Saratoga News
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Residents should
thank Mallory
Saratogans owe Jack Mallory a thank- you for organizing a good old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration in a neighborhood park. It had all the elements of a small town community event--a local band, a color guard, members of the Saratoga City Council and a children's parade, and Jack called for veterans of all the U.S. wars to stand up and be recognized.
Also on the program were two choral groups, one a Chinese chorus and the other a Japanese chorus, and they sang American nationalistic songs.
To me, the most significant comment that Jack made in the program was to welcome all those who came here from different countries. Although I can't remember his exact words, he hoped that this Fourth of July event would help them to identify with this country and this community.
This is a nation of immigrants, who have blended together. The Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July 1776 created a new concept of government, "Of the people, by the people, and for the people." It was in this spirit, when the Chinese chorus got up to sing and the director of the chorus introduced three of its members who had recently achieved U.S. citizenship, that there was a great round of applause.
Jackie Welch
Fruitvale Avenue
July 4th celebration
a wonderful tribute
The fifth annual Independence Day celebration at Saratoga's Azule Park this year was a wonderful tribute to the birthday of our country. Each year more and more neighbors come to the park for the celebration.
Kudos to Jack Mallory, the superb organizer of this event, and to all the talented volunteers who help make the morning's festivities so inspiring. The festive booths, decorations, little flags for everyone, creative Independence Day costumes donned by people and sometimes dogs (and including this year a most impressive Uncle Sam), music, speeches and community singing all contribute to inspire us to remember the beginnings of our country.
The invocation by the Rev. Bill McGuinness set the mood as a time for all to be thankful. A special moment occurred when the conductor of the Silicon Valley Chinese Chorus introduced members of his singing group who had come from faraway areas of the world and had recently attained either residency status or citizenship.
A fitting tribute to our country, founded as a place where all are welcome. The ceremony closed as always with the ringing of Jack Mallory's Liberty Bell. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Sally Wieder
Knollwood Drive
Saratogans should
step up to donate
In the San Jose Mercury (July 11), columnist Patty Fisher wrote about Palo Alto and the need for residents who have done well to consider putting some of their fortunes back into their local community as Carnegie and others have done.
Money is tight in Saratoga. We have very little commercial business, and we get only a small percent from the property tax revenue to operate the city. We need more private-public partnerships. The Hakone Foundation is one such example in Saratoga and another was the new Performing Arts Center at the Saratoga, High School.
As was stated in the article, "People want small government, but that means we need to have generous private donors if we are going to have all the things the community wants... What we need is a modernday Carnegie."
I hope that some of our citizens would think about donating funds for a public gymnasium on the North Campus, a modern Saratoga Museum, an arts facility or other needs that would make a big difference in our small town.
Jack Mallory
Kirkdale Drive
Mallory asks readers to contact him at Mallory58@aol.com or 408.252.7447 to discuss the subject.
