I just wanted to thank the community for its contribution on June 7, clearing a footpath along Winchester Avenue near Pleasant View Boulevard. Neighborhood members from both Los Gatos and Monte Sereno worked together and cleaned up over 200 feet of Winchester easements (weed abatement and trail clearing) to clear a dangerous pedestrian trail along Winchester.

Several Bay Area businesses contributed to the "clean-up cause" by donating materials and supplies to support this effort. Special thanks to Los Gatos Roasting Company, Payless Rockery and Noehr Masonry for their generous contributions.

Genuine thanks to those community members, ages 4 years and up, who contributed 60 hours of hard work to clear 10 years of overgrowth. Clearing of this overgrowth is a first solid step toward opening safe pedestrian access along this stretch of roadway.

The community was motivated to take a proactive role in spearheading this effort to improve pedestrian conditions to provide Safe Routes to School and to build a sense of community by connecting a remote part of the community to the downtown Los Gatos sidewalks. A Safe Routes to School (SRS) grant has been filed with the state of California, with the help of Los Gatos public works and key city officials, to address pedestrian issues associated with this location.

This is the second SRS grant filed over the past year addressing this section along northeast Winchester Boulevard, which connects northern sections of Los Gatos and Monte Sereno. Within the next six to nine months, over 250 residences are looking forward to having a permanent solution for safe pedestrian access to local schools, parks, transportation and shopping downtown. Our community hopes to achieve what many real estate companies use as a key slogan to buy properties in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno: "Your beautiful home is within safe walking distance to downtown Los Gatos."

Again, thanks to all who supported this effort, and we extend our appreciation to members of both [the Los Gatos and Monte Sereno] governments for listening to the needs of the community. More importantly, we thank them for their willingness to take an active role in building a sense of community, on bridging our communities, and for addressing critical pedestrian safety issues with appropriate actions.

—Doug and Sherri McNeil, Monte Sereno


Softball league appreciates its leaders

To Ron Boley, Ken Barker and Amy Zullo, from the Los Gatos­Saratoga Girls Softball Association:

On behalf of the thousands of young girls you gave the opportunity and resources to play fast-pitch softball, we thank you. As president, vice president and treasurer (respectively) for the association, you unselfishly gave your time and energy to enrich the lives of many girls. The cities of Los Gatos and Saratoga have benefited greatly from your efforts. Many of the players have gone on to play higher levels of softball, including high school and college play.

Together you have made the dream of playing softball a reality for the girls of Los Gatos and Saratoga. The smiles, laughs, friendships and skills as a result of the league are due to your efforts. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

—Board of Directors, Los Gatos­Saratoga Girls Softball Association


Van Meter thanks its neighbor, Calvary Baptist

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Calvary Baptist Church for their generosity in allowing Van Meter Elementary School to use their facilities during the 2002­03 school year. Due to construction, we have not had a cafeteria or any large halls in which to hold assemblies, concert performances or student gatherings. Every time we have contacted Calvary with a request for meeting space, they have found a way to accommodate us. Even when we have called at the last minute with a desperate request for meeting space, they quickly set the wheels in motion to make this happen.

The lighting, the sound, the acoustics and the comfortable setting, in addition to their gracious attitude, has made what could have been a difficult year into a year in which musical concerts, variety shows and graduations continued on schedule with no disruptions.

Thank you Calvary Baptist Church for being a good neighbor to Van Meter Elementary School during its year of construction. We appreciate the use of your facilities and thank you for providing parking for staff when none was available at our school.

—Roseanne Adona, Principal, Louise Van Meter Elementary School