Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

New stories most
likely affected
the lives of others

In reading your column ("College professors, students develop special bond," Dec. 25), I was struck by your statement, "The sum total of my life's work is either moldering in old newsprint files or, more likely, is rolled up in microfilm rolls." I would like to suggest that your life's work might well be more significant than you realize.

Perhaps years ago a young person, reading your news stories, was inspired to become a journalist. Perhaps the subject matter of one of your stories spurred a young person to embark upon a path in life that has resulted in that person doing far more good in the world, and having a far more positive impact on the human condition, than he or she would have otherwise. Perhaps someone contemplating suicide read one of your stories, and because of that story found a reason to keep on living.

Far from thinking of your work as old and no longer relevant, I believe you should view your news stories as having been stones dropped into a pond, with ripples traveling outward from them in all directions, and changing lives for the better in ways you will never know. That is likely the true sum total of your life's work.

Rick Helley

San Jose

Land could be
acquired for
'public need'

The newspaper stories regarding the homes on Oak Street in Saratoga [near Madronia Cemetery] have neglected to address the "Bundle of Rights" that come attached to the real estate. When considering the purchase of real estate adjoining a public cemetery, the potential buyer should investigate whether the cemetery has the legal right to acquire adjoining real estate--if and when the "public need" for additional real estate is reached.

In the subject matter, it appears that the public need for additional real estate has not yet been reached. Under the same umbrella of thought, the public must recognize that at some date out in the future, that date will arrive. I hope at that date, the affected homeowners and newspapers will not produce the drama that this small incident has turned into.

The newspaper indicated that a Realtor or agent asked the owners if they would be interested in selling the real estate to the cemetery. Apparently the owners are not interested, at this date, in selling their properties. At the date of "public need" for additional lands, the public agency tries to acquire adjoining lands and if necessary, can use eminent domain to acquire. If eminent domain is required, the public agency is require to pay fair market value for the real estate. History has demonstrated that in most cases, the condemning agency, to avoid bad publicity, pays more than fair market value for the real estate.

Eric S. Grube

Harleigh Drive