The Community Newspapers are getting an online facelift, and the Image Cultural and Charitable Events Calendar is going interactive, thanks to a partnership between the Community Newspapers and Artsopolis Marketing Partnership, a program of the nonprofit Arts Council Silicon Valley.

Our relationship with Artsopolis, the online arts and entertainment calendar, began several months ago with the realization that the information we had been developing for Image about charitable fundraising events was something that would be useful to Artsopolis.

By the same token, we realized that we were spending long hours developing weekly updates for the arts portion of the Image Calendar, when Artsopolis was already maintaining a comprehensive--and interactive--arts calendar.

We both brought something to the table that could expand and improve the efforts of the other. So, beginning this week, when you go to the Image Calendar at www.image-magazine.com, you'll find an interactive calendar that includes an advanced search function, event images and user-friendly event listings. Additionally, selected events will offer direct ticketing and discounts through Artsopolis.com.

Although our relationship with Artsopolis began with the customized calendar engine, it evolved into a redesign of our website. Now when you visit our home page at www.community-newspapers.com or the home page for your local newspaper, you'll still find stories and information from our weekly newspapers, but it will be presented with a fresh new look. You can also access the Image calendar at the Community Newspapers website. This transition will take place over the next few days.

We are delighted to be able to bring our readers expanded arts and entertainment coverage through this online partnership, and we hope readers will find our Community Newspapers website redesign livelier and easier to navigate.

--Dale Bryant, Executive Editor

Yarndogs still
offer classes
for customers

I've been overwhelmed with supportive response from my customers after they read your March 22 article ("No classes in stores without a permit") about our discussions with the town of Los Gatos regarding our schedule of classes. But I've also received phone calls from some who read the article and mistakenly thought we are no longer teaching classes [at Yarndogs, 151 E. Main St.].

Please assure your readers that we are continuing to offer a full variety of knitting and crocheting classes, in accordance with the guidelines established by the town, of course. We have typically limited our classes to the size the town now requires (five or fewer students) to provide a better learning experience for our students, so we're confident that we can comply with the town's guidelines while providing our customers with a wide range of classes.

Deborah Panighetti

Los Gatos

DeCinzo's cartoons
say so much
I want to say how much I enjoy the "Cartoonist's View" by DeCinzo. Week after week, he consistently targets what is happening and pokes fun at those responsible for making the decisions.

Every Wednesday, I go right to DeCinzo's cartoon. Often, it is the best part of the paper for me.

It is said that "a picture is worth a thousand words." DeCinzo says so much with his cartoons, using so few words. We are very lucky to have him to point out both the subtle and the obvious in such a clever manner.

Rusty Britt

Cupertino

What is wrong
with obeying
the law?

A while back, this newspaper ran a column that made light of jaywalking. I do my best to obey these laws, and I think it's good to go about my daily affairs while honoring those rules.

Others aren't as scrupulous about this as I am. It's strange to be a nonconformist just by following the law. Although it might be better if I didn't stand out in this way, I can't change just to be like others. Law-abiding behavior is appropriate.

One of the benefits of respecting the law is that the job of the police is easier. When people obey the law on their own, the police don't have to work so hard. And I'll bet that if enough people did that, it would lead to less big crime, too.

But the biggest benefit is a clear conscience. Whether one gets caught for such a simple little infraction as jaywalking is not what counts. Knowing that one's conduct is beyond reproach gives a certain self-assurance and peace. It is actually the purpose of the law to point the way to freedom. When we learn that living in harmony with rational order and self-control leads to happiness, the law has done its job with us.

Jaywalking enforcement may seem like a little thing, but little things mean a lot. Getting a ticket is really a blessing in disguise. It's a chance to grow in maturity; taking that step enables us to see the police as our friends.

All that is necessary is to be in agreement with the idea of the law, and then to just begin to follow it. An easy way to start is to practice in a relaxed way, when there is no rush. Gradually life will become more relaxed, too. The police will appreciate those efforts also.

Jeffrey P. Bedolla

San Jose

Old Burger Pit
an eyesore on
the Boulevard

How long has it been since the Burger Pit on the Boulevard closed down? Twenty years? Why is it no one cares that the property is the eyesore of the Boulevard? Is it because one of the auto dealerships owns the property, which provides a needed tax revenue?

The town leaders worry about the make of furniture displayed in front of businesses downtown but allow this rat-infested site to continue on for generations. Wouldn't it make a great family-style pizza parlor rather than what it has become? Please, clean up the Burger Pit!

Jim Northcutt

Los Gatos

El Camino Hospital