Los Gatan 3-1-2023

RARE WEATHER BRINGS SNOW TO LOS GATOS

Chance of rain showers, more cold temperatures forecast for weekend

Don Le, Reporter

The National Weather Service issued another cold weather advisory for the Los Gatos area on Tuesday, as rain and snow continued to pummel Bay Area communities.

But it can be surprisingly challenging to evaluate snow levels in areas like the Santa Cruz Mountains, according to weather experts.

“There's a lot of drifting of snow on the highest peaks,” said Rick Canepa, a National Weather Service meteorologist for the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Mount Hamilton had over a foot of snow.”

In an interview with the Los Gatan on Friday, Canepa explained that the local area had already gotten wallopped, with more inclement weather on the way.

In fact, both Mount Saint Helena and Mount Diablo had already been hit with 12 inches of snow.

“We're expecting more precipitation going into the weekend and early next week,” he predicted at the time.

And Canepa sure was right.

By Monday at 3:22pm, the ➝ Weather, 6

TOWN COUNCIL DIRECTS LEFTOVER PANDEMIC CASH

Council provides funds to broadcaster, LGS Rec, homeless services

Drew Penner, Reporter

At the Feb. 21 Council meeting, elected officials discussed how to spend $1.645 million in pandemic relief provided by the Biden Administration that’s still leftover.

The big winners were public access broadcaster KCAT, which will receive a one-time infusion of $100,000, Los Gatos Saratoga Recreation which was handed the reduced amount this year of $225,000 to continue its 55+ program, and $50,000 for senior services.

And Council added $150,000 to the community grant program, which received rave reviews from the elected officials.

➝ Council, 6

snow scenes p8 : hoops update p10 : upcoming events p15 : ny times crossword puzzle p17

CHILLY TIMES It’s rare to spot a snowman in Los Gatos, but such sights were relatively common over the past week as a winter storm brought 11 inches of snow in the area on Feb. 24, the first notable day of snowfall in the Bay Area since early 2011.

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REAL ESTATE ADVERTISING NOTICE

All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, familial status or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Publisher will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertising are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Courtesy of Santa Clara County

IN NEED OF TRIMMING

Moe Kumre, manager of the County's Weed Abatement Program, visits a Santa Clara County property where weeds and grass exceed firesafety standards.

PROGRAM AIMS TO PREVENT MASSIVE WILDFIRES

County officials to begin inspecting properties for overgrown vegetation

Staff Report

Even though the mountaintops are covered in snow, officials warn that fire season has begun in Santa Clara County.

Every year, beginning in March, property owners throughout the county must comply with regulations designed to prevent the spread of wildfires that threaten people, property and the environment. The rules take effect March 1 for three cities—San José, Santa Clara and Campbell—and later in the spring for the unincorporated county and other jurisdictions. The rules remain in place throughout the fire season, which generally ends in October.

The regulations are enforced by the County of Santa Clara Weed Abatement Program, which requires property owners to reduce fire hazards created by excess vegetation and combustible debris.

“Even though the weather over the past week has been wet and frigid, the time for Santa Clara County property owners to help protect their community from wildfires begins now,” said Edgar Nolasco, director of the County’s Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees the Weed Abatement Program. “By removing fire hazards from your property, you can prevent grass fires from

spreading into developed areas, where they threaten homes and families.”

Under the program, property owners must prevent grass and weeds from exceeding six inches in length, keep roadways clear of overgrown vegetation, and protect structures from combustible materials, among other requirements. The rules do not apply to ornamental vegetation such as roses and hedges.

Keeping vegetation and other hazards in check creates buffer zones that can slow or stop the spread of fire. Eliminating fuel for wildfires is especially important for rural property owners who live on the “wildland-urban interface,” where human development ends and open space begins.

Santa Clara County is one of a handful of counties in California, including Orange and Los Angeles counties, with a standalone weed abatement program. In other areas, responsibility for weed abatement lies with the fire department.

The County’s program is currently managed by a team of two employees who inspect more than 2,000 properties a year. The program is funded through fees incurred by people who fail to maintain their properties in a fire-safe manner.

The goal of the program, however, is voluntary compliance, officials said.

“The most important thing is we want you to maintain your property in a fire-safe condition,” said Moe Kumre, manager of the program. “It protects you; it protects your neighbors;

it protects your community. We don’t want to come out and cut anybody’s grass, but we will if that’s what it takes to keep our community safe.”

Properties that are not in compliance wind up in the Weed Abatement Program based upon visual inspections by program staff, who conduct their assessments from public rights of way. Once in the program, property owners must demonstrate that their properties meet minimum fire safety standards for three years. Property owners are responsible for the costs of all weed abatement work.

Inspection season phases in gradually throughout the county’s many jurisdictions:

• March 1: San José, Santa Clara and Campbell

• April 1: Unincorporated Santa Clara County and Milpitas

• April 15: Los Gatos and Monte Sereno

• April 30: Cupertino, Palo Alto and the Los Altos Hills County Fire District

• May 1: Morgan Hill

• May 15: Gilroy

This has been a very wet winter throughout California, which has built up the Sierra Nevada snowpack, filled Northern California reservoirs and improved Bay Area drought conditions. All that rain will also spur a lot of vegetation growth, however, creating extra fuel for wildfires during the dry months of summer and fall.

For information about the Weed Abatement Program, visit bit. ly/3IEGvIF or call 408.282.3145.

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ANOTHER COLD FRONT ON TAP

Weather, from page 1

National Weather Service issued a warning for the South Bay, that peasized hail was likely on the way.

The area has witnessed snow down to about 500 feet above sea level— and a lot of it, Canepa commented.

“It's a rare amount of snow to see in the Bay Area,” he said. “Snowfall is tough to measure, anyhow, just inherently, because there's wind involved with precipitation falling— and that can blow and drift the snow around.”

The unique winter wonderland experienced by Los Gatans was a result of a combination of cold air arriving from up north as precipitation began to form.

But things can turn from a playful daytime scene to danger as the mercury drops in the evening, Canepa added.

“At nighttime this will lead to patchy, black ice forming and so that will definitely make for dangerous

driving conditions,” he said. “That's a caveat to take away.”

Canepa said the most vulnerable residents of the area become more at-risk during times like these.

“A freeze-warning is a heads-up for sub-freezing temperatures in the range of, say, about 28 degrees for at least a couple hours,” he said. “So it's a dangerous temperature for unsheltered populations especially.”

The National Weather Service issued just such a freeze-warning for the Bay Area on Tuesday at 1:22pm, which was expected to last until today at 8am.

“Colder air tonight into early Wednesday will bring very cold conditions across the region,” a spokesperson said on Twitter, predicting temperatures in the 28-32 degree range.

Canepa advised residents to bring pets indoors and take steps to protect pipes from freezing.

Canepa said a cold front on Feb. 28 would continue to bring rain showers to the valley and “the frozen variety of snow at higher elevations” through early March 1.

NEED FOR SENIOR SERVICES

Council, from page 1

Councilmembers wanted to wait for additional closed-session discussions before potentially offering New Museum Los Gatos or LGS Rec rent reductions.

“I think we do need to remember that we do have $1.6 million available; with the changes that we’ve discussed, I think it still leaves $1 million available, and that’s without getting into the capital part of it,” said Councilmember Matthew Hudes, who made the funding motion. “I think that we have frankly not been aggressive enough on the use of ARPA funds, as evidenced by the fact that we thought we had allocated all of them last year, and now we have 1.6 (million). And I wouldn’t be surprised if we found some more after we go through the capital and figure we can’t spend that by the timing that we need to.”

Hudes said he was aware that through the budget process more money could be directed to other places.

“A budget, you know, it’s your best

information,” he said. “It’s not something that you can’t change later.”

Councilmember Rob Rennie seconded the motion, saying leaving out rent reductions was a good compromise.

Councilmember Rob Moore said he was concerned that $50,000 might not be enough to cover homeless services.

Moore said he was a bit uncomfortable giving LGS Rec a quarter-of-amillion dollars before rent negotiations have been completed, but in the end he joined the rest of Council in supporting Hudes’ motion.

Vice Mayor Mary Badame asked Police Chief Jamie Field how many homeless people there are in Los Gatos.

Field said there are around 12-24 homeless people in Los Gatos, and noted she would gather more data about the people who attend a local pantry program.

Hudes also tried to get the rest of

By Wednesday afternoon, temperatures are forecast to reach the lower-50s with “mostly sunny to sunny” skies, and the mercury dropping to the low-30s at night, he continued. Thursday is expected to be sunny, with high temperatures in the upper-50s.

Then on Friday is forecast another

Council on board with directing the Town to add a senior services coordinator who would work one-day-aweek, and to up the open emergency preparedness position from a halftime to a full-time job.

Town Manager Laurel Prevetti said it was hard to know what a seniors services role would look like ahead of a discussion on the senior services roadmap—which had plenty of ideas of what that employee might be involved with.

Asking staff to do work on any less than a half-time basis might not be the best idea, she added.

“It’s just very hard for continuity of service,” she said. “Or you say you can work two hours a day on this. But that’s not very efficient, really, because you’re jumping in and out of other work assignments.”

Badame asked Hudes to soften his motion slightly to indicate the part-time senior services position was simply a “placeholder” and might not come to fruition during the budget process.

Hudes said he was happy to do so, and got his second for the motion.

Rennie said the Finance Commission was tasked with coming up with

cold front, with lows in the mid- to upper-30s, Canepa said. Over the weekend a chance of showers is expected throughout Santa Clara County. That system could bring a “light dusting” of snow Saturday night and Sunday morning to elevations about 3,000 feet and higher, and along the peaks of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

new revenue-generation opportunities over a year ago.

“But I haven’t seen that happen yet,” he said. “When I look at the forecast, even if I add some things in that I think are missing, we still feel a little bit short.”

Rennie said he couldn’t support a staffing increase based on “imagined” additional revenue.

Prevetti said the Town already has a lot on its plate with its upcoming equity plan implementation.

So, a vote on Hudes’ motion did not pass.

“It’s hard,” said Mayor Maria Ristow. “My vote does not reflect my commitment to seniors.”

Hudes came up with another motion, to direct someone to be a pointof-contact to help with the senior services roadmap—at a level not to exceed one day a week.

“Our senior services commission has not had that kind of staff support,” he said. “Many other commissions have, and that’s one of the reasons that we’ve gotten into the hole. That put us in the place that we’re at with senior services.”

Rennie seconded it.

This vote was unanimous.

MELTING AWAY Snow lingers on the side of Soquel San Jose Road toward the summit on Feb. 27.

Tarmo Hannula

11.14.2022

Carol Jeans is everything one could hope for in a realtor. She is warm, knowledgeable, honest, hardworking and trustworthy. Most importantly, she is a true professional. When my husband and I set out to find a realtor to help us find our first home in Los Gatos, we interviewed several agents who were referred to us by trusted friends and family, but Carol immediately stood out to us and we are so grateful we decided to go with her. Carol scheduled and accompanied us to countless private showings, provided detailed and honest insights to assist us in our evaluations, and was able to use her personal connections in times and ways that made a true difference. Throughout our months-long search, we never once felt pressured, nor did we ever feel less important despite likely having a much smaller budget than most of Carol’s clients.

When we finally did find the home of our dreams, Carol pulled out every tool in her toolbox to make it happen and ultimately our bid was accepted despite 9 other offers. We could not have done it without her. If you are looking for the VERY BEST, I recommend Carol Jeans without hesitation.

KELLY V. | LOS GATOS

07.29.2021

We used Carol for the sale of our Saratoga home. She was fabulous from

start to finish. Carol is an excellent communicator, on top of every detail, and takes away the stress of the sale process. Carol helped us prepare the home for sale and had great recommendations from contractors, to stagers to gallery art placement. The process was seamless and produced excellent results. You will not be disappointed in selecting Carol and her amazing team. She is simply the best in the business.

MICHELLE H. | SARATOGA

09.25.2021

We just completed our third Los Gatos house sale with help from Carol. To say she is good at what she does is a monumental understatement. She is tremendously knowledgeable, cooperative, creative and is always a pleasure to deal with in all regards. In our most recent sale, she went way beyond the call of duty to guide us through a very successful house sale. I cannot thank Carol for her efforts without also mentioning Louise, her assistant of many years, who is a rock star in her own right. Suffice it to say, Carol is as good as you will ever find if you are buying or selling your house.

JAY M. | LOS GATOS

SNOW POUNDS SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS

MORE TO COME

A light dusting of snow covered areas of Summit Road on Feb. 23.

STAY OFF THE ROAD

The falling snow shut down roads in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS

Wind, rain and snow toppled trees and power lines in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

Los Gatan

Erin Malsbury

a

LOS GATOS UNDONE BY BELLS

Wildcats’ comeback falls short

Senji Torrey, Correspondent

Despite a hard-fought effort, the Los Gatos High boys basketball team absorbed a 63-55 loss to Bellarmine in the Central Coast Section Division I playoff championship game Feb. 25 at Santa Clara High.

Their CCS title goal denied, the Wildcats still have a season left as they automatically qualified for the CIF NorCal playoffs by making the section championship game. They got the No. 10 seed in the Division III bracket and play at No. 7 Justin Siena of Napa on Feb. 28 at 7pm.

The Los Gatos girls are also in the CIF tournament by virtue of being one of eight teams that earned a spot in the CCS Open Division playoffs. The Wildcats are the No. 16 seed in Division II and play at top seed Marin Catholic on Feb. 28 at 5pm.

Los Gatos went 0-3 in the Open, suffering losses against Branham, Crystal Springs Uplands of Hillsborough and Mitty. It didn’t have its best player in Nicole Steiner for the Branham and CSU contests, yet still hung with the Bruins until the end.

Against CSU, the Wildcats simply ran out of gas, scoring zero points in the fourth quarter in a 39-25 home loss on Feb. 20. Regardless, they put together another tremendous season under coach Sara Quilici Giles as did the boys team under Nick Ward.

In the CCS title boys game, the No. 2 seed Wildcats (21-6) were down 14 points at halftime before flipping the proverbial switch coming out of the break, fully employing their “all guns blazing” game plan, as sophomore guard Osha Maloney put it, to start the third quarter.

“We went in at halftime knowing that we were still in the game, and had to come out and change how it was going,” sophomore guard Scotty Brennan said. “So we came out, we hit some shots and we cut the lead down and we had a real chance to win it.”

Senior guard Max Houghton, who finished with 11 points, led the charge with consecutive 3-pointers that started to close the 14-point deficit vs. the top seed Bells (13-13). Junior forward Nolan Koch was a force in the paint, picking up five of his 10 points in the third quarter, including a highly contested layup from under the basket.

The Wildcats outscored Bellarmine by three in the third quarter, continuing to surge in the fourth quarter. That’s when Brennan got hot. He knocked down a field goal from the perimeter, another one from inside the paint, and a free throw that would cut Los Gatos’ deficit to 55-50.

“We weren’t getting it done [in the first half] and I needed to help the team,” Brennan said. “I wanted this for the seniors and so I just gave it my all in the second half.”

Senior forward Tommy Ankenbrandt, who had 10 points, also played an integral part in the second-half resurgence with a basket to keep the scoring, and momentum, rolling. Additionally, he would anchor the defense with his 6-foot-6 frame and tenacious man-marking.

In spite of the Wildcat’s efforts— they once again outscored their opponents by three points in the quarter— Bellarmine’s WCAL-honed repertoire

would ultimately prevail, granting them its 15th CCS title in school history in front of an electric atmosphere.

“[I am] proud of the guys,” coach Nick Ward said. “[We were] down big at half, and just got all the way to the end and…fought our way back into it. And that’s what we said we had to do to get here.”

On the loss, Brennan said: “It sucks. It’s definitely going to sting for a little while. [I] feel there’s more that I could have done to help out, but at the end, we just couldn't get it done.”

The primary factor behind the defeat was the Wildcats’ slow start. Whereas Bellarmine came out dialed in, Los Gatos struggled to get going, resulting in the Bells taking a strong 16-9 lead by the end of the first quarter.

“They played well, they hit some shots in transition and that’s what we forced them to do,” Ward said. “[The] second half was more of our style, and that's how we got back into it. We just didn’t get them moving enough in the first half.”

Bellarmine capitalized, utilizing its larger-framed bodies and trademark rapid-fire playing style to collect rebounds and move up the court with ease throughout the first two quarters. Bells guard Brayden Harris was especially potent, scoring a game-high 24 points, 15 coming in the first half.

“They were making shots [and] getting in the paint, but we just kept fighting,” Maloney said. “We did what we could.”

Junior guard Ronan Chinmulgund would embody this sentiment, not shying away from contact on either side of the ball. The guard induced a charging foul on a Bellarmine fast break in the second quarter. He also connected on two under heavy duress.

Despite the result, the future looks bright for Los Gatos, whose current varsity roster consists of 12 returning players. In addition, the Wildcats junior varsity team thrived this season, going 23-1 overall and claiming an undefeated 12-0 record in league play.

“I think we’ll be right back here [next year],” Brennan said.

Sports editor Emanuel Lee contributed to this report.

LEADER Max Houghton (11 points) walks off the court at the end of the Wildcats’ 63-55 loss to Bellarmine in the Central Coast Section Division I championship game Feb. 25 at Santa Clara High.

Jonathan Natividad

RAISING, PROCLAIMING MARLEAU

San Jose Sharks retire No. 12

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

It’s hard to believe that for the first several years of his career, San Jose Sharks legend Patrick Marleau seemed uncomfortable in front of the media or having any attention heaped his way.

If the Feb. 23-25 festivities surrounding Marleau proved one thing, it was this: Marleau has grown into his role as a de facto ambassador for the Sharks franchise, the city of San Jose and area youth hockey in general.

Marleau became the first Sharks player to have his jersey retired when his No. 12 was lifted into the SAP Center rafters during a ceremony before the Feb. 25 game against the Chicago Blackhawks. It capped a whirlwind of events that started Feb. 23 when the city of San Jose and Mayor Matt

Mahan recognized Marleau in a special ceremony at San Jose City Hall Rotunda.

Mahan proclaimed Feb. 25 as Patrick Marleau Day in San Jose which included a flag-raising ceremony alongside Marleau and Sharks President Jonathan Becher. The following day, Marleau played in the Sharks Legend Game, and the day after was the retirement ceremony in which dozens of current and former coaches and teammates along with his family and friends sat at ice level to take part in the celebration.

The spotlight squarely on Marleau, the 43-year-old Saratoga resident was stately, humble and gracious as ever as he was feted over the past week. In his speech at City Hall Rotunda, Marleau touched on a variety of topics, reflecting on everything from the time he arrived in San Jose as a 17-year-old

to his favorite playing memories and his family.

“It’s the greatest honor to be able to be the first one up there [jersey hanging in the rafters],” Marleau said at City Hall Rotunda. “No one else is going to have that honor so I don't take that lightly. I’m very appreciative of the Sharks organization, the fans, the city. I’m truly humbled by that great honor.”

Drafted second overall by the Sharks in 1997, Marleau ranks first all-time in NHL regular-season games played (1,779), including in that span a consecutive games streak of 910 that is the fifth longest in league history. Marleau, who missed just 31 games over a 23-year career that also included short stints with Toronto and Pittsburgh at the end of his career, is the Sharks all-time leader in nearly every offensive category, including goals (522) and points (1,111).

His 109 game-winning goals rank seventh best in NHL history. Marleau said he had a tremendous support system and mentioned former teammate Kelly Hrudey as instrumental to his career. The 1997-1998 season was Hrudey’s final season as a pro and Marleau’s first.

Hrudey and his family were gracious enough to invite Marleau to live with them for his rookie season, and the two still keep in contact today.

“I probably didn’t realize it at the time, but now that I have a family and bringing someone else in to live with us, my career probably wouldn’t have ended up the way it was if I didn’t have Kelly in my first year,” Marleau said. “I learned so much from him about the business of hockey and was just trying to soak it all in. To have somebody like that for you that first year is pretty remarkable.”

Born in remote Aneroid, Saskatchewan (population 50), Marleau ascended to eventually cement his place in NHL history. Marleau has come full circle as he now coaches some of his sons on their club hockey teams.

“It’s been fun to be around them and watch them play hockey and watch them start to fall in love with it the way I did,” he said.

Though his on-ice achievements are noteworthy, Becher and Mahan said it’s Marleau’s ongoing work in the community that truly makes him a special figure.

LEGEND Patrick Marleau’s No. 12 is raised up to the SAP Center rafters during his retirement ceremony on Feb. 25. Marleau is the first San Jose player in franchise history to have his jersey number retired.

FETED Sharks great Patrick Marleau stands with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan at San Jose City Hall Rotunda on Feb. 23. Mahan issued a proclamation designating Feb. 25 as Patrick Marleau Day in San Jose.

Jonathan Natividad Jonathan Natividad

GUEST VIEW

VALLEY WATER CHAIR HIGHLIGHTS BOARD’S GOALS FOR 2023

John Varela, Contributor

As I begin a new term on the Valley Water Board of Directors representing District 1, I am honored to serve as the Chair in 2023.

While our region remains in a drought, we are cautiously optimistic about Santa Clara County’s water supply outlook this year. January storms brought much-needed rain and snow across California. Our community helped us achieve the state’s conservation goals in five of the past six months. However, it’s too soon to declare the drought over and end mandatory water conservation in Santa Clara County.

No matter when this drought ends, we know another one will impact us in the future. To that end, my fellow board members and I will continue focusing on policies that provide Silicon Valley with a reliable supply of safe, clean drinking water, reduce flood risk to our communities, and protect and restore our natural environment.

While we are currently working on dozens of projects to help meet our mission, I’d like to share a few of our accomplishments from last year and highlight some of the things we are working on this year.

Fixing Anderson Dam so it can safely withstand a large earthquake remains a top priority. Last year, Valley Water reached a milestone when our contractor began digging a new, 1,700-foot tunnel next to the dam. Once completed, the new outlet tunnel will increase the amount of water that can be released from Anderson by five times. We anticipate the work on the outlet tunnel will take another two years to finish, and once that is done, Valley Water will begin rebuilding the dam and spillway.

Recycled and purified water is another vital component of our future water supply. We are working to expand our purified water to replenish groundwater basins in Santa Clara County and diversify our drinking water supply. In South Santa Clara

County, we are expanding the recycled water distribution system. The project, which is expected to be completed this year, will allow more farms and businesses to have access to this crucial water supply.

Our agency is investing in various flood protection projects across the county, including the Upper Llagas Flood Protection Project in Morgan Hill. Once completed, this project will protect the city's urban area from a 100-year flood and reduce the frequency of flooding in the surrounding areas. Our construction contractor made great progress last year in digging a 2,300-foot-long tunnel to eventually divert high creek flows around the city's downtown area.

In the coming months, Valley Water will begin construction on the first of two flood protection projects located along a nine-mile stretch of Coyote Creek. Once completed, these projects will help protect homes, schools, businesses and highways in historically flood-prone areas. These measures will protect against creek flows like the February 2017 flood, which was a 20-year event.

Last summer, Valley Water completed work on the Uvas Creek Fish Habitat Improvement Project in Gilroy. The project helps restore and maintain healthy fish populations by improving habitat for steelhead and other native fish.

And our agency will continue with annual efforts to study and better understand the migration habits of steelhead in Santa Clara County. Every year, Valley Water biologists capture, measure the length and weight of juvenile steelhead and insert a tag to monitor their movement. Understanding and maintaining threatened fish species is an important part of Valley Water’s mission to care for the environment.

We can’t achieve this work alone. Our agency continues to seek out investment partners, including the state and federal government, to help us complete these projects.

Recently, we celebrated the closing of $726.7 million in low-cost federal loans that will help fund a handful of major projects, including the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project and the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project. These loans from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act are projected to save Valley Water $256 million over the life of the loans.

Last summer, Valley Water received $5.8 million from the California Dept. of Water Resources to help fund the Cross Valley Pipeline Extension Project. This project will help ensure Coyote Creek and the Coyote Percolation Pond in South San José have sufficient water to recharge groundwater and support the surrounding habitat and wildlife who depend on it while we rebuild Anderson Dam.

It’s critical to our Board of Directors that we always do our best to maintain the lowest cost possible to our water

retailers and our 5,000 well owners, while providing a reliable water supply for future generations.

John L. Varela represents District 1 on the Valley Water Board of Directors. He can be reached at jvarela@valleywater.org.

SAN JOSE HONORS MARLEAU

Marleau, from page 11

Mahan said Marleau has served as an inspiration because he is “always willing to give back to the community” through his work in the Sharks Foundation, the franchise’s charity and philanthropic arm. Since its inception in 1994, the Sharks Foundation has given more than $18.2 billion back to Bay Area organizations through its annual Community Assist Grant Program and season-long Giving Campaign, per NHL.com.

“Known for his athleticism on the ice, he [Marleau] has also been an approachable and community-oriented star,” Mahan said. “Always willing to pose for [photos] for an adoring fan

of our community when in need. He’s inspired generations of San Joseans, not just because of his speed and skill, but because of his heart.”

The loving relationship and appreciation goes both ways.

“I can’t believe how lucky I've been to be able to come to a place like San Jose where this community has embraced the Sharks franchise and myself with open arms,” he said. “I met my wife Christina here, all [four of our] boys were born and raised here. … Although I was born in Canada, San Jose has been and will always be home for me and my family.”

No matter when this drought ends, we know another one will impact us in the future.

John Varela

John

Varela

Kiley Russell, Bay City News

State and federal water managers announced Feb. 22 increased deliveries for millions of Californians in response to hopeful hydrologic conditions that materialized over the past several weeks.

After a series of powerful storms brought rain and snow to much of California in December and January, increased reservoir levels led the state’s Department of Water Resources to set its delivery forecast at 30 percent of requested water supplies for the 29 public water agencies that draw from the State Water Project to serve 27 million people and 750,000 acres of farmland.

On Feb. 22, DWR slightly increased its delivery forecast to 35 percent of requested supplies.

“We're hopeful that more storms this week are a sign that the wet weather will return, but there remains a chance that 2023 will be a below average water year in the northern Sierra,” said DWR director Karla Nemeth.

Also on Feb. 22, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation published its initial water allocation numbers for the Central Valley Project, the state’s other water storage and delivery backbone.

Deliveries for most of the urban and industrial water users that draw from that system were set at 75 percent of historical usage, up from just 25 percent last year.

While some rural irrigation systems are looking at 35 percent deliveries, many agricultural water users in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river watersheds are forecast to receive 100 percent of their contracted deliveries in 2023.

“Three years of record-setting drought in California will take some

time to recover from,” said Bureau of Reclamation regional director Ernest Conant.

Currently, snowpack levels for the Sierra Nevada are well above normal and several of the state’s reservoirs are filled to at or near their historical average for this time of year, with a few notably large exceptions like Trinity, New Melones and Shasta.

“In the short-term, the early winter storms have helped, but in the longterm, we still have much catching up to do, especially in the northern part of our system,” Conant said.

In addition to the increased water deliveries from both the state's major systems, water rights holders in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Russian River areas have been allowed to start drawing from those watersheds after enduring on-and-off curtailment orders during the worst of the drought.

While the announcements are welcome news to drinking water systems and farmers across the state, Golden State Salmon Association president John McManus said the decision to allow some agricultural users to receive 100 percent of their water allocations comes at the expense of fish populations and the people who rely on them for jobs.

“That water is needed to safely deliver this year's baby salmon from the Central Valley to the ocean,” McManus said.

“It's also blatantly unfair and unjust, especially considering the relatively good shape of our reservoirs and the deep snowpack still in the Sierras,” he said.

Still, if the state endures another extremely dry spring, water deliveries could again drop below current expectations.

“The Department of Water Resources is working with its state and federal partners to balance the needs of communities, agriculture and the environment should dry conditions continue this spring,” Nemeth said.

“Recent actions taken by DWR are intended to preserve water in Lake Oroville specifically to allow for additional flexibility for fish protections in the spring including Feather River pulse flows to enhance spring-run juvenile salmon survival during March and April,” she said.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

FEB. 19

• A man was arrested for driving with a suspended license on the 700 block of Blossom Hill Road at 1:41am.

• A man was reportedly shooting an air pistol in a backyard on Via de Tesoros at 1:37pm.

• Eight juveniles reportedly trespassed into a business on the 200 block of E. Main Street and “had a party.”

• A man was arrested for disorderly conduct on the 100 block of Royce Street at 6:28pm.

FEB. 20

• No injuries were reported after a vehicle crashed into a tree on Shannon and Hicks roads at 5:37am.

• Someone burglarized a business on the 15800 block of Los Gatos Boulevard.

• An unknown suspect stole a vehicle’s catalytic converter on Pinehurst Avenue.

• A home was burglarized on Palos Verdes Drive.

• A vehicle was burglarized on the 100 block of S. Santa Cruz Avenue at 3:58pm.

• Two suspects stole Tide pods from a store on Pollard Road at 5:20pm.

FEB. 21

• A woman was reportedly taking pictures of a vehicle parked on Blossom Hill Road.

• A woman was sitting on the lawn at the Civic Center on E. Main Street, reportedly “yelling about Nazis and making America great again” at 7:25pm.

FEB. 22

• A home was burglarized on Beck Avenue.

• Someone attempted to break into a vehicle parked on Wilder Avenue.

• A man was arrested for disorderly conduct on the 400 block of N. Santa Cruz Avenue at 6:40pm.

FEB. 23

POLICE BLOTTER STATE, FEDERAL WATER DELIVERIES FORECAST TO INCREASE FOR MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS

• An unknown suspect stole a vehicle’s catalytic converter on Hillbrook Drive.

FEB. 24

• A woman described as “homeless” was reportedly blow drying her hair and jeans in a carport on University Avenue at 12:39pm.

FEB. 25

• A woman was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on N. Santa Cruz Avenue and Andrews Street at 12:32am.

• A man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on the 600 block of N. Santa Cruz Avenue at 12:37am.

• Someone stole a vehicle’s catalytic converter on Dover Street.

• Vehicles were burglarized on W. Parr Avenue and Lark Avenue.

• Packages were reported stolen from a front porch on Coronet Drive.

• A man was arrested for being in possession of a stolen vehicle and a controlled substance on Blossom Hill and Roberts roads at 8:26pm.

• A man and a woman were arrested for driving with a suspended license on Union Avenue and Los Gatos Almaden Road at 11:24pm.

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

LOCAL SCENE

PROSPECT HIGH SCHOOL WINS COUNTYWIDE MOCK TRIAL

Campbell Union High School District’s Prospect High School’s prosecution team defeated Fremont Union High School District’s Lynbrook High School’s defense team in the championship round of the Santa Clara County High School Mock Trial Tournament on Feb. 15.

The winning team will advance to the state championship in March.

The Santa Clara County Office of Education in partnership with the Santa Clara County Bar Association and the Santa Clara County Superior Court, sponsors the Santa Clara County High School Mock Trial Tournament which gives students an authentic trial experience. Each year, high school teams study a hypothetical case that the Constitutional Rights Foundation provides. A team of 18 students prepares to defend or prosecute the case and fulfill the roles of pretrial attorneys, prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses and court staff.

“Thank you to the Santa Clara County Bar Association, County Superior Court, attorney coaches, and staff for their hard work in coordinating this meaningful event for students,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, County Superintendent of Schools. “I would also like to congratulate Prospect High School on their win. The skills students develop during this tournament will serve them in their future careers and academics.”

After multiple years of virtual tournaments due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 20 public and private high schools returned to compete in-person at the Santa Clara County Superior Court’s Old Courthouse in downtown San Jose. The tournament was presided over by sitting superior court judges and was scored by hundreds of local attorneys.

In this year’s hypothetical case, the prosecution charged the defendant with battery and robbery when stealing a rival actor’s Shakespearean ring aboard a cruise ship. The prospection argued this was a case about the envy of the understudy. The defense countered that it was an accident, not an attack.

Prospect High School’s team will now advance to the state championship in Los Angeles, hosted by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, on March 17-19.

Additional recognitions included Prospect High School’s Hyoum Lee, winner of the 2023 Santa Clara County Courtroom Artist Contest, and recent retirees Judge Jim Towery and Assistant United States Attorney Jim Scharf who received the Johnny Gogo Award for their decades of service to the Santa Clara County Mock Trial Program.

For information about the Mock Trial Competition and participating schools, visit sccoe.org/plisd/history/ Pages/Mock-Trial.aspx.

COUNTY BREAKS GROUND ON MENTAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Santa Clara County broke ground Feb. 22 on a first-of-its-kind behavioral health center for children and adolescents in San Jose.

The new mental health center, which will be linked to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, will operate inpatient and outpatient medical and psychiatric care to children and adolescents in need of behavioral healthcare, as well as have a separate floor for adults.

The center fills an important gap in behavioral health care for youth in the county. Access to child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric is limited in Santa Clara County.

Children and adolescents who need short-term psychiatric hospitalization have been sent to facilities as far away as Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano and even Sacramento counties, taking them far away from the support of family, caregivers and their own behavioral care team.

“Separating these kids from their families at one of the toughest times in their lives, that's just hell on them. I'm worried, frankly, that the specter of long-distance treatment currently deters kids and families from seeking the help they need in the first place,” said Supervisor Joe Simitian, who serves as chair of the county

Board of Supervisors’ Health and Hospital Committee and who first proposed the project in June 2015.

When the Board of Supervisors approved construction on the new center in 2017, 689 Santa Clara County youth were admitted to out-of-area psychiatric hospitals, where the average stay spanned about six days far from their homes and support systems.

County leaders said the future facility will be unique because it will house multiple programs under one roof and provide a centralized location to support the needs of anyone who relies on the county services.

The center will consolidate and integrate behavioral health services that are currently provided elsewhere throughout the Valley Medical Center campus into the new facility with 35 inpatient beds, emergency psychiatric services and mental health urgent care for children and adolescents. It will also have 42 adult inpatient psychiatric beds and services in a separate, secured part of the building.

The 207,000-square-foot facility will be linked by skyway to Valley Medical Center's Emergency Department to allow patients who have co-occurring medical issues to be treated on-site. The current construction schedule calls for the project to be completed and open to patients in late 2025.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

LOCALS NAMED TO DEAN'S LIST AT EMERSON COLLEGE

Local students earned Dean's List honors for Emerson College's Fall 2022 semester.

They are:

• Tatum Jenkins of Los Gatos, majoring in Writing, Lit and Publishing, is a member of the Class of 2023.

• Isaiah Vivero of Monte Sereno, majoring in Media Arts Production, is a member of the Class of 2023.

• Brandon Krish of Monte Sereno, majoring in Media Arts Production, is a member of the Class of 2025.

The requirement to make the Dean's List is a grade point average of 3.7 or higher for that semester.

Emerson College is based in Boston, Mass.

PROSECUTORS A team from Prospect High School won the Santa Clara County High School Mock Trial Tournament on Feb. 15.

HORTICULTURE

WARM SEASON BEDDING PLANTS BEGIN

Tony Tomeo, Contributor

Annual bedding plants are surprisingly more popular among those who enjoy gardening less. Those who procure the services of gardeners appreciate the rich colors and simple efficiency of annuals. Many who are more directly involved with their gardening consider them to be decadent. Nonetheless, warm season bedding plants will soon be in season.

Cool season bedding plants should perform well until the weather becomes too warm for them. There is therefore no rush to replace them yet. Besides, it is likely still a bit too cool for mature warm season bedding plants to be out in the garden. However, seeds for warm season bedding plants take time to grow. Some should start now to be ready for spring.

For example, petunia, impatien and zinnia are some of the most popular of warm season bedding plants. Almost all of them arrive at their respective gardens as somewhat mature plants within cell packs from nurseries. Presently, such plants may be vulnerable to frost. However, the seed of these plants that begin now should start to grow after the threat of frost.

Not many of even the most avid of garden enthusiasts grow these popular warm season bedding plants from seed. Yet, a few do so. Some unusual or rare plant varieties are only available as seed. Many common wildflowers and “true to type” annuals provide seed for subsequent generations. Such seeds generally start in flats with shelter from frost indoors.

From flats, seedlings may graduate to cell packs or small pots prior to transitioning into a garden. Some should actually begin within cells rather than flats. Seedlings relocate into a garden when adequately mature, whether from flats, cells or pots. Seed for many warm season bedding plants perform best directly in the garden though, without transplanting.

Nasturtium seedlings do not grow well within the confinement of cells. Then, they remain somewhat pekid for a few days while they recover from transplanting into a garden. They grow so much more efficiently from seed sown directly into a garden. Marigold can grow about as well from seed directly in the garden as they can as seedlings that grew in flats.

CALENDAR

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

SUSTAINABILITY SPEAKER SERIES

The Town of Los Gatos and Los Gatos Library are hosting a speaker series highlighting sustainability. On March 8 from 5-8pm, the series will present “A Changing Climate: Through the Lens of Equity & Resiliency,” with Violet Saena of Climate Resilient Communities.

➝ losgatosca.gov/growinggreener.

TERRA FIRMA ART EXHIBIT

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.

Highlight: oxeye daisy

Like several annual warm season bedding plants, oxeye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare, is actually perennial. Also, some of the less extensively bred sorts disperse enough seed to naturalize and potentially become invasive. Increasingly popular modern varieties that are prudent with seed might not be true to type. Some might revert to more prolific forms.

Modern varieties should not get much higher than a foot and a half. They should also be more dense than the simple species, which gets a few feet tall. Foliage and form is quite variable among varieties. Stems are solitary or branched. They may be leafy or sparsely foliated above basal rosettes. Leaves might be lobed or serrate, with or without petioles.

The solitary, paired or tripled composite blooms of oxeye daisy are not so variable. They are classic daisies, with a dozen to three dozen clear white ray florets surrounding bright yellow disc florets. Without deadheading, fresh new bloom overwhelms deteriorating old bloom. Oxeye daisy is splendid as a cut flower. Spring bloom continues through summer, and can actually continue sporadically for as long as the weather is warm.

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.

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.

Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

WARM SEASON Oxeye daisy is actually a perennial.

REAL ESTATE HOME OF THE WEEK

The LGS Recreation 55 Plus program provides comprehensive free or low-cost programs for people age 55 and over. Membership is $30 annually and includes access to a variety of free groups, programs, classes, social events, guest lectures, and services. Did you know? Programs are funded by fee-based services and modest grants, not tax dollars or subsidy. Your contribution will help to ensure long-term uninterrupted service of this vital program area.

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 Wi-Fi Upgrades

Home Networks Security Cameras Wi-Fi Upgrades

Home Networks Security Cameras Wi-Fi Upgrades

MODERN LIVING

This Los Gatos home was recently remodeled.

Located at 14830 Blossom Hill Road, the 3,992-square-foot home includes five bedrooms and five bathrooms.

The kitchen features an expansive island, Miele appliances, custom glass European cabinetry and quartzite counters.

The primary suite is equipped with a walk-in closet that has LED lighting and glass-enclosed jewelry trays, along with

a bathroom and steam shower.

The yard includes a pool and spa with waterfall, pergola, stone fireplace and outdoor kitchen. The home also has an owned Tesla solar panel system with battery backup.

The home, built in 2008, is listed at $5.3 million by Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty. For information, visit beyondre.marketing/14830-Blossom-Hill-Road.

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

www.doitforme.solutions

408 647-4687

www.doitforme.solutions

www.doitforme.solutions

BLOSSOM HILL ROAD This Los Gatos home was recently remodeled.

SCAN TO DONATE

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM IN LOS GATOS

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.

lgsubs.com

March 4-5

Evergreen Valley High School

The Bay Area’s Largest Guitar Extravaganza!

Featuring a concert by the world-renowned Kupiński Guitar Duo

FREE Events Include:

• guitar luthier exhibits

• masterclasses

• guitar clinics

• an open mic

• performance adjudications

• youth and community ensemble performances

sbgs.org