan Bogosian voted to standardize the posted speed limit on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. Council members Kathleen King, Norman Kline and Bogosian voted to consider allocating funds to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley while Mayor Nick Streit and Vice Mayor Ann Waltonsmith voted against it.