As I was perusing your periodical this past week (Aug. 20), I came across what one can only label a gastronomic oversight! On page 27 of your esteemed weekly, you were remiss in not listing two of the best restaurants of their kind in the county.

Under pizza, Brick Oven Pizza in Pacific Grove was conspicuously missing. It is by far, in the humble opinion of this author, simply the pie of the gods. Give the BOB pizza a try!

Bagels. Long the mainstay of the morning meal, Marina Donuts and Bagels have the quintessential bagel. Try them, you'll be back.

Now I'm off for my morning repast, a "Delight on a garlic," with the thought of the pie as my reward for the day!

ROBERT D. VANDERSLICE II

MARINA

Why We Should Care

Mr. Lewis asks "Why Care About Prisoners?" (Letters, Aug. 13.) Does he really want to know? If so, then, let me help him learn.

Mr. Lewis has an "Us vs. Them" mentality. He is confused and a little ignorant. It is not "Us vs. Them," because they are us. They are our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, husbands, wives, lovers and our children.

Yes, many people have suffered because of the decisions these individuals have made. Does revenge make things right again? Revenge and hate do not help in healing or make our lives better, just bitter.

Mr. Lewis uses the word "warehouse," like people can become inanimate objects. Doing what is only decent for another human being is a far cry from appeasing a criminal.

What kind of message should we send our youth, Mr. Lewis asks? Would you rather face a bitter, ignorant stranger or an empathetic, merciful stranger in a dark alley? Mercy, empathy and most important love for one another is the message for our youth. Do not repay evil with evil. If we do, then we keep evil alive, it will go on and on.

FRANKIE BAILON

SOLEDAD

Prisoners Should Pay

I noted the letter from Ken Lewis (Letters, Aug. 13) and surmised the gist of the article to which he referred.

Having been victimized by violent crime and my daughter also, I have thoughts to share.

I do believe in serious attempts to rehabilitate the offenders. After all, they will be returned to society after their term is served. However, I also believe they should be required to work off their very real debts to the victims and the system. To pay the funeral expenses, the hospital bills, to restore the stolen items, to pay the legal costs of investigation, arrest, prosecution, and to pay for their room and board while incarcerated. To pay for their "rehabilitation." So far, all they are getting is a free ride paid for by the victims and society. Not just--not fair!

YVONNE COATS

PRUNEDALE

Page Responds

Keith Vandervere's "Dam" letter >(CW, Aug 20) reminds me of the humorous metaphorical anecdote: Question; "What is the difference between ignorance and apathy?" Response; "I don't know and I don't care!"

CHARLES PAGE

CARMEL

Not Very Valid?

The plight of the former Herald workers is still a very valid issue to me, and a concern of the Monterey County Interfaith Council for Social and Economic Justice of which I am affiliated.

These people are important members of our community, professional workers, our friends and neighbors. I feel we have a responsibility toward them.

BUT...what is corporate responsibility, where does it begin and end?

I tried to make an appointment with the publisher of the Herald for a delegation of the Monterey County Interfaith Council members to discuss the issues of workers' rights, earning a living wage, the rights to unionize, and job security.

Not owning stock in their corporation, and being only a lowly subscriber--so does that have to disqualify me from helping my neighbors?

We were not granted an interview--does that mean the Herald considers this a dead issue?

DARBY MOSS WORTH

CARMEL

Stop the Squandering

That billion dollar Air Force spy satellite and rocket that blew up on launching at Cape Canaveral is an example of the vast sums this nation squanders on "defense," some ten times more than all imaginable adversaries combined.

Roughly $275 billion goes to the Pentagon each year, while $26 billion is reportedly spent on gathering intelligence. Judging by the fact that the intelligence community was caught flat-footed by India's nuclear tests and the terrorist bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa, all that expensive gadgetry and spying didn't do the job.

Isn't it time we faced up to the real needs in this country--for schools and health care and low-cost housing and the environment, for starters--rather than continuing with these extraordinary levels of military expenditures?

BOBBIE HARMS

CARMEL

Denver Memorial?

Recently we had a tragedy in the death of John Denver in a plane crash off the coast of Pacific Grove. There followed much discussion pro and con of a memorial in Pacific Grove to the singer. At first I considered it strictly the business of Pacific Grove and didn't get involved. But in my many trips to medical conferences in San Diego and to the Southwest Indian reservations, I would pass and stop at the James Dean memorial at Cholame on Route 46. The memorial, which always has flowers and somebody taking pictures, was not where the Dean accident occurred. And it dawned on me that John Denver didn't die in Pacific Grove but in Monterey Bay and it would be appropriate for a memorial to be placed anyplace along the shore of Monterey Bay. He did much to preserve our country's environment and gave us much enjoyment with his music. A memorial along the shores of our marine sanctuary would be in order.

EDWARD J. STACHOWIAK, M.D.

CARMEL HIGHLANDS