I want to thank reporter, My Ngo, for writing her article about the dam and debris basin on Calabazas Creek at Comer Drive in Saratoga. She did a good job explaining a rather complicated problem. However, there are a few points I would like to clarify, for the record.

First, the dam and debris basin are now considered by the water district to be obsolete. Furthermore, the district is under mandate to return all creeks in the county to—as much as possible—their original condition (i.e., condition before structures were added).

Second, since the dam is 12 feet high, the maximum depth of the debris basin must be 12 feet, not 20 feet.

Third, removing the dam and relocating the gravel both up—and down—stream and restabalizing the creek banks would not increase erosion of the creek neighbors' property. According to district data, the bottom of the creek was six feet higher before construction of the dam than it is now, and therefore presented a greater flood risk then, then it does now.

Fourth, the water district has allocated $1 million for planning and designing the removal project, plus another $1 million for actual dam removal and redistribution of the gravel. For my own curiosity, I obtained a rough estimate from a construction company for simple dam removal and creek reconstruction, without taking away any gravel (the gravel is needed for replenishment); the estimate was $75,000 and two weeks work! I cannot figure out why it would take 10 years and $2 million to get around to such a simple job.

Robert Wallace

Foothill Lane

Article celebrates
teens, their options

This letter is to commend reporter Sara Hazlewood for the excellent article she wrote about Central County Occupational Center, "Discovering Options," in the Feb. 25 issues of the Saratoga News. Ms. Hazlewood did an excellent job of portraying the many options open to high school juniors and seniors through the Regional Occupational Center. It is wonderful to see an article that celebrates young people who are doing great things and it is very nice to see such an accurate and comprehensive treatment of our school.

Linda Luther, Principal

Central County Occupational Center, San Jose

Rehabilitation isn't the
school's responsibility

Since when is it the responsibility of the school to rehabilitate the child ("District expels two Saratoga High students for cheating," Saratoga News, Feb. 11)? It is the parents' job. Parents, step up to the plate. Tell your child that as a consequence for his actions he will not be allowed to return to school and then move on from there. Why should the students at Saratoga High School be subjected to his behavior? Help them feel protected by enforcing the rules.

Suffering the consequences is more work for the parent and child but hopefully in the long run the world will get one more well-adjusted person. That is the goal, isn't it?

Your child now has something to prove to you, his friends and himself. Don't fail him by just dusting him off and putting him back on the same direction. He needs guidance to make better decisions for himself.

You say he is "destroyed," how about just plain scared. He should be allowed to feel his shame and yours too. It is fair and right for him to suffer the consequences for his actions. Then after that help him heal in a positive way by being there because you love him. That is his second chance.

Lucy Vallejo-Alviso

Martha Avenue