Los Gatan 3-8-2023

AFTER DISCIPLINE DECISION, FIRST AMENDMENT ADVOCATE SETS SIGHTS ON TOWN

ACLU says Los Gatos’ censure of Planning Commissioner was meant to ‘chill’ free speech

Drew Penner, Reporter

The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California says Los Gatos’ censure of a Planning Commissioner—who wrote to the California Department of Housing and Community Development in November about a housing-related referendum that upended plans to increase residential density in town, then was chastised for her use of language in the email—violated her free speech rights.

It’s now demanding answers about how the process to punish Kylie Clark played out and has asked the municipality to reverse its formal reprimand— noting it appears Los Gatos didn’t follow its own procedures in writing her up, allowing the public to lambast her and then ordering her to counseling.

“Indeed, these disciplinary measures were specifically designed to chill future speech and to force Ms. Clark to con-

➝ ACLU, 8

STATE’S HEFTY

SNOWPACK CONTINUES TO GROW

WARNING

Watering

restrictions could be modified after wet season, water district says

Olivia Wynkoop, Bay City News

The state’s continuous stormy weather is only making California’s large snowpack even larger, state water officials confirmed during their third snow survey of the year.

Combined with the series of winter storms that hit California in December and January, recent storms have given the state an above-average snowpack.

Results from the state’s latest manual snow survey, conducted on March 3, recorded 116.5 inches of snow depth at the Sierra Nevada's Phillips Station, ➝ Snowpack, 8

tribute to benny pierce p11 : flor de maria p14: upcoming events p15 : ny times crossword puzzle p17

A makeshift pedestrian crossing connects Harmon Gulch, a rugged road in the Santa Cruz Mountains that was washed out during the January storms. The weather continues to wreak havoc on local infrastructure. Six days of lane closures of Highway 17 begin Wednesday as Caltrans crews clear fallen trees damaged in the storms. One southbound lane from Bear Creek to Summit Road will be closed from 9am to 3pm through Friday. The following week, a northbound lane will be closed during the same hours Monday through Wednesday from Summit Road to Blossom Hill Road.

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

Free post-rainstorm drain inspections for West Valley homes and businesses

Blockages and over ows, shifting soils can stress underground plumbing systems. Clogs and blockages can ood your yard and home.

Storm drains may need video inspection, hydro jetting or repairs to prepare for next series of weather events.

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

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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.

POTENTIAL ATMOSPHERIC RIVER EXPECTED TO DOUSE AREA ONCE AGAIN

could enter the area late Thursday.

FULL Built up rain water brimmed at Lexington Reservoir near Los Gatos in late January. The reservoir reached its spillway during the storms to kick off the year.

in the week to address flooding concerns.”

As of Monday afternoon, the areas at highest risk of more than 2 inches of rainfall include the North Bay, elevated parts of the peninsula in San Mateo County, southern Monterey County and the Central Valley.

Another large storm will douse the Bay Area and Central Coast later this week, according to weather experts, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall and renewed risk of flooding across the region.

While showers are likely into Thursday, according to the National Weather Service's San Francisco Bay Area office, a potential atmospheric river

Weather officials described the incoming storm as a “conveyor belt of moisture” entering the region from the tropics in the Pacific Ocean, with an increasing possibility of several inches of rain.

“Given the mostly saturated soils flooding concerns seems reasonable,” NWS Bay Area forecasters said Monday. “A hydrological outlook may be needed later

SUPERVISORS CALL FOR EXTENSION OF COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM

Santa Clara County Supervisors Joe Simitian and Otto Lee called for a continuation of the county's program that provides Covid-19 vaccinations regardless of insurance or ability to pay.

Over the past couple of weeks, the county closed its mass vaccination and testing sites at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, the animal shelter in San Martin and the San Antonio Shopping Center in Mountain View.

Simitian argued, though, that the county should view the Covid vaccination program similarly to the seasonal flu vaccine program. Federal health officials have already endorsed an annual Covid booster vaccine to protect against future variants of the virus.

“The reason the county vaccine program has been so successful is because it's been easy and convenient,” Simitian said in a statement. “And while it might make sense to ‘ramp down’ our existing sites, I think we do need to maintain some level of easy access for the foreseeable future.”

Simitian and Lee called on county officials to return to the board's Health and Hospital Committee, which Simitian chairs, on April 12 and to the full Board of Supervisors on April 18 with plans to continue the Covid vaccination program into the foreseeable future.

As of March 1, 88.3 percent of Santa Clara County residents have completed their initial vaccination series, while roughly one-third of county residents have received a bivalent booster, which

The region is also set to see potentially record low temperatures in the middle of the week, while temperatures will remain generally below normal across the Bay Area throughout the week.

Weather forecast information from the NWS Bay Area office can be found at weather.gov/mtr.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

targets two strains of the omicron variant. With the county’s large vaccination sites now closed, Covid vaccines are only available locally for uninsured people at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center facilities. Vaccines are also available with insurance at retail pharmacies and health care facilities operated by large providers like Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health. Simitian and Lee noted that while demand for vaccinations from the county has declined, nearly 18,000 residents received a Covid vaccine from a county facility in December 2022.

“Our county residents have done an outstanding job of getting vaccinated, and we need to continue making vaccines available, especially for vulnerable populations,” Lee said.

Residents can schedule a Covid or flu vaccine appointment through the county at vax.sccgov.org or by calling 408.970.2000.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Eli Walsh, Bay City News

Eli Walsh, Bay City News Foundation

Tarmo Hannula/File photo

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POLICE BLOTTER

POLICE BLOTTER

POLICE RECOVER MULTIPLE STOLEN VEHICLES IN ONE NIGHT

Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police officers were busy the night of March 2.

The first incident began with reports of a stolen vehicle that had entered the town, according to police. The vehicle was stopped on Blossom Hill Road, and the driver was arrested.

A search of the vehicle found the driver to be in possession of drugs and burglary tools, police said. They were booked into jail and the vehicle was returned to its rightful owner. A short time later, officers found another stolen vehicle, which was unoccupied and had been abandoned. Soon after that, officers were dispatched to a possible hit-and-run collision. It was reported that after the two vehicles were involved in the crash, one driver left the scene while the other drove up the curb and into a tree.

Both drivers were eventually found and were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, police said. No injuries were reported.

At the end of the night, officers again pulled over a driver of another stolen vehicle. Both occupants were arrested for vehicle theft, as well as being in possession of stolen mail and drug paraphernalia.

FEB. 27

• A man was arrested for driving with a suspended license on Lark Avenue at Highway 17 at 2:59am.

• Two men were arrested for being in possession of a stolen vehicle and a controlled substance on Highway 85 at Saratoga Avenue at 5:42am.

FEB. 28

• A woman was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon on the 600 block of Vasona Avenue at 4:25pm.

MARCH 2

• Someone stole mail on Blossom Hill Road.

• A caller reported a person was repairing their vehicle on Creekside Village Drive at 3:04pm.

• A man was arrested for stealing several drinks from a store on Los Gatos Saratoga Road at 8:37pm.

• A caller reported a van was “patrolling” the area of Harding Avenue and Cerro Chico at 10:03pm.

MARCH 4

• A man was arrested for driving with a suspended license on the 14700 block of Los Gatos Boulevard at 12:29am.

• A man was arrested for stealing a drink on Lark Avenue at 10:51am.

• A man was arrested for shoplifting and obstructing an officer on the 15000 block of Los Gatos Boulevard at 11:20am.

• A man, who was inside a motel pool on Los Gatos Saratoga Road, was reportedly asking for scissors and lighters at 12:26pm. He was not a guest at the motel.

• A woman was arrested for driving with a suspended license on Union and Carlton avenues at 9:28pm.

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

ACLU FILES PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST

ACLU, from page 1

form her communications to the expectations of her assigned ‘counselors,’” Shilpi Agarwal, the legal director of the ACLU Foundation of Northern California wrote in a March 1 letter to Councilmembers. “The Town Council neither sought outside legal counsel, as is required by its Code for any violation deemed ‘major,’ nor did they handle the matter in private, as is called for with complaints that are deemed ‘minor.’”

On March 2, Mayor Maria Ristow acknowledged Council had received the letter from the ACLU a day earlier. She said she will be working with staff to better understand the appropriate response.

The ACLU’s missive follows a particularly contentious meeting convened in Los Gatos, Feb. 15, where local residents accused Clark of racism for describing the proponents of the referendum as “a few rich, white anti-housing men,” and the Council was called racist by a woman with a Trump shirt on as she was kicked out for being disruptive.

During public comment, referendum organizer Jak Van Nada said the letter was evidence of prejudice and

called for her removal—something that was discussed at the meeting— and said though Clark had apologized for the controversy, she’d never apologized to him.

And while Clark offered a more extensive apology to people who felt harmed by her word selection, a personal apology to Van Nada or any of the other referendum organizers was not forthcoming.

One resident even suggested getting a group of “‘rich white men’” together to work on ousting members of the current Council if they didn’t punish Clark harshly enough.

In its letter, the ACLU said Los Gatos appeared to be shirking its responsibility to have a full accounting of its exclusive, racially-segregated history and to allow for a complete debate about how to allow more homes to be built in the community.

“California’s housing crisis has engendered much debate and discourse among the public;

so too has the varied response by municipalities and towns to Califor-

nia’s statewide housing plan,” Agarwal said. “Ms. Clark, in her November 18 email to HCD, voiced concern about a referendum undermining a Los Gatos housing plan that the Town Council had recently approved; she also noted the racial and economic issues at play.”

And while Clark did mention she was on the Planning Commission, she made it clear her sentiments were her own, he added.

“In expressing her personal thoughts to HCD, Ms. Clark was clearly opining as a private citizen on a matter of public concern,” he said. “Whether her comments were ‘constructive’ or ‘respectful’ in the eyes of others is beside the point; they were protected speech.”

In fact, the First Amendment expert said, a public body is only allowed to curtail someone’s free speech rights in the case of serious violations, noting that courts have even decided calling for a coup, using racial slurs and complaining about race-based hiring policies are all protected actions.

MONITOR DOWNGRADES DROUGHT CONDITIONS

Snowpack, from page 1

which is 177% of average for the area at this time of year.

The California Department of Water Resources’ electronic snow sensors throughout the state detected that the snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 44.7 inches, which is 190% of average for March 3.

“Thankfully the recent storms combined with the January atmospheric rivers have contributed to an above-average snowpack that will help fill some of the state's reservoirs and maximize groundwater recharge efforts. But the benefits vary by region, and the Northern Sierra, home to the state’s largest reservoir Lake Shasta, is lagging behind the rest of the Sierra,” DWR Director Karla Nemeth said. “It will also take more than one good year to begin recovery of the state's groundwater basins.”

Santa Clara County has been downgraded from “Moderate” drought to “Abnormally Dry,” the least intense level of drought measured by a federal drought monitoring program.

Meanwhile, 17% of California is now considered drought-free following the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest report on March 2.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

A year ago, the entire county was considered in “Severe” drought, according to the monitor.

Water officials said that with one month left in the state’s wet season, they are closely monitoring spring runoff scenarios to maximize state wa-

ter supply and prevent flooding.

As of March 6, Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos is at 80% of capacity, according to Valley Water data.

Valley Water Board Chair John Varela called the snowpack survey “encouraging.”

“With more storms in the immediate forecast, this could end up being one of the largest snowpacks in decades when the final survey takes place around April 1,” he said. “The Sierra Nevada snowpack is a critical piece of Santa Clara County’s water supply. More than half the water used in our county originates in the Sierra Nevada, and our reliance on that source of water is even greater with Anderson Reservoir out of commission while we rebuild the dam.”

Varela said in the coming weeks, the Valley Water board will evaluate the

“Here, the Town Council has not expressly identified any clear interest that would overcome Ms. Clark’s presumptive right to speak on politically charged issues of housing,” Agarwal said. “Instead, the Council decided to impose discipline based on the mere finding that, through the contents of her November 18 email, Ms. Clark violated a ‘code of conduct’ that applies to her voluntary service as a Planning Commissioner.”

And the Town didn’t even follow its own Code in disciplining Clark, he said, adding undefined terms in a Commissioner’s Handbook about how the volunteer officials are to behave don’t explicitly say they can’t reference race or socio-economic status, or that they could be disciplined or removed for failing to use “constructive” language in personal communications.

The ACLU has now filed a public records request to find out if the Town has censured anyone else, what happened when other complaints about so-called “non-constructive” language have come in and all documents related to the discipline of Clark—including the ones that never made it to Council.

county’s water supply. Decisions on modifying outdoor watering restrictions will only be considered when the wet season is over, he added.

He cautioned that although the county’s groundwater levels have increased in some areas, others remain lower than before the drought.

“We know that our climate is only getting hotter and drier, leaving us with less water,” Varela said. “That’s why it’s important to make water conservation a way of life in Santa Clara County.”

“The recent storms over the past week broke a month-long dry spell in a dramatic way,” said DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit Manager Sean de Guzman. “We are hopeful that we will see more cold storms to add to our snowpack for the next month and help set up a long, slow melt period into spring.”

For information on the drought monitor, visit droughtmonitor.unl.edu.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

SPORTS

RODRIGUEZ, AKA ANT-MAN, A SPECIAL TALENT

Freshman places second at State

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

Antonio Rodriguez’s Los Gatos High wrestling teammates refer to him as Ant-Man. Wildcats coach Greg Varela calls the freshman standout Mantonio.

Rodriguez lived up to those nicknames in the recently completed season, which culminated with a strong second-place finish in the 113-pound CIF State Championship at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield on Feb. 25.

Rodriguez was one of three State medalists—a Los Gatos program record—along with sophomore Dylan Pile, who took fourth place at 160 pounds, and junior EJ Parco, who placed fifth at 145.

“I felt pretty good about how I did,” Rodriguez said. “It wasn’t the result I wanted, but I feel like I did really good for my freshman year and did everything I could do.”

Rodriguez went 5-1 at State, recording a 15-0 technical fall victory, a 13-2 major decision, a third-period pinfall, a 5-0 decision and a 5-3 decision win in the semifinals over Anthony Lucio before sustaining a 9-2 loss to Walnut High’s Ronnie Ramirez, who is a top10 nationally ranked wrestler.

Though his loss to Ramirez was decisive, Rodriguez has made a lot of progress considering last year at Reno Worlds “I got destroyed by him,” Rodriguez said. This year Rodriguez closed the gap a bit, and he’s looking to narrow the gap even further during the club season.

If the two remain in the same weight class, they’ll be duking it out for the next two years because Ramirez is just a sophomore. Rodriguez plans on getting more efficient and dangerous on his shots while staying mentally tough to come out with a state championship next year.

“To close the gap I would say I need to finish my shots because I didn’t finish my sweeps every single time at State,” he said. “I kept getting in there

but not finishing it. Just work on a little more technique and I’m getting a lot better on bottom and want to continue to improve on that.”

Rodriguez is an all-around wrestler but is best on his feet, as he’s able to utilize his speed to score points while also employing solid takedown defense. The State showing capped off a spectacular season for Ramirez, who also was runner-up to Ramirez at the Reno TOC—one of the premier tournaments in the Western U.S.—in December, to go along with a Central Coast Section Masters Final title.

“Coach Greg told me I beat one of the school records as the very first [LGHS]

freshman to win CCS,” Rodriguez said. “So I was very happy for that.”

Rodriguez beat Monta Vista’s Hayden Ancheta in the CCS Northern Regional and Masters Finals by scores of 3-1 and 4-0, respectively, on backto-back weekends in mid-February. The CCS Finals rematch was a more dominant showing, as Rodriguez was in complete control from the outset. He scored on a reversal and led 2-0 after the second period before adding two more points in the third and final period.

“Wrestling Hayden again was cool,” Rodriguez said. “Just trying to make that gap even bigger. He’s bigger, tall-

er, so I had to use my speed a lot more on him. Just using my speed, fakes, hand fighting, and snaps.”

After Rodriguez took second in the Reno TOC, Varela had some words of praise for the freshman sensation.

“What I told Antonio on the drive home is you’re like a young superhero who doesn’t quite know your potential yet, but you know you have something special,” Varela said. “All of those Marvel movies and guys developing their power and coming into their own, that’s what I was trying to relate to him. You’re just like Spider-Man and just starting to realize you’ve got something special, but it’s not just something you rest on but something you develop. There’s going to be highs and lows and you have to keep honing those skills to really understand how good you can be. He hasn’t even scratched the surface yet.”

Rodriguez has some capable wrestling bloodlines. His dad, Johnny, won the North Coast Section 191-pound championship in 1988 while at Liberty High in Brentwood. Johnny also earned Cadet Freestyle and Greco-Roman All American honors on the club circuit. Antonio started wrestling at age 4 and credited his dad for providing all the support necessary as he started to develop into a premier talent.

“I would say my first hard tournament was the Selma Bash [before age 10], and I got destroyed there,” Antonio said. “My dad saw what the next level was for me going against bigger kids so he started getting me good coaches and good partners to help me develop to the next level. He started entering me into some bigger tournaments and I just took off from there.”

Rodriguez has a pure joy for competition and that’s why he embraces the challenge of trying to beat a Division I type talent in Ramirez. If Rodriguez continues to progress, there’s no doubt he’ll receive some D-I offers as well.

“I love competition and am always trying to get better,” he said. “My No. 1 goal is to win State next year. I want it really bad so I’m going to work hard to achieve that goal.”

MANTONIO Antonio Rodriguez is pumped after a 4-0 decision win in the 113-pound CCS Masters Finals title match. The Los Gatos freshman went on to place second in the CIF State Championships.

BENNY PIERCE: A LIFE WELL LIVED

Football coach left a lasting impact

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

High school sports figures who make a lasting impact ultimately are remembered for how they coached up their players, treated everyone around them and conducted themselves.

Winning adds to a coach’s resume and legacy and such was the case with the beloved Benny Pierce, the longtime Los Gatos resident and Saratoga High football coach. Pierce was 89 years old when he died on Feb. 11, of natural causes.

He is survived by his son, Larry Pierce, his daughter Brenda Skrabe, and grandchildren Brad Pierce, Lindsay Picone and Kelsie Skrabe.

Services will be held at Venture Christian Church in Los Gatos on March 25 at 10:30am, followed by a reception where refreshments will be provided.

“Losing my father, it’s a huge loss, but more than anything, I feel so thankful and it’s such a blessing because both of my parents [mom Mignon died in 2015] were so loving and special,” Larry said. “So we were just fortunate to have them for so long. He did it right. If you look at how someone who lived the life he did, he did it perfectly.”

Benny Pierce had a record of 26989-4 covering 34 seasons at Saratoga, including 16 league championships, four Central Coast Section playoff titles and three undefeated seasons. He was the section’s all-time wins leader until Bellarmine’s Mike Janda passed him in 2015, 21 years after Pierce had coached his final game.

Before getting into coaching, Pierce was a four-sport standout athlete at Los Gatos High and a quarterback at San Jose State where he threw passes to Bill Walsh—yes, the same Bill Walsh who coached the San Francisco 49ers to multiple Super Bowls and is considered one of the greatest coaches in NFL history.

Saratoga was such a dominant power during Pierce’s tenure that one of his teams in the mid-1970s sent off 10 players to Division I programs, eight of whom received full-ride scholarships, according to local high school sports historian Chuck Perry.

Larry said it was his dad’s love for competition that fueled his drive on and off the field.

“He was a super gentle, nice man, but also super competitive,” Larry said. “He just loved to compete. It didn’t have to be about anything. Whatever it was, he just loved to compete. It could be cards, golf, football, whatever.”

Longtime Los Gatos High football coach Mark Krail and Pierce’s coach-

ing careers never overlapped, but the two got to know each other through some golf outings and a shared relationship with the late Myron Zaccheo.

“To me Benny has always been the epitome of class and humility,” Krail said. “He was very close to one of my mentors [Zaccheo]. Myron and Benny were very similar, always willing to help and share the knowledge they had of the game and their openness of being a mentor in their older years if you will. And I always appreciated that about Benny.”

Krail continued: “In the CCS community, coaches are kind of a fraternity, especially the older guys who did it for 30 years or more. They’re certainly a rare breed now. But Benny was one

of them. He definitely stayed involved in the high school game [upon retiring], and the impressions I had of him was a man of humility and grace and very competitive. He would beat your tail but he did it the right way.”

After Benny’s retirement from coaching, Larry said his dad filled his competitive juices on the links. In fact, Larry said Benny was golfing as recently as nine months ago and had a hole-in-one at “87 or 88 years old.”

“He spent a lot of time golfing, especially in the last seven years,” Larry said.

Beyond his winning record, Benny endeared himself in the community in the way he went about life, his children said.

“My Dad has always made me proud,” Brenda Skrabe said in a San Jose Mercury News article. “He has never compromised his values to take the easy road. I can hold my head high when I say he is my father. When Larry and I were young, the only negative side was that we would get held up wherever we went—church, out to dinner, a game, shopping, etc.—because he would be recognized. He always took the time to talk to whomever approached him and reminisce.”

Larry echoed his sister’s sentiments.

“It wasn’t about his success on the field, it was about who he was as a person,” Larry said. “People can see how genuine he was, how loving he was, how compassionate he was. His values were so strong and he was a character-builder.”

As impactful as Benny was to the players he coached, Larry said his dad received equal enrichment from the athletes he mentored.

“The kids were special to him,” Larry said. “He just cherished them.”

When news got out that Pierce was in the hospital last summer, the outpouring of support was touching.

“You can’t believe how many visitors came from August [2022] until he died,” Larry said. “Everyday there were either ex-players, family, other friends visiting. It was overwhelming. Everyday people would just come and it was really special in how they reached out. They adored him but it went both ways because these people impacted his life as well.”

LEGEND Longtime Los Gatos resident and former Saratoga High football coach Benny Pierce affected countless others with his competitive drive and love for the people in the community.

STATE TO END INDOOR MASK REQUIREMENT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

Eli Walsh, Bay City News

California will draw down several Covid-19-related guidelines next month as the state shifts out of its emergency response to the pandemic, state health officials said March 3.

Starting April 3, the state will no longer require the use of a mask in indoor areas that are deemed a high risk of transmission, including health care and long-term care facilities, homeless shelters and jails and prisons.

The state will also end its Covid vaccination requirement for health care workers and rescind health orders that required hospitals to accept patients from overcrowded facilities and that required the collection of an email address or phone number from a Covid vaccine recipient.

“We stand before Californians today with a humble message of thanks for taking the hard steps to help manage Covid-19, and with an ongoing commitment to be prepared for what comes next,” California Department of Public Health Director and state Public Health Officer Dr. Tomas Aragon said in a statement.

In addition to the changes on April 2, the state will update its isolation guidance on March 13 for those who test positive for Covid, allowing them to leave isolation after five days if their condition is improving and if they have not had a fever in at least 24 hours.

People who isolate after testing positive will no longer have to test negative for Covid before leaving isolation, according to the CDPH. The change is consistent with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The changes are part of the state's drawdown of its emergency response infrastructure in recent weeks.

State-operated Covid testing and vaccination clinics have shuttered as those services shift to primary health care providers and retail pharmacies.

On Feb. 28, Gov. Gavin Newsom also rescinded California's Covid-19 state of emergency, which allowed local governments and the state to more efficiently coordinate public health programs and disperse emergency funding.

State public health officials continue to urge California residents to complete their initial Covid vaccination series if they have yet to do so and, if eligible, receive a booster vaccine dose to reduce the chance of becoming seriously ill or dying due to the virus.

As of March 2, 88.2 million Covid vaccine doses have been administered statewide. Roughly 73 percent of state residents have completed their initial vaccination series.

“Our communities did a lot of the hard work by getting vaccinated

and boosted, staying home and testing when sick, requesting treatments when positive, and masking to slow the spread,” Aragon said. “With these critical actions, and a lot of patience and persistence, we have now reached

STATE PARKS VISITORS CAN NOW COLLECT DIGITAL BADGES

State park visitors can now track their adventures in California's 280 parks and earn badges along the way in a new digital passport program.

No longer are the days where state park lovers have to carry around a paper passport to be stamped at the visitor center—now, visitors can check-in at each park and receive a badge on their phones, accessible via the California State Parks Apps.

“This new Passport Program adds a layer of play that'll help entice new visitors—especially digital natives and folks

more accustomed to screens and feeds than streams and fields—to find that out for themselves,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero.

Each check-in will be added to the user's profile, where they can also add photos. Users are able to recount their adventures, share with their friends and take note of which parks to visit next.

“With the digital Passport Program and interactive enhancements in the app, everyone will have the opportunity to create personal and meaningful relationships with parks while also developing a deeper experience—both

during their park visit and long after they leave through digital community engagement,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, president and CEO of Parks California. “These lasting connections will foster the next generation of park stewards who will protect these amazing places.”

The state parks app, built by the technology platform OuterSpatial, also provides information on park closures, directions and wayfinding. OuterSpatial is specifically designed for outdoor organizations hoping to expand their access and engagement to visitors.

a point where we can update some of the Covid-19 guidance to continue to balance prevention and adapting to living with Covid-19.”

“We believe in empowering organizations to deliver the best outdoor experience to visitors. The State of California has done incredible work to provide easy access to the outdoors to people of all ages and abilities, and it's a huge milestone for OuterSpatial to partner with California State Parks and its new digital Passport Program as part of that progress,” said Ryan Branciforte, CEO of OuterSpatial. “Our collaboration will help accelerate their popular Passport Program and will encourage a diverse audience to enjoy all that California has to offer, from its oceans, mountains, lakes, and deserts, to the rest of what its parks have to offer.”

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Olivia Wynkoop, Bay City News

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Masks will no longer be required in areas that are considered to have a high risk of Covid-19 transmission.

State will restart checking Medi-Cal eligibility

Ana B. Ibarra, CalMatters

California will soon restart its annual eligibility review for people enrolled in Medi-Cal, a process that has been suspended since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This means that starting in midApril, residents enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state's insurance program for low-income people, will start to receive renewal notices in the mail. The process will be spread over 14 months. Some people may be automatically re-enrolled, but most people will have to fill out a renewal packet with information about their income and household size. People who no longer qualify or who fail to fill out the paperwork will lose their free or low-cost coverage.

State officials estimate that between 2 million and 3 million people could lose their Medi-Cal coverage. Ideally, people who no longer qualify for Medi-Cal will transition to a plan in the state's insurance marketplace, Covered California, or to a job-sponsored health plan. Still, health advocates worry that many people could fall through the cracks or get caught in administrative hurdles and become uninsured, leaving them more likely to delay or forgo care altogether.

Currently, 15.4 million people— more than a third of the state's population—are enrolled in Medi-Cal, the most ever, according to the California Department of Health Care Services. That's partly a result of the increased need during the pandemic: As people lost jobs and wages, many also lost their medical insurance. From March 2020 to February 2023, Medi-Cal enrollment increased 16%, according to the department.

And as thousands of people became newly eligible for Medi-Cal, far fewer were coming off. Federal rules prohibited states from dropping people from government-sponsored insurance during the pandemic as a way to protect access to care. Now those federal rules are lapsing.

California's renewal process will restart on April 1 and should be completed around June 2024, meaning people can receive their renewal notices and paperwork anytime during this time period. Those who in the past have

renewed in the month of June will get their paperwork first, said Yingjia Huang, assistant deputy director for health care benefits and eligibility at the Department of Health Care Services. This phased-in approach will help spread the caseload for county offices in charge of the review, Huang said, and also allow enrollees who have renewed in the past to keep a similar timeline.

To qualify for Medi-Cal, people can earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level—that's $20,121 a year for an individual or $41,400 for a family of four. Some Californians, such as pregnant women and people with disabilities, may qualify with slightly higher incomes.

People who were eligible for Medi-Cal at some point during the pandemic, but who may no longer qualify because their income has increased, will be automatically transitioned into a similar plan through Covered California, Huang said.

“The system automatically will review their eligibility for Covered California and Covered California will send out the enrollment notice to the member, informing them of their options and to pay the plan premium. So there's no administrative burden on a member,” Huang said. “We're trying to make sure that process is seamless and streamlined.”

Whether people successfully make the switch will largely depend on their ability to pay their new monthly premium.

Most people who buy from the marketplace receive generous subsidies, and some people don't have a premium cost at all. Nearly half of the people enrolled in coverage through Covered California pay less than $50 a month, according to the agency. Still, even a $5 premium, along with the accompanying deductibles and copays, can discourage people from buying a health plan, said John Baackes, CEO of L.A Care, which offers Medi-Cal and Covered California plans to Los Angeles residents.

This auto-transition into Covered California will be a new test for the state. In the past, when people disenrolled from Medi-Cal, they were likely to go without coverage at least temporarily. Between 2016 and 2019, roughly 65% of people who dropped off Medi-Cal (Medicaid in other states) had a period of uninsurance, according to national research from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

To help avoid unnecessary loss in coverage, state officials are asking enrollees to verify their contact information. The Department of Health Care Services estimates that about 12% of enrollees may have moved during the pandemic and are at risk of not receiving their renewal packets. People who have moved during the pandemic should update their address via the state's KeepMediCalCoverage.org website or by contacting their local county office.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

CHANGE IN COVERAGE California will soon restart its annual eligibility review for people enrolled in Medi-Cal.

CAT’S HILL CLASSIC RETURNS MARCH 25

The San Jose Bicycle Club and Mike’s Bikes present the 47th Cat’s Hill Classic on March 25 in downtown Los Gatos.

The Cat's Hill Classic is a particular type of race called a criterium, where bicyclists zoom around a short loop (in this case the course is about 0.9 miles long) multiple times during a given time slot. The primary feature of this loop is a steep (23%) hill.

The day is split into 11 individual races for male and female cyclists ranging from 9 years old and up, for all skill levels.

Racers from Los Gatos as well as throughout Northern California and Nevada are expected to compete.

Title sponsor, Mike's Bikes, has a store located near the start/finish line, and a number of other Los Gatos businesses will be sponsoring races and prizes.

There will also be a race for children on all sorts of bikes at 12:15pm, sponsored by Nicolette and Marlene Rodman of Sereno Real Estate.

The Cat’s Hill Classic returned in 2022 after being on a hiatus for a few years.

Registration opens at 7:15am. ➝ teamsanjose.org/section/catshill.

LOCAL SHOE BRAND LANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH PUERTO RICAN DESIGNER

Luxury shoe designer Flor de Maria Rivera, who was raised in Los Gatos, has partnered with world-renowned Puerto Rican designer, Gustavo Arango, to create a retail space in his flagship store in Puerto Rico.

Rivera, a University of San Diego graduate, started a career as a sports anchor for multiple media outlets. After 12 years, she quit her job to launch a bilingual fashion blog and moved to New York City.

After collecting more than 500 pairs of shoes, she decided to create her own shoe line: Flor de Maria.

Her shoes have been worn by celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Halle Bailey, Saweetie and Carrie Underwood.

“After seeing my namesake shoe line featured in major fashion magazines

LOCAL SCENE

and worn by some of today’s most recognized celebrities worldwide as they walked the red carpets, it was clear to me the time had come to take things to the next level,” Rivera said. “It is my pleasure to announce we are entering the retail space with an exclusive partnership with Gustavo Arango. This is the first boutique to carry my shoe brand exclusively.”

Flor de Maria’s curated collection will be available in Arango’s flagship boutique in the “Mall of San Juan” in Puerto Rico.

“I have dreamt this for a long time; to be able to create my designs with the perfect shoe by my side, because the designs I make call for a stunning shoe to complement them,” Arango said.

Arango is billed as a household name in haute couture and bridal design.

ROBERTS NAMED TO UM HONOR ROLL

Bayley Roberts of Los Gatos was named to the University of Mississippi's Fall 2022 Honor Roll list.

Roberts was named to the Chancellor's Honor Roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester grade point average of 3.75-4.00.

In order to be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester.

DROTAR EARNS DEAN'S LIST HONORS IN ARKANSAS

Reese Drotar of Los Gatos was named to the Fall 2022 Dean's List in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

Drotar joins nearly 2,500 additional Fulbright College students on the Fall 2022 Dean's List. To qualify for the Dean's List, students must achieve at least a 3.75 grade point average for the semester while completing at least 12 credit hours.

Drotar is one of more than 8,000 students who study and research in Fulbright College, which has degrees across the fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences.

DESIGNER Flor de Maria Rivera, who grew up in Los Gatos, is going international with her luxury shoe brand.

Courtesy of Flor de Maria

HORTICULTURE

WARM SEASON VEGETABLE PLANTS BEGIN

Tony Tomeo, Contributor

Warm season vegetables, or summer vegetables, can occupy a garden systematically. A few lingering cool season vegetables may continue production for a while. Warm season vegetable plants can replace them as they finish. Several warm season vegetable plants should start as early as possible. Others grow in a few later phases through their season.

For example, indeterminate tomato plants are productive throughout their entire season. They can start as soon as convenient. However, determinate tomato plants produce only for two weeks or so. After their initial phase of a single plant or a few, subsequent phases can start about every two weeks. Each phase continues production after its predecessor.

Bush bean and several varieties of eggplant and pepper also produce for brief seasons. Okra and cucumber might produce for most of summer. Secondary phases may increase their production as well, though. Of all warm season vegetable plants, corn benefits most from phasing. Each phase tends to mature so uniformly that it finishes within a few days.

Pole bean, squash, some cucumber and indeterminate tomatoes need no phasing. Such warm season vegetable plants perform from spring planting until frost. Winter squash are warm season vegetable plants, but their fruit finishes for autumn. Indeterminate tomatoes are less profuse than determinate types. Cumulatively though, they are more productive.

It will soon be time to sow seed for corn, beans, root vegetables and most greens directly into garden soil. Seedlings for these warm season vegetable plants are not conducive to transplant. Besides, too many are needed. Cucumber and squash grow either from seed or small nursery seedlings. Only a few plants are needed, and they transplant efficiently.

For the same reasons, tomato, pepper and eggplant can grow from seedlings rather than seed. Moreover, since they are so vulnerable as they germinate and begin to grow, seed is less practical than seedlings. Varieties that are unavailable at nurseries can grow from seed in flats inside or in a green-

CALENDAR

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

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.

CAT’S HILL CLASSIC

house. Ideally, they should have started early enough for transplant into a garden during appropriate weather.

Highlight: sweet corn

Almost all corn that grows in home gardens is sweet corn. It is among the most popular of the warm season vegetable plants. Popcorn remains uncommon for home gardening. Other types of corn are mostly grains and other agricultural commodities that are rare within home gardens. Some corn becomes biofuel.

Corn stalks can grow as high as 12 feet! Most popular varieties grow only about half as high. Each stalk should produce one or perhaps two ears of corn. Each ear produces many kernels of corn in very neat formation on a central cob, all within a tight foliar husk. Male blooms protrude from the tops of stalks like antennae. Foliage is coarse but grassy. Stalks resemble giant reeds, except smaller.

Of the various warm season vegetable plants, corn is one of the more consumptive sorts. It occupies a significant area. It requires methodical and generous irrigation. Also, it craves rich soil, but depletes nutrients. Corn grows best from seed sown directly into the garden. Squared orientation, rather than typical rows, improves pollination and ear development.

The San Jose Bicycle Club and Mike’s Bikes present the 47th Cat’s Hill Classic on March 25 in downtown Los Gatos. The day is split into 11 individual races for male and female cyclists ranging from 9 years old and up, for all skill levels. There will also be a race for children on all sorts of bikes at 12:15pm. Registration opens at 7:15am.

➝ teamsanjose.org/section/catshill.

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 on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7pm.

➝ losgatosca.gov/16/Town-Council.

Planning Commission

The Los Gatos Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm. For information, visit losgatosca.gov/189/ Planning-Commission.

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.

PLAN ACCORDINGLY Corn takes space, water and diligence.

REAL ESTATE HOME OF THE WEEK

STRAIGHT OUT OF A STORYBOOK

This Los Gatos home is situated on a quiet cul-de-sac that is adjacent to an open space preserve.

Located at 108 Colorado Court, the 5,542-square-foot home includes four bedrooms (plus a library), four full bathrooms and two half-bathrooms. It sits on a nearly one-acre gated lot, with front lawn, oak trees, Japanese maples and walking paths.

The floorplan features vaulted ceil-

ings and large living, dining and family rooms. The kitchen is equipped with a butcher block island and opens to a breakfast room and deck.

The main suite has a fireplace, cathedral ceilings, two walk-in closets, shower and tub. The garage has room for three vehicles.

The home, built in 1982, is listed at $3,795,000 by Coldwell Banker Realty. For information, visit bit.ly/3kOoiR5.

COLORADO COURT Plenty of walking paths around this Los Gatos home.

INSIDE Large living rooms with vaulted ceilings make up the home.

LOCAL

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.

Ina Mae Chelbay

May 7, 1928 - March 2, 2023

INA MAE CHELBAY peacefully passed away on March 2, 2023. She was born on May 7, 1928 to Carl and Ebba Anderson in Merced, CA. She was a 1st generation as both her parents immigrated from Sweden. She graduated from Mt. View High School and Palo Alto Business College. She worked for Union Oil Company prior to her marriage to Stephen “Les” Chelbay. She worked at Stephen Chelbay Company and United Administrative Services until they both retired. She enjoyed golf, gardening, water skiing and fishing. She was predeceased by Les Chelbay in 1995. She is survived by her daughter, Kirsten Duggins (Dave Duggins), granddaughters Tori LoVerme (Justin LoVerme), Erika Fenyvesi (David Fenyvesi) and great grandkids Rocco & Vanni LoVerme and Anders & Kaisa Fenyvesi. She loved life and will be remembered for her grace, elegance and everlasting optimism.

Capture the essence of a departed family member with an obituary in the pages of our papers. Your tribute will appear perpetually on our website, and that of our partner, Legacy.com. We can write a tribute that embodies the spirit of the deceased, or we can publish one you provide us.