This issue has been visited before and I wanted to share the issues that arise when Blue Hills Elementary School has their soccer games and practices.

1--No regards to limitations of time: they come before 8 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and practice late at night, all nights and weekends.

2--The blowing of whistles disturbs the neighbors and Azule Park next door.

3--Games are scheduled on top of each other and there is no parking in the neighborhood when the games cross over. I live a five-minute walk away and the cars will sometimes park down here. They are supposed to use the school parking lot but that is inconvenient to the soccer field.

4--If an issue arises, the coaches or soccer parents are frequently rude to the neighbors.

5--There is increased traffic on residential streets and this affects Goleta as well as Seagull and Desanka.

6--The city of Saratoga has rules that they do not enforce with the soccer teams and we have no recourse because the city basically stated that we have to live with it for the benefit of the few children in our city who are on soccer teams.

There are several issues for Kevin Moran:

1--Time limits.

2--Inadequate parking. When you look at the Blue Hills issue the residents will have a major impact.

3--Increased traffic.

4--Safety. Parents driving to soccer have very poor driving habits. Children ride their bikes on these streets and there is no sidewalk for the pedestrians; they will have to walk down the middle of the street.

5--Other usage of a neighborhood park.

6--Enforcement of rules (which is not currently being practiced).

7--Game scheduling, whistles, interactions between residents and soccer teams.

8--Maintenance costs for the field.

I hope the city does not even consider putting the residents of another small neighborhood through what we have had to deal with over in the Blue Hills neighborhood.

Carol and Hugh Wright

Goleta Avenue

Fashion show a great
community event

There will be a fundraising event on Nov. 6, 4-7 p.m., at the Foothill Club--a fashion show bringing the Village stores, restaurants, local winery and Saratogans together for a worthy common cause--raising funds for the beautification of Saratoga Historic Village. It will be a fun and enjoyable afternoon for everyone, with local women being the fashion show models, singing and Argentina tango performances, followed by Boutique Bazaar, fine wine and hors d'oeuvres.

As I was reading Dale Bryant's "Community journalism--doing it our way" (Oct. 26), I really appreciated having a local newspaper like the Saratoga News focus on our community activities. I love this city I live in and want to help to make it even better.

Cynthia Chang

Toni Ann Place

CORRECTION

An article in the Oct. 19 Saratoga News Cuisine Section misstated the results of the 2005 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. We should have said that Burrell School Vineyards and Winery won silver for its pinot noir; Cinnebar Vineyards took gold for its 2002 Santa Cruz Chardonnay, not its pinot noir. In addition, we should have said all red wine grapes at Burrell School Vineyards go through a crusher-destemmer machine. Burrell's address is 24060 Summit Road.