Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Letters

One word is all it takes

Here's a one-word response to Larry Arzie's "telling it like it is" letter to the editor in the Oct. 30 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times: Bravo!

Betty McClendon
Los Gatos

Who approved one-sided rally?

I had a friend named George Sammuels, who was well-known as a ceramics teacher at Los Gatos High School for many years. When something wasn't quite right, when the pieces didn't quite fit, George would say, "What the hell ... ?," and everyone would burst out laughing.

I have two kids at Los Gatos High School. They just came home and told me about all of the excitement with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein at school at the special assembly, and all the football players on stage and the cheerleaders and the extra police.

My wife and I asked about the purpose of the assembly, and what was said and by whom. We asked about the other side of the issue and what was presented by the school. We asked about discussion in classes coordinated with the assembly so that each student had something to consider from both sides of the issue.

We were told that the room was filled with signs supporting one side of the issue, and how students were disciplined for raising questions or disagreeing, and how some were removed from the room when they expressed disagreement.

"What the hell ...?" No one is laughing.

When did our school become a launch pad for political sound bites? When did our school begin teaching that removal of disagreement was the way to deal with opposing opinions?

When did our school begin preventing inquiry from its students? When did our high school begin to exploit or manipulate our kids in support of a political agenda? When did our school begin to use the football team to advance support of a partisan issue? "What the hell ...?"

In an era of "Just Say No," we need to know who said "yes" to this outrageous exhibition. Who thought that no one would mind? Who thought that the students didn't know what was happening, and how they were being used? Who agreed that school classroom time was to give way to partisan politics?

This wasn't even an instance of a political candidate coming to town and being given a welcome by the school. The appearance of a state senator on the campaign trail for his or her re-election would be very exciting and a welcome experience, but would, in my view, require an invitation extended to the opponent. But this wasn't a senatorial candidate on the campaign trail for election.

This was partisan politics in the world of initiatives, plain and simple. This was partisanship politics injected into the school day. This was improper and inexcusable. I think that I speak for a number of parents when I express hope that there will be an investigation into this incident and appropriate disciplinary action dealt the individuals who overstepped the bounds of fairness, of reasonableness and of respect for the students of the high school.

Irwin Joseph
Los Gatos

Commentary on Claravale dairy was misinformed

I do not know the current negotiations going on between Monte Sereno and the Claravale Dairy. But I do know that Melvin Hulme's opinion piece in the Oct. 23 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times is full of misinformation. Although he describes the dairy as a "refreshing memory of the dying past," it is clear with all of his descriptions of disease, dust, pesticides and headaches that he has no appreciation of love for the past, or for natural surroundings.

It is unfair to compare the economics of a raw dairy and a commercial one, and, in fact, not even possible for a variety of reasons. Raw dairy products retail for a lot more than assembly-line milk products and thus, fewer cows are needed. Pesticides would be kept to a minimum on a raw food dairy, if used at all. If Mr. Hulmes wants to get vigilant about the use of pesticides in his part of the world, he should take up a cause against the lawns and estates of his Monte Sereno residents.

There, he would no doubt find massive pesticide use, not to mention widespread termite fumigation.

He asks who will take the place of the dedicated man who is retiring? Someone on the same wavelength, with an eye to the future, has already taken over and has already been written up in earlier articles in the Weekly-Times.

The Claravale Dairy is more than a "milk museum." It is a working dairy and one of the few places where people can get milk products the way they were intended to be consumed: fresh, full of all its nutrients.

Pasteurization renders milk much less digestible, and up to 80 percent of the vitamins are destroyed. Heating destroys enzymes. As much as 50 percent of the calcium in pasteurized milk is not utilized by the body. The reason there are few raw milk dairies left is economic greed. Pasteurized milk has a much longer shelf life in the grocery store. Health fears have been exaggerated to effect this. For further information on this read Immunization: The Reality Behind the Myth, by Walene James (1988, Bergin & Garvey). But a good benefit of this scare is that raw dairies are scrupulously checked.

Lower standards for commercial dairies allows these farmers to be dirty.

I believe Mr. Hulmes' main consideration is financial. I find it interesting that a city with the abundant per capita of Monte Sereno would not have the resources to support quality of life. Aren't there special grants and pockets created to get tax write-offs and benefits to support such endeavors?

Rhonda Hoefs
Los Gatos

News story sent the wrong message

I would like to clarify information reported in the article about school board candidates' contribution filings. If the writer had done the job completely, your readers would know that the $500 loan I reported was from my husband, and a few very close friends also gave me $100. How shocking! What the reporter failed to say was that I did not accept because I will not accept a contribution or endorsement from any person or organization that has an agenda that would be in conflict with my strong ethical values. Every contribution I have received was from a caring parent, teacher or friend who supports my ideas and beliefs.

The article also implied that candidates who had not filed had done something sinister. The truth is that unless a candidate raises $1,000 or more, filing a 490 report is not required.

Gail Shwartz
Los Gatos

Thanks for making me the best clergyman

I wish to express my appreciation to the Los Gatos Weekly-Times for listing the " Best member of the clergy" as a category in Best of Los Gatos 1996 for our wonderful town. Your newspaper is to be saluted for bringing out the best in and among us. Thank you.

To everyone in the area, I invite you to meet the fantastic folks of the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. worship, and education at 11 a.m. The congregation of friendship and joy made it possible for me to be an effective minister and the "best."

Rev. Jeffrey L. Kane
Presbyterian Church

Letter writer thinks his way is only way

We have heard Larry Arzie speak on and on about how poorly this town is run. Judging by his letter to the editor in the Oct. 30 issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, he seems to think he's the only one with a sense of the direction that this town should take. My suggestion to Mr. Arzie is that he should "put his money where his mouth is," and place himself under the public's scrutiny.

Chris Rollice
Los Gatos

The spirits say thanks, Los Gatos

The spirits of Halloween are alive and well and living in Los Gatos. Our extended family of old witches, dead fisherman, pirates, road-kill and a dead archer wanted to let you know how very much we appreciated and enjoyed our night among the living.

Los Gatans did more than rise to the occasion. The reception was spectacular! Haunted houses, dancing ghosts, eerie choirs, fantastic pumpkins and unbelievable generosity, not only fed the tummies but the imaginations. What fun! What joy! What a town! Thanks from the resurrected. Charles, Kendall and Chris Phillip-Self, Mallory and Cecelia Burda, Scott Brown, Michael and Michelle Johnson and Carol Schrager.

Chris Self
Los Gatos