May 13, 2004

ValleyViewpoints

Ugenti family and Marie Tillman thank Almaden community

Editor,

When bad things happen to good people it seems to hurt so much more. You all have heard about Pat Tillman and know that we have lost this good man. We have lost our son-in-law. These last three weeks have been so very painful for our family.

The outpouring of letters, cards, flowers and kindness from our Almaden community has been so remarkable. Every one of you that have contacted us has touched us and these words help to heal. Paul and I want to thank each and every one of you personally but it seems to be much easier to write because of the lump in our throat.
You should all be proud of our community’s kindness; we live in a very special place.

Thank you Almaden.

The Ugenti Family
and Marie Tillman

Reader whose cat was killed by a coyote implores readers to keep pets inside

Editor,

On April 24, my 18-year-old Maine Coon cat, Big Kitty, was brutally killed by a coyote. I sent an e-mail out to several people I know in Almaden Valley to share information I learned from Vector Control in hopes that I can prevent another family from going through what mine went through.

He was brutally killed by what was said to be coyotes in the middle of the night. According to Vector Control, we have a problem with both coyotes and mountain lions invading our neighborhoods. The new golf course on top of the Santa Teresa Mountains has changed the mountain lion's territory. Coyotes and mountain lions are in Quicksilver Park. Vector Control knows that Coyotes are coming down from the Guadalupe Mines Dump area as well as from The Villas.

It is only a matter of time before someone has a serious human interaction with them, they say. Read the news article on the front page of the April 23 issue of the Almaden Times Weekly. I read it after Big Kitty's demise. I will report that Big Kitty's head was completely severed. A hind leg was found, eaten. A part of the entrails, and some tufts of fur and his red collar, intact with the bell were found. The rest of the body was gone! Apparently this is the M.O. of the coyote, who are now having pups and are taking their kill back to the dens for extra food for nursing mothers and pups. My pet was a supply of an excellent food source for this creature. The coyotes are over breeding and not being controlled. As long as they have ample food, they will breed and multiply. Our pets are in the food chain!

We first called the city of San Jose's Animal Control, who came out to see the evidence, took pictures, talked with us and speculated on the type of animal that might have killed him. There was a question of it being a mountain lion or coyote, or even raccoon. The officers mentioned the possibility of calling Vector Control. They didn't. I did, after I saw the article about the forum held to discuss the issues of large animal populations in our area. Had I known that Vector Control would have been the correct agency to call first, I would have. They had more resources to determine the evidence and evaluate the type of animal that killed my cat on my front lawn.

Mike Phillips of Vector Control says the coyotes are returning back to their dens in the morning starting around 5 a.m. and up to 7 a.m. He needs to have this information to track the paths that they follow so if and when they do trapping they know where to put them, as well as monitor their behaviors. He said that the coyotes are smart enough to use storm drains as pathways into the community. It has been sighted and documented. Raccoons use this as well. Call Vector Control if you see an animal like this. The more "scouts" we have the better we can help Vector Control.

In reporting this to my friends, a couple of them called and let me know of their encounters with wildlife, including a young man who was confronted by coyotes on his neighbor's driveway and a cat who died from injuries sustained from a pack of raccoons, after surgery to its face and a week in the veterinary hospital and some "planted" fish remains were unearthed. It seems to me that our local vets would have a few reports of their own. And people are not coming forth with what they know. Perhaps it is because they fear knowing the problem is bigger than their encounter. Perhaps it is because they do not know what to do with the information. Or perhaps they just don't want to get involved. Perhaps they don't want to take the time. Or, even that they suspect the "cure" is worse than the "cause"?

As long as wildlife is feeding off of the large supply of pet food and domestic pets available, they are going to be fat and happy and breed. It is a natural supply and demand issue that a community like Almaden Valley supports generously because we have pets that roam. They are easy prey and plentiful. Wildlife is culling our pet populations; we are not culling the wildlife population! It is our job to know the problem exists and act.
Keep pets secure. Keep pet food secure. Do not feed your pets outside. And, don't feed the wildlife. Let the wildlife seek their prey in their natural environment. Catching field mice, snakes, gophers, etc., is a positive thing for large creatures to do. We can't expect them to discriminate what we'd like them to eat and what we don't want them to eat! So, keep what you don't want them to eat, like your pets, secure!

Cindy Williams
Kinsport Lane

Editor's note: To report problems with small animals, including coyotes, foxes, raccoons, opossums, call the County Vector Control office at (408) 299-2050. To report a mountain lion sighting, contact the Ca. Department of Fish and Game at (707) 944-5523.

Talk about overzealous ‘sports parents,’ but how about angry coaches?

Editor,

The baseball game I attended on Tuesday, May 4 at Oak Grove High School was the worst display of sportsmanship I have ever seen.

It was a very exciting game for both teams, Oak Grove and Leland high schools.

It stayed an on-the-edge-of-your-seat game through and through and went into extra innings.

There was a very upsetting incident however. There was a call by the umpire at home plate... he called the Oak Grove runner out at home plate.

The Oak Grove coach took exception to that and argued aggressively with the umpire, as most coaches would. However, the umpire stuck to his call and leaned over to brush the plate and carry on with the game.

The Oak Grove coach, Paul Rosa, proceeded with verbal abuse and then actually kicked up the dirt into the umpire’s face.

Everyone watching was shocked and couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed.

The umpire was very dignified, stood up and brushed off his face, where most would have retaliated. The second umpire then ejected the coach...telling him he was to leave. In his arrogance he went behind the bleachers and behind a short fence on the track side. This to me is not leaving the premises as instructed.

So he was ejected from the end of that game and the following game on Thursday.

I find this a horrible example. If a player did that, I believe he would be kicked off of the team.

Coaches should be setting examples. I believe this coach has no business around these young athletes. What he did was appalling.

The worse thing is it appears that the coach and athletic director at Oak Grove think this is “no big deal” and that Rosa’s missing the next game was it.

That is a slap on the hand. More needs to be done. That umpire could have been injured or even blinded. Let alone what the kids and parents saw. This coach, if nothing else, should make a statement about his actions, be held accountable, set an example and least of all make a public apology. He especially should face both teams and apologize, show some remorse and be a man. I would hope he is truly embarrassed and ashamed of himself.

I would also hope that BVAL is aware of this and would take issue with it.

Name withheld
Almaden Valley

Editor’s note: After receiving this letter, talking to the writer and verifying the information with the athletic director at Oak Grove, we agreed to withhold the writer’s name. Oak Grove Athletic Director Ed Buller corroborates that the event did happen as stated, however he disagrees with the writer’s complaint about Coach Paul Rosa standing behind the bleachers to observe the game. “He left as asked him to and he feels terrible about his reaction to the umpire’s call,” said Buller. “We suspended him from the following game and feel that should be the end of it. If a coach had a history of this behavior we would react differently, but this is a guy with an excellent track record and we feel it is an isolated incident.”

Derrick Agnoletti trained at Almaden’s Sterling Dance Theatre

I was pleased to see your recent article on Derrick Agnoletti, but rather disappointed that in an article about his accomplishments as a local dancer it wasn’t even mentioned that Derrick received his ballet training for over 10 years from me at Almaden’s Sterling Dance Theatre. From age 6 to age 17, Derrick trained exclusively at and on an almost daily basis at my studio not only in ballet, but in tap and jazz also. He was on my competition team for many years and was featured in my annual showcase concerts. During this time he became an accomplished, award-winning dancer and developed his special love for ballet. Sterling Dance Theatre has been instrumental in training many fine dancers in the 15 years it has been in existence in Almaden Valley.

Darlene Thorne
Artistic director
Sterling Dance Theatre

Reader appreciates unbiased reporting on sports fields

Editor,

Thank you for your article a couple of weeks ago giving an update to the progress being made on the effort to build the much needed sports fields in Almaden.

Unlike some of the other local newspapers your continued unbiased reporting of both sides of the issues is appreciated by all.

As a mother of three former soccer players I realize the importance of a safe, quality and close to home playing environment. We must understand that with the continued growth and expansion of neighborhoods, we must include adequate recreation facilities for our children at the same time. So far, this aspect of growth has not kept up.

The new sports fields will provide a wonderful place for our children to play and will also show what a progressive and forward thinking community can achieve.

I am totally in support of this effort and look forward to the day when the fields are in place.

Debbie Smyth
Montelegre Dr.