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Speak Out
The neighborhood clean-up makes everything sparkle
On July 31, Little Branham/Rosswood Neighborhood Association, located in Cambrian Park and consisting of 193 homes, held a cleanup day. It was supported by Mayor Ron Gonzales and Councilman John Diquisto.
Three dumpsters were donated by Green Waste Recovery and $99 Debris Box Service. All the dumpsters were full within six hours with our unneeded trash. It was a fun as well as successful day for our neighborhood.
Jeanne Sanders
Little Branham Lane
School district should accept money to improve test scores
San Jose Unified administration reported to everyone in the school district and to taxpayers that the district scores are up. What it failed to report to the taxpayers of the system is that the Stanford-9 test scores only scored test-takers that met average or above-average skills within their grade level. What it did not tell everyone was that if a student was below average in his or her grade level, then the student's score was not included in the district's scores. Of course, the scores are going to be up if only the average and the smart children are allowed to be counted.
San Jose Unified School District had 21 out of 29 schools that scored below the 50th percentile on statewide tests. San Jose Unified's administration turned down $1.1 million in which San Jose Unified would have had to match that amount and would have had to work with an external evaluator to boost student performance and test results. The district said that it does not need outside evaluators telling them what to do! It is clear to me that the district does not want to be held accountable for results.
The district should take the money to improve our children's test scores. The district should be held accountable for achieving better test results, improving standards, eliminating social promotion and teaching basic standards. I advocate that the state come in and run our school district and appoint concerned parents to get our children back on the course of being properly educated.
Michael A. Johnson
Jonathan Avenue
Creationists in good company with noted British evolutionist
I read with interest Deborah Taylor-Hollis' article of about evolution and the Kansas State Board of Education ("Toto, we're not evolving anymore," Aug. 25).
I thought she and your readers might like to know that the head of the Kansas State Board of Education, who doesn't see any fossil evidence for evolution, finds herself in rather prestigious company.
In his book Defeating Darwinism, author Philip Johnson quotes from Colin Patterson, noted evolutionist and senior paleontologist at the British Museum of Natural History.
At an address given at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on Nov. 5, 1981, Patterson said, "For over 20 years, I thought I was working on evolution. [But] there wasn't one thing I knew about it. ... So for the last few weeks I've tried putting a simple question to various people ... 'Can you tell me anything you know about evolution ... any one true thing?'
"I tried that question on the geology staff at the Field Museum of Natural History and the only answer I got was silence. I tried it on the members of the Evolutionary Morphology Seminar in the University of Chicago, a very prestigious body of evolutionists, and all I got there was silence for a long time and eventually one person said, 'Yes, I do know one thing--it ought not to be taught in high school.'
"During the past few years ... you have experienced a shift from evolution as knowledge to evolution as faith ... Evolution not only conveys no knowledge, but seems somehow to convey anti-knowledge."
Jean Morrow
Clark Way
'Live/work' ordinance can help preserve village atmosphere
As covered in the Resident about two years ago, with the help of Councilman Frank Fiscalini, the "live/work" ordinance was passed, allowing business property owners to build their residence in the back of their business.
I was the first one to ask for the permit to build my home in the back of my business. I even came to the hearing and gave a short speech before councilmembers voted to pass that ordinance. After that, the process to obtain the permit was lengthy and difficult because the staff at the city planning department was learning how to apply the new regulation. It was aggravating, but also very interesting, as I had the opportunity to see the transition of an ordinance from theory to practice.
The project is now complete, including landscaping. My husband and I now live in our home in the back of our shop. A lot of people stop by to tell us how good the place looks. I hope our experience will encourage other shop owners in Willow Glen to do what we did. It will help preserve the friendly and warm atmosphere of a village and help solve the problem of housing shortage.
Phuong Malkin
Towne Flower
Party exemplifies the importance of friends
On Aug. 7, 1999, Dennis Colopy celebrated his 50th birthday at Ridgeview Avenue in San Jose at a big surprise party.
Dennis is to be commended for all the community service he has rendered throughout his 20 years of business and dedication in helping people. Dennis Colopy was born on Aug. 13, 1949, and is a graduate of San Jose State [University]. He started his health and nutrition business, Down to Earth, in 1979.
Family and friends attended the party. Needless to say, the party was perfectly arranged and organized to perfection by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Colopy. The menu was a beautiful buffet and there was special music. The guest of honor, Dennis, arrived blindfolded, in a limousine, and was honored by 100 people yelling, "Surprise!"
The bottom line of this story of long-time friends gathering for Dennis is an example of what togetherness is all about. To exemplify to the "New Generation" how they too can appreciate parties at home with friends and family, sharing love and warmth, real "down to earth" fun.
Isabel Mack
Willow Glen
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
