Water district spendthrifts at it again – $660 per well test, really? It’s a laughable amount
Dear Editor,
The Dec. 20 article outlining the SCV Water District plan to spend $330,000 to test well water makes me feel we are being “water boarded” again. A six-month program with a goal of 500 tests at this price comes to $660 per test.
I’d be glad to set up a lab, do them for half that, and laugh all the way to the bank. The main concern seems to be the nitrate content. The reason, “blue baby syndrome” would be of concern, if, this were a problem.
A call to the water board number listed brought a response to the question, “how many blue baby incidents have been reported in the last 10 years?” Answer, “I don’t know, call the health department.” If it were that big of a problem, I would think that information would be right up front and an answer readily available.
So, here we go again. Let’s take more money from the many water users to run tests that are the responsibility of the few well owners.
If I owned a well I would have a reverse osmosis treatment unit on my drinking water. I use one on city water. My tap is the end of the line so I know I get pure water for drinking. Since I installed it, my fingernails quit splitting so if that is the reason, I am pleased.
To me this appears to be just another missallocation of funds taking from the many to give to the few. Even worse, the intent is to gather information to make more restrictive and costly laws.
Do we need more cost-raising controls?
John Herren, Gilroy
Thanks from the family that operates Wes’ Shoe Repair downtown for all the support
Dear Editor,
Many community members know Wes’ Shoe Repair located downtown at 7485 Monterey St. Wes’ Shoe Repair was owned by Job Sr. and Dewey Camarena. Dewey and Job lived in San Jose. They owned a shoe repair store in Campbell and opened their second store in Gilroy.
Their first shop was located on Westwood Drive near the old Nob Hill Supermarket location. They moved the shop downtown to the current location where Job Jr. is now the current owner. He has worked in shoe repair for 30 years.
It is with great sadness to let the community and faithful customers know that Dewey and Job have both passed away. Dewey passed away on June 20, 2011 and Job, her beloved husband of 54 years, passed on Dec. 4, 2011.
Job Jr. and his family would like to thank everyone for all their support, prayers and love.
Letty Camarena, Gilroy
More tax money for BART-to-San Jose … another ongoing public transit sinkhole
Dear Editor,
With 77 percent of Americans opposed to raising gasoline/diesel taxes, why did the Valley Transportation Agency Directors, including Gilroy Councilman Perry Woodward, vote to approve increasing taxes of everything sold in the county, including gasoline/diesel?
BART-to-San Jose will only add to our deficits, just like Amtrak does, just like Caltrain, Lite Rail, and Bullet Train if it gets built.
Why don’t we abolish VTA, and privatize transport so that people pay for their own transport rather than making motorists and truckers pay for 99 percent of transit systems’ riders’ costs?
Joe Thompson, Gilroy
Lots of local teens believe giving is a year-round effort
Dear Editor,
“Tis the season of giving …”
However, there are some young people in our community who believe giving is not just for the holidays, but is a year-around community obligation.
For many years, teens at our local high schools have volunteered weekly, giving an hour of their time at the Boccardo Family Center in San Martin, a homeless shelter for families. There, monitored by Gamma Alpha, a local chapter of honorary women educators, high school students share a love of literature by reading one-on-one with that facility’s children.
The volunteers have been surprised, time and time again, by the joy they personally bring to the young residents.
These teens continue to surprise us with their generosity.
Many Sobrato and Live Oak Interact Club students enjoyed the experience so much that they showed up for a reading hour even when they weren’t assigned! Oakwood School’s second grade class, under the aegis of that school’s Interact Club, accepted our September request for a book drive.
In November, we received more than 1060 beautiful picture and chapter books! In December, Central High School’s Interact Club members presented the children a wonderful Christmas party with gifts, cookie decorating, card-making and letter writing. At the end, each young attendee returned to their families with many, many good books they personally chose.
Our teen leaders are such a caring and generous part of this community! We are grateful that they share their time with the Boccardo children. Thus, on behalf of the families at that center, we wish to say how much we deeply appreciate them all!
Cindy Miller, Literacy Chair, and members of Gamma Alpha Chapter; Patricia Vazquez, Program Manager, EHC LifeBuilders Boccardo Family Living Center
