After reading of [William] Cunningham's death [Oct. 15 issue], I could remember very clearly being in his art class at Los Gatos High School. I graduated in 1960.

The man had real talent. During a classroom demonstration on watercolor and other media, he dashed off a still life and then casually tossed it in the wastebasket! It was a beautiful thing, and I promptly rescued it. I've packed it up through many moves, and it's now brightening up my kitchen. He touched many lives, and my sympathies to his widow.

—Liz (Cole) Burnside, Vancouver, Wash.


This soldier believes in the Patriot Act

This is in reply to Ms. Weber's letter, "Patriot Act should be rejected," saying that we need Congress to protect us and our civil liberties. Ms. Weber, you are one of the luckiest 292,000,000 people in the world, because you are living in the United States of America. I don't even have that honor until at least 2005 because of my current duties.

That privilege also makes you one of the most targeted people in this world. I know because I am targeted everywhere, whether it be Liberia, Iraq, Italy or Spain. You may criticize our leaders, but in all actuality you may not have the courage to make the decisions that they do—they deal with life or death decisions daily. I am on the receiving end and see it in my line of work. My father taught me the truest statement in this world, "If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes."

You should look into how terrorists operate. If you only knew the basics of how terrorists operate, you would support the Patriot Act and how it is meant to protect you more than hurt you. Terrorists operate without any concern for women or children, elderly and newborns alike. When they do plan to attack it will come swiftly, without much time between the planning and execution phases. Not to mention terrorists are trained to blend in with their environment, leaving little warning. Without the Patriot Act, police forces and Homeland Security Forces would be blind to fight terror on the home front.

The Patriot Act is just, because by the time a judge signed a subpoena the terrorist would accomplish his mission with more haste and more bloodshed. I personally would not want Los Gatos to be the next victim of terror. Criminals are held in jail without bail all the time, and it's usually the kind that commits only the most serious offenses in this world. With all due respect, I think you should investigate our enemies and how they operate. Don't forget to use your imagination, because you may not think it can happen, but after 9/11 we must leave no stone unturned.

—Tom C. Ferguson, Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corps


DeCinzo's cartoon was 'sophomoric'

Once again, your amateur-hour cartoonist, DeCinzo, went for shock value in one of his "works" and went way too far. In your Oct. 22 issue, he portrays Judge William Danser having a nightmare about his sentence with a bottle of "Fat Boy Weight Loss" pills on his nightstand.

Say what you want about Mr. Danser's politics or the way he handled this situation, but to bring his weight into this issue is sophomoric. Knowing Mr. Danser, he is a kind man and has done a lot for this community, despite his current predicament. Too, he almost died after surgery to install a band around his stomach to help him lose weight. Very classy, Mr. DeCinzo. Maybe the next cartoon that emanates from his little catbird seat should lampoon Mrs. Danser's bout with breast cancer. But this is what we've come to expect from DeCinzo over the years as he seems to revel in the amount of controversy he creates with his slander. Personally, I've grown tired of his venom and can't understand why your paper continues to force someone like him on a community like ours.

Mr. DeCinzo, if you are so quick to make fun of the physical attributes of others, why don't you enter a float in this year's Christmas parade and let everyone on North Santa Cruz get a good look at you. Somehow I get the feeling that someone with such a harsh view on life was probably the kid who had his lunch money taken by the class bully every day of his schooling until he graduated. Or did you graduate, Mr. DeCinzo?

—Todd Micali, Los Gatos


3 'Scrooges' vote against the Aertses

There must be something in the water at the Monte Sereno City Hall or "termites" there that work on the "little gray cells" that make up the brains of usually reasonably intelligent people elected to serve as council members.

A few years back we had a group running city hall that tried to dictate, via the "Historical Preservation Commission," what residents could and could not do with their property. Now the "water" or the "termites" have affected a few members of the present council who wish to dictate how and when a resident can celebrate a season of peace and love.

The Aertses are trying their very best to demonstrate the Christmas spirit in this community and give us something happy and joyful to experience at a time when there's a dire lack of same. They should be praised and honored and not legislated against.

My wife and I agree completely with Vice Mayor Erin Garner's position "that it's not the business of the council to step in and mediate a controversy between the two neighbors." We also believe Councilman Curtis Wright's statement, "This is about something that is blocking city streets," to be questionable at best.

This ordinance is mean-spirited and unconscionable. It is a perfect example of city hall "micro-managing" the business of governing Monte Sereno. What we have here are three "Scrooges" trying to outdo the Grinch!

Congratulations to Vice Mayor Erin Garner and Mayor Dave Baxter for taking their stand. As for the three "Scrooges"—remember them next election.

—C. J. & P. E. Szukalski, Monte Sereno


Community comes through for students

Los Gatos is a community that is particularly proud of its excellent schools. Whether it is the Los Gatos Elementary Foundation or the High School Foundation, dedicated volunteers work hard to make sure our teachers have what they need to provide a good education to our youth.

Under the outstanding leadership of Susie Tighe and her excellent committee, the LGHS New Millennium Foundation auction grossed over $96,000 from this year's fundraising event held annually during the All-Alumni Weekend. Since starting the NMF 2 ¹/2 years ago, we have been able to raise and give back to the high school well over $300,000.

The process for distributing funds to the teachers is through a grant application process and then a grant review committee. Grants that are received by the teachers are followed through the process from start to finish by a board member or community liaison.

The board of the NMF wishes to sincerely thank all of these hard-working volunteers who put together a lively weekend of activities and fundraising. We couldn't do this without our very generous town merchants to help us. Please patronize these merchants.

All of you have made it possible for us to continue to provide our teachers with the tools they need to continue the excellence we expect of our high school.

—Joanne Rodgers, NMF chairwoman, Los Gatos