I would like to thank the residents of the ranch style homes on Westgate and Cottle avenues for keeping the Willow Glen Halloween tradition alive. Every year, and especially this year, my wife and I walk the streets seeing great decorations and hundreds of children and parents trick-or-treating and receiving punch, cider, popcorn and every other imaginable Halloween treat.

Everyone seems so happy and having a lot fun. It is something we are proud to brag about.

Geoff and Linda Capell

Shibley Avenue

All hands-on science
camps offer benefits

After reading your article on science camps ("Galarza/Hammer select Campbell Camp this year," Oct. 5), I feel compelled to share some thoughts that were not acknowledged.

Through the years, the Walden West program has been so popular that we opened a second facility nine years ago in order to accommodate the growing number of schools that would like to attend the program. Both facilities are close to capacity and provide programs to 8,500 students each year. A majority of schools that attended 20 years ago when the Walden West facility opened, still attend.

Santa Clara County schools benefit from having a choice of outdoor schools. Walden West and Camp Campbell are superb programs and provide a wonderful learning experience for children and teachers alike. Both have stable, experienced, caring staff members and a standards-based curriculum. Principals, teachers, and parents often change their choice of outdoor schools. Just as one school chose Camp Campbell over Walden West, another school this year chose to leave Camp Campbell for Walden West.

I cannot stress the importance of outdoor school enough, regardless of the site schools choose. I commend the staff of schools that see the value of hands-on science and who make the commitment it takes to prepare their students to attend.

Anita Parsons, Director, Walden West Center

Santa Clara County Office of Education

Let's not stray from
the library's charm

I note with interest the on going discussion regarding the architecture and public artwork which will be displayed at the newly renovated Willow Glen library.

I view with dismay the so-called artwork that has already been installed on Lincoln Avenue. I wonder how much this modern, unattractive work has cost the taxpayers.

It has been the consensus of those attending the public library meetings about the artwork and architecture, as well as the placement of the library building on the unusually shaped lot, that most people would prefer these things to be designed with a traditional Willow Glen look, a small-town feeling.

None of the artists who came to the meetings represented ideas that captured Willow Glen's quaintness and charm. Let's not stray from those ideas.

Gene Carrington

Willow Glen

On Veteran's Day, stop and reflect

This Friday, no matter what your opinion of the war being waged in Iraq or anywhere else on the globe, take a few minutes out of your daily routine and reflect on Veterans Day.

Think about those who have given their lives so we can go about ours. These men and women deserve to be remembered. Think about those who have returned from experiencing the horrors of war so we don't. These men and women deserve our appreciation. And think about the families who may have buried a loved one who served. These homes have sacrificed dearly.

No matter what our political or religious affiliation, we cannot ignore these facts. Nor can we ignore the fact that the men and women who fought for what they believed was a just cause have returned home forever changed.

Those who served did so because they believed their efforts would make the world a better place. During World Wars I and II, this belief was widely accepted. Since then, when our soldiers fought in Korea, Vietnam and now Iraq, the outcome has been less clear. But none of this should stain our gratitude for those who served.

Take a moment on Nov. 11 and remember to thank those who stepped up and went to war so the rest of us didn't have to.

--Moryt Milo, editor