Please say it isn't so, but I know it is. West Valley College football has to be played at Westmont High School? Is it me, or is this the stupidest thing you have ever heard? You want to know why? It's the NIMBYs at it again.

You make it sound like the 49ers are coming to town. What traffic problems are you complaining about anyway? There are more traffic problems with the nearby schools than a little football game. Don't you people have anything better to do? How can college football be banned?

This is unbelievable. Football has been played at this college for years and now because of who? I hope you are happy that you have inconvenienced a whole lot of people.

Did you think how it would affect the Westmont marching band? They need their field to practice their show. When things like this happen, it makes me ashamed to live in Saratoga.

I think if you want that peace and quiet, rural-like setting it was 50 years ago, I suggest you go move in a cave somewhere and leave the sports programs well enough alone. I can't wait to see what is next on the chopping block from you.

Kathy Smith

Saratoga

Serious problems
exist out on
Winchester

In his recent letter, Bill Ferguson is unfortunately confused between zealotry and a strong passion for sound urban planning and design. While I agree that creativity may help in the planning process, we don't need to transform Winchester into a quaint bucolic village lane that may fit someone's sardonic vision of skipping schoolchildren and daisies. We can use cost-effective design to slow traffic and enhance the environment of nearby neighborhoods.

While another recent letter suggests that Los Gatos merely turn over the control and the planning/construction costs to Monte Sereno, the reality is it is a shared resource and continued cooperation between the two municipalities is required.

It is interesting to note that while only Los Gatos benefits from the sales-tax revenue, Monte Sereno is still willing to share the Winchester costs, yet benefits from none of the incremental income. While it may be questionable economics for Monte Sereno, it does show a commitment to solve problems cooperatively with its good neighbors.

While many readers may not agree with the proposed solutions, the bottom line is that there is a serious speed, safety and aesthetics issue on Winchester that can be fixed with better cost-sensitive design. My compliments go to the Brodsky/Jensen planning passion!

Phil Levine

Monte Sereno

A Manor family
that wants to be
part of Los Gatos

My husband and I moved to Blossom Hill Manor in 1965. We had been living in Cambrian Park, where we were not part of any community. We were delighted to become part of the town of Los Gatos and for our children to attend Los Gatos' excellent schools.

We eventually learned our house has a Los Gatos address but is actually in a county pocket. We have been saddened by that ever since, as we would enjoy participating in town government or at least have a vote about who makes decisions for such a unique town. Unfortunately, every attempt made to annex the Manor into the town has failed.

We were not aware of the recent attempt to get a section of the Manor annexed until it was too late to expand the area to include us. We were out of town during the period preceding the vote so missed the rancor and eventual defeat of this effort.

I subsequently read the newspaper articles that ran before and after the vote.

One wonders why Mrs. Steele and Mrs. Schmitt moved to Blossom Hill Manor. Do you think they wanted a Los Gatos address and to be in Los Gatos schools? It's interesting that they don't want to be part of or contribute to their town. What do they want us to teach our children and grandchildren? I guess the message is that life is about property values and big houses. It's remarkable that we raised four children in only 2,200 square feet.

Those of us who love Los Gatos will try again.

Rhodie Firth

Los Gatos

Copper could
threaten bay's
aquatic life

In his July 7 letter to the editor, the Copper Development Association's Andrew Kireta appears to misunderstand both the position of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board and the state of the science regarding copper in San Francisco Bay.

He is incorrect when he says the "San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board determined copper poses no threat to bay life" or that copper is rendered "harmless to the bay's aquatic life" because of environmental factors.

It is true that in 2002 the water board found that, at this time, copper is not a problem in most segments of the bay. However, there is more to the story. We recognized that great efforts were being made in reducing copper discharges to the bay and that concentrations in the bay generally were below the threshold of concern. Also, to some extent, copper is made less toxic to aquatic life when it is bound by substances of natural and human origin. The water board's decision does not mean that copper simply ceases to be a concern.

The water board's decision on copper was based on the understanding that bay dischargers will continue to control sources of copper. We required this vigilance mainly for two reasons. First, concerns remain about the effects of copper on algae and on organisms dwelling in the bay mud where copper can accumulate. Second, concentrations of copper in the bay are not far below the threshold of concern for aquatic life. The binding of copper to make it less toxic represents a balance between the amount of copper and the amount of binding agents in the bay. In some locations, there is not a large excess of such binding agents to offset increases in the amount of copper. If copper loading to the bay increases, copper could again threaten aquatic life.

Simply put, the bay cannot tolerate unlimited copper loading. Mr. Kireta talks about copper being safe if used responsibly. Responsible use of copper must take into account all current and potential sources of copper to the bay. One source of copper reaching the bay originates in automobile brake pads. While there is ongoing work in this area, copper continues to rub off of brake pads, and there are more cars on the road driving more miles every year. Therefore, it is imperative to control the copper sources we can immediately do something about.

Architectural use of copper, which can leach small amounts of copper into the environment, falls into this category. Copper is still a pollutant of concern for the bay, and water board staff encourages Bay Area municipalities to do their part to control sources of copper.

Lawrence P. Kolb

Assistant executive officer

San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board

A home game, and a fine day
for Saratoga

I went to watch the Saratoga frosh-soph football team play (on Sept. 9). What a treat to watch our team play on our own newly refurbished field. I looked around and, for the life of me, I couldn't see the neighbors placing for-sale signs in front of their houses because of plummeting home values. What I did see was my neighbors and friends playing hookey from work and coming out to enjoy the game and to experience the pure pleasure of being part of this wonderful community function.

I watched kids play football, wearing their school colors and playing with pride on their own field. It may just be me, but the Saratoga cheerleaders looked a lot prettier on the Saratoga field than they did on the Los Gatos field last year.

This day was a long time in coming and it was truly a fine day for Saratoga, one that these fine young players will long remember.

Just think how much fun it will be when we get good stands to watch from.

Dennis Farmer

Saratoga