With the prosperous '90s fading and budget cut after budget cut, it is good to remember that the "new normal" will likely be temporary, too. The city is currently trying to cut $1 million from about a $10 million budget.

IRS statistics indicate that residents of 95070 have spent about $200 million just on the Iraq war. One hopes and expects that such an allocation of our money is not a "permanent normal."

Thomas W. Moran

Farwell Avenue

Religious fervor gives
reader cause for alarm

Your April 20 cover story on Dianne Speicher ("Divine Intervention") gave me pause. Although she seems to have the best interests of children in mind, her methods alarm me. The kind of religious fervor associated with speaking to God and hearing God speak may not be in the best interest of children.

A little caution regarding the promulgation of fervent belief might be in order. Is there not a fine line between extreme religious fervor and neurosis?

Stan Gildersleeve

Los Gatos

Open space land should
be open to everyone

I've lived in Saratoga for 30 years and am a longtime user of the El Sereno Open Space Preserve. Twenty years ago I used to pass through the open gate at 16075 Overlook Drive to enter or exit a beautiful trail connecting Los Gatos and Saratoga. Approximately 12 years ago, the renters put a chain on the gate. Undeterred, and knowing it was Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District land anyway, I climbed over the gate. When barking dogs were added I picked up my pace. But when the dogs ripped my clothes five years ago, I gave up.

For me and countless other local users, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District purchased entry to a beautiful trail overlooking the entire Santa Clara Valley. The use of hundreds of acres was purchased. Six parking spots and ranger housing were merely pluses.

Kudos to board members Pete Siemens, Jed Cyr, Mary Davey and Nonette Hanko and General Manager Craig Britton for this acquisition.

Gibson Anderson

Farwell Avenue

Director happy to see
'Laramie' letters

I would like to thank all the people who have sent in letters regarding the production of The Laramie Project at Saratoga High School. Working on the project was one of the highlights of my high school career. Now to see the far-reaching effects the show has had has proven how much one action can affect a community. The show has gotten more attention than I had thought it would when we first started, but it has achieved what I hoped it would. It has started people talking, both positively and negatively. I'm glad people are sharing their opinions, and I encourage people to continue to do so.

Kat Nakaji

Saratoga

Kat Nakaji was the assistant director for "The Laramie Project."

Thanks to the Jenkinses
for Highway 9 cleanup

There are many citizens in our community whose combined efforts make Saratoga a great place to live. Among these are John and Robin Jenkins, who have volunteered their efforts to keep an area of Saratoga-Los Gatos Road free of litter.

We extend our thanks and gratitude to you, Robin and John, for helping make Saratoga a better place to live.

Oskar Thurnher

Bella Vista

Oskar Thurnher submitted this letter representing the residents of Bella Vista, Horseshoe Drive, Horseshoe Court and Carnelian Circle.