Los Gatan 9-28-2022

VOTERS WILL HAVE A SAY ON SCHOOL ARTS FUNDING

Seven state propositions are on the Nov. 8 ballot

Todd Guild, Reporter

In 2008, as the economic recession was ravaging com munities nationwide, school districts were forced to take a close look at their budgets, and in many cases make massive cuts to preserve the meat of their programs.

The first casualties of this across-the-board slashing were often art and music programs.

In the intervening years, many districts have reversed this.

Still, the programs are not at the levels they once were. That could change under Proposition 28, a proposed state law that would require the state to in crease its funding to K-12 music and arts programs statewide.

The proposition—also called the Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Ac countability Act—would not raise taxes. Instead, it would shift approximately 1% of the state’s $128 billion education budget to be used for that purpose.

State officials say the in creased funding would total an extra $1 billion for schools, 80% of which must go toward

PARKLET PLANS SUBJECT TO CHANGES IN CAMPBELL

Business owners, pointing to Los Gatos’ program, seek help in covering costs

Heather Allen, Bay City News

The Campbell City Council met on Sept. 20 to discuss a proposed semi-permanent par klet system that would replace the temporary system currently in place, but decided to hold off on taking action on the propos al until at least next month.

Parklets have been a pop ular solution to restaurants and their patrons during the Covid-19 pandemic, including in Los Gatos. Restaurants could remain open while providing diners with space to socially

➝ Campbell,

Subscribe to receive Los Gatan home delivery every week.

STRIVE FOR PEACE Los Gatos artist David Middlebrook describes the basalt monument he created that was unveiled Sept. 21 at the Morgan Hill Civic Plaza in honor of World Peace Day. Middlebrook, a retired San Jose State University art professor, works with a variety of stones and bronze materials for his pieces, which have been shown throughout the world. The nine-foot-tall basalt column features the word “Peace” carved in more than 25 languages. At the top of a sculpture sits a dove with an olive branch. Three basalt benches also surround the artwork. Middlebrook said he chose basalt because it contains “the building blocks of life.” “You can’t get any more inclusive of a material that represents life than basalt,” he said.

Erik Chalhoub/Los Gatan

lucy@serenogroup.com 408-891-6861

DRE# 00640875

Lucy Wedemeyer Broker 408-891-4151

keith@serenogroup.com

DRE# 01470 Keith Andry Associate/Broker

Extraordinary marketing expertise fueled with contagious enthusiasm de�nes Lucy Wedemeyer as a “RockStar” Real Estate Broker She’s one of the most recognized and highly respected Realtors in the Bay Area, consistently awarded Top 1% distinction Keith Andry with a BS in Finance joined his Award-Winning Mother-in-Law in 2000.

As founding members of SERENO, they’ve curated an extensive network of professionals as an integral part of enhancing clients properties for market. Both exude unsurpassed pro-active visions as Brokers and Certi�ed Negotiation Experts; re�ective of 90% referral business as they strive to exceed expectations to accomplish client’s goals and dreams.

This information was supplied by reliable sources. Sales Associate believes this information to be correct but has not verified this information and assumes no Legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyers should investigate these issues to their own satisfaction.

Dan Pulcrano

Executive Editor & Publisher

Lee May General Manager

Erik Chalhoub

Managing Editor

Lori Lieneke

Advertising Director

Phaedra Strecher

Editorial Production Manager

Drew Penner

Reporter

Emanuel Lee Juan Reyes Sports Writers

Judy Peterson Contributor

Kate Kauffman

Senior Account Executive

Serenity Polizzi Eric Bocanegra

Carrie Bonato Account Executives

Alicia Trujillo

Subscriptions

WEEKLYS

Stephen Buel

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Mike Lyon

Digital Media

Sonia Chavez Accounts Receivables

Warren Giancaterino

Information Technology

DEATH NOTICES

Death notices with basic information that are submitted to editor@losgatan.com may be published on a space-available basis only.

To place a paid, unedited obituary with a photo, call 707.353.1148 or email

LifeTributes@Weeklys.com.

OPINIONS

Commentaries and letters to the editor on our Opinion pages reflect the opinions of the authors. We welcome letters to the editor and commen taries on all topics of local interest.

Email your submissions to editor@losgatan.com

Letters must include the writer’s name and hometown (for publication) and phone number (for verification).

Submissions may be edited, and will be published as space permits. Letters are limited to 250 words, commentaries to 500 words.

CORRECTIONS

We strive to avoid errors in news and ads. Mistakes sometimes occur. To report errors, call or email; corrections will appear in the next edition and online.

WHO WE ARE

Los Gatan is published Wednesdays by Weeklys. Contents copyright ©2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form prohibited without written permission.

LOS GATOS SUBSIDIZED CONSTRUCTION

Campbell , from page 1

distance in an open-air setting.

The semi-permanent parklets could cost between $75,000-$90,000, de pending on what options the restau rants might want to add.

That's a price that has left many restaurateurs with sticker shock, with many saying that they might not want to consider participating without sig nificant subsidies from either the city or their landlords.

Randy Musterer of Sushi Confi dential said that the City of Campbell reached out to restaurants earlier this year about building semi-permanent parklets to replace the temporary structures that had been built at the beginning of the pandemic, but none of the business owners were aware of the price point until recently.

“A lot of these restaurants that have been interested may not be able to afford it,” Musterer said. “They may have de pleted a lot of their savings, or they only have a year or two left on their lease. A lot of these landlords aren't helping subsi dize or pay for it. So there may not be real financial reasons to move forward.”

Under the new plan, parklets can take two parking stalls on the street, with the entire structure contained within those parking spaces.

The designs that were presented by Sidell Pakravan Architects, the firm hired by the city, come with varying

degrees of coverage—some have roofs, some have picket fence-like enclo sures—and are more secure than most of the temporary structures on Camp bell Avenue, which could mitigate injuries in the event of accidents.

Safety is a major concern, especially when people are placed so close to traffic.

Leslie Parks, the economic develop ment manager for the city, gave an ex ample in the meeting that an SUV had backed into a wood-framed parklet in an unnamed city and the driver had been unaware of the collision.

“A vehicle can be very close when you have a parklet in a parking space. The intent of the design is to provide as much protection as possible for the diners,” Parks said.

Those protective materials—con crete, steel railings and redwood— carry most of the cost for the proposed parklet designs. Cheaper materials, like plywood, were not considered to be viable to the designers because it breaks down when it spends a lot of time in the elements.

Other jurisdictions such as Los Ga tos and Redwood City have already implemented semi-permanent par klets in their downtown areas.

Alex Hult, the founder of Flights restaurant which has a location in downtown Campbell and previously in Los Gatos, said that Campbell has

been “smart” to hold off and see what neighboring cities are doing so that the program is done right.

But part of the problem is the high ticket price.

According to Musterer and Hult, restaurateurs who might want to partic ipate in the program may be leery to join because they may have only a few years left on their lease and they don't want to invest in a parklet if they might not remain in the same location long-term.

Business owners want the city or their landlords to cover some of the costs to build these structures.

Hult said that Los Gatos used feder al funding to help subsidize $40,000 or 75% of construction costs for its parklet program, but the City of Campbell is considering reducing the parklet application fee from $1,500 to $500, removing the deposit charge and providing up to $3,000 in par klet customization consultation with Sidell Pakravan Architects. But that still leaves business owners paying for the bulk of construction costs.

Part of the reason is that the city is required to pay prevailing wage to contractors if they disperse grants from federal funds, which could drive costs of construction up 30-35 per cent, according to Parks.

In an effort to find solutions that will benefit business owners and the city, the City Council delayed moving further on the plan until it can recon vene on the matter on Oct. 4.

Copyright © 2022 Bay City News, Inc.

OUTDOOR DINING A parklet is shown under construction in downtown Los Gatos.

PEOPLE’S LIVES.

WHAT MY CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY...

H H H H H

“You really can’t do better. It’s not just that Carol is always prepared and is the consummate professional, most of all it’s that she cares. She knows the market and explains it well. If you’re a seller she knows how to maximize the value of your home. If you’re a buyer she reads that market better than anyone and knows what it will take. Making an offer is a very nuanced process, and no one knows the nuances better than Carol Jeans. If you go with someone else you will be missing out.” D.L. - (YELP, 9/22)

H H H H H

“An excellent agent!! It was a real pleasure to work with Carol thru-out the process. She was well prepared and organized every step of the way from the initial planning, setting price expectations, staging, inspectors, etc. to closing. We were kept informed of everything along the way. No matter was left undone. She also has an excellent team supporting her.” R.D. - (Google, 9/22)

• Ranked Top 1.5% of Realtors Nationwide, Real Trends 2022

• Top 300 Real Estate Agents California, Real Trends 2022

• Top 100 Most Influential Real Estate Agents in Northern California, Real Estate Executive

• America’s Best Realtors, Newsweek

• 2018 Joanne Knapp

• More than $1 billion in

• 80% of clients are either repeat

or

Empowered, educated clients make the best financial decisions. I provide information and insight that people tell me instills confidence and trust – that’s how the process becomes less stressful and clients reach their goals even in a very competitive market. I am data-driven and pro-active, working tirelessly to negotiate the very best price and terms for every buyer and seller.

• 30+ years of market

• Founding Member of Sereno

• Focused on the quality of the client’s

• Chair, Sereno 1% For Good Charitable Foundation, Los Gatos

• Board Member, Sereno 1% For Good Charitable Foundation

01117857

Knowledge of the Local Market and Community

ABORTION, SPORTS BETTING ON BALLOT

Propositions, from page 1

hiring new art and music teachers.

There has been no opposition filed for the new law.

Voters will decide on this proposi tion during the Nov. 8 election.

Below are the six other state propo sitions on the ballot.

Proposition 1

Sure to draw people to voting booths from all reaches of the political spec trum, Proposition 1 would place into the state Constitution a woman’s right to have an abortion.

Authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins, whose dis trict includes San Diego, the proposed law was a response to the United States Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 opinion that legalized abortion nationwide.

That decision sparked a ground swell of both opposition and support, with many states moving immediately to both ban abortion, and to protect that right.

Without a constitutional amend ment, future legislators or judges could easily remove or restrict abor tion rights in California, supporters say. If it passes, any future changes would require a two-thirds vote of the legislature to place it on the ballot and would then require support of voters.

While the procedure is already al lowed in California, placing it into the Constitution would move it further out of reach for Republicans, who have already announced legislation to prohibit it nationwide.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Gra ham in late August proposed a nation al 15-week ban, a move that shocked even his Republican colleagues wary of making waves in an election year.

Still, Graham’s proposal was a way to further electrify a conservative elec torate emboldened by the Supreme Court ruling.

Proponents include the California Medical Association, Planned Par enthood and the League of Women Voters.

Opponents say the proposal is un needed, since women already have the right to abortion here. They also say that the new law would remove restrictions on late-term abortions, an assertion proponents say is an untrue “scare tactic.”

The California Catholic Conference has come out against it, as has the California Alliance of Pregnancy Care, a Sacramento-based organization that promotes “life-affirming alternatives to abortion.”

Proposition 26

This law would allow in-person sports betting at dozens of tribal casi nos and at four racetracks statewide.

While the racetracks must pay 10% of sports bets made each day to the new California Sports Wagering Fund (CSWF), the Indian tribes could ne gotiate their own state payments, al though at minimum they must pay for regulating sports betting.

Some of the CSWF funds would go to help fund the state’s K-12 education funding.

The remaining funds would go to gambling addiction and mental health programs, for enforcement costs, and to the state General Fund.

Supporters say the new law would help Native American tribes become more self-sufficient—even smaller ones thanks to revenue sharing agree ments. Opponents, meanwhile, say that it will lead to increased gambling addiction and to underage gambling. They also say the law is an attempt by the five wealthy tribes that are bank rolling the proposition to expand their reach.

Proposition 27

This would allow Indian tribes to offer online sports betting outside tribal lands.

Supporters estimate this law stands to generate revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars, some of which would support regulatory costs.

Under the law, casinos would pay 10% of the bets made each month to the state, which would go to a new California Online Sports Betting Trust Fund, which in part would fund enforcement. But 85% would go to address homelessness and for gam bling addiction programs. The money would also go to tribes not involved in online sports betting.

Casinos taking part must agree to increased state regulation.

Opponents say that the law would worsen gambling addiction by turning

Activities keep

Living

vibrant

that

is more than

your

as

age. Embrace adventure, stay active, and explore new

thoughtfully designed Vibrant Life® program, which inspires and challenges residents through our seven core pillars to living vibrantly.

Was your home built before 1970?

Was your home built before 1970?

TrenchFree is the South Bay’s leader in nondisruptive “no-dig” replacement of water mains and sewer lines. A slow drain or unsatisfactory pressure may be a sign.

TrenchFree is the South Bay’s leader in nondisruptive “no-dig” replacement of water mains and sewer lines. A slow drain or unsatisfactory pressure may be a sign.

TrenchFree is the South Bay’s leader in nondisruptive “no-dig” replacement of water mains and sewer lines. A slow drain or unsatisfactory pressure may be a sign.

Home Networks

Security Cameras

Home Networks Security Cameras

Home Networks Security Cameras

Wi-Fi Upgrades

Wi-Fi Upgrades

Wi-Fi Upgrades

An experienced Silicon Valley IT manager will help you speed up slow connections, choose the right equipment and sort through the challenges of keeping your home technology devices on-line and performing well. Ask us about whole home audio and smart lighting too. Call for a free consultation!

An experienced Silicon Valley IT manager will help you speed up slow connections, choose the right equipment and sort through the challenges of keeping your home technology devices on-line and performing well. Ask us about whole home audio and smart lighting too. Call for a free consultation!

An experienced Silicon Valley IT manager will help you speed up slow connections, choose the right equipment and sort through the challenges of keeping your home technology devices on-line and performing well. Ask us about whole home audio and smart lighting too. Call for a free consultation!

An experienced Silicon Valley IT manager will help you speed up slow connections, choose the right equipment and sort through the challenges of keeping your home technology devices on-line and performing well. Ask us about whole home audio and smart lighting too. Call for a free consultation!

408 647-4687

408 647-4687

408 647-4687

www.doitforme.solutions

www.doitforme.solutions

www.doitforme.solutions

Trusted • Owner operated • Gilroy-based

Trusted • Owner operated • Gilroy-based

Trusted • Owner operated • Gilroy-based

Trusted • Owner operated • Gilroy-based

LOCAL SCENE

COLUMNIST TO CHAT AT LIBRARY

You may have recently devoured his 2022 San Jose Jazz Summerfest round-up, enjoyed learning about the “ambient and dissonant sounds” of the “Industrial Triangle,” or the Hidden History of Lincoln Avenue, but now fans of writer Gary Singh—a colum nist for sister publication Metro Sil icon Valley—have something new to look forward to.

That’s because on Oct. 6, at 5pm, he’ll be at the Los Gatos Library, 100 Villa Ave., to discuss his book “Silicon Alleys: Selected Metro Silicon Valley Columns, 2005-2020” with Dr. Rudy Rucker, who is an author and emeritus professor at San Jose State University.

It’s a compilation of 250 of Singh’s “Silicon Alleys” columns which have been featured in Metro.

“To look at San Jose through Gary’s eyes is an education,” Johnny Moore, the former general manager of the San Jose Earthquakes, said in an advance blurb for the book. “He is to San Jose what Herb Caen was to San Francis co—part of the city, part of its vibe. For years he has walked the streets, enjoyed its hot spots and its dives.”

Rucker, a Los Gatos resident, who taught Singh at SJSU and wrote the book’s forward, is preparing for a sitdown chat with his former student.

The talk is sponsored by Friends of Los Gatos Library.

“Our all-volunteer organization pro vides financial support for library pro grams that serve people of all ages from infants to adults,” Mary Martin, pres ident of the group, stated in a release.

“Last year more than 2,700 people attended 300 programs, performances and classes that the Friends funded. We also paid for supplies for the local history room; activity kits, puzzles, ukuleles and sewing machines that can be checked out; and a lot more.”

The Friends raise money through the Friends of the Library Bookstore, where lightly used books sell for rock-bottom prices.

It is currently the only bookstore in Los Gatos and is located at 110 E. Main St. near the fountain on the Civic Center Plaza.

It is open Wednesday through Sun day from 1-5pm.

The group was also a popular attrac tion at this summer’s Jazz on the Plazz events at Town Plaza Park, where attendees could take a break from listening to top-notch artists to select future reading materials.

NUMU SEEKS ENTRIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL ART EXHIBIT

New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) is inviting Santa Clara County high school students to create an original work of art that is centered around the theme for ArtNow 2023: Unarmed Truth.

ArtNow is an annual juried high school art exhibition and educational program presented by NUMU, open to all ninth- to 12th-graders across Santa Clara County.

Submissions will open on Oct. 7 and close Jan. 29.

ArtNow 2023: Unarmed Truth calls students to find inspiration from lead ers and social or art movements that have “helped us understand, embody or uphold a hidden truth as a com munity,” reads a press release from NUMU. “When creating their original work of art relating to a personal or universal truth, they should reflect on

their own experiences, diving into their subconscious, their hopes and dreams, to reveal something unseen. What is below the surface?”

The annual ArtNow exhibition and supporting programs offer opportu nities for high school student artists, from Palo Alto to Gilroy, to gain experi ence in participating in a juried muse um exhibition. Each year, a new theme is chosen, and students are asked to submit works based on that theme for a chance to exhibit in a museum.

A total of $16,000 in scholarships and awards are given to select partic ipating students. Students have the opportunity to win awards in eight artistic categories as well as an overall Best in Show and a People’s Choice award. The categories are: Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, Printmaking, Sculpture, Photography, Digital Art and Video/Animation.

Archives of past ArtNow exhibitions can be found at numulosgatos.org/ artnow-archive.

This year’s theme was co-created with the first-ever ArtNow Teen Council, which consists of six high school interns who work directly with NUMU’s Educa tion Curator, Michèle Jubilee. Through this partnership with student artists, teens are not just the recipients of the ArtNow program but its architects.

“We’ve been dreaming about estab lishing the ArtNow Teen Council for over a year, and it’s been an absolute blast to help it come to life,” Jubilee said. “Our Teen Council members are so thought ful, creative and passionate about art. Their input helped elevate our theme se lection process, and guided us to a theme that the NUMU ArtNow team wouldn’t have come up with on their own. I’m so excited for what’s to come.”

In order to submit, students must create an original work of art in re sponse to this year’s theme, and write an accompanying artist’s statement. Submissions are accepted online only and will open on Oct 7. Students must be enrolled in high school in Santa Clara County. Public, private and ho meschooled students are all welcome to apply. Each student may only sub mit one work of art.

Details can be found on NUMU’s website at numulosgatos.org/artnow.

ArtNow 2023: Unarmed Truth will be on view at NUMU from March 31June 25.

NATIVE PERSPECTIVE Gary Singh, author of “Silicon Alleys: Selected Metro Silicon Valley Columns, 2005-2020,” will discuss his book at the Los Gatos Library on Oct. 6.

Greg Ramar

SPORTS

MARK KIBORT AND KENT KAPPEN ARE FOREVER YOUNG

Local Masters athletes excel nationally

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

For Mark Kibort and Kent Kappen, iron sharpens iron.

The two friends spurred each other on in this summer’s USATF Masters Na tional Track and Field Championships in Missouri. Kibort, a 62-year-old Saratoga resident, won the gold medal in the de cathlon in the 60-64 age division.

Kappen, a 51-year-old Los Gatos resident, took home bronze in the 5054 age category. The event took place Aug. 27-28 in St. Charles, which is a 30-minute drive west of St. Louis. The decathlon isn’t for the faint of heart.

Decathlon winners in the Olympic Games can make a case for being the greatest athletes in the world because of the variety of disciplines they have to excel in. For Masters athletes like Kibort and Kappen at the National Championships, they competed in the 100 meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meters on the first day of the competition.

Then they had to come back the fol lowing day amid oppressive humidity and do the 100 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500 meters. Not every event in the open decathlon is involved at the Masters level, includ ing the triple jump, 200, 800, 3200 and 300 hurdles.

However, the fact that Kibort and Kappen had to complete 10 events over a 48-hour period is quite an impressive feat for people half their age, let alone a 62- and 51-year-old. Neither Kibort nor Kappen said they would’ve been able to do it without the other.

The duo practice together every Sunday at Los Gatos High, and train on their own the other days.

“You push yourself a lot training for multiple events, and I would never do it entirely on my own because it would be too much torture,” said Kibort, who went 17 feet, 1/4 inches in the pole vault in the 1981 U.S. Championships. “But when you have someone to do it with, it becomes helpful and fun.”

GETTING HIGH Mark Kibort, seen here practicing the pole vault at Los Gatos High on Sept. 24, won the decathlon gold medal in the USATF Masters National Track and Field Championships competing in the 60-64 age group last month.

Said Kappen: “Mark is a 60-yearold now, but he still runs me around the track. He’s so fast and a super high energy guy that you just feed off that higher energy.”

Even though both athletes had dis tinguished high school careers and in Kibort’s case a standout collegiately at Cal Poly, the duo have only recently gotten back into the game. Both have done open competitions and All-Com ers meets for the last couple of de cades, filling their competitive juices.

However, the 2022 Masters Na tional event was Kappen’s first major competition since high school.

Kibort competed in the 2021 Na tional Championships in Fort Collins, Colo., but was hobbled on the second day with an injury, motivating him to return this year with a better result.

“Mark came back from Colorado last year and said, ‘Dude, you have to

do this with me,’” Kappen said. “I said, ‘Why not?’ So we trained for this for an entire year.”

Kappen said one of the neat parts of this story is when he was in junior high, he vividly remembers looking up to Kibort, who was the premier pole vaulter in the Central Coast Section while at Saratoga.

“I remember Mark pole vaulting in high school and college, and I was so enamored in how amazing he was,” Kappen said. “I was a little 7, 8-foot pole vaulter at the time. I had stars in my eyes and just remember how awesome it was seeing him compete way back then.”

The two were reunited three years ago when Kibort was Los Gatos High’s sprints coach and Kappen the throws coach, a role Kappen still serves today.

“Kent was one of the guys I could re late to,” Kibort said. “He had the same kind of methodology and coaching style I have as a coach, and we hit it off

and struck up a friendship and started training together.”

Once Kibort decided not to coach at Los Gatos High anymore, Kappen, who is the cross country and track and field coach at Fisher Middle School as well as a part-time PE teacher at Blossom Hill Elementary, brought Kibort over to Fish er to coach the sprinting and relay events.

“We’ve got 150 kids for cross country and track, and it’s like a gaggle of geese and herding cats,” Kappen said. “He wasn’t used to that at first. But it’s a lot of fun because these kids try so hard and they were the ones that got me inspired that maybe I should get out there.”

Kibort’s desire to compete and per form athletic feats at a high level never left him. Kibort still is in Cal Poly’s top-15 all time point leaders in the decathlon, and even earned a TV appearance on

LOS GATOS FALLS IN DEFENSIVE BATTLE

Wildcats’ tough defense not enough

Senji Torrey, Correspondent

Expectations were high for the Los Gatos High football team’s non-league matchup against Peninsula power house Sacred Heart Prep on Sept. 23.

The defenses controlled the game, contributing to offensive miscues on both sides. In the end, the visiting Wildcats lost a hard-fought battle, 10-7.

“This is the craziest game that I have ever played in,” senior quarterback Jake Boyd said during the second half of the game.

Los Gatos’ offense, which accu mulated over 30 points in each of its past two games, struggled to find stable footing throughout as they were plagued by muffed snaps and offensive line miscues.

“We knew they were a good team, and we were just not good on offense at all,” Wildcats coach Mark Krail said. “We essentially had one long play for a touchdown, and other than that, it was tough sledding.”

The long TD Krail was referring to was nothing short of stellar. On the play, Boyd—who threw for 11 completions and 147 yards—lofted a pass over two Gators, finding senior Wil Brennan in stride for a late second-quarter score.

This would be Brennan’s final catch of the game; his performance up until that point, however, would put him at 104 receiving yards on just three re ceptions. Senior running back Emilia no Meija, who has been a rock for the better part of two seasons, stayed true to the course, averaging 5.4 yards on 16 rushing attempts.

As usual, Meija bulldozed his way for yardage and carved out four runs

over 10 yards, the most of any player in the game. After a rough first drive on the defensive side of the ball, the Wildcats locked in and returned to their tried and true method of hard work and even harder hits.

Los Gatos pounced on any stray pass, disabling any opportunity for yards af ter the catch. This would limit SHP to a season-low 45 receiving yards.

“I think in the first half, we took a little bit to adjust to their offense. But after we started getting it, we could stop them basically on every drive,” senior linebacker Luchi Casale said. “I think our aggression really showed and how fast we play and how physical we are on defense, and that’s what I love.”

Casale had a pivotal sack on the Gators’ final drive, as well as a tackle for a loss in the second quarter. Senior Nicolas Ramos epitomized the team’s

aggressiveness, most visibly seen when he recorded three consecutive tackles that halted the Gators’ last drive of the first half to keep the score even at 7-7.

Sometimes not being noticed is the greatest testament to a group’s perfor mance. This was undoubtedly the case for the Wildcat secondary who were matched up against the likes of senior wide receiver Carter Shaw, who has offers from San José State and Yale.

Los Gatos held Shaw to one short catch, and forced four incompletions on 10 pass attempts. This would prompt SHP to turn to its ground game, where they had some success, finishing with 191 yards on 48 carries.

In the second half, the Los Gatos defense doubled down on the pressure. The Wildcats forced three fumbles, including a goal-line mistake by senior Mitchell Taylor during a quarterback sneak. They would also block a field goal with less than three minutes left in the game.

“Our defense played outstanding all night. We kept giving them short fields and our defense kept rising,” Krail said.

Unfortunately, the football Gods seemingly were not on Los Gatos’ side.

On a 3rd-and-16 during the Gators’ fi nal drive, Taylor would run to the right sideline in search of an open receiver; unable to find one, he would opt to kneel behind the line of scrimmage.

Los Gatos’ defense knocked Taylor down to confirm the end of the play. This would result in a “roughing the passer” penalty that would provide SHP with fresh downs and put it 15 yards closer to the end zone and the game-winning field goal.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the stat sheet was as close as the scoreline. Though the teams excelled in differ ent areas—Los Gatos relying on the passing game and Sacred Heart on the running game—the Gators’ 236 total yards of offense barely surpassed the Wildcats’ 218.

Now 2-2, Los Gatos is looking to ward its next game against 1-3 Mil pitas.

“We go back to the drawing board… and look at film and see how we can get better, right?” Krail said. “I mean, it’s a game, it’s a loss. It’s not the end of our championship run. It’s not the end of our season. It’s nothing like that. It’s one step out of 10, or 11, or 12.”

GRINDER Senior tailback Emiliano Mejia rushed for 94 yards on 16 carries in the Wildcats’ 10-7 non-league loss to Sacred Heart Prep on Sept. 23.

David Rogers

Listen to the voters

Los Gatos Community Alliance

On the evening of Sept. 15, the Los Gatos Community Alliance (LGCA) ar ranged a Candidate Forum which was open to the public. The purpose of the forum was to allow all candidates run ning for Los Gatos Town Council an opportunity to present their views on the Town’s current five-year financial forecast. Questions were prepared in advance by an independent moderator, and all candidates were provided the questions in advance. The LGCA’s role was to extend an invitation to all candi dates, secure the meeting room, publicly advertise the forum and provide re freshments for those attending. That’s it.

The subject matter of the forum was specifically focused on the Town’s recently published five-year financial forecast. The forecast projects the Town will incur approximately $20 million in cumulative deficits through FY 2028. If this were to occur, the Town’s General Fund balance today of $23 million would be materially reduced to approximately $3 million. These aren’t LGCA numbers, they are the Town’s published numbers.

We thought this was a very worthy public conversation for all candidates to have because the new Town Council will be required to solve this looming finan cial crisis. Candidate forums are like job interviews. By showing up, the candi dates had the opportunity to share their views and demonstrate their leadership qualities, in essence by “interviewing” for the job they are seeking.

Candidates Rob Rennie and Rob Moore declined to attend the forum. They both cited bogus claims that the forum wasn’t “impartial.” Furthermore, Mr. Rennie alleged without evidence that the LGCA “spreads misinforma tion and I just don’t want to be in the middle of that.” Unfortunately his quote was published by the Los Gatan without fact-checking. This is mislead ing to voters and should be corrected.

Regarding the claim the forum was “biased,” don’t take our word that the forum was open, fair and informa tive, go ask any of the 70 people and the three candidates who attended their view of the event. We stand by the quality and fairness of the event

and want to thank the candidates, Councilmember and candidate Mary Badame, and candidates Margaret Smith and Rob Stump who “took the job interview” and shared their views. We also want to thank Terry Duryea, who did an excellent job moderating the forum. Neither we nor the pub lic know what Messrs. Rennie and Moore’s ideas are because they didn’t attend. We also don’t know of many job candidates who ultimately are hired after failing to show up for their job interviews.

The LGCA priority has always been to focus on issues of policy, fiscal responsibility and transparency. Con sistent with those goals, the LGCA re cently led two ballot initiatives—Term Limits and establishing a citizen-led Finance Committee. Both of these ini tiatives were opposed by Mr. Rennie as a Councilmember, and both were overwhelmingly passed by voters.

More recently we have been focused on the Town’s 2040 General Plan Land Use and Community Design Elements, which we believe are poor public policy and do not represent the views of the majority of voters. Both elements were recently approved by the Town Council by a split 3 to 2 vote. This should tell you that there is much controversy over these elements.

This led the LGCA to sponsor a ref erendum to repeal the two elements. The referendum quickly garnered the signatures of more than 3,400 people in approximately three weeks, sub stantially more than the approximate ly 2,200 signatures required to qualify for a referendum vote. We are current ly awaiting final certification of the signatures by the Registrar of Voters.

If Mr. Rennie wishes to gain the trust of the voters perhaps he should be listening to them as opposed to calling them names. After all, he is running for his third different elected position in less than one year after previous attempts at County Supervi sor and 28th Assembly District.

This article was written by Phil Koen, Rick Van Hoesen and Jak Van Nada on behalf of the Los Gatos Community Alliance.

•

•

POLICE BLOTTER

SEPT. 18

A woman was arrested for being in possession of an open container of alcohol while driving on Los Ga tos Boulevard and Walker Street at 1:20am.

• A caller reported two men were standing outside “being loud” on Wedgewood Avenue and Roxbury Lane at 1:23am.

• A caller reported his ex-girlfriend kicked his vehicle on Avery Lane.

SEPT. 19

A business was burglarized on the 14700 block of Los Gatos Boulevard.

• A man standing in a parking stall on the first block of Los Gatos-Saratoga Road reported ly took off his sandals and fell asleep at 6:06pm.

SEPT. 20

• A man was arrested for battery on the 100 block of Riviera Drive at 1:09am.

• A man was arrested for disorderly conduct on the 200 block of Blos som Hill Road at 1:34pm.

SEPT. 21

• Four children were reportedly playing with a lighter in a creek on Escobar Avenue at 6:29pm.

• Two vehicles were burglarized on N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

SEPT. 23

•

A woman was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on

•

N. Santa Cruz and Bachman ave nues at 1:50am.

• Someone dumped waste from an RV near a business on Los Ga tos-Saratoga Road and Monterey Avenue.

• A group of juveniles were report edly spraying a fire extinguisher on a lawn on High School Court at 8:43pm.

SEPT. 24

A man was arrested for inflicting injury on a cohabitant on the first block of Los Gatos-Saratoga Road at 2:04am.

• A vehicle was reported stolen on Las Miradas Drive.

• A phone was reported stolen on the 600 block of N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

• Battery was reported on Barbara Drive at 8:35pm.

Information is compiled from public records released by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.

James McMurtry takes ‘Los Gatos’ song for a spin at Americana Awards

Drew Penner, Reporter

Nearly a year ago, I was having a drink and editing some video over at the Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn in Davenport, when I met a surfer, up from LA for a weekend trip.

When I told him I was working as a reporter for a Los Gatos newspaper he said he had a hot tip for me.

Have you heard the new song by James McMurtry called “Canola Fields?” he asked.

I had not.

He said it referenced our town of cats—and that it was also a pretty damn fine song, too.

The tune was on the way to the awards circuit, he predicted.

I had him jot it down for me in blue ink on a scrap of lined paper.

I folded it up, put it in my wallet and forgot about it.

The other day I found that uneven rectangle—now torn almost complete ly in two. It had managed to migrate to my desk at the Good Times offices, in Santa Cruz.

I decided to take a peek into the interwebs to see what had become of this number.

I discovered the album opened by “Canola Fields”—The Horses and the Hounds—had managed an 8 out of 10 from Pitchfork, was named one of Roll ing Stone’s 50 Best Albums of 2021 and one of its 25 Best Country & Americana Albums of the year.

The track itself was even nominated for The Americana Music Association’s Song of the Year for 2022, with a fancy ceremony set for the Ryman Auditori um in Nashville, Tenn.

For someone who spent a year burn ing the midnight oil cruising around the Albertan prairies as a reporter for the Innisfail Province newspaper, “Canola Fields” was the perfect mar riage of two worlds others might have seen as disparate.

In it, McMurtry, who is now 60, uses the open-ended mystery of rural Canada as a device to reflect on an impactful jour ney through the Santa Cruz Mountains.

“I was thinking 'bout you, crossing Southern Alberta / Canola fields on a July day,” he writes, continuing, “About the same chartreuse as that sixty-nine

Bug / You used to drive around San Jose.”

For us here in Silicon Valley, we’ll still see the odd Volkswagen floating to and fro’ that’s clearly an legit relic of the Summer of Love era, on occasion.

For those in Canada’s Heartland, such authentic representations of The Counterculture might be a dreamy memory, but the wistful nature of the rolling croplands are a hard fact of life.

“We always had room for more / 'Til that white-knuckle ride back from San ta Cruz,” he sings in a dusty drawl. “Sec ond-best surfer on the central coast / Had you wrapped up all the way back to Los Gatos.”

The very next line, a lyrical gut punch: And I could've cut his throat

It all feels so real: a living, breathing organism. A yellowed journal brought to life.

You’re switching coasts, at risk of drifting out to sea…on a cross-town bus in Brooklyn?

So, imagine my surprise when I put the question to McMurtry over the phone while he was visiting a friend in northern Virginia: Who was this (ap

parently) Highway 17-cruising surfer he wanted to beat up so badly?

It’s all a fiction, he maintains.

“It took a few years to write that song—that happens a lot,” he said. “You get pieces and then you don’t know where those pieces fit.”

One of the earlier bits was that sec ond-best surfer on the central coast turn of phrase, he explains.

The words just began melding to gether in his brain and they stuck out to him. But he couldn’t quite figure out what to do with them, either.

“Some kids play with yo-yos and skateboards,” he said. “We play with words and guitars.”

On Sept. 14, Sarah Jarosz welcomed “the incomparable James McMurtry” to the stage to bust out the track, as part of the 2022 Americana Honors & Awards Livestream.

“This next artist belongs among the legends. He possesses a gift for the craft of writing songs that encompass worlds within them, like mini-novels set to melodies,” she said. “This year he’s nom inated for the Americana Music Associ

ation’s Song of the Year. And when you hear ‘Canola Fields,’ you’ll know why.”

Before he got going—alongside gui tarist Buddy Miller, Don Was on bass, Brady Blade on drums and Larry Campbell on guitar—he took a mo ment to tell the story of how he closed the loop on the “Los Gatos”-referenc ing oeuvre.

“Back before Covid-lockdown, we used to spend a lot of time drivin’ back and forth across Western Canada,” he said, explaining how far they’d have to go to make it to the next gig. “They got this crop that makes this char treuse blossom, that’s really amazing in the summertime. And we didn’t know what it was. Of course, being Ameri cans, we didn’t stop and ask.”

But they cracked the case one fall.

“They got it all raked up into rows— looked like tumbleweeds,” he said. “We came across a sign that said ‘Canola Processing’—with a phone number. So, we knew what that crop was. Finally, I was able to finish this song.”

McMurtry says it stung for a minute when Brandi Carlile bested him for Song of the Year with “Right on Time.”

But he says he was happy to see the woman Charlie Sexton first told him to go see at the Continental Club win big.

“She was around Austin before she went to New York,” he said, com plimenting her modal banjo playing. “She’s always good to be around.”

McMurtry was also pleased, he said, to see the awards show recognizing more women and Black artists.

“Used to be we could have called that genre Grumpy White Guys with Guitars,” he says. “Now it’s much more diverse.”

McMurtry added he was touched by the way Carlile gushed while giving the In digo Girls the Spirit of Americana Award for lifetime achievement that night.

Carlile in her glam-pink flowery suit told of how the famous queer activists inspired her to get into music—then took her under their wing after she busked outside one of their concerts.

And thanks to a little song about Los Gatos, McMurtry got to be in on the action, too.

Did he know the track could help take him this far, after not releasing an album for seven years?

“I had hoped it would do that well,” he said. “I’ve learned not to expect too much.”

James McMurtry performs Oct. 14 at the Rio Theater in Santa Cruz, Oct. 15 at Harlow’s Restaurant & Nightclub in Sacramento and Oct. 16 at the Chapel in San Francisco.

‘WHITE-KNUCKLE RIDE’ James McMurtry’s “Canola Fields,” which references Los Gatos, was nominated for the Americana Music Association’s Song of the Year.

Mary Keating Bruton

HERCULES DRAFT HOUSE AND CANTINA OPENS

After a few years working at Shep herd & Sims, Beltran Reyes, 36, says he’s excited to launch a restaurant in the Los Gatos space where Flights used to occupy.

While his previous employer offered American cuisine, Hercules Draft House and Cantina, where he’s one of the partners, will dish out south-ofthe-border fare, he explains.

“It’s all about fresh authentic Mex ican food,” he said, pledging to put a heavy emphasis on good flavor. “I love cooking.”

Reyes’ family arrived at the space Sept. 22 for the grand opening, dressed in summery floral apparel— pinks, teals and bright reds—with giant smiles on their faces.

It’s this kind of delight he says he wants the wider community to ex perience under his auspices at Sara toga-Los Gatos Road and Saratoga Avenue, he told the Los Gatan.

“I like to see when people are excit ed,” said Reyes, who will serve as head chef. “I’m looking forward to cook for everyone here.”

The inaugural Flights location closed as restaurateur Alex Hult de cided to focus on other ventures after being hit by a series of disability law suits he characterized as frivolous.

Flights’ dining room had also played host to weekly Kiwanis service club meetings.

Instead of cooking up chicken and waffles or barbecue ribs, Hercules is

serving beet salad ($12), Aztec soup ($8), tacos de la calle (3 for $12), oys ters (a half-dozen for $20), chile relle no ($18), and chicken enchiladas ($16).

Reyes promises diners won’t be disappointed by one of his signature dishes—an arrangement of sesame seeds, pickled vegetables, and rice and beans on house-made tortillas.

“I will make a good ‘mole de ran cho,’” he said of the $20 plate. “I’m in viting everyone to come here to enjoy the food.”

Reyes was 18 when he immigrated from Guatemala to the South Bay of San Francisco.

He took up residence in Santa Clara and found his first job as a dishwasher in Creole restaurant Nola in Palo Alto.

He worked his way up in the indus try over the next decade-and-a-half, and even got to cook for the Copa América Centenario soccer tourna ment in 2016.

Reyes was also part of the opening team at Relish in Gilroy, which fo cused on Californian cuisine.

Being at the helm in Los Gatos, the place he calls home, is extra special, he says.

But with living just down the road, he knows he won’t be able to use traffic as an excuse for showing up late or coming in on his days off, if the unex pected arises.

“I’m working hard for this opportu nity,” he said, adding he’s proud of the menu he’s crafted for health-conscious eaters. “I’ll put my heart into every thing.”

CALENDAR

FALL FAMILY ART DAY

LGS Recreation and New Museum Los Gatos are partnering to organize a day filled with arts, crafts and ac tivities inspired by local history and National Diversity Day on Oct. 1 from 10am to 2pm at 106 E. Main St. The event will celebrate diversity through art and history activities led by com munity partners from Los Gatos and the Bay Area.

➝ numulosgatos.org/events/familyart-history-day.

MYSTERY LOVER’S BOOK CLUB

The Los Gatos Library’s Mystery Lover’s Book Club meets the first Wednesday of every month. The next meeting is Oct. 5 at 5pm on Zoom. The club will discuss “The Woman in White” by Wilkie Collins.

➝ losgatosca.libcal.com/ event/9527475

TIERRA FIRMA ART EXHIBIT

New Museum Los Gatos presents “Terra Firma,” an art exhibition about our relationship to the land, opening Oct. 21 and on view through March 19.“Terra Firma,” a group show or ganized by guest curator Marianne K.McGrath, brings together work by 15 artists, working in diverse media including drawing, painting, print making, photography, installation and sound.

➝ numulosgatos.org.

LIVE JAZZ MUSIC

Live jazz performances at the Tast ing House, 368 Village Lane, take place Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9pm, and Sundays from 11am-2pm.

ENTERTAINMENT AT GARDINO’S

Gardino’s, 51 N. Santa Cruz Ave., features entertainment four days a week.

➝

ONGOING

Los Gatos Farmers Market

The Los Gatos Certified Farmers’ Market offers seasonal fruits and veg etables from Santa Clara County yearround. More than 40 local farmers and food producers sell their wares Sundays from 9am to 1pm at Town Park Plaza on Main Street anda N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

➝ cafarmersmkts.com/losgatosfarmers-market.

Campbell Farmers Market

The Downtown Campbell Farmers Market is held Sundays, rain or shine, from 9am to 1pm. For information, visit uvfm.org/campbell-sundays.

The Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos

The club meets the first three Thursdays of the month at noon at Double D's, 354 N. Santa Cruz Ave. First two Thursdays of the month feature guest speakers.

➝ lgkiwanisgives.org.

Rotary Club of Los Gatos

The Rotary Club of Los Gatos meets Tuesdays from noon to 1:30pm at Shir Hadash Synagogue, 20 Cherry Blos som Lane.

➝ losgatosrotary.org.

The Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club

The Club meets every Wednesday morning 7:30-8:30am at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road. Program includes featured guest speakers.

Los Gatos Lions Club

The Los Gatos Lions Club meets every Wednesday. A breakfast meeting is held at Moore Buick, 15500 Los Gatos Blvd., at 8am and a noon meeting at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, with a guest speaker. The club has been active since 1946.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Town Council

The Los Gatos Town Council meets virtually on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7pm.

➝

bit.ly/3OSvPHS.

losgatosca.gov/16/Town-Council.

losgatan.com :

SHARING HIS CRAFT Beltran Reyes (second from right), one of the partners in Hercules Draft House and Cantina, says he’s excited to cook healthy Mexican food for Los Gatos diners. He is shown with his family during the grand opening on Sept. 22.

Drew Penner, Reporter

FLAVORED TOBACCO TARGETED

Propositions, from page 6

every computer and mobile device into a gambling machine. They also say the law was written by the very corporations that stand to gain from the law.

Proposition 29

This proposal has been put forward to voters—and been rejected—twice in the past decade. If passed, it would require a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant to be present at dialysis clinics during treatment hours. It also requires clinics to report infection data to the state, and to get state approval before reducing ser vices or closing clinics.

Supporters say it was created to increase safety for the 80,000 patients with kidney disease who rely on the 600 dialysis clinics.

Opponents say that the increased requirements are unnecessary, and would increase costs for clinics and force many to close. They argue that di alysis clinics are already well regulated.

Proposition 30

Would raise taxes by 1.75% on Cal ifornians making $2 million or more, with an estimated $3.5-$5 billion raised annually.

This revenue would be allocated to help low-income people purchase ze ro-emissions vehicles (ZEV), creating ZEV charging stations and for wildfire prevention programs.

Opponents say the law would add an estimated 30 million ZEVs to the road, straining an already overtaxed power grid. They add that California already has a plan in place to increase the number of electric vehicles. Oppo nents also say that another tax is not necessary, since the state has a $97.5 billion budget surplus.

Proposition 31

This law would prohibit the sale of most flavored tobacco products, a move supporters say is necessary to keep tobacco out of the hands of kids.

Of the young people who start smoking, some 80% say they got their start with some candy-flavored ver sion critics say is specifically geared toward them by a tobacco industry always in need of new customers.

Opponents say it is already illegal to sell tobacco products to minors, and that making it illegal will drive it into the black market, thus increasing costs for communities statewide.

FRIENDS PUSH EACH OTHER

Sports, from page 10

“American Gladiators” in 1993 at age 33.

“It’s a quest to see if I can do it at this stage in the game,” he said. “Good train ing, the camaraderie, the competition from fellow athletes, all of that is kind of a driving force.”

Through years of training experience and trial and error, Kappen and Kibort have come to gain a greater understand ing of what it takes to continue to be a national-caliber decathlete. As Masters athletes, the two know when to push, when to pull back, how and when to warm up, how much fuel to consume and timing it correctly, and training to protect themselves from injuries.

While recovery is vital for athletes at every age level, it’s particularly crucial for the ones at the Masters level.

“The first day of the decathlon you’re so beat up, you have to get a couple of bags of ice and have an ice bath for

a couple of hours or so afterward,” Kappen said. “I’m getting up all night stretching, drinking Gatorade, and it’s not an easy process.”

Kappen said he was more of a “skin ny dude distance runner” up until six years ago.

“I wanted to be more muscular for Halloween and I looked online and read how Hugh Jackman got jacked for Wol verine,” Kappen said. “And that is what I did for two years and packed on 20 pounds of muscle. Had I not done that, there is no way I’m able to throw that shot put and discus the way I do now.”

Kappen and Kibort are already looking forward to the 2023 National Championships in Iowa.

“It’s fun to have someone to train with like Kent and keep that fire lit,” Kibort said. “Who knows? I would like to do it for another 10 years.”

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM IN LOS GATOS

Join us as a charter subscriber!

The team that launched the original Los Gatos Weekly has come together once again to give the town the quality of journalism it needs.

News about local people, school sports and vital community issues will fill the pages of thislocal publication –and a live web site. Los Gatos deserves real reporting.

Yom Kippur Holiday Services

WITH MEANING & MELODY!

Yom Kippur begins Tuesday, Oct. 4

CHABAD OF S. JOSE 15405 Los Gatos Blvd., Suite 204, Los Gatos | Tel. 408-358-5530 Email: info@chabadsj.com www.chabadsj.com

No Membership Fees or Tickets No Affiliation Necessary Traditional & Inspirational Services

Hebrew/English Prayer-Books Warm and Friendly Atmosphere Special Children's Program & Service

NO CHARGE for seats; your donation is greatly appreciated. Reservations suggested.

Ornamental Iron, Welding & Custom Metal Fabrication

Fences. Metal Doors. Railings. Stairways. Furniture. Please visit our gallery on the web at www.yeswelding.com/projects Email sales@yeswelding.com or call 408 887-3488 or 408 533-2858 Since 1990.

Flooring

Eiman

831.588.1260

Serenity Polizzi 408.200.1323

Bocanegra 408.200.1309

have been providing quality service and meeting your real estate needs in both sales and property management since 1977.

Scotts Valley Property Management Broker, Jeanne Jensen Shada

Careful Management 831.438.2208 4615 Scotts Valley Dr, Suite B DRE #00606749

Looking to Move from the Bay Area?

Housing too expensive here? Now with working in place, you can live where you want for much less and keep your job.

Let me nd you a real estate broker out of the area or out of state. I will do the leg work. I will also give you a $100 gift certi cate when you purchase through my referral!

All I need to know is the city you want to move to.

The Rodino Realty Group Give me a call or text at 408.431.6640

by Jim Foley

President

Rob RennieMoore Margaret Smith Rob Stump

Reza Tavana