Letters

Football coach made a difference for the students

As Scott Downs retires from 12 years of coaching Los Gatos High School frosh/soph football, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a man who has meant so much to the community of Los Gatos and to myself.

As a coach and teacher, he was an inspiration to all students. He was not just a teacher, but a mentor as well. His commitment to both academics and athletics ensured that his students were well prepared for the life ahead of them. He was approachable and always cared about how you were doing--both on and off the field, in school or out. His character and compassion is of the caliber to which we should all aspire.

I have known Scott Downs for 15 years, not only as a student of his, but now as his teacher. Out of all of the teachers I have had throughout the years, he has had the most impact on my life. What I learned from him as teacher has helped inspire me as a person and as a martial arts instructor. Scott and his son are now two of my martial arts students, and I feel privileged to be able to give back some of what I learned from him.

Thank you, Scott.

Andrew Fanelli
Los Gatos

Time out from work shows spirit of our community

What makes Los Gatos such a special community, especially in the Holiday Season, are the many caring and generous residents of our community.

Jon Anderson of A to Z Nursery exemplifies this. I serve on the board of the nonprofit agency Help One Child, an organization dedicated to assisting foster children and families. Jon recently, during his business's busiest time of year, selflessly donated a half day of his time and shared his exotic animals to the joy and amazement of nearly 200 children in attendance.

People like Jon demonstrate that the spirit of giving is alive and well in Los Gatos.

Brent Ventura
Los Gatos

School stress led to serious eating disorder

According to the article about college pressures on high-school seniors in the Dec. 22 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, I am one of the "unlucky" ones to develop an eating disorder due to the stress. However, I don't consider myself unlucky. The disease has put me through physical and emotional torture, but it's also given me a new perspective.

Freshman year, when I developed the disorder, I was chasing the A's and taking all honors courses. After three years of struggling and never recovering because school was my No. 1 priority, I realized something had to change. Senior year is supposed to be fun, yet for me, it's been anything but.

I spent the beginning of the year fighting my parents, my friends and myself, giving in to the eating disorder and school. Faced with losing all I'd worked for (because my parents and my doctor vowed to not let me go away to college unless I was really well), I changed my life. I've been working on my senior year and applications away from the tense school environment, as I've had a home tutor since early November. I've gained a lot of understanding of my past and focus for my future. Receiving A's is no longer my goal--staying happy and healthy is.

I consider those who haven't realized how meaningless grades are in the long run the unlucky ones. They'll continue to kill themselves and one day realize it was all for nothing.

Gretchen Halldin
Los Gatos

Senior task force applications are being accepted

I would like to thank the Los Gatos Town Council on its vote to establish a task force for the purpose of exploring the possibilities of improving the senior services provided by the town of Los Gatos.

At this time, the office of the Town Clerk has applications available for people to serve on the task force. I would urge those who are interested to in accomplishing this task to apply before Jan. 10.

Here is an opportunity to participate in a task of great importance, as a successful solution will have quite an impact on many people who will benefit from this.

I hope everyone in Los Gatos has a happy new year.

Egon Jensen
Los Gatos

The majority at Hillbrook School are very happy

Who is speaking for the silent (happy) majority at Hillbrook School?

This is a response to Keith H. Emmons's Dec. 22 letter concerning Hillbrook School. Holding an opinion that is contrary to the majority is a frustrating position to be in, as Mr. Emmons's letter revealed.

The changes Mr. Emmons is resisting are the very changes the majority of our parents--in particular those newer to the school--have been demanding and are now embracing: new and newly invigorated faculty, stronger curriculum, smaller class size, new and upgraded classrooms, technology, student representation to the administration, faculty and parental involvement in the newly published strategic plan, and the list goes on.

Change is difficult, and Hillbrook has experienced some very significant changes in the last three years. Our male veteran headmaster retired and was replaced by a new female head. Our longtime assistant head retired. We've rebuilt whole sections of the campus. We've revamped the old curriculum. We've adopted a double-class model that has a maximum of 18 students per teacher, which has meant new faculty openings.

Meanwhile, as new families have enrolled (with their own expectations and requirements for their children's education), certainly Mr. Emmons's "old Hillbrook" has changed, but I believe for the better. In fact, this school year, for the first time, Hillbrook is fully enrolled.

I'm sorry that Mr. Emmons chose to air his dissatisfaction with a private school in a public forum, but since he did, I'd like to clarify two misstatements he made.

First, there were 68 parents--not the "more than 160" Mr. Emmons wrote about in his letter--who signed a letter last year asking for more open communication and a forum in which to voice their concerns regarding the new administration and faculty resignations. Second, contrary to Mr. Emmons's understanding, the school's Parent Council president is and has been an ex officio (non-voting) member of the school's Board of Trustees, with responsibility to attend board meetings and to report back to the council on relevant issues.

To avoid yet another responding letter concerning conflict of interest, yes, I am an avid supporter of the school. Our three children have been enrolled there since our now eighth-grader was 3 years old. I am an active volunteer (member of the Parent Council), and my husband is this year's volunteer Board of Trustees chair. It's a fact--we're biased. We love the school, now as much as ever, and would recommend it to any parent looking for a child-centered, independent-school experience.

Kenis M. Dunne
Los Gatos

Power maneuver in Monte Sereno was political ploy

The recent power play executed on Dec. 7 by the Monte Sereno City Council, "Vengeance Is Mine Troika," should come as no surprise to the residents of our city. Small-minded, arrogant politicians love to get even. It happens every day in the county, in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., so why do we think it won't happen here?

Both Joel Gambord and Gordon Knight have been outstanding council members, working diligently and with a spirit of cooperation to effectively govern Monte Sereno. Their demonstrated competence in working with other agencies for the benefit of the city shows ample ability to chair Monte Sereno City Council meetings. They earned a chance to be mayor and vice mayor--not that there is any power connected with the jobs--but as a token of appreciation for their efforts.

We should not overlook another possible motive for the actions of the "Vengeance Is Mine Troika." Suzanne Jackson is running to be the Republican Party's candidate for the California Assembly. So is Steve Blanton--Mayor Steve Blanton! Politicians hate to be outranked title-wise in their election literature; they think it dulls their luster.

The Republican Central Committee and Jim Cunneen better get off the fence and change their positions of supporting both Jackson and Blanton to one of backing Steve Blanton 100 percent. To not do so earns them the reputation of promoting vengeful, small-minded, arrogant politicians. They also risk losing me as a Republican voter for the first time in more than 50 years.

C.J. Szukalski
Monte Sereno

Flick family helped ease holiday parking

We at the Fretwell Building on Main Street and University Avenue would like to thank the Flick family for fixing their empty lot for holiday parking for everyone. They graded the lot, marked off spaces and welcomed holiday shoppers.

Thanks, Flicks.

Shirley Henderson, Mary Mills and Chuck Bergtold
Los Gatos

Police Report

It's hard to export what we've become

Committee will explore need for AP, honors class changes

Roni Kole Trio will perform for the Concert Association

Real Goods sells environmentally-friendly products

Picture From the Past

Sports Briefs

Los Gatos boys take third at Soquel Classic

Wildcats split soccer decisions

LG girls third in Silver Creek Holiday Classic