Dear Editor,

I was happy to see another article regarding the proposed quarry in the Dispatch. I'm a little close to the opposing side of the issue to understand the logic behind some of the views expressed in the article by the developer but I am happy to see that the topic is being presented in such a widely dispersed forum. 

There are too many instances of improper development that are quietly approved by the Santa Clara County due to lack of opposition. The developers' best weapon is to try to do these things as covertly as possible. In this instance, the cat is out of the bag and we fully intend to do everything we can to fight this proposal just as hard as Case Swenson and Verne Freeman seem to be advocating for it.

The surrounding communities, not just the immediate neighbors, need to be VERY concerned about this quarry proposal. The traffic that this operation would put on these communities is significant - 10,000 trucks per year on these poorly maintained roads surrounding the proposed site. Additionally, Freeman and Swenson were quick to spin this effort into a community enhancing lake development that will take seven to 10 years to develop, but fail to mention the amount of noise and dust the rock crushing and screening equipment will make. Noise travels very far in this little valley.

I'd like to encourage all of your readers to make their opinion known regarding this proposal.  Please review the public documents regarding the proposal and other information at www.NoQuarryInGilroy.org. At that site you can sign up to be notified about news and events related to the opposition of the quarry.  Everyone should also sign the petition posted at www.petitiononline.com/NQIG/petition.html.

Ken Pauley, Gilroy

Quarry truck traffic will muck up Watsonville Road and much more

Dear Editor,

There is a genuine concern to anyone that uses Watsonville Road or any of the surrounding streets that will now have to handle the additional heavy traffic necessitated by a quarry.

As a Gilroy resident I enjoy riding my motorcycle through our wonderful local countryside to remove stress from the busy Silicon Valley work week. I would not welcome meeting a rock laden truck while on a relaxing weekend "stress down" ride.

Also the idea of the potential damage and associated risks to the environment are only too real as we are all still in the shadow of the perchlorate poisoned water table contamination issues initiated in San Martin.

Neil Mitchell, Gilroy resident of 8 years

North-south division for CHS and GHS real, but there's a gang factor

Dear Editor,

I need to share my surprise and disappointment that the Dispatch would use a headline such as northern Cougars vs. southern Mustangs as a lead for school boundaries. While it certainly is true that the split is along a north/side divide, given our present climate of gang activity, I think the choice of that headline was inappropriate. 

The front page of the online Dispatch asks readers' opinion if they think violent gang activity is on the rise.

My opinion is, it most definitely is on the rise. Something as seemingly harmless as the headline above, just adds fuel to the fire. 

Jim Gama, principal Gilroy Community Day School

Aided by the city, North Murray community is coming together

Dear Editor,

On behalf of the North Murray Avenue community, I would like to acknowledge the neighborhood community and the support we have received to date on the efforts to protect the quality of life of this neighborhood.

The community consists of 119 single familyhomes in eight cul-de-sacs, over 24 ranchette homes, and more than 24 landowners. The community is actively participating as a stakeholder in the area bounded by Monterey Road to the west, U.S.101 to the east, Leavesley Road to the south, and Buena Vista Road to the north.

This area includes existing commercial and industrial businesses. 

Since 2001, the North Murray Community has been the grassroots effort to engage residents to network and participate in neighborhood projects and act as a united voice in protecting their quality of life. With the assistance of many in the community, we have been successful in implementing a neighborhood watch program, awareness programs on emergency preparedness and code enforcement, and cleanup/BBQ days.

In the end, it is the hope of the community that the neighborhood is protected with a high quality of life, including open space (a neighborhood park and trail development). The planned, adjacent industrial park and commercial businesses will integrate with the neighborhood and not adversely affect the neighborhood.

I would like to acknowledge and send a thank you to the following groups for their support of this community.The community homeowners, HOPE Services, and recently, the Melia Development Group, are partnering to help shape the neighborhood community. 

The City of Gilroy Council, our local representatives,and appointed City of Gilroy Planning Commission and City of Gilroy Parks and Recreation Commission are actively listening and acting on the concerns and interests of the community. The Gilroy Police Department and Gilroy Fire Department are providing neighborhood resources and efforts to the community. The Community Development Department and Community Services Department are actively seeking to understand and implement changes to address the interests and concerns of the neighborhood community. 

Thomas Muniz, Gilroy

Lies and deceit from the people advocating for intelligent design

Dear Editor,

Once again, religious pro-intelligent design advocates use lies and deceit in the development, promotion and marketing of the soon to be released anti-evolution movie, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." Under disguise, the film's promoters interviewed scientists for a documentary called, "Crossroads: The Intersection of Science and Religion." Their interviews would balance the intelligent design arguments in the documentary, said the god-fearing interviewers.  Convinced that the documentary would be fair and balanced, the scientists proceeded with the interviews. 

Unbeknownst to them, the film makers changed the name to "Expelled..." and used the scientists' comments, not as originally stated, but rather in an attempt to conflate atheism with science, and belittle various scientific communities, publications and journals for minimizing the concept of intelligent design. 

Religious filmmakers, feigning documentary credentials, have created a propaganda film promoting what the secular court system described as religion-based. Said the Honorable John E. Jones, a Republican Christian federal court judge appointed by George W. Bush, "To briefly reiterate, we first note that since intelligent design is not science, the conclusion is inescapable that the only real effect of the intelligent design policy is the advancement of religion." 

Because intelligent design (aka scientific creationism) is promoted almost exclusively by religious proponents, one wonders what Jesus would say to those who consciously deceived others. Isn't there a sin in there somewhere? 

Dale Morejón, Gilroy

Learn the difference between dike and dyke; FYI - your water is cheap

Dear Editor,

I think you guys need to do some more research. First you need to learn the difference between "dyke" and "dike".

Look it up, letters matter. Also the cost of crop water at $15 to $17 per acre foot seems low. The cost for untreated water should be on the order of $150 to $300 per acre foot, based on what I understand about the costs of water in California. Where am I wrong?

Jon Paul Stenberg, Fallbrook

Editor's note: In the dictionary, dike and dyke are defined as earthen dams. Look it up.