Here's a test for the aesthetically challenged! Please study the attached photo carefully and try to pick out the most obnoxious visual physical objects—that is, the things that jump right out as "aesthetically" ugly! Hint: some things are so pervasive and so large and so much a part of our daily lives that they become almost invisible, so that when they are recorded on film we suddenly become aware that we need to use PhotoShop (or airbrush or something) to make the photo more pleasing to the eye.

The Akeena building has the white sign on the front, to the right of the green truck. I'm enclosing a "retouched" photo (of my choice of "ugly" objects) showing how much nicer our town would look if these "ugly" objects were removed.

—Gene Faucher, Los Gatos


Visitor says parking ticket was unfair

We attended a wedding in Los Gatos the weekend of the Fourth of July and stayed overnight at Villa Felice.

The next day, July 5, we went downtown to do some shopping. It was a light traffic day and there was a lot of parking.

We visited a number of stores, had a snack and returned to our car 2¹/2 hours later, only to find a parking ticket.

It spoiled what was otherwise a beautiful afternoon. I had been talking about having "discovered" Los Gatos and how I would tell my friends in the East Bay about it, but after getting this ticket I was disenchanted.

You see, I spent a lot of money in the town. There were always parking spaces available on both sides of the street that afternoon.

We noticed it as we strolled leisurely, enjoying shopping. Many towns I have visited have parking limitations but choose to enforce them only when parking is tight.

With so many fine stores, one could shop and eat for a long time.

To ticket a visitor for staying a little over two hours on a light day when there was plenty of parking seems unreasonable. The parking is there to let visitors come and spend their dough, right?

So why insult me with a $35 parking ticket? It makes no sense to me.

The ticket also says I have to appear in person, but that also seems unreasonable for an out-of-town visitor.

It really seems like the town is taking advantage of out-of-town guests, betting that they would rather just pay the fee than hassle with returning for a court appearance.

I think that Los Gatos should, under the circumstances, cancel this citation.

I want to remember my visit to the nice town as a pleasant one and be able to tell my friends that it's a great destination, a just place to visit, with good shopping.

Instead of a parking fine on weekends, how about a warning and a nice map showing where one can park longer?

Even the Internet site that shows parking areas doesn't indicate which ones have time limits.

Los Gatos' image would be greatly improved by helping tourists rather than penalizing them for visiting.

—Greg Sprehn, Livermore


Flyers were not presented by Steamer's

We thank those good customers and the Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Department for bringing to our attention the recent defamatory flyers being distributed in the area. Allegro Travel (a nonexistent agency) is not sponsoring "Ladies Night" at Steamer's.

The individual responsible for the flyers used unsuitable language in the flyer, and we apologize to any who were duped into thinking that we would present ourselves in such an inappropriate manner.

Thanks go to all our loyal customers and to the office of the mayor and to the town council for their support.

—The Matulich Family, Steamer's Grillhouse, Los Gatos


Special thanks to merchants for Plazz Jazz

I would like to extend an enormous thank you to the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club, Mike Jacobi, Willow Street Pizza and to all the local businesses and supporters who bring us Jazz in the Plazz. A special thanks to Teri Hope from the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, too! How fortunate we are to have so many talented performers right here in our own Town Plaza. It is such a delightful venue. It's high time we recognize our Los Gatos merchants for their contributions back to our community. Let's show them our appreciation by patronizing town businesses.

—Alice Royall, Los Gatos