With the current budget crisis facing West Valley­Mission Community College District, why does our board hold its budget workshop at the Los Gatos Lodge? Doesn't this cost money for a room, snacks, lunch, etc.? What is wrong with brown-bagging a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to the West Valley board room?

Our leaders tell us that we must share the burden of this financial mess. Well, fine. Faculty has always borne the burden and the brunt. Granted that the cost of a one-day meeting doesn't account for much, but it says a lot symbolically to those of us who are facing a magnitude of cuts and layoffs, with far fewer services and supplies and with no immediate light at the end of the tunnel.

—Pat Andrews, West Valley College instructor


Why are teens drinking? Look for answers

Our prayers are with all who are grieving. A few of our town's stoplights came as a result of wrecks involving drunken teen drivers.

So many well-reasoned preventive prescriptions have appeared in this paper's editorials, articles and letters. I've noted that most local experts and educators (including the D.A.R.E. program) attribute the underlying motivation for teen drinking and drug use to "peer acceptance," wanting to "be cool."

Questions: Is this assumption supported by empirical data? Or, does it rely on intuitive generalized stereotyping? Have any (local or regional countywide or statewide) comparative studies been done to identify, profile, differentiate and segment subgroups of regular and frequent teen drinkers? Of a total sample student body population, how many drink what, when, how often—why?

My point: How much do we actually know in terms of demographic profiles of the few most inclined and motivated to drink? Are we examining enough detail to arrive at remedies that while sensible may not yield long-term efficacy? Are certain kids clinically depressed, self-medicating, seeking escape through intoxication? Is it just a rebellious phase? Why do those kids opting to drink do so? Do we know for sure?

—Greg Hall, Los Gatos


LGHS Italian class fundraiser is a big success

The Italian-Language Department at Los Gatos High School recently held a fundraiser at Campo di Bocce so 10 Los Gatos students can travel to Italy this February for study and cultural exchange. In March, students from Udine, Italy, will arrive in Los Gatos for a reciprocal visit and stay with Los Gatos host families.

On behalf of Amy Torchia and her Italian-language class at Los Gatos High School, I would like to thank all of the merchants from Los Gatos and our neighboring communities who donated to our fundraising efforts. On Jan. 18, Tom and Jennifer Albanese from Campo di Bocce generously provided an afternoon of delicious food and bocce ball games.

The following merchants provided donations for our raffle: 29 East Main Street, AAA, Bare Essentials, Barnes Family, Buschi Salon/Doreen Stroup, Casa Mia, Campbell Plaza Theaters, Cultured Nails, Debbie Willheim, Dolce Spazio, Dolphin Pet Village, Fermentation Settlement, Heroes, Kuleto's Restaurant, Les Chattes, Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co., Los Gatos Ferrari, Los Gatos Porch, Orchard Supply Hardware, Pacific Coast Academy of Martial Arts, Plumbing Bureau, Right Stuff Health Club-Campbell, Round Table Pizza, Scrapbook City, Trent Pottery, Twig, Willow Street Pizza and a couple of anonymous donors.

Once again, thank you to all the merchants, students, teachers and parents who helped make this happen.

—Frances Barnes, Parent Volunteer, Los Gatos


Visitor's vehicle ticketed during senior party

Los Gatos threw a party and Officer Rodriguez was on a roll!

While the seniors were dancing, or just listening to the music, Officer Rodriguez was dispatched by his department to hang the maximum amount of tickets on the oldster's cars. It was like shooting ducks in a barrel, all the pigeons lined up in a row.

I had paid my fees, but had not yet done my smog. I was 20 days late. Illness, total depression as usual at Christmas time, a misplaced form and 100 other things that plague seniors had prevented me from getting my car smogged. When I finally did, it passed with flying colors.

I have handicapped plates and was parked in a handicapped parking slot. Usually, they don't bother about those things for the first couple of months, they catch them "on the fly."

But here was this old geezer's car sitting there as an open invitation. He could have put a little note on my windshield, reminding me to get a smog. But, no, by an ingenious scheme of thought, he managed to hang a ticket for $280—$25 less than my total Social Security check!

I do not know how many tickets Officer Rodriguez wrote, but he should remember that around the holidays many seniors have only the slightest grip on life. Many walk a fine line between life and death, questioning why they exist like they do, in a land of plenty. Sometimes it takes just a little push ...

This quarterly dance was to many just such a lifeline, that could make a difference.

Lesson to seniors: Be leery when Los Gatos throws a party! While you are listening to the music (most of us can't dance anymore) the piranhas are in the parking lot, hanging tickets. Los Gatos needs money. After all, every coin has two sides. Friendly face on one side, piranha on the other. Sleep well Mr. Rodriguez.

—Bill Back, San Jose


New Winchester stoplight isn't calming anyone

So, we read of the Monte Sereno City Council making Winchester traffic control a 2003 initiative. What's the objective? They can't tell you. They talk of a single lane going northbound. Well, that ought to cause difficulty entering and turning for the more than 51 streets or driveways between Daves and the fire station.

They have some obscure objective of "traffic calming." What does that mean? We installed an ugly and poorly timed traffic light at Daves, and the result is just more air pollution and cars stopped, frustrated that there's no traffic or walkers needing a light. It doesn't slow traffic except when the light is red, and no one is calmer.

Such obscure objectives are misdirected and polarizing for most of us. Reads to me like they have too much idle time on their hands. Maybe they should meet only one Tuesday per month. No, there's an objective—less government.

—Bill Ferguson, Monte Sereno