Letters

Hillbrook changes are improving the school a lot

It is unfortunate that you chose to publish the letter in the Dec. 22 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times from Keith Emmons. He is a Hillbrook parent who has apparently chosen to play out his personal vendetta against certain school personnel in a public forum. In doing so, he has cast Hillbrook in a light that is grossly inaccurate.

Unlike Mr. Emmons's perceived experience, our family has never felt anything remotely resembling "hatred, mistrust and fear" at the school. Quite the contrary, Hillbrook school is a wonderful learning environment; the faculty is extremely attentive to the needs of the students and the children love to go there every day.

The Board of Trustees and new administration have recently made many improvements to the school, including the infusion of new and energetic faculty, an updated curriculum and the construction of new buildings, including a science lab.

Some people have a very difficult time with change. Most of us at Hillbrook, however, see the change as positive. It's too bad Mr. Emmons cannot get past his own personal disappointment and appreciate what a great opportunity his children have.

Sally E. May
Los Gatos

Volunteers made sure seniors had a special day

The town of Los Gatos Senior Drop-In Center hosted the annual senior Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 20 at the Neighborhood Center, serving more than 150 local senior citizens.

Chris Benson of C.B. Hannegan's coordinated the food donations from local restaurants and distributors, cooked and carved the turkeys, and donated and cooked the mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes and gravy. A very big "thank you" to Chris for his dedication to this dinner for our seniors.

Paul Pavicich of the Los Gatos Brewing Co. donated turkeys, as did the Los Gatos Town Employee Foundation; salad and fixings were compliments of Gold Rule Produce (Morgan Hill); Le Boulanger furnished the rolls and butter; Delizioso supplied the pumpkin pies; Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co. supplied the coffee; and Whole Foods Market supplied the orange juice and sparkling apple cider.

The following businesses, organizations and individuals also were responsible for providing the seniors with this memorable afternoon of fun: Ace Los Gatos Hardware, Affordable Treasures, Albertsons-Camden Avenue, A to Z Nursery Inc., Bears in the Wood, Blossom Hill Cleaners, Classic Car Wash-Lark Avenue, Cotton Works, Diddams, Domus, Fiori's, Happy Hoofers Walking Group, Green Thumb Nursery. Live Oak Senior Nutrition and Service Center, Longs-King's Court, Los Gatos Co., Los Gatos Lodge, Los Gatos Porch, Lunardi's, Model Nails, McWhorter's, Nob Hill Foods, Purrsnickety, Rite Aid, Safeway Stores-N. Santa Cruz, Safeway Stores-Union, Sheila Hanes-International Hair Design, Smith & Hawken, Staples, Walgreens-N. Santa Cruz.

Thank you, too, to Clare Dudley and the other members of the Happy Hoofers Walking Group for requesting the door-prize donations and picking them up and delivering them to the Neighborhood Center.

Ben Wilson entertained with a number of lively tunes on the piano.

Waiters and waitresses were provided by St. Mary's Junior High School Ministry and Desiree and Heather McEntee and Jessica Landrum. The seniors really enjoy the opportunity to spend time with the young people of our community.

Thank you to Tom Dodge and members of the Los Gatos Rotary Club for setting up and taking down all the tables and chairs.

Joyce Meurer and her helpers from the Los Gatos-Saratoga Seniors made all of the lovely turkey table decorations.

Workers in the kitchen included John Krepick, Becky McEntee, Bo Sutherland and Shanta Shenoy. Sister Kathryn Ondreyco, Marie Whitworth and Nancy Sutherland also helped set up and serve, and they supervised the students.

Finally, Jo Griner of St. Luke's Church in Los Gatos picked up all the boxes and bags of food donated by the senior attendees for the Holiday Food Pantry run by the volunteers at the church.

Sue Hamilton
Volunteer, Los Gatos Seniors

Neighborhoods, merchants must work together

Thank you to the Almond Grove residents for putting up with the additional parking in your neighborhood during the Christmas holidays. Unfortunately, until the new parking facilities are completed in about three years, there will be increased demands on parking in the central business district and in Almond Grove.

The only option, as I see it, is that the merchants and the neighborhoods work together for each other's best interest in order to maintain property values and a way of life. One without the other would be to our disadvantage.

The town as well must re-establish a vision for the downtown and assure us that it will diligently avoid further intensification of the uses of existing buildings, such as The Spa at Broadway and Santa Cruz Avenue, which the Downtown Specific Plan does not allow.

Let the council know your feelings about why we added more than 50,000 square feet of office, restaurant and other high-use business into the central business district when the Downtown Specific Plan, which was put into place to protect you and me, strictly forbids it. (This does not include the Old Town addition of 40,000 square feet of retail.)

Restricted 24-hour parking is not an option. This is not even allowed in San Francisco, where there are absolutely no parking spaces. This can only serve to create havoc during the time it takes to build the parking structures, if not create a downturn in retail and serve to split what has always been a mutual partnership of residential and retail that has made Los Gatos what it is today--a place where you can walk to the theatre, shop and be known as a "towner" by name.

Larry Arzie
Los Gatos

Does Monte Sereno need a name change?

Wouldn't you agree that the time has come for Monte Sereno to change its name to something more appropriate like, say--Monte di Guerra?

Betty McClendon
Los Gatos

Think town listens to neighbors? Try checking the facts

You must be kidding! In the editorial in the Jan. 5 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, you say that neighbors make a difference in Los Gatos. Attend a Planning Commission meeting and get your facts straight.

My heart went out to Daniel Wiles on Englewood Avenue when he requested the removal of a diseased tree in the back of his property because the tree had overtaken and broken his only walkway. Mr. Wiles is nearly blind and falls frequently as he attempts to sit in his back yard. He had his neighbor present in support of his request. I was deeply saddened when his application was denied. [He appealed on Dec. 8 and has since withdrawn the appeal.]

Likewise, Dick Kehrig, presented a property with both his contiguous neighbors [on Shannon Road] requesting approval of his application. Mr. Kehrig stated that a delay would cause him extreme financial hardship, and his neighbors wanted the project built. One of the neighbors speaking in support was criticized for the size and style of his $ 2.7 million home by a commissioner. Mr. Kehrig's application had no objections, but was rejected as well.

Mrs. Foster [who lives on Chester Street] wanted to add her second-story addition with no objections from neighbors. She lived in the house most of her life and worked a long time to afford the master suite; it was denied. The value of the property would certainly have supported her position of adding her "dream" master suite. [Her appeal will be heard in February.]

The last Planning Commission meeting had 0 neighbor objections and 90 percent denials (Christians 0/Lions 9).

Your previous editorial "New Rule will keep the council less smarmy" referred to a new process that allows the council to call up a planning decision for review.

This was to have been resolved at the last Town Council meeting, but continues to be a problem. During the Dec. 8 Planning Commission meeting, a letter of objection was submitted by a member of the Design Review Committee. This was the only objection to an otherwise 100 percent, unanimous neighborhood-supported application. The letter was filed the day of the hearing at the request of a planning commissioner. This is very questionable practice because it implies the decision of this commissioner was made prior to the commissioner hearing the applicant, and this commissioner wanted to manipulate the decision of the other commissioners inappropriately. I will be happy to supply specifics, however the council decision has been subverted.

Dennis Oman
Los Gatos

Carl Heintze's columns are great

Thank you, Carl Heintze, for the wonderful, positive column in the Jan. 5 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times on your feelings about living in America and California.

You always express so many of the good things in life in your writings--you seem like such a pleasant, understanding and happy person. I always feel lucky when I am able to read your contributions.

Anne Thatcher
Los Gatos

Police Report

Nicknames serve purpose, even when they're cheesy

Grant helps school library make important purchases

Obituaries

Picture From the Past

Sports Briefs

Los Gatos girls win three basketball games

Wildcats defeat Fremont at Bianchini Memorial

LG girls soccer team defeats Milpitas

Youth baseball, softball teams hold signups

Annual Hot Stove Banquet to be held Feb. 1