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Teacher of the Year

Editor:

I was so inspired at the celebration of the County's "Teachers of the Year" event on Oct. 7.

There were about 250 people at the state-of-the-art Education Arts Center of San Leandro High School. I brought my older daughter and her friend, since they both are in graduate school, studying to be teachers. I was hoping they would be inspired by the great things that these teachers did, and am happy to report that they were, very much so.

The event production was impressive. The Alameda County Offi ce of Education did a great job making the celebration a success. Twenty-one outstanding teachers all over the county were honored.

I would like to share with you a little about our very own honoree, Elizabeth Young from Washington School. Her desire was to teach in a Title I school from the beginning of her teaching career. She spoke of her passion in teaching a diverse group of kids with many challenges, including those coming from low-income and/or immigrant families.

She grew up in a family where her parents adopted children from other countries, helping her to appreciate diversity.

And there was no question that she was going to make a difference in this world, by helping children to achieve. In accepting the award, she said, "It was not so much my mind that infl uenced me to become a teacher, it was my heart. I decided to teach because I wanted to change the world. This might seem like a ridiculous idea to some, but I was up for the challenge. I wanted to give all children, especially those with less, incredible opportunities to have the spotlight, be challenged, grow and celebrate their achievements."

Congratulations to Young and to all the Alameda teachers she represents. You can honor Young by volunteering in her class or at her school. Contact Washington School at 748- 4007 for the opportunity.

— Alice Lai-Bitker

Editor's note: The Alameda Sun featured Liza Young's award in a front page article ("Rewarding Education Excellence," Oct. 14).

Sick of the politicos

Editor:

Do dictators run Alameda? Does the city council always dictate and follow through without so much as a request for opinions from the people they are supposed to work for?

I am sick of Alameda politicians controlling what happens to this city. If this Ron Cowan deal goes through — after 25 years of living in Alameda — we're out of here!

After the outrage over the destruction/ waste of 31 healthy, established and beautiful trees on Park Street followed by the hurried destruction of a least 10 more, we've got one ugly "Anystreet USA." Is this the city council's idea of beautifi cation? It matters not how many little spindle trees are put in. Park Street is now an ugly looking street and it will remain so for 15 years or more.

Members of the city council should not repeat the make-Alameda- ugly agenda on Island Drive.

They should vote "no" on the swap with Ron Cowan or any other entity that happens to hop into their collective pockets.

— Judy Jacobs

No excuse for cutting down trees

Editor:

I went to last night's meeting regarding the Park Street tree cutting. In the future, not only should there be mandatory public notice in advance of the city's intention to remove trees, but we should be given a chance to stop it. The haste with which the trees were cut down seems related to a recent CalTrans funding approval with a deadline to use funds before October 2012. The project description called for removing and replacing only trees in bad health or causing safety issues — over time, not all at once.

The discussion of the contractor bid process and changes regarding "bulb outs" was also enlightening. What happened to the trees on Park Street was horrifi c, mishandled and cannot be reversed, with no respect to Alameda's character or citizens' opinions. There needs to be policy changes and regulations put in place that the city government and its staff have to follow to prevent similar debacles. The remaining mature trees on Park Street should be saved. There is no excuse for how this went down.

— Ariane Paul

Alameda Boys & Girls Club says "thanks"

Editor:

The Alameda Boys & Girls Club held our annual "Kids Nite Out" at our new facility on Friday, Nov. 4. More than 100 adults "buddied" with more than 100 Club kids to compete as two-person teams in a range of games and activities; enjoy a delicious meal; take "Buddy" photos; and win awards.

Huge thanks to the adults in our community, our hardworking and dedicated staff, and our Board members who made this an incredibly special and fun evening for our kids.

A big shout out to the folks who organized a most successful and memorable event: co-chairs Tim Marr and Dave McCarver, Bill Dal Porto, Marc Morales, Diane Cunningham Rizzo, Dave Mann, Al Wright, Andy Olveira, Mark "Guido" Ferro, Bill Moore, and Diarra Piggue. We also want to thank Brad Thomas and the Alameda High School women's basketball team for volunteering.

I'd also like to thank our community sponsors. These include the Keystone sponsors: Alameda Advertising and Recognition for the T-shirts, banners, and trophies; Raintree Studios for the buddy and group photos; La Val's Pizza for the meal and post-party pizzas; Nathan Hayes from Oakland Athletics for the goodie bags; Alameda Little League, Bill Dal Porto, Harbor Bay Realty, Oakland Athletics Community Fund, Peter Holmes (Sterling Mortgage), Rich Sherratt, and Ross Stores. Torch sponsors: Catherine Bierwith (Harbor Bay Realty), Steve Cressy (Harbor Bay Realty), Diamond Tool & Die, John Funk, Tim Marr (Harbor Bay Realty), Mark McKee Memorial Golf Tournament, Dr. Philip C. Reyes (Clinton Chiropractic), Linda Kolowich, McGee's, Otaez Mexican Restaurant, and Pirates Football.

— George Phillips

Executive Director Alameda Boys & Girls Club

An open letter to the city The Alameda Sun received a copy of this letter.

Dear Mayor Gilmore, Members of the City Council, and staff: I am deeply distressed and not a little angry that the offi cial introduction and description of the city's Chuck Corica Golf Complex web page is so editorially one-sided, incomplete, and biased. Not one word is mentioned about the historic popularity of the complex, its accessibility, or some of the preventable and avoidable causes of its reduced popularity, to wit:

• Previous city councils and city managers deprived the complex of well over $8 million in the last decade by extracting funds from the complex that should have been reinvested in major maintenance and capital improvements. (That is about what it would cost to completely revamp and update the entire complex without resorting to a problematic land swap.)

• Other factors such as raising green fees and previous course mismanagement are not mentioned, either.

The city's offi cial staff reports and public documents need to be fair, balanced, comprehensive, and accurate. The one-sided and incomplete web copy that introduces "all the information related to this proposal" fl unks the fairness test completely because so much of "the rest of the story" is missing entirely.

The community deserves — and often gets — much better reports from its professional staff. This copy should be revised to more fairly and evenly refl ect the whole truth about the Chuck Corica Golf Complex.

— Jon Spangler

Speak up, participate

Editor:

So much has been written about what makes Alameda great by its residents as well as visitors and those attracted to moving here.

For instance, the sense of community we enjoy within an urban region, with its proximity to a rich cultural atmosphere and an easy commute to commerce; the availability of the beaches, parks and shopping without leaving the Island, making recreational opportunities moments away; and the safety provided by our natural boundaries by the Estuary and San Francisco Bay, the view of which we have the luxury to celebrate.

But can we count on these amenities to continue? Will we be able to maintain control over these assets into the future while moving forward as a body? In order to preserve the status quo that we value, such as the small-town atmosphere, the wonderful recreational opportunities at our disposal, the degree of safety historically present and the freedom to be a community in control of its destiny by way of preservation, we must be active in our keen attention to any threats to our continued good fortune in living in such a great area by those who would change our destiny.

We can only do that by speaking up, much as Jean Sweeny has shown us is possible and necessary, and participating in preserving Alameda's history and future. The focus on money during this precarious economic time cannot be allowed to be a cause to sacrifi ce our precious assets. We must not sell our city to the speculators, opportunists and those with less than our best interests at heart. Once it is gone, it is gone.

— Linda Treml

Adopt-a-Bed update

Editor:

Many thanks to those individuals and groups who have contributed to the Midway Shelter for abused women and their children during the month of October. A number of the listed donors have contributed several times the month. Donors include Bruce Bowen, Paden School Book Sale: Books were selected by: Tyana, Diamond, Milliana, Stephan, Teleste, Zyon Lee, Semonte, Darawn, Dasia, Aaliyah, Laliyah. Jim and Belinda Ray, Anonymous I, First Christian Church of Alameda, Virginia Krutilek, Keith Nealy, Dr. John A. Johnson, Betty Sanderson, the Law Offi ce of Lance Russum in memory of: Barry Lagemann, Jack Russi, Ken George, Mildred Whitlow, Dave Tuchsen, Haley LaFlamme, Judith Zvereff, Graham Tattersall, George Riddle, Ray Lewis, Mary Bussell; Carol Gerdes, M.D., Jane Watson, Barbara Gibson, First Congregational Church (UCC), Isle City #51 — YLI.

Donations may be sent to Alameda Homeless Network, P.O.

Box 951, Alameda, CA, 94501. For further information call 523-2377 or go to www.midwayshelter.org

— Ginny Krutilek