Since writing to your paper regarding the VTA (letters, April 20), I have received numerous emails, Letters and phone calls both praising my efforts to speak out and condemning me as John Cross has done (Letters, June 15).

Based on a call from the VTA, my letter sparked a number of changes that should correct many of the issues I addressed in my letter. "Killing the messenger" is never a solution, but one has to expect criticism when voicing one's opinion.

Anyone who's ridden the VTA overnight can attest to the fact that passengers are (were) routinely told to get off the bus if they were short of fare or didn't have change. I rode the bus for several days after I wrote my letter and different drivers at different times with different passengers went through the same ordeal.

One night a female driver refused to move until a female passenger got off the bus because her transfer had expired.

I'm sorry it took an out-of-towner to finally say something about your transit system, but hopefully there will be a benefit for all concerned.

I cannot tell you how pleased I am how your little community papers were agents for change. A VTA spokesperson told me the VTA has issued specific guidelines to handle "pennies short" and other fare issues. A member of the VTA board apparently rode the 22 bus to see what all the fuss was about. The union for the bus drivers also voiced its concern. And friends in Sunnyvale tell me there has been a marked improvement in attitudes of the drivers' customer service.

Clearly in speaking to VTA representatives, there is a genuine concern that passengers be treated fairly and with professional courtesy.

Bernard Forster

Livingston, Texas

City can sell off land
to buy Peterson field

I have just finished reading The Sun's June 22 article "No compromise seen yet on Peterson fields" regarding the community meeting on Peterson Middle School's field.

I was the man who suggested the city of Sunnyvale sell off other unused space to buy the portion of Peterson's field that the Santa Clara Unified School District wants to sell. The article correctly indicated that several attendees, but far less than half, vocally disapproved of selling off the apricot orchard next to the community center.

What the article failed to note was that two other parcels that were suggested were not booed down.

Only one person complained about any potential buyer of the property located at the northwest corner of Mathilda Avenue and El Camino building a high-rise building. In fact, there has never been a suggestion that a high-rise would go into that spot.

As it relates to the other parcel, not a single person at the meeting complained about selling off the triangular piece of property bounded by Wolfe Road, El Camino and Fremont Avenue. This is a piece of property that all residents of Birdland and Raynor Park neighborhoods drive by, if not daily, weekly.

The only use that any of us ever see of this parcel is for the city to post banners of upcoming events and a place for the homeless to hang out. Not a good use of scarce city resources.

What needs to happen at this point is for the community to come up with some positive alternatives to help out both the school district and the city instead of just complaining.

Changes are being forced upon us and apparently will happen. We can sit by, complain and have changes forced upon us, or we can become proactive and help guide these changes through the sale process, giving up small battles to win the big ones.

Tap Merrick

Sunnyvale

Henna art tops off cancer survivor's effort to cope

I am a cancer patient with a healing story. This spring I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a mastectomy and am now in chemotherapy. I lost a breast, my hair, my eyebrows, my eyelashes and my self esteem. I found myself figuratively holding my breath, waiting for this phase of my life to be over. I decided that this was not an acceptable way to lead my life.

I was determined to do something that was life affirming and came up with the felicitous idea of having my head painted by a henna specialist. I asked a few questions and was directed to the most marvelous woman, Roopa Raman of Henna Bash in Cupertino. Roopa had never painted a head before but undertook the challenge with sensitivity and artistry, bringing to the project a spiritual quality that was very healing and which I now refer to as "my henna therapy."

The results have far exceeded my expectations. I am physically and emotionally energized by it. People who know me tell me I'm glowing. People who don't know me stop me to tell me how neat it looks, how cool, how artistic, sometimes even calling out from cars to voice their approval. Yesterday and man at the hardware store said, "You are a unique lady."

I no longer feel as though I am being dismembered, rather that I am remembering a life filled with riches, a golden time. I will continue to get a henna tattoo once a month (different each time, like a new hairdo) until my hair starts growing back. I eagerly propose henna therapy to others who are undergoing chemotherapy and send this message: You, too, are a unique person. Embrace it. I wish you joy.

Lee Rogers

Los Altos

Roopa's henna art was the subject of the April 13 cover story in The Sun.

--Editor