Looking at the recent schedule of classes from West Valley College, I was distressed to find nothing addressing the language arts program in Mandarin. Also, several years ago I took a class in "Introduction to Foreign Trade," which was excellent in content but not to be found now.

I feel one of the fundamental purposes of our community college system is to help sharpen our focus and step up to the next path of survival. With our major influence in our West Valley area being Asian, it is up to the rest of us to have a better understanding of other cultures and have the opportunity to learn the language as part of preparing for the 21st century.

I was appalled by the staff comments that it was too expensive to have another teacher (the sign language class was doing well), they may not have enough students interested, and that the teachers are really more interested in increasing their salaries and benefits.

At the present time, there are two private schools renting facilities at Saratoga High School on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, with over 500 students each from ages 8 to 17 taking Chinese. The Saratoga library has over 1,000 books for children in Chinese alone. De Anza College has nine classes in Chinese. Are we missing something from the board of trustees and chancellor?

Lori Wortley

Park Drive

City council's action
was disappointing

I'm disappointed in the Saratoga City Council for their action in overriding the unanimous planning commission denial of the application for development of the property at 20840 Fourth St. This opinion is not a NIMBY statement, since I don't know any of the parties involved, nor do I have a property interest in the area.

Faced with a defective ordinance (which applies the standards of a 10,000 square-foot lot to a lot half that size), the majority of council ignored the ordinance requirements for relief that were quoted by the neighbor at 20850 Fourth St., although proper procedure would have required a weighing of the conflicting rights and interests between the applicant and his neighbor at 20850. Instead, the council majority spoke only of the expectations of the applicant to develop his lot in accordance with the ordinance in its current state.

It is worth noting that the decision of the majority followed the staff recommendation, and that the council majority spoke of the fact that there were another 12 undersized lots to be acted upon shortly, each of which will, if treated similarly, result in greater revenue for the city.

Ted Furman

Winter Lane

Central Park is the place
for regulation soccer field

As I read the emotional debate about where to place a soccer field in Saratoga, I am amazed that this particular issue wasn't brought to the people via a ballot. However, I do applaud the city council members for having the courage to vote on it in January. However, as much as I agree with the city council to develop Kevin Moran Park to bring it up to standard as a community park for all of Saratogans to enjoy, I disagree about the placement of a regulation soccer field there.

The best place to put a regulation soccer field is Central Park. Central Park is a specialty park, and as defined by the city of Saratoga, specialty parks in the city provide distinctive recreation opportunities to the local residents and surrounding communities as well. I think the intent of the city was to put in a park at some point, hence the name Central Park. In the past, the city has proposed to put in a walking trail, benches, picnic tables and a pedestrian bridge, but those improvements never came to fruition.

Now, if the city were to reconsider developing part of Central Park, it could be a win-win situation for everyone. Placing the field in the back of the park near the community center would be the best location and, hopefully, result in a minimal removal of trees. Perhaps the city can replant some of the trees in the other parks or elsewhere in Saratoga.

A sports field near the community center is a novel idea, and it would be accessible to not just one particular age group. The nearby senior center, community center, post office and city hall would have access to the field during the workday. The city can also build a path from the community center to the library for the students at Redwood Middle School.

If the city and the people of Saratoga can find a middle ground here, then we should be able to develop both Kevin Moran Park and Central Park to satisfy everyone's needs. Then the city can finally come together and move on with other important business at hand.

Amelia Marzolf-Diazoni

Solana Drive

Soccer field would be a
great addition to city

The major issue in Saratoga right now is the thought of putting in a full-sized soccer field in Kevin Moran Park. I attended a city council meeting on Jan. 4 where I heard from many of the citizens of Saratoga and their thoughts on the park. Many of the people who spoke said that the soccer field was a terrific idea, and by the show of hands I could see that many people in this town all think the same way that I do, which is that the soccer field will be a great addition to our town.

Saratoga is very quiet and laid back most of the year, except for the street dance and the downtown open house, but I think that if we put in this soccer field, our town would be more exciting.

I think that our town will become closer and more united if we build this soccer field, and I believe that many people in Saratoga will agree with me.

So please show your support of the field and help unite our town by showing the citizens of Saratoga that the soccer field in Kevin Moran Park would make a great addition to our town.

Christie Ann Morrison

Saratoga High School student