Saratoga News
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Saratoga offering
dance classes, too
Kudos to Michele Tjin's This cover story "So Let's Dance" (Sept. 11). Michelle did a wonderful job highlighting the variety of dance classes that are being taught locally.
The article did leave out one important fact: These classes
are not only being offered through the Los Gatos-Saratoga Education and Recreation Department, but through
the Saratoga Recreation Department as well. The photographs on the front cover and on page 17 are from a city of Saratoga recreation co-sponsored class taught by our award-winning and longtime ballroom dance instructor, Christine Belanger.
Like our counterparts at LGS, the city offers a variety of dance programs for all ages and abilities. In addition to ballroom, this fall we have classes in tap, Brazilian, African, belly, line, Latin and our youth dance program, Dance Force. Even if you "don't know the difference between salsa and samba or rumba and a rhombus," I encourage residents to sign up, come down to the community center and learn how to move!
For more information,
call 408.868.1249 or visit www.saratoga.ca.us/recreation.
htm.
Adam Henig, supervisor
Saratoga Recreation Department
Kao shows support
for Ballingall
I am writing this letter to support Brigitte Ballingall.
On a personal level, I have known Brigitte when our children were in Saratoga Union School District. I was most impressed by her concerns over our students' social and emotional well being. She advocated for a safe learning environment, not only in the physical setting of the schoolyards, but also in the intellectual interactions among the diverse groups of students. She led us, the parents, in all fundraising activities, including the SEF phone-a-thon, to support the students, teachers and staff.
On a public level, I am grateful for Brigitte's continued giving of herself to the community. She has served on the traffic safety commission for the last eight-plus years and her concerns over the public safety have convinced her to stay on meeting after meeting.
It is not easy for anyone to make tough decisions, especially when one is under the attention of the entire community for a given controversial situation. Diverse interests can divide the public, and hence, no one decision can satisfy all parties. I know we all have struggled at one time or another in trying to make sound judgments based on the information we learned--decisions may not please all and statements may not be agreed by all. However, we honestly try our best and we are OK with that.
Brigitte has done so much for the community and one not so desirable remark on biking ("Commission checks on safety of bike lanes," by Shannon Burkey, Aug. 15) should not disqualify her as a whole person. She apologized sincerely ("Commissioner offers apology," letters, Sept. 18), so please let's accept that and embrace her back as a total, normal human being.
Aileen Kao, mayor
City of Saratoga
Resident likes center just the way it is
Your article on the fate of the Quito Center ("Rent increases for Quito Village merchants," Sept. 18) is a testimony to how modest institutions such as this can become victims to the whims of big business.
I'd like to point out to Mr. Pau that we, the regular customers of the Quito Center, actually greatly cherish the peace and quiet that it affords while one goes about shopping or simply browsing in the quaint neighborhood stores at the center--it is truly an oasis from the franchise chains and supermarkets. It is places like this and other low-key businesses such as in downtown Saratoga that make our city unique in its rustic but modern character, and this is why we choose to live here.
My sense is that businesses that don't have enough traffic would move out anyway without a need to tear down the entire center and build flashy megastores. You're welcome to buy property in our city, but please don't ruin our way of life.
Somnath Nag
Saratoga
