It has been a long time since the town has addressed the skatepark. It has been almost a year, and little has happened to push the process forward. The town has already put aside the money for the skatepark, so there is really no reason that it can't be built.

Our town tried to get a skatepark, and it got rejected and just gave up. People are always complaining about skateboarders and how they destroy property and are noisy and loud, but they won't support a skatepark. If those people would stop complaining and go to the city meetings and ask for a skatepark, the town might start the process again.

I could almost guarantee there would be less property destruction if Los Gatos got a skatepark because us skaters would have somewhere to go and not wander around town annoying people. I'm just asking people to start thinking about the skatepark and get the council to start the process again.

—Tristan Herman, Los Gatos


Danielle Place resident opposes holiday display

In the staff editorial section of last week's paper, I learned an astonishing fact: that the will of the people is for the enormous displays on Danielle Place to continue, and that the Monte Sereno City Council's decision on its special events ordinance should reflect that will.

As a member of one of the three other families who live on Danielle Place, I would like to know which "people" you are referring to. Is it those of us who live on this small cul-de-sac and had to endure the traffic of 23,000 cars over a period of five weeks last December? Or is it the 75,000-plus spectators who came by and spent 10 to 15 minutes viewing the display? Are you referring to those of us who are being forced to endure the oppression of huge amounts of traffic and the resulting noise and lack of privacy for over a month, or are you referring to the masses of people who receive their 15 minutes of entertainment from such an event? Is the pleasure of the many worth the abuse of the few?

Would you like to receive 200 telemarketing calls, or 500 spam emails a day? If not, then shame on you for wanting to condemn us to 23,000 cars and 75,000 people coming to our street every December. Perhaps we should put a sign in our front yard and direct the traffic to your home to offer thanks and share the holiday spirit.

—Susan Nguyen, Monte Sereno


It's Saratoga's turn to sit on the home side

This letter is in response to Mr. Ferla's question (Oct. 8 issue) about why it was not possible for Saratoga fans to simply switch sides at a Los Gatos­Saratoga football game two years ago. Although I don't understand why he chose to mention high school administrative perks and salaries in the same letter as a high school tradition, I still feel compelled to set the record straight.

Mr. Ferla, have you ever heard of something called tradition? Saratoga and Los Gatos high schools are one district, and since the opening of Saratoga High in the 1960s, the schools have always switched off every year for the home-side bleachers. It was that way when my siblings attended in the late '60s and '70s, it remained that way when I attended Saratoga High in the '80s and I am happy to say that my daughter is now enjoying her right of passage, too. Remember, it is a joint school district, so basically that means we share the one football field.

If you had chosen to get the facts before you wrote your letter, you would have known that two years ago Saratoga was forced to block off a section of bleachers on the home side to accommodate the expected overflow of Los Gatos fans. This happened because some Los Gatos parents complained that Los Gatos should not have to sit on the visitor's side because they have more fans and it is their school. That year a whole section of bleachers was vacant because no Los Gatos fans wanted to sit on the Saratoga side. So in effect, Saratoga also had about 200 to 300 people standing because they were not allowed to sit in those bleachers.

Every year the two schools play each other, both sides have a full house. That night two years ago was no exception—both sides were packed. Your statement that 750 Los Gatos fans had to stand was a bit of an embellishment.

I am happy to say that I can't wait until this year's game between the two schools. It is a great, long-standing tradition and rivalry—and you know what, Mr. Ferla, it's Saratoga's turn to take home side.

—Jeanine Spaich Seagraves, Saratoga