Over the past couple of weeks, we have all seen a senseless expenditure of town monies as they install a traffic signal at the Daves/Winchester intersection. Some social aristocrats deemed this a necessary obstruction. The only one who wins here is the concrete contractor, and we will suffer from increased air pollution.

Why the light? Too many accidents? No, only two in 20 years on this section of Winchester. Too many children crossing for Daves Avenue School? At most, five use the crossing—with a guard—each day. Too many soccer moms and their SUVs, coffee cups in one hand and a cell phone in the other, having trouble getting onto Winchester? That has to be it, as there is no other plausible reason.

The impact of this flawed and senseless thinking is that our neighborhood is getting ruined by the increased traffic coming onto Vineland as sensible drivers want to avoid the inconvenience of the traffic control and overly aggressive police patrols and their ticketing. We see numerous vehicles with kids' seats now turning down Vineland to avoid the now-troublesome intersection, and we only expect it to get worse.

Thanks, Los Gatos Town Council—in your infinite witlessness, you have ruined an otherwise quiet neighborhood. Just hope it happens in your backyard next time!

—Bill Ferguson, Monte Sereno


Planning verdict popular with these neighbors

We would like to express our support of the planning commission's decision to again deny the request for development of 98 Forrest Ave. as presented by the applicant.

First, we support the right of the applicant to develop the property—in fact, we strongly desire that the property be developed from its neglected state.

But we lament the loss of architectural features found in the house, which is more than 50 years old, a structure that the applicant has slated for demolition. He has chosen to not incorporate any of the lines and architectural themes in the existing historic structure (whether officially designated as such or not) into his plan for subdividing the lot and building two spec homes.

Ironically, we recently rebuilt our home—previously a flat-roofed, uninsulated cottage next door to the applicant—to reflect and complement the bungalow design elements found in the applicant's structure.

Readers may not remember that the Los Gatos Weekly­Times reported on the initial design proposal for 98 Forrest. That proposal called for nearly 8,000 square feet of improvements in two homes, both with full stacked-wall second stories, all this on approximately a 9,500-square-foot lot.

Thank you to the planning commission for not succumbing to a land speculator with an ill-conceived proposal. Los Gatos will look fondly upon your adherence to the vision of our neighborhood and community, well into the future.

—Scott Partridg, Los Gatos


Speaking out for Christian Scientists

After watching a recent episode of the TV program The Practice, I felt compelled to write and explain why I am a Christian Scientist.

I birthed four daughters safely, quickly and harmoniously without drugs or supplements. I also raised these daughters safely and harmoniously without immunizations, antibiotics or other drugs. They safely performed in various competitive athletic activities, including gymnastics, ice skating, field hockey and skiing. They were healed of childhood diseases quickly through Christian Science treatment and without any aftereffects.

Today these daughters are also students of Christian Science and are raising their children in the Christian Science Sunday school. The teachings of Christian Science have taught me that God is love and that He loves His children. That knowledge has enabled me to come through tough times with courage and good times with gratitude.

The loss of a child is heartbreaking. But to give the impression that unless parents turn to medical professionals for their child's care they are "criminals" is also heartbreaking. Even though I have lived my life as a Christian Scientist, I am not ignorant of the medical field. I have great admiration for those who have chosen to help mankind. But even they admit that medical science has no guarantees.

Life experiences should teach us how to be more loving and kind to our neighbor, as Jesus taught and practiced. My hope is that mankind will grow to be more compassionate and learn that there are infinite solutions, just as God's love and care is infinite.

—Margaret Caldwell, Los Gatos


Eight outs to go 5 runs behind, Angels come back

I know that I live in "Giants country," but this poem came pouring out of me on my way home from work. I hope that you can use it, even though it is about the Angels.

Everyone comes from somewhere—I'm from Anaheim.
Disneyland and the Angels were my, "Once upon a time."
Dean and I would ride our bikes right down Sunkist Street;
we'd lock'em up by the railroad tracks, go in and find a seat.
Nolan threw his fastball; Wally'd hit it on the screws.
And, yeah, the Angels won some games and every year they'd lose.
But I never lost my faith in them, though who'd blame me if I did?
After all, they were my hometown team, and I was just a kid.
And the seasons flew on past, I became a man.
Despite the years of disappointment, I was still an Angels fan.
I'd stick with them no matter what—that's just what fans do.
And talk about adversity—there was plenty they went through,
from Lyman Bostock getting shot to Donnie Moore's bad pitch.
Their team bus even lost control and landed in a ditch.
I never dreamed of championships—a good season would be nice.
In all the years I've been a fan, it only happened twice.
Then out of nowhere came the team for which I had been waiting:
Baseball players, not superstars, whose credentials needed stating.
Modest and unassuming, they got very little press
until they beat the Yankees—that surprised me, I confess.
Then the Twins went down in five; Anaheim was series-bound.
The Giants and the Angels were the teams who'd take the mound.
Then in game six, eight outs to go, Angels down by five,
Spezio hit a three-run shot, and the fans, they came alive.
Glaus came to bat with runners on and a chance to take the lead.
He connected with a mighty blast, to left, he hit a seed.
The tide had turned—the Angels won, and that is all she wrote.
Game seven was an afterthought, some kind of final note.
The lesson reaffirmed for me that you win when you're a team.
If everyone contributes, you can finally reach your dream.
And I got to watch the best baseball that I had ever seen
since I was a boy, just 8 years old, along with my friend Dean.

—Stan Graber, Los Gatos

CORRECTION

The Nov. 20 Los Gatos Town Council vote box should have indicated that Sandy Decker and Steve Glickman voted to uphold the planning commission's denial for a swimming pool.