In response to Mr. Smith's inquiry as to the whereabouts of the large conquistador helmet that was once prominently displayed near City Hall, it can be seen rusting in a field behind the fence where Mary Avenue ends.

I, too, am repulsed by the sculpture (whatever it is) at the corner of De Anza and Stevens Creek. Has the Courier ever taken a poll on positive versus negative reaction to the structure that is considered art?

I would think the results would be of interest to Cupertino residents, especially to the "morions" who allocated the $150,000 for the Perspectives structure.

Jay Hopkins

Cupertino

As it turns out, Þreworks display was a grand show

Last summer, the Cupertino Courier published my letter objecting to the city council's plans to move the Fourth of July fireworks to the grounds of Cupertino High School—just a couple of blocks away from my house.

As it happened, that fireworks show was cancelled.

I am writing now to say that, although I still had reservations about using 'Tino as an alternative to De Anza College, my wife and I watched the fireworks from Phil Lane and we enjoyed them thoroughly. It was a grand show and a good way to say Happy Birthday to our country.

The city and the fireworks crew did a fine job.

Edward A. Jajko

Cupertino

Initiatives mean to halt skyward sprawl in City

Messrs. Bullock and Greenstein lament in recent letters that the CCC initiatives will promote "urban sprawl." Where, pray tell, would such sprawl occur, given that Cupertino land is near capacity in utilization?

As the cartoon by DeCinzo in the July 14 issue of the Cupertino Courier depicts, Cupertino has already sprawled. The only remaining opportunity for sprawl is upward, which is now advocated by some city officials and developers.

Such upward sprawl would turn Cupertino into a city of narrow canyons created by high-rise buildings that would cut off our view of the surrounding hills and would foster all the other negative consequences of crowding and overpopulation.

The initiatives are specifically aimed at setting standards, which will prevent skyward sprawl of our city and maintain the sprawl we currently have and love.

Kim Smith, city clerk, has stated that an initiatives election will cost between $80,000 and $270,000. However, according to the municipal elections code, the city council can avoid an election expense altogether by simply adopting the initiatives as amendments to the General Plan. Given the overwhelming support of the initiatives by citizens, this would seem to be the best course of action at a time when city budgets are tight.

Of course, if some city officials wish to thwart the will of the citizens, they can insist on spending our money for an election.

Robert L. Garten

Cupertino

Value of festivals is not only measured by money

The Chinese Moon Festival was originally welcomed by Cupertino as an event that would benefit our city and promote cultural understanding. Yet Councilperson Kris Wang recently complained that the festival is not giving enough benefit to the city because she does not see enough dollars in return. She has even referred to "misuse of taxpayer's money," and suggested that the Chinese Moon Festival be billed retroactively for the past five years' park use.

Yet we Cupertino residents enjoy the Moon Festival, the free "Shakespeare in the Park," the annual Art and Wine Festival, the Cherry Blossom Festival and the Oktoberfest. Is it a waste of taxpayers' money to let these groups appear in our Memorial Park?

According to Kris Wang's thinking, we should cancel them all.

By comparison, the July Fourth fireworks were displayed on one of Cupertino city's school grounds, with spectators seated in three nearby areas.

This is a different venue, but does Wang regard the free use of school grounds as a waste of taxpayers' money? Some events have more than monetary value.

As a Cupertino resident, I am proud that our city has these events that have been promoting cross-cultural understanding, especially the pride of being American that the July fireworks brought to me.

Must we measure everything by money only? Can dollars buy love and unity among us?

Jennie Yeung

Cupertino

The Cupertino Courier has been honored in the California Newspapers Publishers Association 2003 Better Newspapers Contest.

At the awards ceremony, held in Southern California on July 17, the Courier was named a Blue Ribbon Finalist in the business or financial story category for Allison Rost's Sept. 24, 2003, cover story, "Work Space." The Cupertino Courier competed with other newspapers in the 11,001­25,000 non-daily circulation division.

"Our goal each and every week is to produce the highest quality community newspapers possible within our economic model. It is not to win awards," said David Cohen, publisher of Silicon Valley Community Newspapers, parent company of the Courier. "The fact that we are recognized by our fellow journalists for our efforts is certainly gratifying and reaffirms that we are fulfilling our mission. I'm proud of our editorial department."

Honors awarded to the Courier's sister newspapers in their respective circulation divisions were: Los Gatos Weekly-Times, first place photo essay, second place editorial pages, Blue Ribbon Finalist general excellence, editorial comment and page layout & design; Saratoga News, first place sports story, second place writing, Blue Ribbon Finalist photo essay, feature photo and editorial cartoon; Almaden Resident, first place editorial cartoon, Blue Ribbon Finalist sports coverage and sports photo; Rose Garden Resident, first place editorial cartoon; Willow Glen Resident, Blue Ribbon Finalist editorial cartoon.