Can you imagine your child's teacher asking you for more time in school with your child, in the best interest of your child, for the love of teaching and without a salary increase? Well, as remarkable as it sounds, this is just what has happened at Van Meter Elementary School, thanks in large part to three remarkable kindergarten teachers.

A site-specific proposal written by Lisa Mastroianni and Judy Holcomb to extend the hours of kindergarten at Van Meter was presented to and approved by the Los Gatos Union School District Board of Trustees in December. This program will be implemented on Jan. 21, because amidst the chaos of construction there is now the space available to allow the Van Meter kindergarten teachers to have their own classroom. Van Meter will be the second elementary school in the Los Gatos Union School District with an extended day at kindergarten; Lexington School was the first.

We know for sure that there are many wonderful kindergarten teachers with excellent programs in all of the Los Gatos elementary schools. We are just grateful to these three teachers for seizing the opportunity the construction has allowed to implement an extended-day kindergarten and for their vision for our children. Amazed, grateful, inspiring are just a few of the words parents have used to describe our kindergarten teachers Lisa Mastroianni, Heather Hebard and Judy Holcomb.

We would also like to thank our principal Rosanne Adona, Superintendent Mary Ann Park and the entire board of trustees for allowing the parents to voice their support, listening carefully to our concerns and allowing the teachers to move forward with their proposal. This feels like democracy at its best. We applaud you all.


—Kelli O'Gorman, Lucy Kain and Caissie Stephens,
Van Meter parents

Article is good for community of newcomers

On behalf of the Newcomers Club of Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga, I would like to say how delighted we are with the excellent presentation of our organization afforded by Sandy Sims' article and George Sakkestad's photographs in the Jan. 8 issue.

I am sure that this publicity for our club will help us to reach other new arrivals and thus improve our service to the community.

—Barbara Redman,

Newcomers Club of Los Gatos, Saratoga and Monte Sereno


Town's sending wrong message to shoppers

Los Gatos is not encouraging people to come and shop for the day. With all of the parking being cut to three-hour limits, we are losing tourists and people who would love to come spend the day in our beautiful little town.

The message our town is sending to people is, "Come to our town, but hurry up and leave!"

I take daily walks on my lunch hour around town and have seen so many businesses come and go. These businesses are usually the type that welcome the browser shoppers—art galleries, antique shops and so on. They just don't get the shoppers who have a day to shop any longer.

When my children were younger, I would come downtown to shop all day with my mom and really enjoyed having lunch and walking around. I have talked to others who used to do the same thing. We can no longer spend the day shopping!

Why is Los Gatos so money hungry with the parking and giving tickets? Are they that poor?

The businesses are hurting and something should be done about allowing all-day parking areas again.

—Donna Jeffries, Campbell

(Donna Jeffries now resides in Campbell, but she grew up in Los Gatos and works at Los Gatos High School.)


Town misuses funds on 2003 calendars

On Jan. 8, 2003, I received a full-sized color calendar from the town of Los Gatos. This marks the second consecutive year such a calendar has arrived. An inquiry with the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce revealed that this calendar, like last year's, was sent to all of Los Gatos' 15,000 households at an approximate cost to the town of $1 per calendar. The Chamber was responsible for putting the calendar together.

I don't know about you, but by Jan. 8 I had already received several 2003 calendars (calendars for 2002 likewise arrived after the first week in January). I do not need another calendar! But even more outrageous is the fact that in these times of tight budgets the town is spending money on such frivolous projects.

Just this week my daughter informed me that several Los Gatos High School classes will be dropped during the second semester because there are inadequate funds to meet teachers' salaries. The students in those classes will be forced to either transfer to other already full classes during the same period or transfer to the same class but during another period. Since one of these dropped classes is Spanish, some students will probably have a different teacher for their second semester.

The Jan. 8 Los Gatos Weekly-Times discusses how the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District will be at least $1.6 million short of budget. Maybe town funds can't be allocated directly to support teachers' salaries, but isn't there something wrong with this picture?

—David Weissman, Los Gatos


Canopies are for protection from golf balls

We want to thank all those neighbors—over 20 of you—who attended the planning commission meeting and helped us explain why a variance allowing our two golf ball shelters should have been approved. We also wish to thank those who couldn't come but wrote letters of support. We were, of course, disappointed with the commission's rejection.

We have spent a year trying to convince the town that this is a safety situation, only to have the planning department state that, in their view, it is not. Now, as a result of the Jan. 8 meeting, the town may finally be acknowledging that, indeed, a safety hazard does exist.

The commission rejected our variance because "the canopies are illegally located within the required setback." Of course they are! That is where the golf balls denting our cars and hitting people end up! That is why we are asking for a variance, a deviation of the rules to be allowed in a special situation. Our lot is situated where we get hit by golf balls!

The commission announced that the town will review the golf club's use permit. The resulting suggestions will probably come down to three options: erect huge golf nettings that nobody wants, close the driving range, which nobody wants, or allow the shelters that so many of our neighbors support!

A tall fence may stop some balls, but it will not eliminate them. Such a fence would have to border not only the range but parts of the course as well. Our neighbors agree that such a huge structure would be an eyesore affecting our home values. Closing the range is a radical suggestion that neither we nor any of our neighbors has asked for. Allowing our unobtrusive canopies is the most practical option.

If the town allows a golf course to operate in a residential zone it is a special situation, and if a variance is needed to protect citizens, it should be allowed. That is what a variance is for—special exceptions for special circumstances.

—Mark and Linda Medalie, Los Gatos


Calendar is delightful but missing names

I was delighted to find in my mail last week the second annual town calendar. I enjoyed the first one last year very much. I wonder how many other small towns do this. We are lucky to have a town that cares enough to keep us abreast of the happenings. Thank you, Los Gatos.

Sad note, however—there was no recognition of the cover artist (the late Jack Wilson, whose original of The Train From Santa Cruz is now hanging in the clerk's office). There was no recognition of the photographer who took some amazing pictures, especially those of the town plaza. The Chamber of Commerce was not mentioned at all and I am told they were very involved. Does anybody care? I do.

Unfortunately, I disposed of my 2002 calendar too quickly. Does anyone have a spare? For next year's calendar maybe the past month and next month could be added to each page. I kind of like to know where I have been and where I am going.

—Lucille Hogan, Los Gatos

The caption for the Jan. 15 story on Bangkok Taste was incorrect. The caption should have read: "Bangkok Taste chef Chantha Nou cooks up a fiery entree."