December 14, 2006

ValleyViewpoints

No to permanent lights at Leland’s Pat Tillman Field

Editor,
Over 60 Shadowbrook homeowners, in homes that surround Leland High School, are in complete agreement with Bob Boegman whose letter to the editor appeared in the Dec. 7, 2006 issue. The family support has been instrumental in keeping Leland’s field lights free. Installing permanent lights on the Leland field will turn it into "PAL Stadium Almaden" and that is absurd to inflict this on a suburban bedroom community.

Shadowbrook homeowners want to come home at night to a quiet neighborhood without loudspeakers, traffic, etc., just like any other homeowner in Almaden Valley. SJUSD has hired a consultant to do an environmental study, and we only hope they take into consideration the environment we would like to protect here in our quiet suburban community.

There are other school sites in the SJUSD where lights would be more conducive and less disruptive to their adjacent communities. These schools have fields that are set back from the street and are in commercial type areas.

Leland administrators and teachers are in favor of permanent lights. They, however, are long gone before the sun sets (the faculty parking lot is virtually empty way before 5 p.m.). None of these teachers and/or administrators live in homes surrounding the school, and lights would have no impact on them. Would these same people (as well as the other adults proposing lights) like to have stadium lights across the street from their homes?

Booster Club members and students come and go after fours years of high school, but our homes have been here since Leland was built. Don't be fooled: if permanent lights are installed they are there for the purpose of being used, which will lead to use each and every night for any group willing to pay the rent for the field. Don't think for one moment, these lights are going to be used solely for Leland home football games. This is the ultimate fund-raiser! As one of the neighbors said, "when will the concerts start?!"

Ever since the soccer field proposed site (property at the southern most end of Almaden Expressway) fell through, the city has been scrambling to find places for kids to play and practice, and that's understandable; but why does SJUSD feel it is permissible to ruin our quiet neighborhood?

Some of us had student athletes who attended Leland, and we were able and willing to adjust our schedules to see our children participate in sports during daylight hours. We sincerely hope that SJUSD and the city will decide to say no to permanent lights at Leland, and say yes to preserving our community.

The Shepard and Medlin families
Worthing Court

Kudos for Graystone technology article

Editor,
We are truly over the moon regarding the article Jeanne Lewis wrote on Graystone technology (Almaden Times, Nov. 30, 2006). What we are most impressed with is her spot-on accuracy. She conveyed just the right message with complete accuracy. We had a vision of this "elementary school technology article," but not even we knew how it would all come together. We gave Jeanne many, many puzzle pieces and she put them together and created a perfect picture of what we have going on here at Graystone.

What the school has built is really a phenomenal thing and its importance to the kids in Almaden should not to be underestimated. Thanks to the exposure the community is abuzz, not just around our school, but the next day after the article came out we heard from two local school principals interested in knowing more about how we did what we did and the results we are seeing, and how they too can implement such a program.

After listening to a couple of folks reading and discussing the article at Starbucks we had to smile. We are certainly proud of what we have done, but we are thrilled that The Times sends us such a professional, thorough, and conscientious reporter. Jeanne Lewis is truly remarkable at what she does, and you all do a great job bringing the story together and making it come to life in your paper.

Allison Johnson and Dave Beymer, principal
Graystone Elementary School

Charity or hypocrisy?

Editor,
In last week’s issue of the Almaden Times, there was an article talking about a local lady named Maria Stitch collecting clothing in front of Safeway in Almaden. She was helped by her daughters and the Leland High School cheerleaders.

On Sunday Dec 3, I was walking by the collection point when a local homeless man approached. He is in his early 50s, tall, thin with rotting teeth. He had on a button-down shirt and a T-shirt that was torn and was being held together by two safety pins. He asked the girls in a soft quite voice if they had a blue shirt for him? He explained that he was homeless and in need and he could really use a blue shirt. The girls turned him down and said “We are not sure we can give you one.” He then asked again and the girls gave the same reply.

My question is what is the face of need? Is it a couple down on their luck that just need a helping hand or is it the countless homeless mentally ill or addicted to drugs that live in our community that we only see as ghosts? The unkempt and talking to themselves or ranting on the sidewalk we ignore?

If a homeless person is in true need and isn't asking for money (that many assume just goes to drugs and alcohol) but just asks for a shirt, do we turn him away for any reason? Is that the holiday sprit we encourage in our children and our community?

In Maria Stitchs’ defense she did say that her daughter had called her earlier in the day and said he was yelling and saying that all the homeless are drug addicts. Maybe this is true but those that give them a reason to turn him down when he is calm and just asking for a shirt to keep himself warm? If he was civil and using good manners does that make him more or less worthy of their help?

Ed Robinson
Firefly Drive

Maria Stichs’ response: After our phone conversation in which you apologized for calling our Leland cheerleaders “morons,” you shared your perspective of what happened in front of Safeway.

As I tried to explain to you, I agree that regardless of what has happened in a homeless person’s life, they still deserve respect as human beings. However, as I stated the girls had been approached by an angry homeless man earlier in the day and when the second homeless man came up asking specifically for a blue shirt they did not know how to respond. They told me that they didn’t know if they could find a blue shirt in the bags because everything was tied in bags.

Keep in mind, we’re not talking about mean-spirited kids who would turn down someone in need. The man asked for something very specific and the girls didn't know how to handle it. I'm sure if he had "seen" something he wanted and asked, the girls would have been happy to let him take what he needed. On behalf of these girls, remember we’re talking about 14-, 15- and 16-years-olds? Could it be that perhaps they were intimidated by this gentleman? Is it possible that based on the prior incident that took place, maybe they weren't sure what to do? These are young girls trying to make a difference. They certainly don't need nor deserve to be called names, especially from a grown adult. I ask that you give these kids the benefit of the doubt, understand that they have good intentions, and realize that maybe they just didn't know what to do.

Let the Almaden Times hear from you. In order to be considered, letters must be signed by the author or come with the full name, address, and a phone number (which will not be printed).

Send letters to newsroom@timesmediainc.com, or via mail to:

The Almaden Times Weekly
1310 Tully Road, Ste. 107,
San Jose, CA 95122