Los Gatan 1-25-2023

TOP TOWN, BUSINESS LEADERS LEAVING

Drew Penner, Reporter

As Assistant Town Manager Arn Andrews arrived at the grand re-opening for the Los Gatos Theatre, Thursday, it marked the end for the long and careful journey of bringing one of the community’s most valued cultural assets back to life.

But it also served to bookend his own five-year tenure with the Town, since the City of Mountain View had announced they’d poached the well-liked public official just two days earlier.

“Professionally and personally, it’s going to be an interesting new adventure,” Andrews said in an interview Tuesday, expressing his eagerness to get right into a batch of new work. “They run their own utilities, so one of the things I’ll be working on is getting a new utility billing system in place.”

But his lateral career move came as Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Catherine Somers revealed

AS BIDEN VISITS, COUNTY REPS MAKE PLEA FOR DISASTER AID

Santa Clara County not included in federal relief efforts

The Bay Area Congressional delegation—Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-16) and Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17)—wrote to President Joe Biden on Jan. 19 to request that relief for Santa Clara County be included in the Presidential Major Declaration for the State of California.

Biden has previously approved California Governor Gavin Newsom’s disaster declaration request, including public and individual support for Santa Cruz, Monterey and San ➝ Biden, 4

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Barry Holtzclaw & Drew Penner , Reporters

winter

WELCOME BACK Los Gatos Mayor Maria Ristow and CineLux Theatres CEO Paul Gunsky cut the ribbon to celebrate the reopening of the Los Gatos Theatre on Jan. 19. The Goetz family donated the theater to the Town in 2021 after it had sat dormant since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Town reached an agreement with CineLux to operate the theater, located at 43 N. Santa Cruz Ave.

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Assistant town manager, Chamber executive plan departure

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MIXED RESPONSE TO VISIT

Biden, from page 1

Luis Obispo counties. Biden visited communities on the Central Coast Jan. 19, stopping at Capitola and Seacliff Beach.

Santa Clara County has experienced more than $27 million in total damages from the storms, including $17 million in damages to public infrastructure in San Jose alone. Valley Water, the local water district, has suffered $1.65 million in damages.

County operated roads and airports have sustained at least $6.7 million in damages, which is severely impacting access and emergency response capacities to several rural areas within Santa Clara County.

“As our local governments and agencies work to save lives and protect property, they need further assistance from the federal government,” the delegation—all Democrats—wrote. “Likewise, displaced families need assistance with housing, disaster-related expenses, hazard mitigation, and other essential Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) services. Amending your recent disaster declaration to include Santa Clara County would enable our constituents to access this much-needed federal assistance and put our communities on a faster path to recovery.”

The Presidential Disaster Declaration triggers the release of federal funds to help individuals and communities recover from the severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred beginning Dec. 27. The funds will be coordinated through the Federal Emergency Disaster Administration

and can be used for assistance to individuals and households, emergency work and the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities, debris removal and emergency protective measures, mitigation to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

“We thank you for your recent approval of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s disaster declaration request, including public and individual support for Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties,” the congressional representatives wrote Biden. “However, Santa Clara County has also experienced major destruction of property and public infrastructure that necessitates federal support, to include public and individual assistance, as well as hazard mitigation assistance.”

“As our local governments and agencies work to save lives and protect property, they need further assistance from the federal government. Likewise, displaced families need assistance with housing, disaster-related expenses, hazard mitigation, and other essential FEMA services,” the letter concluded.

Area residents react to Biden’s visit

On Jan. 19, Los Gatos’ Congresswoman, Anna Eshoo, was there to welcome the president when he landed in Santa Clara County, en route to tour storm damage along the Pacific.

“It was an honor to welcome President Biden to historic Moffett Federal Airfield in the heart of my District as he heads to meet first responders, state and local

officials, and communities impacted by the devastating winter storms,” she said in a statement. “I asked the President to add Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties to his National Disaster Declaration so that people can receive the assistance they so desperately need to restore and repair their homes and businesses.’”

Hours earlier, outside Coffeetopia along Portola Drive in Santa Cruz, Chris Keala, 40, wasn’t exactly fired up that Biden was on his way.

“What about all the people up in the mountains?” he inquired rhetorically. “What about all the people renting in Felton who lost their homes?”

Keala used to live in Bonny Doon and calls himself a Corralitos resident trying to get “back to Boulder Creek.”

Niko Fulga, 21, who lives off of Old Santa Cruz Highway in Santa Clara County, had just popped out of the ocean at Pleasure Point after a quick surf in conditions that would generally be considered relatively hectic, given the fact he’s an absolute beginner.

It got pretty crazy in the mountains during the atmospheric rivers, he recalled.

“It was a little wild,” he said. “So, I mean, our house wasn’t necessarily physically damaged, but the road we live on, there’s lots of trees and mudslides. So, all the trees were falling over all the powerlines, and we didn’t have power for a few days—having to use the generator, having to stock up on food and stuff.”

Fulga, for one, was pretty stoked Biden was about to make the same trek—out to the ocean—that he’s been making each day.

“I think it’s cool that he’s trying to show love to the town, just to make sure everyone’s doing alright,” he said. “I don’t know what his end-goal is, but, as long as he’s coming with a good heart, it’s fine.”

PRESIDENTIAL TOUR President Joe Biden waves to a crowd of onlookers while surrounded by federal, state and local officials during a visit to Capitola on Jan. 19.

Gatan

WINTER ARTS

MUSIC, COMEDY, THEATER AND MORE CROWD

LOCAL STAGES

When the champagne corks popped on Jan. 1, it marked the beginning of what could really be a happy new year. Judging from our survey of what lies ahead on the local cultural calendar, it’s time to get off the couch and leave streaming entertainment behind.

These are just the highlights. More events can be found on our online calendar at losgatan.com.

POP & MORE

Black/Pacific: The Geography of Freedom

San Jose Museum of Art | Feb 3, 6-9pm

➝ sjmusart.org

To mark Black History Month, the San Jose Museum of Art turns over its First Friday event to Rightstarter, composed of writer/ musician PC Muñoz and rapper/ electronic musician DEM ONE. Their multimedia project, Black/ Pacific: Sounds of the Noble Savage, “examines the call of the West, the lure of the Pacific, and the distorted historical views of indigenous Black and Brown humanity.”

Kalani Pe’a

Montalvo Arts Center | Carriage House Theatre | Feb 10, 7:30pm

➝ my.montalvoarts.org

A leading proponent of Hawaii’s music, culture and language, Kalani Pe’a has won three Grammy Awards and four Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (an honor bestowed by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts). He is known as a fluent speaker of Hawaiian and a versatile performer whose styles range from traditional chant and Hawaiian classics to R&B and his own originals.

International Anime Music Festival

San Jose Civic | Feb 11, 8pm ➝ sanjosetheaters.org

In case anyone wasn’t aware we’re living in the 21st century, the headliner of the International Anime Music Festival is virtual musician Gumi, aka Megpoid Gumi, the green-haired, animated

Vocaloid software avatar voiced by singer and actress Megumi Nakajima. Along with Gumi, the Fest also features AI singer #kzn, Vtuber duos HimeHina and Lilypse, and virtual dance group MaRiNaSu.

San Jose Jazz Winterfest: Counterpoint with Ukraine Various Locations | Feb 16-Mar 3 ➝ sanjosejazz.org

San Jose Jazz has exciting things in store for the South Bay this Winter. A dozen shows make up this year’’s Winterfest, kicking off with a show featuring singer and Thelonius Monk Institute

International Jazz Competition winner

Jazzmeia Horn and the Marcus Shelby Orchestra on Feb 16 at Santa Clara University’s Mayer Theater. With performances from stars like drummer Mark Guiliana (St. Vincent), trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, Vietnamese zither magician Van Anh Vo and influential pianist Orrin Evens, there’s something for everyone at Winterfest.

The Sun Kings

Charley’s LG | Feb 24, 6pm ➝ charleyslosgatos.com

The Sun Kings are returning for their “Get Back” Beatles tribute event.

International Guitar Night

Montalvo Arts Center | Carriage House Theatre | Feb 25, 7:30pm ➝ my.montalvoarts.org

For each International Guitar Night tour, founder Brian Gore brings together a new grouping of guitar luminaries to work on solos, duets, and quartets. Nations represented this year are

Finland (jazz guitarist Oili Soikkeli), Spain (flamenco master Jesus Guerrero), Canada (guitaristvocalist Jocelyn Gould) and Australia (chamber musician Stephanie Jones).

The HillBenders

Montalvo Arts Center | Carriage House Theatre | Mar 5, 7pm ➝ my.montalvoarts.org

Hailing from Missouri, the Hillbenders formed in 2008 and are still touring with the original lineup. In addition to bluegrass-tinged originals, the band became known for its “wood and wire” tribute to the Who: “Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry.” Now they’re touring with “WhoGrass,” a set list that includes everything from the Who’s early hits to material from Pete Townshend's solo career.

COMEDY

Stand-up Comedy Night

Pruneyard Cinemas | 875 S Bascom Ave, Suite 100, Campbell | Feb 24-25 ➝ pruneyardcinemas.com

The Campbell movie theater turns into a comedy club for a two-night stand, In coordination with Alameda Comedy Works. Jason Toupes hosts both nights, which each feature five funny folks.

Jose Anolin headlines on Feb 24; Ellis Rodriguez takes the top slot on the 25th.

Melissa Villasenor

Improv San Jose | Mar 10-11

➝ improv.com/sanjose

She was the first Latina comedian on Saturday Night Live, but Melissa Villasenor is much more than that. A razor-sharp impressionist, a singer, even a visual artist—she has time for all these pursuits since leaving SNL in September. Her four-show stand at the San Jose Improv is part of a minitour in California and Hawaii.

LIVE SHOWS The stage is set for an entertaining winter in Los Gatos and the South Bay.

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MUCH ADO ABOUT AN ENTRYWAY

Planning Commission puts the welcome mat out for 300-year-old Mexican church door

Drew Penner, Los Gatan

At first glance, it may have appeared a routine Planning Commission item where a well-connected former mayor was attempting to get a variance pushed through against good architectural practice.

But as the public hearing for Mike Wasserman’s drive to keep a 300-yearold Mexican door—from the home where he grew up—at a new residence in Los Gatos, the Jan. 11 outpouring of community support served to highlight key elements of the town’s fabric.

“For the last 20 years I have served Los Gatos as a councilman, a mayor and a county supervisor,” Wasserman began, addressing the members of the Planning Commission. “I thank you for your volunteer service. Thank you also for reading the history of our door, and the two dozen letters of support for our door—and the petition signed by 65 neighbors in support of our door, including everyone on our street.”

That door has plenty of tales to tell.

In letters dripping with emotion sent to staff and Historic Preservation Committee members, Wasserman explained how the door spent 48 years on his parents’ home, which his mother designed and built despite facing sexism at the outset.

“Honey, that’s not how we do it,” one male architect told her when she tried to share some of her ideas with him. “Why don’t you ask your husband to make an appointment with me…us guys can figure it out and you can care for the children.”

When she told the American Institute of Architects’ Santa Clara County chapter president, she was planning on going to school so she could build the house herself, he talked down to her.

“That’s not a good job for a woman,” he said. “Maybe you could be a secretary for an architect.”

Instead, she went and got master’s degrees in architecture and engineering from Stanford University.

“I remember in 1972 going to her graduation and how proud I felt seeing her in cap and gown,” Wasserman told Community Development Director Joel Paulson in November. “She was the only woman in her class.”

In 1973, as she was in the middle of building their dream family home, Wasserman’s mother and father took a trip to Tlaquepaque, Mexico.

There they found and acquired a 300-year-old wooden door.

She brought it to America and had it installed at their “Ojo del Monte” property, which once belonged to the family that had owned the largest prune orchard in California—where Robert Louis Stevenson once stayed in a log cabin.

“Mom was all about authentic and historical,” Wasserman told HPC last month, noting their family soon developed a religious affinity for the handcrafted former church door. “She knew these lands had originally been part of Mexico—as California had only become a State in 1850, and Los Gatos a Town in 1887—so having a door from the early 1700s…was an awesome link.”

Through the years the door remained sturdy, but Wasserman’s mother began to falter, and in 2014

was forced to sell the home due to medical reasons.

Since then, the house changed hands a couple times, and when the current owner moved to construct a new home.

Luckily, a planner from the County’s Planning Department remembered it was where Wasserman grew up and gave him the heads up that it was about to be demolished.

“I called the new owner and asked if I could have my family’s historical door, and he said yes,” he said of the 2021 transaction. “Obviously I thanked that planner profusely.”

But that’s where the problems in Los Gatos began.

Wasserman had just received approval the prior year from Los Gatos for a Tudor-style house in Los Gatos that described a totally different type of door.

The Mexican door’s new home had previously been deemed non-historic, but is located in the Broadway Historic District, meaning strict rules still apply when building or remodeling.

On Dec. 14, HPC denied Wasserman’s request to keep the door at his Los Gatos home.

As part of an appeal, Bess Wiersema wrote to Senior Planner Sean Mullin, Dec. 22, to argue their case.

Wasserman’s current home falls into the “Tudor / Tudor Revival / New Tra-

ditional” style, which feature “jerkinhead” or turned hip-over-gable roofs, heavy timber on the façade and heavy paneled entryways of solid wood.

“Our project contains all of these, in a respectful and characterful manner,” she said. “On the original plans, there was no front door articulation, rather an all-glass French-type door, recessed back in the heavily-hooded porch…As the project developed, the Wasserman family was lucky to inherit a real, antique door with immense character— and the aesthetic coincides with the approved style of the home.”

Planning Commissioner Susan Burnett recused herself as the hearing started, since she’d been on HPC when Wasserman’s door issue came up.

But she spoke during verbal communications to explain why she was one of two people who voted against it.

“I was correct in my findings,” she said, pointing to design guidelines officials are instructed to follow. “It clearly states most architectural styles have a distinct, unique entry type. Avoid using an entry type that is not a part of the style. In 15 or more of my books on American domestic architecture and design, I have yet to find a 300-year-old door from Mexico as an example on a Tudor house.”

In the end, Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve Wasserman’s door.

OLD DOOR GETS NEW HOME A handcrafted door from a Mexican church became the focus of a community discussion around architectural styles in Los Gatos, including what should and shouldn’t be allowed on new homes built in historic districts.

HOMEOWNER REPORTS COUNTY COUNSEL FOR ELDER ABUSE

Resident, currently displaced by storms, says legal brass put her in danger

Drew Penner, Reporter

A 69-year-old Los Gatos resident who’s been unable to repair the old cabin she lives in, due to a paperwork dispute with Santa Clara County, has now filed an elder abuse complaint against the Office of the County Counsel.

Sidney French claims documents for her home were used to legitimize an illegally constructed home across the street from her Call of the Wild residence and says the County is refusing to help her clear up the paperwork mess; the County wants French to submit to another inspection—which she’s afraid will lead to additional violations on her file.

She says she just wants to be able to renovate her home to the point where it will protect her from the elements. As it is, the walls are paper thin, and if she did extra work on it, she’d be written up for another infraction.

French has bombarded the County with public records requests but has been unable to turn up key files—including some she previously located through work on a water system in the neighborhood.

French says she was kicked off her insurance because she was prevented from getting a demolition permit to remove a deck deemed a fire hazard.

Her home was damaged in the storms that sparked the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire.

Even though she was insured at that time, she wasn’t able to get permits before the cutoff to access recovery funds.

Last summer, as part of a Los Gatan investigation, Farmers Insurance said it would extend the deadline by one year for French.

However, by December, French had still seen no progress from the County.

And so, on Dec. 30, she says she called the Elder Abuse Hotline at Adult Protective Services to report County Counsel’s Code Enforcement Team for putting her in harm’s way by blocking her efforts to fix her home.

Those legal minds advise County departments about enforcement, coordinate investigations, review administrative complaints, and lead prosecutions.

Issues on which the attorneys in the Team work include substandard housing, environmental contamination and clean up, and enforcement of County wage and labor laws.

The Los Gatan spoke with the Office of County Counsel about the accusation of elder abuse by French, but did not receive a comment by deadline.

French’s complaint follows on the heels of her failed whistleblower complaint against the County.

On Dec. 20, she received an email— from the county counsel’s office—telling her they weren’t going to investigate it.

“Thank you for contacting the Whistleblower Program,” an anonymous writer from the department said. “The Whistleblower Program has completed our investigations into your complaints. Your complaints were not sustained or are being addressed by other departments.”

It wasn’t long after she got this message that a powerful series of storms swung over the Santa Cruz Mountains, whipping up a frenzy that washed out French’s road twice as she raced to a friend’s house in San Jose, seeking shelter.

“Two big trees fell right directly behind my house,” she said, looking on the bright side. “It didn’t fall on my house this time.”

Barry Mangan is the semi-retired lawyer who took her in.

“I’ve got a refugee from the mountains in my house,” he said on Jan. 11. “She’s been here before, but this is the first time she needed to come to take the frost off. She said her hands were turning white.”

Mangan said he tried to help French as much as he could to coax County Planning into coming up with a solution to fix the confusing paperwork on her property, so she could access funds to repair the damage done by prior storms.

Mangan commends French for the “interesting angle” of filing an elder abuse claim and says they’re hoping someone will step up to the plate to file a pro bono lawsuit against Santa Clara County.

“Her rights are being affected by their refusal to grant reasonable permits,” he said, noting this prevented her from doing repairs that would’ve protected her better during this winter’s atmospheric rivers. “She’s damned if she does. She’s damned if she doesn’t.”

SIMONS, LG GIRLS SOCCER EXCELS

Midfielder is a UCSB-commit

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

It took all of one game for the Los Gatos High girls soccer team to realize the 2022-2023 campaign would be far different than last season.

That’s because the Wildcats beat Mountain View 4-2 in the season-opener on Nov. 29, a monumental result given the fact the Spartans have been one of the best teams in the Central Coast Section for the last several years.

The Wildcats know that from firsthand experience. Last season, they lost to Mountain View three times—2-0 in a tournament and 5-0 and 7-3 in two league matches. So, beating the Spartans rather convincingly—even though it was at the very beginning of the season—did wonders for the Wildcats’ outlook.

“We got killed by Mountain View last year and to beat them 4-2, we went into that game and had no idea what to expect,” Los Gatos junior midfielder Caitlyn Simons said. “We

knew we were good, but we also knew the other team was good as well. It was just a massive team effort and to come out with a win after that game, we realized we can beat anyone if we try our best.”

And the Wildcats have been doing just that as they entered the week 7-2-2 overall and 4-0-1 and in a virtual first-place tie with Wilcox in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s El Camino Division. Simons, a UC Santa Barbara-commit, plays a vital role as the attacking midfielder.

She said the success of the team is in its balance, with talent at every position. In senior Malia Yamamoto, who has committed to Santa Clara University, the Wildcats have two Division I commits on their roster.

Yamamoto didn’t play for Los Gatos in her first three years at the school due to club commitments, so her playmaking abilities have been a welcome addition to the team.

“Malia started playing this year which has been great,” Simons said. “We’ve got some good freshmen on the

team this year like Cora Bryant, and a lot of girls from the junior varsity last year that are playing key roles [on the varsity] team this season.”

In addition to increased numbers and talent, the team’s cohesiveness has improved as well.

“We had team chemistry last year, but this year our team loves being together and just hanging out,” Simons said. “And we’re always pushing each other to get better but at the same time having a lot of fun as well. And we’ve improved because of it.”

Although all players love scoring, Simons said her greatest enjoyment from an individual standpoint has been her distribution of the ball. Simons’ pinpoint passes have set up several of her teammates to score goals.

“I’ve gotten a lot of assists, and that’s been really fun seeing my teammates score,” she said. “It’s always in the back of my mind and something I’m always working on.”

Simons trains and plays year-round with Los Gatos and for the De Anza Force during the long club season.

Though Simons strives to improve in every phase of the game, she focuses heavily on a couple of different aspects.

“Definitely two things I really want to get down is my shooting and keeping my fitness and agility up to speed,” she said.

Growing up with two older brothers who both graduated from Los Gatos and played sports—Sam currently plays club rugby at UC Santa Barbara and Jacob is attending Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo—accelerated Simons’ physical development and mental toughness.

“Definitely, because my brothers were very tough on me,” she said. “They didn’t take it easy.”

Simons’ recruitment and commitment to UCSB was rather meteoric. That’s because the summer before a student-athlete’s junior year is when things start to ramp up. June 15 is the date when college coaches can start directly contacting prospective recruits via phone, email or text messaging.

The UCSB coaches watched Simons play at the San Diego Surf Cup in late July and a couple of ECNL showcase tournaments during that same period. After taking part in an invite-only camp and unofficial visit to the college, where the UCSB coaches and Simons got to evaluate each other, Simons received an offer in early September and committed shortly thereafter.

“It was really an easy decision because it’s the perfect college for me,” she said. “I love the coaches, I love the way the team plays, and after visiting the school I thought to myself, ‘this is amazing.’ The assistant coach told me once you step on a campus, if you know this is the school you want to go to, you just know. And once I stepped on campus, I just knew.”

And that’s why Simons didn’t bother about keeping her recruiting options open going forward.

“Initially, I was really planning on taking a long time for recruiting,” she said. “I had calls with other schools and always told them I want to take my time and want to keep my options open. But Santa Barbara was the school I really wanted to go to for women’s soccer. That’s why when they reached out to me, I didn't want to wait around because this is the school I would be happiest at.”

ON THE GO Los Gatos High junior Caitlyn Simons has been an impact player as the team’s attacking midfielder. The Wildcats entered the week in a virtual tie with Wilcox for first place in the SCVAL El Camino Division standings.

Jonathan Nativid

WEDEMEYER ALL-STAR GAME RETURNS TO LOS GATOS

The 48th annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Game takes place at 5pm on Feb. 4 at Los Gatos High. Five Wildcats—Emiliano Mejia, Landon Heard, Jake Boyd, Will Cohen and Nic Ramos—have been selected to play in the game, which draws most of the top players from schools in the Blossom Valley Athletic League and Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, along with notable private schools Bellarmine, Mitty, St. Francis, Valley Christian, Harker and the King’s Academy. All of the proceeds from the game go to Coaches Against Cancer and the ALS Golden West Foundation. The contest is named after the former Los Gatos High coach who was diagnosed with ALS in 1977 and was given just three years to live but ended up living for 33 years until his death in 2010. Along the way, Wedemeyer became an inspiration to millions of people as they learned his life story.

RUNNING BIG Los Gatos High senior Emiliano Mejia, a Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Game selection, is the 2022 PAL/SCVAL De Anza Division Offensive Player of the Year.

BULL RUSH Los Gatos High senior Nic Ramos, a Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star game selection, is the 2022 PAL/SCVAL De Anza Division Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Photos by Jonathan Natividad

PLAYMAKER Los Gatos

High senior Landon Heard (5), a Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Game selection, is the PAL/ SCVAL De Anza Division 2022 Defensive Back of the Year.

LOCAL SCENE

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR TO SPEAK IN LOS GATOS

Yavneh Day School, 14855 Oka Road, Suite 100 in Los Gatos, is hosting a talk with Yetta Kane, a Holocaust survivor and the grandmother of one of the school’s alumni, on Jan. 26 at 5:30pm.

Kane will be speaking about her experience during the Holocaust and as an immigrant to the U.S. Students and families in the wider Silicon Valley community are invited to come hear her story. Students will also have the opportunity to ask her questions.

Seating is limited. For information and to RSVP, visit yavnehdayschool. org/holocaust-speaker-save-the-date.

LOS GATANS HONORED AT BELMONT UNIVERSITY

Henry Beamish and Sophia Ramacciotti, both of Los Gatos, were named to the Dean’s List at Belmont University for the Fall 2022 semester.

Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C.

Located two miles from downtown Nashville, Tenn., Belmont University comprises nearly 9,000 students from every state and 33 countries.

SILICON VALLEY READS

CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

What started as a one-book, one-community program in 2003, has grown to a multifaceted program centered around a specific theme, with selections that include three book options for adults, and four selections for children. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Silicon Valley Reads will offer more than 150 free events throughout Santa Clara County, both in-person and online.

Every year Silicon Valley Reads works to select a theme and books that resonate with the community.

Programs will be offered in late January through March in partnership with schools, libraries and community organizations. Each of the programs

relate to the theme, or specifically to the chosen books: “There There” by Oakland native Tommy Orange; “The Second Life of Mirielle West” by Amanda Skenandore and “What the Fireflies Knew” by local author Kai Harris.

The season will kick off Jan. 26 at 7pm with a free in-person and livestreamed event featuring all three selected authors, live at the De Anza Visual & Performing Arts Center in Cupertino. The evening will offer a related art exhibit at the Euphrat Museum of Art (connected to the theater), book sales and a book signing opportunity after the event.

Registration is available at siliconvalleyreads.org/events.

Other programs include author visits, book discussions, classes and workshops around many topics including yoga, meditation, dance, finances, photography, tidying-up and more. There will be discussions around people’s personal journeys and an opportunity for sharing stories. Other resources include opioid/drug

information, suicide prevention and teen mental health that relate to the selected books.

People will have the opportunity to learn about local indigenous tribes with an in-person and live-streamed visit from Chairman Val Lopez of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. A guided hiking tour of the Chitactac-Adams Heritage County Park is another opportunity to learn more about indigenous history along with the 2020 documentary, “Daughter of a Lost Bird,” hosted by multiple libraries.

There is a wide variety of options for kids of all ages from the youngest readers to teens; including events such as reading to cats at The Dancing Cat, arts and crafts, read-alouds in multiple languages, and virtual visits from all four of the featured children’s authors.

All events through Silicon Valley Reads are free to the public. Some events may require advanced registration. See a listing of all events and register online at siliconvalleyreads. org/events.

COUNTY BOOSTS MENTAL HEALTH NAVIGATOR PROGRAM

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors recently increased funding and staff for the County’s Behavioral Health Navigator Program, an initiative proposed by Supervisor Joe Simitian.

The new program, which launched in July, helps residents navigate the County’s mental health system, including public and private resources.

“This is good news,” Simitian said. “The Mental Health Navigator Program is a one-stop shop, designed to help those who encounter challenges or barriers when seeking mental health care for themselves or their loved ones. We’re adding more staff to the program because the public is using this service to access a ‘system’ that can be complicated, confusing and bureaucratic. And there are even more folks who need help finding the right path to treatment.”

The Behavioral Health Navigator Program connects individuals and families to County and County-contracted services, and when appropriate, even identifies private resources to help guide the public through the mental health system.

Following established privacy protocols, trained navigators offer:

• Personalized assistance to get help for behavioral health needs;

• Knowledgeable information and resources for mental health, substance use, suicide prevention, support groups, and more;

• Peer guidance about options for wellness services and support;

• Connection to County and community-based resources; and,

• Support from peers with an understanding of local services.

“Navigators listen to concerns, provide information, and connect people with resources for themselves and their families. They work with County programs and nonprofit partners to find the best fit,” Simitian said. “From the beginning, my hope has been that by guiding members of our community through and around barriers, we can help them get the treatment they need and get their lives back on track.”

Santa Clara County residents may contact the Behavioral Health Navigator Program by calling 800.704.0900, option 4, or emailing BHNavigator@ hhs.sccgov.org.

SCENES FROM NATURE Los Gatos photographer Joan Sparks presented her photos from a trip to the Canadian Rocky Mountains on Jan. 24 in the Los Gatos Library’s Technology Lab.

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

POLICE BLOTTER

JAN. 15

• A man was arrested for being in possession of more than an ounce of marijuana on the first block of N. Santa Cruz Avenue at 2:08am.

• A person was reportedly punched and kicked following a road rage incident on Montclair Road and More Avenue at 2:55pm.

• Someone smashed the window of a vehicle parked on N. Santa Cruz Avenue and stole a backpack from inside.

JAN. 16

• A caller reported a car alarm was sounding for 20 minutes on Towne Terrace at 9:09pm.

JAN. 17

• A car was reportedly speeding through a neighborhood on Shannon Road and Los Gatos Boulevard with a “loud muffler” at 2:41pm.

JAN. 18

• A man was arrested for failing to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge on the 700 block of Blossom Hill Road at 4:05am.

• An unknown suspect stole a vehicle’s license plate on Jackson Street.

• A man was reportedly urinating on a bus stop sign and a tree on N. Santa Cruz Avenue at 12:20pm.

• A man was reportedly “kicking the air” on S. Santa Cruz Avenue at 3:20pm.

• A woman was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on the first block of Bayview Avenue at 10:04pm.

JAN. 19

• A suspect was reportedly going through unlocked vehicles parked on Viewfield Road.

• A woman was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting an officer on the 100 block of Anne Way at 10:46pm.

JAN. 20

• Someone stole a vehicle’s catalytic converter on Las Miradas Drive.

• Grand theft was reported on N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

JAN. 21

• Three men were arrested for grand theft and being in possession of a controlled substance on Winchester Boulevard and Highway 85 at 4:30am.

• A caller reported a man who reportedly had a rope wrapped around a fence on Miles Avenue.

• A man was arrested on a bench warrant on the 16100 block of Mays Avenue at 5:45pm.

• A man was arrested for inflicting injury on a cohabitant on the 100 block of Terreno de Flores Circle at 8:58pm.

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

CALENDAR

For more events, visit the online calendar at losgatan.com/events-calendar

LUNAR NEW YEAR

The Chinese celebration of Lunar New Year includes lion dance, Tai Chi, Chinese dance, Chinese costume show, children's costume parade, and Shaolin. The event will be held Jan. 29 from 11am to 3pm at 21000 Big Basin Way in Saratoga. ➝ bit.ly/3IRyVwd.

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 Feb. 1 at 5pm in person and on Zoom. The club will discuss “Ophie's Ghost” by Justina Ireland. ➝ losgatosca.libcal.com/ event/9775155.

CIOPPINO DINNER

The Los Gatos Lions Club Annual Club Cioppino Dinner will be held on Feb. 4 from 6-10pm at St. Mary's Church, Howley Hall, 219 Bean St. in Los Gatos. The four-course dinner features wine on the table and no host bar available. Proceeds benefit Los Gatos Lions Club charities for sight, scholarships and community programs for all ages.

➝ wklys.us/LionsDinner.

TERRA FIRMA ART EXHIBIT

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

➝ numulosgatos.org.

LIVE JAZZ MUSIC

Live jazz performances at the Tasting 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 Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, along with Sunday afternoons.

➝ bit.ly/3OSvPHS.

ONGOING

Los Gatos Farmers Market

The Los Gatos Certified Farmers’ Market offers seasonal fruits and vegetables 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 and 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.

➝ 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 Blossom 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.

➝ losgatosca.gov/16/Town-Council.

Planning Commission

The Los Gatos Planning Commission meets virtually on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm.

➝ losgatosca.gov/189/PlanningCommission.

Santa Clara County Supervisors

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors meets virtually on Tuesdays at 9am.

➝ bit.ly/3oy2Zmq.

Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District

The board meets every other Tuesday at 5pm.

➝ bit.ly/3DaJRi9.

Los Gatos Union School District Board of Trustees

The board meets monthly at either 6:30pm or 4pm.

➝ bit.ly/3oywlRA.

YEAR OF THE RABBIT A Lunar New Year celebration is scheduled for Jan. 29 in Saratoga.

LOCAL NEWS KEEPS COMMUNITY HUMMING

Jeffrey P. Blum, Contributor

As a family law litigator who was terrified by the prospect of having to go to court, but who nevertheless did so for 40-plus years, I developed a game plan involving writing my arguments in detail prior to the court hearing or trial. I figured that if I could not put my client’s position on paper in a persuasive and cogent fashion, I would founder when I entered the courtroom. This was not, however, the beginning of my writing career.

During college I was an English major with a minor in Political Science. I spent four years reading and writing.

Law school also required a lot of writing, as did the bar exam. However, it was during my time as a volunteer in Palo Alto, that I began to hone my skills, appreciate the power of the written word, and enjoy the writing process.

Prior to moving to Los Gatos, I resided in Palo Alto, where the Palo Alto Weekly published about three dozen of my guest opinions.

My writing/publication career commenced when I joined the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission. My first submission, an article about how my father inspired me to be a volunteer, was probably one of my best articles, although Jay Thorwaldson, the Weekly editor, tore apart my first iterations of the article. By editing my submittals over a span of several years, he made me a much better writer, however.

Initially, I wrote to call attention to the work of the Human Relations Commission, which at the time, was a government appointed commission unknown to most Palo Altans. Eventually, I recognized that my columns were an effective tool for creating community cohesion and greater local awareness.

In most instances I wrote about local issues, such as police racial profiling, cameras on police cars, and whether the police should be allowed to use tasers.

My writing history also includes having numerous articles published in legal newspapers and magazines on mediation and family law-related issues.

After moving to Los Gatos, joining the Community Health and Senior Services Commission, joining Rotary, and becoming involved in other local vol-

unteer endeavors, I looked to the Los Gatan, which has been kind enough to publish about a dozen of my articles.

This raises the question: Why do I devote so much time and effort to these unpaid writing endeavors?

My desire to write and publish extends beyond self-aggrandizement and wanting to put in writing my thoughts about some of the issues I am concerned about. I also write to inform the public and support local newspapers, many of which have disappeared during the past 15-20 years.

Local newspapers are at the forefront of exposing local corruption and maintaining a shared local identity. Local newspapers specifically focusing on local issues, rather than on national issues, are effective in curbing polarization. By concentrating on local news and local policy questions, our local newspapers educate our community, leading not only to more cohesiveness but also to a more efficient government. Local newspapers give a voice to residents, like me, by allowing us to write letters and columns on local issues that we view as important.

During the worst parts of the pandemic (here’s hoping we are in fact past the worst of it), with spare time on my hands, I wrote articles to prominent national magazines and newspapers. While I suspect that the contents of one of my articles was excerpted and expanded upon by someone else, I otherwise utterly failed at this endeavor. None of my submittals were accepted. This dismal record helped seal my determination that I am not equipped to write a book, which is something I contemplated doing many times over the years.

I appreciate the Los Gatan and other local newspapers for what they do for me in particular and for our community in general. My endorsement of the local press comes without any strings attached. I have not been paid to write this article, nor was I asked to write it. Consider it nothing more than a token of my appreciation for the efforts of the local media to help keep our community humming.

Jeffrey P. Blum is a family law mediator who lives in Los Gatos.

TOWN LEADERS LOOK BACK

Leaders, from page 1

she’ll be leaving her role, in part due to frustrations with push-back from Town leadership.

Andrews was a familiar face at community events, from the Thursday Promenades to community disaster preparedness drills.

He was often commended during Council meetings for giving thorough updates and nimbleness in responding to questions from elected officials.

Andrews had a maximum salary this year of $234,355 here. He was hired away to his new Assistant Town Manager gig at a starting rate of $306,000.

But Andrews says he didn’t make his decision based on the money.

He says he’s thrilled to get to work on a new array of projects, such as a new technology masterplan and on a large Google development underway in the North Bayshore area.

Andrews spent 15 years as an equity options trader on Wall Street before switching coasts.

“I moved to California in 2007 to take my first public sector job with the City of San Jose,” he said, noting he was primarily focused there on matters of the purse as Assistant Finance Director and Chief Investment Officer. “Very soon after that, municipalities had to weather the 2008 downturn.”

He says that experience—and his early days at the American Stock Exchange following the Black Monday crash of 1987— will guide his hand at his new municipal home in the face of a tech pullback and a possible recession.

“I saw lots of financial dislocation over the course of my career,” he said, adding his time here will inform his contributions to charting Mountain View’s course. “In Los Gatos I got to work on two successful revenue measures.”

Andrews says he appreciated the opportunity to expand his public service skill set while working in Los Gatos, as he branched out into land use and managing the process to convince the Goetz family the Town would be a good steward of their theater.

The Chamber’s Somers told the Los Gatan that Andrews played a critical role in keeping the community vibrant during the darkest days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Here at the Chamber, we’re absolutely gutted to hear the news of Arn Andrews’ resignation,” she said. “He was such an inspiration—a financial pragmatist, very

accessible—and he knew how to compromise and navigate the competing special interests.”

Andrews was the Town staffer best known for dining at local restaurants, strolling the streets and attending Chamber events, according to Somers.

“His heart was in it,” she said, lamenting his departure. “I mean it’s terrible. I don’t know what we’re going to do without him.”

Somers said she wonders whether Andrews might be leaving due to leadership problems at the Town, noting several directors already left in recent months.

And she recently announced she’ll be stepping down from her post at the Chamber because she’s tired of fighting with the Town. Their current spat is over the storage of Christmas decorations.

“It’s been seven awesome years,” Somers said. “But it gets a little harder with every turn or every attempt at making this town better…you’re just slammed or challenged with one restriction or another as set forth by the Town.”

She has particularly fond memories of the “WE GOT THIS LG!” poster campaign the Chamber ran in the early days of the novel coronavirus to lift people’s spirits.

“It’s the font of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ (classic posters),” she said, noting the green background was meant to instill a sense of calm in a time of turmoil. “It’s funny because it totally worked.”

Somers is anticipating her future will involve backpacking and relaxing at a guest ranch in Wyoming she’s trying to buy.

She says it’ll be nice to take a break from the challenges of leading the local business community, particularly given the obstacles put in her way by the local administration.

“When there’s so little collaboration, it gets kind of tiring,” she said. “I really try hard to be a really positive person. But I can feel sometimes a little negativity creeping in—and a little bitterness. And I think it’s just probably best for the Chamber and Los Gatos to have fresh eyes and a fresh perspective.”

Andrews always went to bat for local merchants and nonprofits, Somers recalled.

When asked if leadership challenges played a role in his decision to leave the Town, Andrews was quick to pour cold water on the idea.

“Turnover is a natural part of every industry,” he said. “It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to Los Gatos.”

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Artwork: Sadie Barnette, Family

2022. Photo by Henrik Kam. Courtesy of the artist, Jessica Silverman, San Francisco, and McEvoy Foundation for the Arts, San Francisco.