The Cupertino Courier

Letters

The lack of halloween spirit in town is scary

Editor's note: We received this letter too late to include in the issue before Halloween, but wanted to include it as a reminder for next year.

In the last three years, there has been a decrease of interest in our community about Halloween. Hardly anyone had their porch lights on and candy waiting for the spirited youngsters who paraded the streets in costume. The glowing carved pumpkins have seemingly vanished, and spookily decorated houses look to be a thing of the past. Why the sudden lack of participation? Is it too much trouble to put some candy in a bowl and answer the door to smiling young faces once a year? If the kids (and their parents) can take the time to buy and dress up in costumes, you can certainly get into the fun also. The festivity of this holiday has seemed to disappear, along with the tradition. So, when Oct. 31 comes this year, please make it worthwhile for the youth of our community and make this a great experience for them.

Renee McCloskey, 14
Cupertino

Student opposes idea for year-round school

Cupertino Union School District is doing it again--considering year-round schools. They might do it to meet standards for class-size reduction. I personally hate the idea, and I guess most of my peers hate it, too. Look at the disadvantages. Your children may never see their friends. While your children on a three-week vacation, their friends are in school. The traditional summer will be gone. Planning family vacations will be difficult. I simply do not want to be sitting in a 105-degree classroom on July 15. Remember, it's your kids going to school. Kids simply don't like the idea, and some parents don't, either.

I say the CUSD should oppose the idea and just find more schools. Keep in consideration that your kids don't like the idea, and they are the ones who go to the schools. There are many disadvantages, so please don't wait until they vote for year-round schools and then decide you don't like it. The board will be voting in November, so please take action and oppose the idea.

Wayne Huang
Kennedy Junior High

Nice job, Pam Marino

I just wanted to write a line or two to compliment Pam Marino on two recent articles:

"City makes a U-turn on traffic sign" and "Parents agree: school traffic still a mess." Great articles. Keep up the good work.

Dr. Christian C. Lund
Cupertino

'Hillside home' story contains factual errors: Please tell the whole truth!

The article "Council OKs scaled-back plans for hillside home" in the Oct. 29 issue of The Courier was materially incorrect. The article said that the Planning Commission, in July, sent our original plans for a 6,500-square-foot house back for further work. Our original plan and submission has always been for a 4,547-square-foot house. The house does not sit on the top of the ridge line but is wrapped around the hill and set into the land with the tallest point from grade at 18 feet, which considerably reduces the visual impact from the valley floor.

Regarding the residents of Ricardo Road, the article forgot to mention that the residents of Ricardo Road stated at both the Planning Commission and at the City Council meetings that my wife and I have been very active in soliciting their input. In fact, due to this collaborative process, changes were made to the plans that positively impacted the views and safety of residents on Ricardo.

Some minor points, my first name is French and spelled with one L, two Ps and an E: Philippe. Also, the expert's name is Nelsen, not Nelson.

While living in Cupertino for four years, my wife and I have been avid readers of The Courier. Please keep on the good work by telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Anne H. and Philippe J. Dor
Cupertino

Bonds are a bad way to pay for a new roof

I feel compelled to respond to the article in the Oct. 8 issue of The Courier entitled "FUHSD gauges support for April bond measure." The information presented in this article frustrates me on many counts.

I received, completed and returned one of the questionnaires the article refers to, which asks how to prioritize the financial issues the district faces. This card was a simple questionnaire and provided no indication of where the money would come from for the listed projects. I felt that the district was asking for my opinion for priority spending of its minimal assets, not looking for support of a bond measure. If this card is used to gauge bond support, then I must say it is very misleading, and my response will be incorrectly interpreted.

Why must the bond election be held in April, if it is held at all? Surely the roofs didn't start leaking, the plumbing failing and all the computer resources getting backdated only last month. While I'm not sure whether the city or the district pays for these special elections, it just doesn't make good fiscal sense to me. If it must be voted on, then let it be voted on in a general election. If November 1998 is too late for these repairs to begin, then shame on the district board for missing the boat on this year's election.

Please don't misunderstand me as being down on education. I just don't believe that bonds, the most expensive way to raise money, are the right way to support the schools. We need to break this bond cycle now. I will consider voting for these bonds to fix the problems today if I can see a serious, realistic plan by the district to begin saving and budgeting so that these are the last bond measures we'll ever have to vote on.

Ken Gudan
Sunnyvale

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