Saratoga News

Letters & Opinions

Letters

Seniors fortunate to have Huff as new director

The article on Susan Huff ("Huff takes over at Saratoga Senior Center," Feb. 12 by Chris Vongsarath), the new Saratoga Senior Center director, was excellent. In the short time she has been at the center I have observed her positive attitude. She is friendly and open to new ideas. I feel we are fortunate to have her at the Senior Center.

Louise Webb

Canyon View Drive

Fashion show a wonderful event that helps Village

On March 1, the Saratoga Village Development Council and the Village Gardeners are celebrating their third anniversary. The SVDC came from the old Saratoga Business Development Council (it was changed to "Village" because the Village needed support more than the other retail areas of Saratoga). The Village Gardeners emerged as a group of volunteers dedicated to the idea of beautifying the Village with flowers.

Both groups have proved highly successful. More than 20 events sponsored by the SVDC have brought young and old alike into the Village to celebrate all kinds of events, whether St. Patrick's Day, our pet parade, our Living History Day, the Chinese Lantern Festival, dances in the parking lots or to celebrate Halloween (just a few).

Because the merchants in the Village are generally mom and pop stores, the SVDC holds a fashion show each winter. The funds generated at this show, sponsored by Flobell Boutique on Big Basin with food, wine and silent auction items, supply the money for the subsequent events and the beautification of the Village.

Please support this worthy event, held on Sunday, March 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Foothill Club. The tickets are $45 and can be purchased from many stores in the Village. It is a wonderful event!

Thank you to all of our merchants for supporting our events and to our models this year: Terri Creamer from SEF, Carolyn Doles from the high school PTSA, Lucianna from Restorante da Mario on Big Basin, Emily Lo from the Chamber of Commerce and Loren Cook and Thi Zambetti from Coldwell Banker.

Jill Hunter

Lomita Avenue
Jill Hunter is a member of the Saratoga City Council.

Quick response to traffic concern at the library

I want to thank Dave Anderson, Barbara Williams, Barbara Powell, John Cherbone, Cathleen Boyer and Chris Morrow of the Saratoga city and Saratoga Library for a prompt response to a condition of traffic safety I considered dangerous at the Saratoga Library. Now, no one should miss the one-way signs and traffic flow directions!

Hopefully this will discourage the traffic flow violation--going the wrong way on a one way lane--and prevent possible injuries. Here is an e-mail I sent to the Saratoga city and Saratoga Library managers a few weeks ago:

"I just would appreciate if something could be done about the parking lot situation at the library. Sooner or later someone will get hurt!

"A couple of days ago I was almost run over once in the short-term parking lot, and a few minutes later I observed the same conditions repeated--and this was not the first time.

"People drive into the parking lot from Saratoga Avenue, and instead of going straight and go to the second left around the island in front of the library to get to the library's short-term parking, they just make a first left (even though there is a sign stating that it is not an entry) and park.

"The first driver I just gave a bleak look, but I suggested to the second driver (in a Cadillac coupe) that this is 'one way,' and the retort was, 'Then you should be careful where you walk!' The third driver (Lexus) just drove in and stopped for a while in the exit late, pointing the wrong way, blocking traffic and chatting with some other people! I suggest that a second sign be installed with a one-way statement and an arrow pointing outward. Hopefully more people would see the sign and behave lawfully."

Don Schmidek

Monte Sereno

Quick follow-up by traffic safety commission

I recently took advantage of the city of Saratoga's new online "Ask Saratoga" outreach program (saratoga.ca.us) and was extremely impressed by the follow-up.

My issue pertained to a safety crossing, and Kristin Borrell responded promptly to my e-mail. Thereafter, she took the initiative to keep me posted and to schedule the issue at the Feb. 7 traffic safety commission meeting. At the meeting, I was treated respectfully and hospitably by a friendly, professional and prepared group of people. I happily walked away, thinking how the entire process had been positive. Kudos to the traffic safety commission.

Teresa Acosta

Saratoga Avenue