Los Gatan 11 10 2021

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vol . I, no. 10 : november 10-16, 2021 : losgatan.com

water polo teams thrive p 10 : calendar p 12 : fall for color p 14 : ny times crossword puzzle p 17 Drew Penner/Los Gatan

UTILITY REGULATOR TURNS UP HEAT ON PG&E FOLLOWING LONG SEASON OF POWER OUTAGES

Rob Schultz to leave post in December

CPUC president: ‘I share your concerns and frustration’ with power company

Drew Penner, Reporter

One of Los Gatos’ key administrative officials is moving on.

The news that Town Attorney Rob Schultz would resign was announced early Monday.

It will take effect Dec. 30.

“The Town Council respects Mr. Schultz’s dedication and service to Los Gatos,” Mayor Marico Sayoc said in a release.

“The value he provided to the Town was truly appreciated and we wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors.”

This came on the heels of a Nov. 1 performance review during a closed session of Council, in which Town Manager Laurel Prevetti’s employment was also to be evaluated. ➝ Schultz, 2

Drew Penner, Reporter

A California energy regulator has become so vexed with troubled power provider Pacific Gas & Electric following months of planned and unplanned outages that it’s started to crack down.

In a Nov. 1 letter to Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chair Bruce McPherson, California Public Utilities Commission President Marybel Batjer says she’s requiring the company to supply more information about how it will fix problems caused by “Fast Trip” settings meant to prevent wildfires.

“I share your concerns and frustration about the significant impact that these outages are having on customers,” she said, adding she’s not happy about the poor job PG&E has been doing communicating with customers, either. “Fast Trip outages are more than a matter of inconvenience, they are a life and safety issue.”

PG&E says it likely caused the Dixie Fire in Northern California this year, when a tree ➝ Utility, 4

LOS GATOS TOWN ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION

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FIGHTING TO SAVE LIVES As a tireless advocate for pancreatic cancer research, Diane Borrison can’t help but love the color purple. November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and Los Gatos community members have played key roles in getting the word out about the disease. For the full story, turn to page 6.

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OPINIONS

2

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VOL.1 NO.10

SCHULTZ WAS HIRED BY TOWN IN 2013 Schultz, from page 1 Schultz is currently out of the country and isn’t expected back until Nov. 17.

The Town did not give a reason for Schultz’s departure, and Sayoc said neither she nor Prevetti asked him to step down.

Reached via email, Schultz declined to say why he was resigning or why he thought now was the right time.

His decision “unequivocally” had nothing to do with recent Council disruptions or contentious labor negotiations with the Town’s police force, he said.

Schultz graduated from Southwestern University School of Law in 1986 and was admitted to the State Bar the following year.

He was hired by Los Gatos in December 2013 to replace retiring town attorney Judith J. Propp.

Council, which appoints the community’s top legal employee, will now begin a recruitment process to fill the position.

The town attorney provides legal advice to Council and staff on everything from land use, to public records, to litigation and other technical matters.

Prior to arriving in Los Gatos, Schultz served as city attorney for 16 years in Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County.

He’s also provided legal services for the cities of Atascadero, Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo and served the San Simeon Community Services District and the Guadalupe Redevelopment Agency.

Recently, Schultz has been leading a series of community conversations around the possibility of opening up the community to cannabis retailers.

Over the past month, Schultz was asked to craft a residential-no-picketing ordinance following actions by conservative community members who have opposed the Town’s efforts to promote diversity policies.

Jonathan Knowles, president of the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Foundation, said Schultz was always very supportive of their organization’s efforts.

“I have deep respect for Rob as an attorney,” he said. “I think he’s been an absolutely great town attorney for us.”

As a long-time organizer of Jazz on the Plazz, Knowles would frequently

AS SCOOTER-RENTAL INDUSTRY MATURES, TOWN WARMS TO SHARED MOBILITY Los Gatos officials have been in talks with Bird Drew Penner, Reporter

Rob Schultz

interact with Schultz to sort out permits.

“It’s got a lot of moving parts as you can imagine,” he said, adding he credits the work of Council—and Schultz—for the lack of police activity required at the events. “My engagements with him have always been that he’s fair-minded.”

Knowles said Schultz was never the kind of civic official to do “backroom deals.” And he says he doesn’t believe Schultz’s resignation has anything to do with recent controversy at Council meetings.

“He wasn’t only fair, he was pleasant,” he said, looking back on the days helping throw Music in the Park. “He understood our challenges and he worked with us to address those.”

Catherine Sommers, executive director of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, said Schultz is the type of town attorney you can call about any legal question that comes up.

“The Chamber of Commerce has great respect for him and we really appreciated our very candid relationship,” she said. “He really cared, and that matters a lot these days.”

Sommers says Schultz could’ve retired a few years ago.

“He stuck around because he did make some good friendships here and cared about this place—especially when Covid hit,” she said, adding he played a big role in making outdoor dining a reality. “He figured out how we could do it. We set the example for so many neighboring cities, and that was all Rob.” Sommer says she appreciated his honest approach and steadfast work ethic.

“I am not sure he had a single day off during the Covid shutdown,” she said. “I think he is finally on a vacation somewhere far away.”

While town officials have thought about introducing electric scooters (and other) shared mobility devices, it never quite felt the time was right to embrace them.

But now, that’s changing—as an e-scooter company comes a-knocking.

“We did have outreach from one company, from Bird,” Matt Morley, Los Gatos’ Parks and Public Works director, told Council, during its regularly scheduled online meeting on Nov. 2. “My proposal would be to run this through the Complete Streets commission for their feedback along the way and bring it back to the Council.”

Bird Rides, Inc. deployed thousands of standing electric scooters in Santa Monica in 2017, sparking a craze that spread across Los Angeles—and the world.

The devices became a core part of the expanding “gig economy” as fleets of independent contractors made collecting and charging the scooters their side-hustle, or main source of income.

A 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found just 4% of users wore a helmet, with the most common injuries sustained while using the standing scooters to be fractures and head injuries.

Many municipalities have reported problems with usable and broken scooters littering pedestrian routes.

Vice Mayor Rob Rennie said it’s important to promote alternative mobility options to reduce traffic in Los Gatos. The private rental options could be helpful for people who can’t quite make it to their doorstep—or other destinations—using public transit, he said.

The biggest problem might end up being scooters that get left out all over the place, he commented.

Staff was directed to move forward with developing a plan in conjunction with Complete Streets, with the topic to be taken up again in the new year.

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3

PG&E: RELIABILITY IS ‘UNACCEPTABLY POOR’

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Utility, from page 1

4

came into contact with some of its equipment, and the utility pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter and one felony fire-starting count in connection to the 2018 Camp Fire.

Last week, the company announced it had reached a $125-million settlement with CPUC for the 2019 Kincade Fire that scorched 77,758 acres.

But in a Sept. 29 letter to the CPUC, McPherson, whose district includes areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains where hundreds of homes were destroyed in last year’s CZU Lightning Complex Fire, says the county believes PG&E isn’t responding to wildfire risk properly.

“We understand that the fast trip sensors are a response to the justified pressure PG&E is receiving for their equipment triggering fires throughout the state, causing the loss of life and structures,” he wrote. “While we support efforts to improve safety, it is hard to believe this fast trip approach (and the extreme sensitivity that triggers shutoffs) is anything other than an overcorrection. We would instead encourage PG&E to prioritize hardening the lines in these areas including undergrounding.”

Right after the sparking of the Dixie Fire, PG&E announced it was going to bury many of its power lines, something it previously said was too expensive.

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, this took CPUC by surprise, since no one in the agency had even had a real conversation with anyone at the company about the idea.

It would cost PG&E just as much to underground its power lines as the entire company is worth, according to the article.

PG&E has, however, been in talks with the regulator so it can charge customers more for electricity.

Since PG&E turned up the sensitivity on its lines in late July, there’ve been 69 Fast Trip outages across Santa Cruz County, which includes Los Gatos customers in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

According to PG&E, the circuit that delivers electricity to Los Gatos customers at the Summit, “Camp Evers-2105,” accounted for 19 of these. The other Fast Trip circuit that serves Los Gatos, referred to as “Los Gatos-1106,” has experienced nine outages in that same time period.

So, there were 78 Fast Trip outages in Santa Cruz County and Los Gatos alone thanks to Fast Trip, which is officially called the Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings program.

But there haven’t been any of these blackouts since Oct. 22, since PG&E put its equipment back to normal settings just before the October storm.

Afterwards company officials affirmed their decision to nix the Fast Trip program, for now, based on low fire danger.

‘To make matters worse, PG&E’s leadership has failed to adequately communicate with residents.’

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chair Bruce McPherson The Fast Trip outages are only adding to the “trauma” Santa Cruz Mountains residents have faced since last year’s fires, McPherson said in his letter to CPUC, and are in addition to Public Safety Power Shutoffs, where PG&E blacks out a section of the grid it worries might not be able to survive a weather event without sparking a blaze.

“To make matters worse, PG&E’s leadership has failed to adequately communicate with residents about what is happening,” he said. “Only after more than six weeks of our repeated requests to host a community meeting with residents did the utility finally agree to host meetings on the afternoon and evening of Sept. 23.”

McPherson asked the CPUC to conduct an investigation of PG&E’s Fast Trip procedures, its “lack of adequate communication” and how the company plans to prevent “extreme” blackouts.

Batjer replied to say she’d sent a letter to PG&E Oct. 25 to order the utility to “take immediate action to reduce and mitigate customer impacts and ensure that all communities who may be impacted by Fast Trip are better

informed and supported.”

The company will provide additional details about the heightened-sensitivity grid in a 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan Update, she said.

“In addition, I am requiring PG&E to provide monthly reports to the Director of our Safety Enforcement Division,” she said. “The CPUC will also continue to gather and analyze information regarding PG&E’s implementation of, and communication on, Fast Trip and will take any enforcement actions as appropriate.”

In an Oct. 28 webinar with Santa Cruz County residents, Mark Quinlan, PG&E’s vice president of wildfire mitigation operations, said recent rains brought a much-needed reprieve from the threat of forest fires.

“We really, really needed it,” he said.

“But if you were a customer who experienced a power outage during that event, thank you for your patience while our dedicated women and men out there worked around the clock to restore all our customers.”

He again touted a nearly 50% drop in the number of fires it caused since June, which he said proves the Fast Trip approach paid off.

“It came at a cost, and that cost was unacceptable reliability performance,” he said. “We owned that, and we pledged to get better. And we have gotten better.”

Quinlan admitted the company was getting power restoration time estimates wrong more than a quarter of the time, but he said it’s now giving accurate predictions 92% of the time.

Plus, he added, outages are getting fixed 33% more quickly.

However, half of customers who message PG&E still aren’t getting a response after two days, according to company data.

Mayra Tostado, a PG&E spokesperson, says PG&E is taking feedback from the utility regulator seriously.

“We agree with the CPUC—and we have shared with our customers on public webinars—that our initial customer communications fell short, and reliability on some circuits has been unacceptably poor,” she said, adding PG&E is working to tweak its Fast Trip program for the future. “We have also taken proactive steps to improve reliability, while also maintaining the wildfire mitigation benefits the program offers.”

LOS GATOS MAN CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME

Hanford scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 16 Drew Penner, Reporter

A 62-year-old Los Gatos man has been charged with a hate crime in Santa Clara County Superior Court for allegedly hitting and yelling at an Asian American woman.

On Oct. 5, around 11:45am, Richard Hanford encountered Berlina Moeharjo as she walked her dog down the sidewalk along University Avenue, according to the District Attorney’s office.

Standing 6-feet-and-2-inches tall, and at 200 pounds, Hanford is a sturdy figure, compared to the 5-foot-105pound Asian American woman, who he told to move out of his way, prosecutors said.

“This is America,” Hanford told Moeharjo, punctuating the statement with an expletive, according to a release from the DA’s office.

Then he hit her in the face, twice, prosecutors said.

Under the penal code of California, a hate crime is defined as a criminal act committed because of a victim’s disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or association with a person or group with one or more of these “actual or perceived” characteristics.

Hanford was charged with a misdemeanor hate crime Oct. 29.

The specific offense he’s accused of—PC 422.6(a)—states that no one “shall by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten any other person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him or her by the Constitution or laws of this state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States.”

According to prosecutors, Moeharjo had told Hanford he could walk around her.

“Our community deeply values diversity, respects it, seeks it,” DA Jeff Rosen said. “Intolerance is not an American ideal.”

Hanford was also charged with misdemeanor battery for “willfully and unlawfully” using violence on the Asian American woman. ➝ Charged, 8

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November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

nove mbe r 10 - 16, 20 21 : losgatan.com

Drew Penner, Reporter

6

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and Los Gatos community members have played key roles in getting the word out about the disease, helping secure critical funding for lifesaving research in the process.

Eighty-two-year-old Diane Borrison, a 15-year survivor, says pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest of all, and it can be difficult to detect.

“The symptoms are very vague and people don’t recognize them,” said the San Jose resident who lived for years in Los Gatos. “I know when I lost a few pounds I went, ‘Yay!’” The disease can cause back pain, indigestion and yellowing of the skin and eyes.

“There’s no cure, really,” she said. “It’s so deadly.”

And yet, she adds, there is hope for people who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“There’s a lot of advances that have been made,” she said.

Not only did Borrison make it through chemotherapy, she also became quite active in raising pancreatic cancer’s profile, as a volunteer with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN).

That included multiple trips to Capitol Hill to get federal elected officials on board with the fight against the disease.

“I’ve been to Washington D.C. many times to advocate for pancreatic research,” she said. “Eighty percent of cancer research is paid for by the federal government.”

Anna Eshoo, who represents California's 18th district in Congress, even asked her to come to the State of the Union address in 2019, when Donald Trump was president.

“It’s just such an honor to have been invited to begin with,” Borrison said.

“You know why I love her so much? She has made a huge difference.”

Los Gatos resident Georgina Van Horn, 79, has been to Washington D.C. multiple times with Borrison, even rooming with her one time.

“We’re the purple people,” she said of the garb they don to make an impression on lawmakers. “It isn’t just sending an email, or making a phone call to our representative.”

Borrison is relentless, according to Van Horn.

“She’s incredible,” Van Horn said.

“She knows a lot more people there than I do.”

On one such trip, the two South Bay residents got to meet with one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s assistants in her office in the Capitol building, leading up to Independence Day. “We got to go out to one of the little balconies, and we could see them setting up for the 4th (of July festivities),” she said. “That was such an incredible experience.”

Scientists still don’t really know what causes the disease, however, smoking, diabetes, obesity and a family history of genetic syndromes are considered risk factors.

According to the Mayo Clinic, pancreatic cancer begins in the tissues of the pancreas—a part of the abdomen behind the lower part of the stomach that deploys enzymes to help with digestion and helps manage blood sugar.

Most commonly, a cancerous growth will begin in cells that line ducts carrying these enzymes to where they’re needed, elsewhere in the body.

Treatment options depend on how far the cancer has spread, and doctors may order surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Experts recommend quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and improving diet as ways to help prevent the disease.

Borrison’s daughter, Robin Hedden, 53, grew up in Los Gatos and went to Saratoga High School. She says it was devastating when her mother got pancreatic cancer, but says the family faced it head-on.

“We didn’t think she’d survive five years,” Hedden said. “It was really horrible.”

That first summer of battling the disease was really confusing, she recalls.

The first doctor Diane went to didn’t think it was possible to operate on the cancer, Hedden explains.

“It was a shock,” she said, adding she’s glad Diane went for a second opinion. “She was really smart.”

Borrison was lucky to be so close to Dr. George Fisher, the oncologist who treated Steve Jobs and Patrick Swayze, Hedden added.

And Borrison says Jeffrey Norton, chief of surgical oncology at the hospital, was able to deftly maneuver around

Contributed

Diane Borrison played role in raising profile of disease

PURPLE POWER Lori Paloinetti (left) with Georgina Van Horn at a fundraising walk in support of pancreatic cancer research.

her organs to remove the cancerous growth.

Hedden’s niece Bridget Borrison, 29, who lives in Campbell but grew up in Los Gatos, says she’s proud of how her grandmother made such a big difference through advocacy.

“It’s just cool to see somebody fighting for what they believe in,” she said.

“And at such a high level, too.”

She was still very young when Borrison was facing the worst of pancreatic cancer, but it still made a big impact on her.

Over the past several years, her grandma has helped make a giant shift in the world of cancer research.

Most recently, in the 2021 budget, Congress increased the Department of Defense’s Pancreatic Cancer Research Program’s budget by $9 million—from $6 million to $15 million.

Van Horn says, a few years back, pancreatic cancer advocates were able to get President Barack Obama to pass the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, which targeted the deadliest forms of cancer (including pancreatic). Rep. Eshoo was a lead sponsor.

Van Horn says she’s just happy to be able to volunteer her time in memory of the loved ones she’s lost over the years to pancreatic cancer.

The first to fall was her father, back

in 1974, after she’d moved from San Francisco to the South Bay as a young adult. Very little was known about the disease at that time.

He died after six weeks.

Three decades later, her cousin Vivian Cereghino, a Marin County resident, died in just eight months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Cereghino had just turned 60.

That prompted Van Horn to become a volunteer. She was tasked with going to doctors’ offices to spread awareness about PanCAN. “We have a department called patient services and there are trained staff members there who can answer so many questions about pancreatic cancer,” she said. “We have one of the most updated databases about clinical trials.”

Since then, Sandra Petroni, her cousin by marriage in Italy, died at 72—four months after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

And in the last couple of years, Van Horn has lost two close friends to the disease.

Lori Paloinetti, a Santa Clara Unified School District director, got pancreatic cancer in her 50s.

“She was a darling, darling gal,” she said, remembering how Paloinetti ➝ Awareness, 8

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• Marketing Director & In-House Marketing-Design Team

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• Exceptional Title & Escrow Team • Relocation Services

CAROL’S CONCIERGE SERVICES • Unique Financing Programs • Bridge B4 U Sell Loan - short-term bridge loan leveraging your current home’s equity enabling you to purchase another home WITHOUT having to sell first.

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MEASURE B INCREASES MARGIN

LOCAL SCENE

The latest results released Nov. 8 for the Nov. 2 election showed Los Gatos Union School District’s Measure B increasing its lead slightly, with 75.95% of voters saying “yes” to the tax.

The parcel tax needs two-thirds voter approval to pass.

Measure B would increase the parcel tax from $290 to $335 per parcel, per year for eight years, generating an estimated $3.2 million annually. It includes a 2% annual “inflation adjustment” that kicks in during year two.

The new tax would take effect in July 2022.

The tax would apply to all residential and commercial properties within the school district’s boundaries, except for properties owned by older adults.

The school district oversees five schools in Los Gatos: Blossom Hill, Daves Avenue, Lexington and Van Meter elementary schools and Fisher Middle school.

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FANTASY OF LIGHTS TICKETS AVAILABLE

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Tickets to the 23rd Annual Fantasy of Lights Tickets are now on sale.

Fantasy of Lights, running Dec. 7-30 from 6-10pm, is a 1.5-mile drive through Vasona Park, 333 Blossom Hill Road in Los Gatos with exhibits of holiday lights and displays for the family.

Attendees can drive through large, animated displays while listening to holiday music on their vehicle’s radio.

More than 50 themed displays and a 90-foot tree are part of the festivities.

Admission is $20 per vehicle or $50 for oversized vehicles.

For information, visit bit.ly/3D0dH9x

CARRIAGE RIDE DOWNTOWN COMING SOON Los Gatos Carriage Rides return downtown Dec. 9-23.

The holiday tradition in downtown Los Gatos features a horse-drawn carriage ride beginning in Town Plaza

and continuing through the Almond Grove district. The ride takes about 20 minutes.

For information and tickets, visit losgatoschamber.com/carriage-rides

TOWN SEEKS INPUT ON ROAD SAFETY The Town of Los Gatos is seeking feedback on its draft Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP).

The project team has analyzed safety data in the past five years and prepared a map showing the locations and streets with the highest number of collisions. The team is seeking the public’s input to better understand the community’s concerns for traffic safety.

Town officials are preparing the LRSP to establish a framework and process for identifying, analyzing and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local and rural streets. The Town was awarded a $72,000 state transportation grant to prepare the LRSP. For information and to find the survey, visit losgatosca.gov/2697/ Local-Roadway-Safety-Plan

COUNTY EXPANDS VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS November is Veterans and Military Families Month in Santa Clara County, a proclamation that calls on community members to honor those who have served the nation. As part of this month’s tributes, county officials are highlighting ways for veterans to get help to apply for federal, state and local benefits.

The application process for state and federal benefits is often complex, county officials say, and representatives at the Office of Veterans Services are trained to help veterans and their dependents navigate the system. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, meetings with staff were only available in person. When the health crisis began limiting in-person services, the office adapted to virtual offerings, and now, one out of every four interactions is done remotely.

As Covid-19 restrictions were lifted this summer and the office’s lobby reopened to the public, the average number of claims staff helped submit has increased about 17% compared to the height of the pandemic. Of those, the biggest jump was in disability claims, which increased by about 25%.

“I’m thrilled to see the higher level of activity in our office. It means that our veterans are reaching us and getting the help they need,” said David Till, director of the county’s Office of Veterans Services. “Our goal is to make sure our veterans have access to benefits they have earned through their service and sacrifice. We are fully staffed and ready to take on more clients as needed.”

Virtual sessions are conducted through Microsoft Teams or Zoom and can be scheduled by appointment. Virtual “walk-ins” are also available every Tuesday (excluding holidays) from 8:45am to noon, and from 1-4:30pm. During this time, veterans or their dependents are placed in private sessions with representatives for a half-hour session to discuss and begin the process to apply for veterans’ benefits.

For information and to make an appointment, visit bit.ly/3ovs5Rh, call 408.918.4980 or email vets@vets.sccgov.org

TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS

Charged, from page 4

He is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 16.

A DA spokesperson declined an interview request about the case.

The District Attorney’s office has requested Hanford disclose the names and addresses of the people he plans to call as witnesses at a potential trial, within 15 days, along with any relevant written or recorded statements.

In a separate incident, on the afternoon of Aug. 25, Santa Clara County prosecutors say a 56-year-old Redwood City man spat at an elderly Persian-American man, of San Jose, and told him, “Go back to your (expletive deleted) country.”

Salesman David Greenburg had knocked on the front door of a South San Jose location, and the victim, who didn’t speak English very well, answered, the DA’s office said.

"No English, my son will call you back,” he replied, according to prosecutors.

The defendant kicked the bottom of the screen door the victim was standing behind and spat in his direction, the release states, adding the man spat again in the victim’s direction as he walked away.

“The victim's son heard this exchange and quickly walked to the front door to confront the defendant,” the Nov. 2 release states. “Instead of a physical confrontation, the son decided to call the police.”

Greenburg faces a hate crime and an assault charge, and is due in court Dec. 6.

LOCALS RAISE AWARENESS

Awareness, from page 6

would get fired up about their fundraisers. “She’d come with a purple wig and purple gloves.”

She’s thankful Paloinetti was able to live with the disease for three-anda-half years before dying.

“She had a great sense of humor,” she said, adding she’s also recently lost 79-year-old Sherry Herrgott of Sunnyvale to the disease.

But even though pancreatic cancer has taken many lives, more and more are surviving each year.

“One of the goals of PanCAN is to wage hope,” Van Horn said. “We never know the outcome—and PanCAN is there for them, to offer them whatever assistance they need.”

Nov. 18 is World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day. PurpleStride Silicon Valley, normally hosted in November, will be held on April 30, 2022 in Discovery Meadow downtown San Jose.

For information, visit PanCAN.org.

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9

SPORTS

Los Gatos boys water polo team making waves

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Emanuel Lee, Sports Reporter

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A third-place finish in the ultra-competitive Santa Clara Valley League’s De Anza Division and berth into the Central Coast Section playoffs exceeded expectations for the Los Gatos High boys water polo team.

“If someone would’ve offered CCS at the beginning of the season, we would’ve taken it,” Wildcats coach Davor Koret said. “We graduated several seniors off last year’s team but have had a lot of underclassmen who returned and stepped up. So we’re definitely very satisfied and looking forward to seeing what we can do in CCS.” As expected, the No. 4 seed Wildcats (16-12) beat No. 5 Los Altos 14-9 in a Division I quarterfinal that was played at Aptos High on Nov. 6. This marked the Wildcats’ third win over the Eagles in as many tries this season. Los Gatos faces another league foe in the semifinals as it plays at top-seed Gunn High (16-9) at 7pm on Nov. 10.

In its latest win, Liam Amburgey scored six goals, Cameron Moayed three, Connor Sullivan two, and Lars Schubert, Kaden Lin and Tristan Adams added one goal apiece. Jake Cannon had 10 saves as the Wildcats blew things open with a 6-1 spurt in the second quarter to take a 7-2 halftime lead.

Schubert has been a captain since his freshman year and is the player opposing teams focus on, which is a testament to his talent. Schubert is also gaining the attention of four-year programs.

“He’s probably our first player in the last four years or more who is getting recruited by D1 colleges,” Koret said.

“He’s definitely the most influential player we’ve got. When we play another team, other coaches are trying to close him down on offense and trying to get him in foul trouble on defense.”

Moayed, a senior co-captain, has been tremendous distributing the ball, a big reason why he’s either first or second on the team in assists.

“He’s definitely been one of our best players this season,” Koret said. “He provides us with strong leadership and a lot of experience.”

Amburgey, a sophomore, is one of the team’s leading goal scorers and as a lefty gives the team an array of options offensively.

“Liam is also strong defensively, is super coachable and is a great kid to have on the team,” Koret said.

Another left-hander, sophomore Sullivan, gives the team two lefties at the four (flat) and five (wing) positions on the right side of the pool. Cannon has been a steadying force blocking shots and at times coming up with the spectacular save. Koret said Cannon has “improved tremendously” since the Covid spring season and is now one of the league’s better goalies.

Seniors Adams and Lin and the junior triumvirate of Blake Lennan, Brenden Jones and Kyle Denison have been playing well, especially late in the stretch run.

“Everyone on the team contributes in certain ways, which is great to see,” Koret said. “If there are gaps, guys have been filling in for each and been playing solid complementary water polo.

It’s been a very good situation of how a team should work out, and I’m very happy with them.”

Los Gatos finished third behind Gunn and Harker in the league standings. Koret said he’s equally if not more proud of the team for excelling in the classroom. He puts a heavy emphasis on academics and does frequent grade checks on all the players.

“If someone has a C, we give them a week or two to boost up the grade,” he said. “If they aren’t able to do that, they’re not allowed to suit up for the next game. I think it motivates them to do well to come to practice knowing they need to keep their grades up to play in the matches.”

The program is headed in the right direction as more players are playing club ball in the off-season and competing on the swim team in the spring. Koret at times has marveled at the team’s chemistry.

Laurie Amburgey

WILDCATS ON THE ATTACK

D1 TALENT Los Gatos High junior Lars Schubert has risen above the competition this season. He’s been a key part of a Wildcats team that has reached the Central Coast Section Division I playoff semifinals.

“The team is more cohesive than in the past,” he said. “They’ve gained a lot of confidence from their play and all the hard work they’ve put in. They’re enjoyable to coach, a lot of fun and they’re hungry to reach even higher goals.”

The Wildcats have had some impressive wins this season, including ones over Harker, Stevenson and Mitty. The latter came when Moayed scored with 14 seconds to go, capping an unbelievable 10-9 comeback victory after the team fell behind, 7-1.

“That wasn’t our best game, but it was the most fun we’ve had,” Koret said. “It was a home game on a Friday night and the bleachers were packed.

These guys don’t give up, and that re-

sult tells you a lot.”

The Wildcats allowed just two goals in the second half in roaring back for the win. They called a timeout with 27 seconds left—and 14 seconds remaining on the shot clock—and the team captains called the play to bring out their goalie so they could have a 7-on-6 advantage.

“I told them they could do that, but if they missed, Mitty’s goalie is one of the best in the area and could throw it down the length of the pool and score,” Koret said. “They told me, ‘It doesn’t matter. We’re going to score.’ I said, ‘Alright, go ahead.’ They scored with one second on the shot clock and held them down at the end. What do you say to that? They were great.”

LOSS CAN’T DAMPEN WILDCATS’ SEASON Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

it to the front to Zoe Frangieh. Despite having a St. Francis defender draped all over her, Frangieh used her strength and was able to get enough on the shot to make it 3-3 entering the final quarter.

However, the Lancers scored the first three goals in the fourth to seal the outcome. Wildcats goalie Jackie King accounted for the final goal of the game when she came into the field and ripped a shot from mid-pool for a score.

“Jackie took a little frustration out with that last shot,” Appleton said. “If anyone would've been in the way of her shot, somebody might have had an appointment with the trainer after.

She hammered that ball.”

Appleton looked to the first three quarters of play as the decisive factor.

“Nothing comes down to the fourth quarter—it’s everything you do up

to that position that sets up the final result,” he said. “And you know in the first half we were playing really nervous. I don’t think we’re going to be in that position again because we’re keeping a lot of these kids for next year.”

Despite the loss, the Wildcats were proud of a season that saw them finish 25-3 and win the Santa Clara Valley League’s De Anza Division championship.

“I’ve enjoyed my time with them,” Appleton said. “It’s been a fun group to coach and watch and I had fun at practice everyday.”

Key returners for next season include Isaacs, Ella Ralston, Karissa Elliott, Karly Frangieh, Julia Ernsting and Rachel Stephens, who played on the junior varsity team this season but is expected to shine on the varsity next year.

Robert Eliason

Even after the No. 5 seed Los Gatos High girls water polo team was eliminated by No. 4 seed St. Francis 6-4 in the Central Coast Section Open Division playoff quarterfinals on Nov. 6, coach Don Appleton is confident the Wildcats are in prime position to make a return to the section’s premier division soon—real soon.

“I think we’re going to be alright,” he said. “I’m sad to see our seniors go because they’re such great kids, but I’m excited for the kids we have coming back.”

Appleton feels confident about the team staying among the section’s elite because he knows things could've turned out differently against St. Francis.

“I think us being frozen offensively in the first quarter, we had to shake that off a little bit,” he said. “And if that would’ve happened a little earlier, it might have been a different game.

Defensively, we were solid. It was just some big pressure opportunities where we had a lot of kids who haven’t had a lot of experience in that space, and we had some poor decisions in the first half.”

As expected, the game was hotly-contested, with both teams attempting to exert their considerable will on the other. Midway through the first quarter, Los Gatos had a golden opportunity to score the first goal of the game after Karly Frangieh induced a 5-meter penalty shot.

However, the St. Francis goalie came up with a nice save on the penalty shot, which led to a St. Francis goal on the ensuing possession. The Lancers added another goal later in the period and led 2-0 after one quarter. Appleton was pleased with how the players kept battling even though things weren’t going their way.

“Any time you go down by two goals, it has the potential to be a runaway game one way or another,” he said.

“But the girls stayed tough and kept it close. It really showed they wanted to win and their energy was there.”

However, the slow start made things an uphill contest the entire way. Los

Gatos got on the board with 4 minutes, 47 seconds left in the second quarter on Maily Isaacs’ laser shot from seven meters away. Positioned far from the St. Francis cage, Isaacs unleashed a shot that hit the inside of the top post and went straight down into the cage for a goal.

Los Gatos had a great chance to equalize on a breakaway shot shortly thereafter, but missed. The Lancers then scored on a 6-on-5 opportunity to retake a two-goal lead entering halftime. The Wildcats showed their mettle in the third quarter, scoring two goals to even the match. Mackenzie Lindholm scored on a 5-meter penalty shot after Lily van Putten was fouled in front of the St. Francis goal with 4:52 to go in the period.

On its next possession, van Putten came up with a steal and passed the ball to Karissa Elliott, who delivered

ACTION-PACKED Zoe Frangieh looks to shoot as teammate Maily Isaacs battles for position up front in the Wildcats’ 6-4 loss to St. Francis in a Central Coast Section Open Division playoff quarterfinal on Nov. 6.

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Los Gatos girls water polo team thrives

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LIVES

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Remember Someone Special

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BRAVE NEW WORLDS

In this free workshop, New Museum Los Gatos, 106 E. Main St., invites students and teachers to get inspired about the museum’s ArtNow 2022 theme, “Brave New Worlds.” This program will feature an art history lecture led by Executive Director Ami Davis and Education Programs Manager Michèle Jubilee. The presentation will give context to Brave New Worlds by providing inspiration from past and present artists and art movements.

The workshop will be held Nov. 11 from 5-6:30pm. → numulosgatos.org

BLIND PILOTS

Blind Pilots will perform dance rock at Number 1 Broadway, 102 South Santa Cruz Ave. #B (Upstairs), on Nov. 11. Doors open at 7pm, with music starting at 9pm. → bit.ly/3CXuEkW

WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE

Artist Sawyer Rose will facilitate a discussion at New Museum Los Gatos, 106 E. Main St., on Nov. 13 from 1-2pm. The discussion will be centered around themes present in her exhibition Carrying Stones, including the gender pay gap, leadership advancement opportunities for women, gendered expectations and requirements, workforce participation and retention, and breaking through the glass ceiling. Admission is $10, or free for NUMU members. → numulosgatos.org

UNITED AGAINST HATE

Recent vandalism targeting the Jewish community in Los Gatos has prompted local officials and community organizations to plan a series of activities for United Against Hate Week from Nov. 14-20. A walk is scheduled for Nov. 14 at 2pm, beginning at Fisher Middle School, 19195 Fisher Ave., and ending at the Civic Center. → unitedagainsthateweek.org

ART EXHIBIT Artist Sawyer Rose will discuss her exhibit Carrying Stones at New Museum Los Gatos on Nov. 13.

MAKE YOUR OWN GERMAN-STYLE PRETZELS

In this live-streamed class on Nov. 15 at 5pm, attendees will learn from Uli Elser (aka Chef Squaby) how to make authentic German pretzels.

From making the dough, to forming the pretzels, to baking and eating. Los Gatos Library will provide the ingredients, which participants can pick up a couple days before the session. Register at losgatosca.libcal.com.

THE KIWANIS CLUB OF LOS GATOS

The club meets the first three Thursdays of the month at noon at Flights Restaurant, 165 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road #5306. First two Thursdays of the month feature guest speakers.

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.

BLUES JAM

Little Lou's BBQ, 2455 S. Winchester Blvd. in Campbell, hosts the Blues Jam on Thursdays from 6-9pm. → littlelousbbq.com/calender

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/ Planning-Commission Santa Clara County Supervisors The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors meets virtually on Tuesdays at 9am. → bit.ly/3oy2Zmq Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District The board meets every other Tuesday at 5pm. Next meeting: Nov. 16. → bit.ly/3DaJRi9 Los Gatos Union School District Board of Trustees The board meets monthly at either 6:30pm or 4pm. Next meeting: Nov. 18. → bit.ly/3oywlRA Other Town commissions The Town of Los Gatos has various committees that serve as advisory bodies for the Town Council.

For information and a schedule of meetings, visit losgatosca.gov/12/ Boards-Commissions-Committees.

Courtesy of New Museum Los Gatos

Remember Someone Special

CALENDAR

POLICE BLOTTER Arnold Breit

OCT. 31

• Someone rummaged through an unlocked vehicle on Pine Avenue around 2am.

• Four teenagers were spotted lighting a pine needle on fire near the Tesla Supercharger on Los Gatos Saratoga Road at 5:47pm.

• The driver of an SUV was reportedly throwing eggs at trickor-treaters on Westhill Drive and Belgatos Road at 9:04pm.

NOV. 1

• Police received a report of a building at Los Gatos High School tagged with “hate speech.”

• A woman reported that two juveniles threw eggs at her and called her names on Tait Avenue.

NOV. 2

• A vehicle was reported burglarized on W Parr Avenue.

NOV. 3

• Police received a report of a “suspicious person” who was dancing on the lawn and in the road with a guitar amplifier on North Santa Cruz Avenue at 6:57am.

• A man stole beer from a store on the 400 block of North Santa Cruz Avenue at 8:04pm. He reportedly had stolen items from the same business multiple times over the past two days.

NOV. 5

• An unlocked vehicle was reportedly burglarized on Los Gatos Boulevard.

NOV. 6

• A man was arrested for inflicting injury on a cohabitant on the 14900 block of Los Gatos Boulevard at 3:45am.

• Keys and a wallet were stolen from an unlocked truck on Birch Wood Court.

• Ten people were reportedly not wearing masks inside a business on Blossom Hill Road at 11:33am, and refused to do so when asked.

The same report was made an hour later at a different business on Los Gatos Boulevard.

• A man was arrested for robbery and disorderly conduct on the 400 block of North Santa Cruz Avenue at 10:29pm.

• A man was arrested for battery and disorderly conduct on the first block of Saratoga-Los Gatos Road at 10:19pm.

NOV. 4

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

• A vehicle was vandalized with an egg on Belblossom Way.

• A phone was stolen on University and Miles avenue.

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• A man was arrested for inflicting injury on a cohabitant on the 300 block of Bachman Avenue at 1:13am.

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Tony Tomeo

Autumn is also fall here. Actually, 'fall' is the more popular name. It had been the popular name in England during the Sixteenth Century. The (generally) French name of “autumn” became more common there during the Seventeenth Century. Yet, both names remained in use in the American Colonies. That is why autumn foliar color is more simply fall color.

The natural fall color in New England, the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the Great North Woods is famously exquisite. So many of the native deciduous trees develop remarkable fall color in response to local weather conditions. These same trees might not get sufficient chill to develop comparable fall color in milder climates of Florida.

In most regions of California, natural fall color is limited by the ability of native species to develop such color. Bigleaf maple and the various poplars turn bright yellow with a slight chill, but are not abundant. Even when chilled, the foliage of most other native deciduous trees simply shrivels and falls without much color.

Most of the native trees are evergreen.

Therefore, most of the best local fall color is provided by exotic (nonnative) tree species. Such trees not only develop remarkable fall color, but do so in response to minimal chill. Sweetgum, flowering pear, Chinese pistache and ginkgo are four trees that most reliably develop brilliant fall color where winter weather is mild. None are native. All are popular.

Ginkgo turns brilliant yellow. The other three display various colors that range from bright yellow, to fiery orange, to rich red and burgundy. Their colorful foliage lingers longer than that of other deciduous trees. Sweetgum and flowering pear might retain fall color until it succumbs to rain in winter. Of course, these are not the only options for reliable fall color.

No tree is perfect. Although very colorful in autumn, sweetgum is notoriously structurally deficient, and produces obnoxiously spiked fruiting structures.

Flowering pear is innately susceptible to fire blight. All deciduous trees drop leaves, which need raking. Trees must

FALL COLOR Chinese pistache colors with minimal chill. conform to their situational limitations, as well as their particular landscape applications.

Highlight: Chinese pistache Those who crave fall color in mild climates should appreciate Chinese pistache, Pistacia chinensis. It is happy to provide fiery yellow, orange and red color in response to a slight chill.

Actually, it retains its colorful foliage later into the season with mild chill than it does with frosty weather. Rain eventually dislodges all of its deciduous foliage through winter.

Because it is so resilient to harsh situations, Chinese pistache is popular as a street tree. Pruning is necessary to establish adequate clearance of broad limbs over roadways and sidewalks.

Since roots can be shallow with regular watering, root barriers should protect nearby pavement. However, established trees do not need regular watering, if any at all.

Old Chinese pistache trees, as well as those that grow wild from seed, are either male or female. Female trees produce tiny but annoyingly abundant fruit. Modern cultivars are all male, and therefore fruitless. They may get more than forty feet tall, with broad canopies. The pinnately compound leaves are just about eight inches long.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at tonytomeo.com.

We have a lot to be thankful for at Loma Clara Senior Living!

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we know food is a big part of the tradition when gathering with friends and family. Our Elevate® dining program honors your traditions with the same foods you love to cook and eat. Our chef goes beyond the traditional culinary experience by transforming every dining experience into a celebration. Whether it is a favorite family recipe or just a craving for something specific, our chef will make sure you enjoy every meal in our community.

Ready to fall in love with your new home? Call (833) 581-8885 to learn more about our assisted living and memory care service lines. We can’t wait to show you our community.

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November 20 & 21, 2021 SaN JoSe CeNter for the PerformiNg artS SymPhoNy SiliCoN valley.org • 408-286-2600 Part of the Harry Potter™ Film Concert Series

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (a21)

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REAL ESTATE

HOME OF THE WEEK

KW Bay Area Estates

MOUNTAIN LAUREL This Los Gatos home has more than four acres of open space and amenities.

CUSTOM-BUILT ENTERTAINER’S PARADISE 56

TH SEASON

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Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice

Outside, the property is suitable for entertaining, with multiple patios and a pool and spa. Two solar farms are also part of the property, with one powering the home and the other for the pool.

A three-car garage and plans for a detached ADU are also available.

The home, built in 2007, is listed at $6,498,500 by KW Bay Area Estates.

For information, visit bit.ly/3bPZG2a KW Bay Area Estates

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WVLO.ORG 408-268-3777

Sitting on more than four acres on a private cul-de-sac, this Los Gatos home features an outdoor kitchen, sports court and walking paths.

Located at 293 Mountain Laurel Lane, the 4,706-square-foot custom-built, one-story home includes six bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms.

All bedrooms are en-suite, with random plank flooring throughout and high ceilings.

November 6 - December 4 Saratoga Civic Theater 13777 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga

Friday & Saturday Evenings Saturday & Sunday Matinees

Coming March/April 2021

SOMETHING ROTTEN!

INSIDE Old world charm and wooden flooring signify this home.

Quality House Cleaning

SERVICES DIRECTORY • Plant-based CleaningProducts • Top of the line equipment used • Vaccinated for COVID-19

I specialize in homes!

DONATION BUSINESS

HOUSE CLEANING

Quality House Cleaning Call or Text Kristina:

References • Insured • LIC#108576

HAULING HAULING

SANTOS HAULING SANTOS HAULING The ORIGINAL Santos Hauling The ORIGINAL since Santos 1998 Hauling

since 1998

831-246-4346 831-246-4346 dburjaconst@sbcglobal.net

Lic. #802148 dburjaconst@sbcglobal.net Lic. #802148

UNUSUAL UNUSUALBUILDS BUILDS • Tree• Tree Houses Houses • Van• Van Conversions Conversions • She• She Sheds Sheds • Dude Shacks • Dude Shacks MasterMaster Craftsman w/over 40yrs experience Craftsman w/over 40yrs experience

call Christopher 831.431.0828 call Christopher 831.431.0828

PAINTING Feeling Overwhelmed?

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Organizing challenges of any kind Home or Office Relocations/Downsizing Nonjudgmental

Christy Best 831 247-0988

LIC#108576

- Clean Ups - Clean Ups - Yard Work - Yard - TreeWork Trimming or Cutting - Tree Trimming or Cutting - Dirt Removal - Dirt Removal

- High Weed Cut High Weed Cut --Brush Cleaning Brush Oak Cleaning --Poison - Poison Oak Tear Off Tear Off - Demolition - Demolition Lowest Cost, Bonded, References

Lowest Cost, Bonded, References

FREE ESTIMATES FREE ESTIMATES CALL MARIO OR J SANTOS

CALL MARIO OR J SANTOS 831-252-5353

831-252-5353 Lic. #76915

Lic. #76915

HANDYMAN HANDYMAN

ESSENTIAL

HANDYMAN SERVICES

650-703-5179

cleansweep1989@gmail.com

LANDSCAPING

(831) 239-4645 (25+ YRS. EXP.)

ClutterBug.net

MOON PAINTING PAINTING

“You rest and relax, and I’ll clean your windows”

Randy Sauro 831-588-4243

Professional - Timely - Courteous

Providing quality service and meeting your real estate needs in both sales and property management since 1977

INTERIOR - EXTERIOR PRESSUREPAINTING MOON WASHING - EXTERIOR INTERIOR PRESSURE WASHING SAUL: 831-331-0111

Broker, Jeanne Jensen Shada

438-2208 PROFESSIONAL

4615 Scotts Valley Dr, Suite B DRE #00606749

SAUL: ANSWERS 831-331-0111 CROSSWORD

cleansweep1989@gmail.com A T W O Window O Cleaning D

R&R

SCOTTS VALLEY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

D R I N K I N

D A R E D N O T

L I E F

E T T A S

T W O E V E R S A N S S L I T A I G Y U M A M A L B L A M A A L A S T O N H A R E R I O

I O N S

L O L Z A D S T E S T S A P I A F R O U N C U T A P P I N G L O U D M O U T H C E D E A R P R O M L E A S R U T E R I N I B L E T K P O P N O T A T E D F I E S W E B D A S A N I L E T T E R W O R D S Y O G A REAL ESTATE O R T I S O A K I N N O S P A T B L M I S I T D O U B L E C R O S S P E T E R R S O A R S T E A S E D I C E B F F J I N N T H R E E F E E T U N D E R W I M D S C U S T O M E R O D O M E M O T T A P E S R N A Housing C H Otoo expensive W H Ahere? E A P K Now E Awith working K I T in place F O you U R A where L L canBlive S O U P P O P A W H E E L I E you want for much less and KEEP YOUR JOB. N T H T W I T S N E E Z E S OLetD me find O Nyou C aEreal estate A broker R D E N

To adverstise call Serenity Polizzi A 408.200.1323

A

L O S G ATA N . C O M | S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 2 1

CONSTRUCTION Home Remodel Home Remodel Kitchen/Bath All Kitchen/Bath Home Repair All Home Services Repair Services

Insured

Call or Text Kristina: (25+ YRS. EXP.)

408.200.1323

DANIEL BURJA CONSTRUCTION DANIEL BURJA

CLUTTERBUG

(831) 239-4645 • • References

PLUMBING

ClutterBug.net

I specialize in homes!

FIND LOCAL SERVICES ALL IN ONE PLACE FROM A-Z

CONSTRUCTION

Christy Best 831 247-0988

• Plant-based CleaningProducts 650-703-5179 • Top of the line equipment used • Vaccinated for COVID-19

GUTTERS

CONSTRUCTION

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Organizing challenges of any kind Home or Office Relocations/Downsizing Nonjudgmental ORGANIZER

I LOOKING TO MOVE FROM THE BAY AREA?

• Carpentry • Home Repair • Landscape

GREG EIMAN

831.588.1260

FIND LOCAL SERVICES ALL IN ONE PLACE FROM A-Z

408.200.1323 LANDSCAPING

R I E S T

out of the area in Ca. or out of state.

No cost to you. This is part of my service. I will do the leg work. I will also give you a $100. gift certificate when you purchase through my referral.

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

To adverstise call Serenity Polizzi 408.200.1323

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ASPHALT

CLUTTER BUG

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