It has come to my attention that twice a day, the Amtrak
”
Coast Starlight
”
passenger train runs through downtown Gilroy, passing right in
front of the depot without stopping!
Bullet train? How come we can’t get Amtrak to stop in Gilroy?
Dear Editor,
It has come to my attention that twice a day, the Amtrak “Coast Starlight” passenger train runs through downtown Gilroy, passing right in front of the depot without stopping! The train travels to and southern California and points north (from Los Angeles to Seattle).
The local government officials and the city of Gilroy should be working with Amtrak to get the train to make a stop here. Considering high fuel prices and a demand for better intercity transportation to our area, it makes sense today.
Frank Bradshaw, Gilroy
Discourteous Eagle Ridge drivers should be fined and ticketed
Dear Editor,
I would like to comment on something that happened to me on a recent morning.
Actually, it is almost an everyday occurrence. 
I take my child to Ascension Solorsano Middle School and then proceed back toward Santa Teresa to turn right and go north bound on Santa Teresa. Today, as with many other days the oncoming cars out of Eagle Ridge wanting to turn left onto Santa Teresa, cut off the people like me who are turning right.
I verified before I decided to comment on this situation, that there is indeed a sign for the Eagle Ridge residents that clearly says, “Left Turn Yield to Traffic”. I also verified with the Gilroy Police Department that the sign means that people turning left and going northbound on Santa Teresa out of Eagle Ridge, HAVE to yield to not only the people crossing the street and going straight back in to Eagle Ridge, but also to the people turning right. 
Obviously many residents of Eagle Ridge never learned this in driver’s education; that or they are only concerned with where THEY are going and could care less about other drivers. 
I assume that to be the case with the blonde haired woman, driving the plum-colored PT Cruiser, license 5HYB993, who came barreling out of Eagle Ridge this morning. To that woman, yes, I am the lady in the silver Dodge Van who went ahead of you and made my right turn, as the traffic laws say I am allowed to do. Yes, you honked at me, seemingly surprised that I would dare to go in front of you! 
I am all for being a courteous driver, but when the Eagle Ridge residents constantly come barreling down that incline and force the issue of them turning left without yielding, it irritates me. I have found, as I did today, that many of the parents coming out of ASMS will come to a dead stop (on their green light) and let the Eagle Ridge residents go ahead, because I feel that they think they have no choice. 
The Eagle Ridge residents are coming so fast, one after another, and it makes the people turning right to go northbound have to stop to avoid an accident. Today I pushed the issue with that Plum PT cruiser. I can only hope she got the message – I doubt it though. 
I would LOVE to see a police officer parked at that corner, just for one morning. Oh the tickets they could write!  I wish to appeal to those in Eagle Ridge who don’t seem to know the traffic rules, or who otherwise don’t care to be a courteous driver – PLEASE SLOW DOWN WHEN TURNING LEFT, AND MAKE SURE YOU YIELD! 
Nora Kounanis, Gilroy 
Home schooling should remain a legal and unregulated option
Dear Editor,
As the mom of a home schooling family, I can vouch that despite societal stereotypes of right-wing religious zealots, home schoolers are a diverse group of people. Our reasons for homeschooling are equally diverse.
The one thing that we (all) have in common is a deep love for our children and an environment that allows our children to flourish into high-quality, literate, socially responsible and productive adults. One of the key reasons that home schooling is so successful is that we are largely unregulated. Our children have the ability to learn at their own pace, in a very flexible environment.
Each family’s needs are different. Some home schooling families have children with “special” needs. We have all found that a one-size fits all approach fails our children. In this regard, a one-size fits all approach to standardizing and “testing” home schooling will fail our home-schooling families. Home schooling needs to remain a legal and unregulated option.
Karri Lewis, Lakewood
Very important Coyote Valley water points made in excellent column
Dear Editor,
Great column by Marty Cheek on water conservation in California! It is so important for people to constantly hear that water sustains our economy and our way of life. Water is a BIG issue in Coyote Valley. Paving over a recharge basin is questionable – how will that underground aquifer recharge if the ground above has been paved over? 
And with such a high water table in Coyote Valley, will the pollutants in urban runoff have a significant impact on that water supply? These issues still need to be addressed in Coyote Valley before the developers get the go ahead. Rohnert Park in Sonoma County has had similar issues. In-fill development is the way to go, not more greenfield development.
Michele Beasley,
South Bay field representative Greenbelt Alliance
