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vol . I , no. 14 : december 8-14, 2021 : losgatan.com
hitting the court p10 : police logs p15 : calendar p18 : ny times crossword puzzle p21 Drew Penner / Los Gatan
DOWNTOWN PROMENADE PACKS STREETS WITH HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES Booths, performances and more take over N. Santa Cruz Avenue
Survey shows divide over how town should approach housing
Drew Penner, Reporter
Downtown Los Gatos was flooded Saturday with green and red, different incarnations of Santa and Mrs. Claus strutting their stuff, young dancers and singers, and an abundance of cheer and goodwill. It was all part of the Holiday Promenade, which took cues from the successful summer street fair series hosted by the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, and made up for the children’s Christmas parade that was cancelled over fears about the Delta coronavirus variant. “It just helps to reaffirm the community,” said Daniel Roberts, the owner of local radio station 101.9 FM KPCR, as he went booth-to-booth with his German shepherd and Siberian husky mix. “It’s a very good way of knowing what organizations and stores are in Los Gatos.” Roberts says he was able to meet a family-owned brand focused around the Santa Cruz Mountains that was birthed out ➝ Promenade, 8
HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS SEE FUTURE OF LOS GATOS DIFFERENTLY Drew Penner, Reporter
The results of a new survey from the Los Gatos Community Alliance show that when it comes to the future of Los Gatos, there’s a gaping divide— between homeowners and renters. This survey of registered voters in Los Gatos, conducted Oct. 12-18 via telephone interview, email and text-to-web, asked 400 respondents what they thought of the General Plan, which is currently being developed. ➝ Housing, 6
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FEELING FESTIVE The Los Gatos High School’s LeGatos Acapella group sings at the Nicholson Stage during the Holiday Promenade on Dec. 4.
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a asrta sleeping nook. Spacious master bedroom with two burning stove, loft area that can bethat usedwood as a used dining area.and Spacious living room with high views, wood burning stove, and loft area closets. Second bedroom (no closet). Fullcan bathbewith bathroom. Indoor traditional Sauna. beamed & paneled ceiling, windows with outstanding sleeping nook. Spacious master bedroom with twotwo ound asontrolled a sleeping nook. Spacious masterwalls, bedroom with granite counter, tile floor skylight, and views, wood burning stove, and loft area that can bewith used closets. Second bedroom (noand closet). Full bath
closets. Second bedroom closet). Fullwindows bath with onderful si (no clawfoot tub with Double pane as a sleeping nook. Spacious master with granite counter, tileshower. floor and walls,bedroom skylight, and twoand granite counter, tile floor andcloset). walls, skylight, and French door. Inside laundry with built-in cabinets. closets. Second bedroom (no Full bath with out of . stat clawfoot tub with shower. Double pane windows ound clawfoot tubcounter, with shower. Double pane windows granite tileard floor skylight, and and Freshly painted exterior. Basement with storage. Large and French door. Inside laundry with built-in ine oand walls, onderful situb clawfoot with shower. Double pane windows and French door. Inside laundry withExterior built-in cabinets. deck for entertaining with views. patio area and cabinets. Freshly painted exterior. Basement with out ofFrench . laundry stat with built-in https://beyondre.marketing/15400-Suview-Drive door.exterior. Inside cabinets. Freshly painted with storage. Large storage. Large deck for Basement entertaining with views. brick walkways. Mature landscaping. 2 car garage. Stroll ine ard area oexterior. Freshly painted Basement with storage. Large deck for entertaining with views. Exterior patio area and Exterior patio and brick walkways. Mature to town & Aquinias Trailhead. Los Gatos Schools. deck for entertaining with views. Exterior patio area and https://beyondre.marketing/15400-Suview-Drive landscaping. car garage. Stroll to town Aquinas brick walkways.2 Mature landscaping. 2 car&garage. Stroll brick walkways. Mature landscaping. 2 car garage. Stroll Trailhead. Los Gatos Trailhead. Schools. Los Gatos Schools. to town & Aquinias to town & Aquinias Trailhead. Los Gatos Schools.
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Subsidiary of NRT LLC. All rights reserved. This information was supplied by Seller and/or other sources. Broker believes this information to be correct but has not verified this information and assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyers should investigate these issues to 408.892.9300 their own satisfaction. Real Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License # 01908304. ©2021 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential BrokerageOffice Officeis isOwned Ownedbybya a © 1 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Subsidiary of NRTof LLC. rights reserved. This information was supplied by Banker® Seller and/or other sources. Broker believes thisthisinformation to Real be but has verified this information and no legal responsibility for its accuracy. accuracy. Buyers should investigate theseBrokerage issues to ©Subsidiary 1 Coldwell Banker Real LLC.This RightsReserved. Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is other a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real LLC. AnthisEqual Opportunity Company. Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential NRT All LLC. All rights reserved. information was supplied by Seller sources. Broker believes information becorrect correct butEstate hasnot not verified information and assumes assumes noOpportunity. legalEqual responsibility for its Buyers should investigate these ©2021 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Estate LLC. AllAllRights Coldwell isand/or a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker to Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned byissues a to Office is Owned by a their own satisfaction. Real All Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential are Independent Contractor Sales Associates andandarearenot employees of Coldwell Real LLC, Banker Residential Residential Brokerageororfor NRTitsLLC. LLC. CalBRELicense License 01908304. Subsidiary NRT LLC. reserved. This information wassupplied supplied by Brokerage Seller and/or other sources. Broker believes this information tonotbe correct but has notthisBanker verified this Estate information and assumes no legal responsibility accuracy. Buyers should investigate these issues to their ownof satisfaction. RealAllrights Estate with Coldwell Residential Brokerage Independent Associates employees Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Coldwell CalBRE ##01908304. Subsidiary of NRT LLC. rights Agents reserved.affiliated This information was Banker by Seller and/or otheraresources. Broker Contractor believes thisSales information to be correct but has not ofverified information and assumes no legalBanker responsibility forBrokerage its accuracy.NRT Buyers should investigate these issues to their own satisfaction. Real Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License # 01908304. their own satisfaction. Real Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License # 01908304.
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17333 Old Ranch Road, Los Gatos Mountains 4 Bed | 4 Bath | 2845 Sq Ft | $1,899,000 compass.com
Cindy Cockcroft 408.315.2444 DRE 00916374
Sebastian Frey 408.548.7348 DRE 01369847
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10768 Juniper Court, Cupertino 4 Bed | 3 Bath | 2815 Sq Ft | $3,650,000 compass.com
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214 Ridgevista Avenue, San Jose 3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1100 Sq Ft | $939,950 compass.com
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Lisa Sgarlato 408.396.7231 DRE 0134269
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Therese Swan 408.656.8240 DRE 01355719
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.
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SALE PENDING
Get a head start to finding your home.
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VOL.1 NO.14 Dan Pulcrano Executive Editor and Publisher Lee May General Manager
FORMER TEACHER SENTENCED FOR SEX CRIMES
Erik Chalhoub Managing Editor
Joseph Brian Houg gets 35 years
Lori Lieneke Advertising Director
Drew Penner, Reporter
Phaedra Strecher Production Manager Katie Lauer Drew Penner Reporters Emanuel Lee Juan Reyes Sports writers Judy Peterson Contributor Serenity Polizzi Carrie Bonato Account Executives Marie Hicks Subscriptions
WEEKLYS Stephen Buel Director of Strategic Initiatives Mike Lyon Digital Media Harry Allison Production Director Sonia Chavez Accounts Receivables Warren Giancaterino Information Technology
A man who sexually abused students while teaching in the Los Gatos Union School District has been sentenced to 35 years behind bars. Joseph Brian Houg, a long-time teacher at Blossom Hill Elementary School, received no probation time Nov. 29, but will face parole of up to 20-and-a-half years after release for a litany of crimes related to the sexual abuse of children in his class. Houg also worked as Blossom Hill’s theater director. The custody sentence is made up of 17 years in county jail and 18 years in state prison. “That’s a really long sentence,” said Jessica Richter, a parent of a former Blossom Hill student who participated in the theater program. “It shows how serious his crimes were.” Richter says it’s disturbing to her that Houg was able to work in the District as long as he did.
Joseph Brian Houg
“I hope he’ll serve a good portion of that time,” she said. “He really betrayed the trust of the people in the community.” LGUSD Superintendent Paul Johnson declined to comment on the sentence, but said the District wasn’t aware of Houg’s criminal conduct. Houg was arrested in September 2020, after two 13-year-old theater students reported that he instructed them to engage in “inappropriate conduct” during Zoom calls, according to court documents. Parole eligibility will be determined by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Kathy Bays, a former Los Gatos Union School District trustee, says Houg deserves the sentence he re-
ceived, but adds it’s just sad overall. “I feel confident if anything specific would have been reported to the school district they would have taken action,” she said. “School districts have very clear mandated reporter guidelines.” Bays says she understands that many parents are angry. “I am angry,” she said. “He was a trusted teacher in our small school district.” She explained that everyone at the school district receives training about rules around reporting sexual abuse. “It’s an awful situation and I’m glad it’s done,” she said. “I’m glad the kids don’t have to testify.” A parent of one of Houg’s students, who attended the sentencing hearing, said one of the victims made a “heartbreaking” impact statement to the court. Bays says she’s glad Houg pleaded no contest to 10 felony counts of child molestation and three misdemeanor counts of child annoyance. Most of Houg’s victims were male, although multiple female students reported bullying. Houg still faces a civil lawsuit, brought by San Jose-based Corsiglia, McMahon & Allard in September, which claims one mother reported Houg’s bullying to the principal during the 2003-2004 school year but that he wasn’t reprimanded.
DEATH NOTICES
OPINIONS
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Commentaries and letters to the editor on our Opinion pages reflect the opinions of the authors. We welcome letters to the editor and commentaries on all topics of local interest.
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Email your submissions to editor@losgatan.com Letters must include the writer’s name and hometown (for publication) and phone number (for verification). Submissions may be edited, and will be published as space permits. Letters are limited to 250 words, commentaries to 500 words.
CORRECTIONS We strive to avoid errors in news and ads. Mistakes sometimes occur. To report errors, call or email; corrections will appear in the next edition and online.
WHO WE ARE Los Gatan is published Wednesdays by Weeklys. Contents copyright ©2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form prohibited without written permission.
Lighting up Vasona Park The 23rd Annual Fantasy of Lights kicked off Dec. 7, and all dates have been sold out through its month-long run. The 1.5-mile drive through Vasona Park features exhibits of holiday lights and displays for the family. Attendees 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.
Dan Pulcrano/Los Gatan
Death notices with basic information that are submitted to editor@losgatan.com may be published on a space-available basis only. To place a paid, unedited obituary with a photo, call 707.353.1148 or email LifeTributes@Weeklys.com.
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AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS TOP CONCERN AMONG NON-HOMEOWNERS
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“The homeowners are very conservative here,” said Jak Van Nada, founder of the Los Gatos Community Alliance, referring to how that group views how much housing should be built in town. Meanwhile, affordable housing is the most serious concern for people who don’t own a home, Van Nada explained, during a Monday Democracy Tent session, where he presented the results. When asked how they felt about the development of new below-market-rate housing, 73% of “non-homeowners” were in support, while just 43% of homeowners supported this housing type. Sixty-four percent of non-homeowners liked the idea of planning for more multi-family properties like duplexes, triplexes and accessory dwellings, but just 34% of homeowners were supportive of this. And while only 28% of homeowners supported planning for up to 3,900 new units of housing—which drops to 26% of homeowners when asked about “9,000 new residents over the next 20 years”—in both of those cases 59% of non-homeowners are still supportive of this vision for the future of Los Gatos. The only question (on the slide showing support levels for various housing approaches) neither group were in majority in favor of was whether or not the community should plan for more housing than recommended by housing authorities (22% of homeowners; 41% of non-homeowners). The survey has a margin of error of 4.9%. The Community Alliance previously helped reduce the size of the Netflix project and pressured the Town to pay down $10 million in pension debt. Peter Hertan, a Los Gatos Unified High School District trustee in attendance, called the survey a “very valuable” insight into the thinking of residents on the proposed General Plan. “There’s a thing in statistics called ‘hidden variables,’” he said, explaining the homeowner-renter divide that popped up in the housing status slide hints at the possibility of deeper contrasts in other data from the survey. Hertan also suggested the General Plan needs to look specifically at the problem of homelessness in the community. The survey found 77% of people
Los Gatos Community Alliance
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Housing, from page 1
HOUSING THOUGHTS A survey by the Los Gatos Community Alliance shows the difference in thinking between homeowners and non-homeowners. were satisfied with overall safety in Los Gatos; 88% of people were satisfied with quality of life in the community. However, just 48% of people said they were satisfied with the availability of housing, and 36% of people said they were satisfied with the cost of housing.
When asked about other things that could part of the General Plan process—which currently aren’t—87% of people said they’d support a through fiscal-impact analysis, 85% said it should have to be approved by voters and 67% want future multi-family
The only question neither group were in majority in favor of was whether or not the community should plan for more housing than recommended by housing authorities The only thing people were even most unhappy about was traffic—with 72% of people saying they’re dissatisfied about it. Of people who were familiar with the 2040 General Plan, 62% said they had an unfavorable opinion of it, while 33% of people said they had a favorable view of what they’d seen or heard.
housing built within walking distance of jobs, transit and retail. And when asked about the possibility of increasing the percentage of new below-market-rate housing, 10% more supported this idea than opposed it. Councilmember Matthew Hudes also chimed in about the discrepancy between homeowners and
non-homeowners. “There’s a very, very big difference between those groups,” he said. “To me it points to a big challenge with affordable housing, not necessarily with high-cost housing.” Hudes said it’s helpful to have data like this, considering Council will soon have to make decisions about the General Plan. The Community Alliance is advocating for 1,167 below-market-rate housing units in the General Plan. “The best opportunity to achieve the development capacity for affordable housing is to increase densities for mixed-use, and high-density residential land uses in targeted areas within a half-mile of existing infrastructure, retail services and transportation,” its report reads. One meeting attendee suggested the community should “drag our feet” when it comes to complying with state rules about building affordable housing. Rob Moore, a Los Gatos resident, countered that if the community takes this approach, the State will likely pass more “bonkers” laws like SB9, which remove local control over housing decisions.
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DOWNTOWN DECKED OUT WITH HOLIDAY FLAIR
Promenade, from page 1
Drew Penner / Los Gatan
Drew Penner / Los Gatan
PHOTO OP Silas “the Spaceman” Pawlowski gets his picture taken with Bumble the abominable snowman while visiting Los Gatos from Phoenix, Ariz.
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of the CZU Lightning Complex fires of 2020. As Pete St. Pierre, a Campbell resident, waited to catch his own daughter’s dance performance, he took in another class’s rendition of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. “We just got here,” he said. “I think it’s great we can actually do this again.” The Nutcracker dancers totally nailed it, he commented. “The precision is just amazing,” he said. “I know the hours they put in.” Getting ready for an event like this takes hours of dedication, he notes, crediting his spouse’s efforts to leave work early to drive their 8-yearold daughter Kaia to dance Monday-Thursday. “My wife does all the hard work,” he said, adding his daughter was going to have to perform on a much smaller stage than usual. “I think she just likes to get out and share her love of dance with people.” Cousins Alexis Escarcega, 16, and Mary-Jane Sell, 18, were in-person representing their 60-year-old grandmother (Rebecca Rook)’s company Kiss and Makeup. “I think it’s pretty cool,” Escarcega
said of the event. “We’re selling a lot of product—more than we normally do.” Sell described how a lot of people told them they know Rook already and were happy to swing by to greet them. “They want to support local businesses,” she explained, noting their grandma sources her products from independent creators. “She usually supports Indigenous peoples’ brands a lot, and showcases them in the store.” Escarcega notes they even have Black Lives Matter ornaments on offer. The event has provided a much-needed boost at the end of a tough year, according to Escarcega. “I think it’s a cool way to interact with people,” she said. “It’s really helpful to generate business out here after Covid. “It’s been a rough year.” Five-year-old Silas “the Spaceman” Pawlowski’s family is from Los Gatos, although they live in Phoenix now. He got to have his picture taken with a giant cartoon character. Adam Kleinberg, owner of On Purpose Chiropractic, said he was happy with how the event was going. “We’ve booked a few new patients,” he said. “It’s just good to see a lot
of people out smiling, laughing and playing.” Plus, he said, the weather was decent, leading to a positive environment. “It’s not windy; it’s pleasant,” he said. “People are pretty chill downtown here.” Avni Hulyalkar, the 16-year-old Los Gatos Kiwanis “Key Club” vice president, said they were boothing to raise
money for an accessible playground. The group’s president, Jordan Chan, 16, said they are working with Landscape Structures, Inc. to develop structures that people with a variety of disabilities can enjoy safely. “We just got the go-ahead from the Town,” Chan said. “Being here at the Promenade is to get people interested in the project.”
Drew Penner / Los Gatan
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RED AND GREEN These women pose for photos in front of The Palms at 115 N. Santa Cruz Ave.
ECONOMIC BOOST Business reps said attendees at the Holiday Promenade were in the mood to buy local.
THANK YOU
to our Los Gatos clients/friends for trusting
THE GOUBEAUX & SPLAINE TEAM!
THE GOUBEAUX & SPLAINE TEAM Shannon Splaine 650-450-3476 shannon.splaine@cbnorcal.com
15615 Shady Ln. Los Gatos Rep Buyer $5,525,000
106 Ohlone Ct. Los Gatos Rep Buyer $2,600,000
110 Landsberry Ct. Los Gatos Sold $2,600,000
53 Whitney Ave. Los Gatos Sold $2,480,000
15807 Union Ave. Los Gatos Sold $2,300,000
178 Cuesta de Los Gatos, Los Gatos, CA Sold $1,550,000
“Shannon and Noelle made the process so easy, guiding us through the timing, purging, preparation, the staging and finally the sale of our home. It really couldn’t have gone any smoother. They helped us make the perfect selection from the multiple offers we had on the house. We couldn’t be happier with the entire process of selling our home with the Goubeaux & Splaine team!” Maureen & Rick S.
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Noelle Goubeaux 408-833-9499 noelle.goubeaux@cbnorcal.com
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SPORTS
WILDCATS HIT THE FLOOR RUNNING Robert Eliason
Los Gatos girls basketball team off to terrific start
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Emanuel Lee, Sports editor
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For the Los Gatos High girls basketball team, the future is now. The Wildcats have height, athleticism and youth on their side, which should make for an exciting season. Coach Sara Quilici Giles is in her fourth season with the team, but she said this year is unlike any other. Out of the 10 players on the roster, only four are returners. Out of those four, they got to experience only an abbreviated season in the spring due to Covid. Los Gatos has a tremendous freshmen class of three players, two sophomores, two juniors and three seniors, making for quite a dynamic. “We’re very young and inexperienced at the varsity level, but we play hard and we are hungry,” Giles said. “We are green in a way that is excellent because we don’t have any bad habits. We’re starting from the basics and really hammering in what we want to do and what we want our team identity to be.” Junior center Casey Brennan and senior two guard Jeanette Grasty provide leadership and veteran experience. Grasty came up huge in a 43-41 win over Aragon—a traditional hoops power—on Dec. 3. She finished with a team-high 12 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer off a pass from Brennan with 10 seconds remaining. “They have great chemistry and we’re lucky to have them,” Giles said. “Casey is one of those players who does things no one else wants to do. She’s diving for the loose ball, rebounding in traffic, guarding the toughest players. And Jeanette has really stepped up into a leadership role, is very vocal, leads by example and is great at leading the younger players.” Freshman Ashley Childers, a 6-foot wing player, had a team-high 13 points in a season-opening win over Mountain View on Nov. 27. Giles said a moment from a summer league
FANTASTIC FOUR Belle Bramer, Ashley Childers, Jeanette Grasty and Casey Brennan look to lead the Wildcats to league and section titles this season.
game perfectly underscored the type of mental acuity Childers possesses. “She got a steal in the back court, there was seven seconds on the game clock and she had the foresight and sense of mind to attack the basket and score,” Giles said. “She saw the clock winding down, knew how much time she had left and made the right play. That’s a hard thing to get seniors to do, let alone a freshman. Ashley is very skilled and talented, and has unlocked about a tenth of her total potential. She’s got a great basketball body, is super athletic, long and lanky, and asks all the right questions.” A coach’s dream? “She is,” Giles said. “I’m trying to get her out of her shell a little bit, but she’s just a joy to coach.” Childers’ fellow freshmen, Nicole
Steiner and Ella Rabitz, have been playing together for years and their chemistry shows on the court. Steiner is another 6-footer and someone Giles has been coaching for a long time. “Nicole has no idea how good she can be,” Giles said. “She has great touch around the rim, is athletic and uses her size well. Once the wheels really start turning, it’s going to be exciting to see what she can do because she’s going to be really good. And Ella is a firecracker on defense.” Belle Bramer, a sophomore forward, has made dramatic improvement since the Covid spring season, a testament to her work ethic. Giles doesn’t like to take Bramer out of the game because she’s a true difference-maker. “She’s our leader on defense and always works hard on offense,” Giles
said. “She’s a firecracker and our Energizer Bunny. She’s improved mentally, her shot selection has improved and she is just non-stop. She’s so fun to be around, fills up the stat sheet, is long and lanky, can score in the open court and is very disciplined on defense.” Bramer has great anticipation, as evidenced by her six deflections against Mountain View. “She disrupts what the other team does and is a wonderful player to have on the team,” Giles said. Claire Galbo, a sophomore wing player, is another 6-foot player who has skill to go along with a strong work ethic. “Claire is figuring things out on the varsity level and learning to be a little more finesse and intentional with her movements,” Giles said. “It’s been going really well to see her improvement.” Giles describes junior forward Keira Dodd as “everyone’s favorite hype man” for her ability to pump the team and keep them energized. “Keira is pure energy in human form,” Giles said. “When she’s not on the court or at the games, it shows. She is the soul of our team and is the one who gets us going and keeps us going. She has such a positive energy that she can turn a game around with her presence.” Catherine Candelaria, a 5-4 senior wing player, and Daria Faradjeva, a 5-4 senior guard, will also make an impact in a variety of ways throughout the season. Four years ago, Los Gatos advanced to the CIF Northern California playoffs by reaching the CCS Division I championship game. The Wildcats would love nothing more than to contend for a league and section championships and advance to NorCals. Los Gatos is also getting things done off the court as well. The team is assembling cold-weather kits they will donate to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Pantry to be given out to the homeless population in the Los Gatos area.
LOS GATOS GIRLS SOCCER AIMS TO COALESCE Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor
the field. We serve as a point of communication between the coaches and players and make sure if there ever is a disconnect, to make sure the lines of communication are always open.” Stout views herself as a defensive midfielder who emphasizes ball distribution.
‘It’s a strong team, we have a lot of talent and they’re not scared of a challenge and not scared of taking risks.’ Coach Pablo Cueto “Being a captain means always showing up and making sure everyone stays positive and keeps communicating,” she said. “But off the field we’re also in charge of organizing team bonding activities and making sure everyone knows where to be on
“As people are making runs I’m playing through balls and making sure I get back on defense,” she said. Stout and Cueto said Tsakiris and Simons are strong players who will be difference-makers.
“They’re really good,” Stout said. “Caitlin was playing midfield against St. Francis and did an extremely good job of attacking and defending. Kai is injured right now but should be back in a few weeks. At practice she’s been doing really good. Her ball skills are evident and she can dribble around people so it’s going to be exciting when she starts playing in the games.” Stout has been playing soccer since she was 5 years old and moved from the Seattle area to Los Gatos before her eighth-grade year. Sports, and soccer in particular, helped ease the transition of Stout moving away from her friends at that age. “It was definitely hard adjusting to a new school, especially in the eighth grade when everyone has made their friends,” she said. “But other than that, it wasn’t super hard and soccer helped with that, too, because joining a new club team you get to meet new people and connect with them through the sport.”
Robert Eliason
A 6-0 loss to a powerhouse St. Francis side on Dec. 4 showed the Los Gatos High girls soccer team is still learning to mesh with each other on the field and figuring things out. However, the Wildcats are confident the talent on the team will coalesce which will translate into another winning season on the pitch for the tradition-rich program. “It was more of an experiment as we tried a bunch of different formations to see what works best for our team,” senior midfielder Gabby Stout said of the season-opener against St. Francis which is part of the Fremont High-Sunnyvale tournament. “It’s pretty much an entirely new team (from the Covid spring season) and even though it wasn’t a great result, everyone was supportive of each other after every goal. We also had a conversation after the game about strategies we can use moving forward and what formations we thought worked best.” The coaching staff of Pablo Cueto, Tom Hicks and Mike Grom will have time to get the team to jell, though the sooner the better. Cueto said the players possess some key intangibles such as toughness and aggression. “It’s a strong team, we have a lot of talent and they’re not scared of a challenge and not scared of taking risks,” Cueto said. “It’s a pretty aggressive group, and these girls are not scared of getting physical when they need to.” Cueto mentioned the play of senior captains Stout and Julia Massa, freshman forward Kai Tsakiris, sophomore midfielder/forward Caitlin Simons, and freshman midfielder Macie Yanonni as being key early in the season. Tsakiris is coming off an injury but has been coming out to practice and Cueto hopes she will be cleared to play by January. Cueto said Tsakiris and Simons are potent offensive threats and capable of keeping opponents on the defensive. Massa and Stout provide tremendous leadership and will be counted upon to be a direct line of communication between the coaches and players. “They help direct things on the field
and help the coaches,” Cueto said. “They’re leading warmups, they’re encouraging everyone and they really get after it.” Stout takes her responsibility as co-captain seriously, knowing how vital a role communication plays in the success or downfall of a team.
TERRIFIC TRIO Macie Yannoni, Caitlyn Simons and Gabby Stout are poised to lead the Los Gatos High girls soccer team to another strong season.
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Wildcats aim for cohesive play on the pitch
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The Los Gatos Planning Commission will meet virtually on Dec. 8 at 7pm. The commission will consider: • A demolition and rebuild of a single-family residence at 16010 Winterbrook Road; • Construction of a second-story addition to an existing single-family residence at 16529 Marchmont Drive; • A demolition of an existing detached garage, construction of a new detached garage to exceed the floor area ratio, a grading permit for site improvements, a fence height exception and removal of large protected trees at 140 Prospect Ave.; • Comments on the General Plan Draft Environmental Impact Report; and • Rescission of the Los Gatos Boulevard Plan. To view the agenda, which includes information on how to provide comments during the meeting, visit bit.ly/3lHwi3v
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MEASURE B RESULTS CERTIFIED
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The County of Santa Clara Registrar of Voters’ Office certified the official results of the Nov. 2 Los Gatos Union School District (Measure B) and Berryessa Union School District (Measure A) Special Elections with a reported 27% voter turnout. “This will be the fifth election in two years where we certified an election using the Voter’s Choice Act election model. We have such a solid and passionate team who continue to ensure fair, inclusive, accurate and transparent elections,” Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey said. The final turnout for this Special Election totaled 17,798 ballots cast, representing 27.38% of the 65,006 registered voters. Both ballot measures needed 2/3 votes or 66.67% to pass. Measure B received 75.98% “Yes” votes and 24.02% “No” votes. Measure A received 70.82% “Yes” votes
Erik Chalhoub
PLANNING COMMISSION TO CONSIDER VARIOUS HOME PROJECTS
LOCAL SCENE
BOOST Health officials are encouraging residents to get a booster shot to better protect themselves against Covid-19 and its new variant. and 29.18% “No” votes. Both measures passed by meeting the required threshold. Measure B, which required twothirds voter approval to pass, will increase the parcel tax from $290 to $335 per parcel, per year for eight years, generating an estimated $3.2 million annually for the Los Gatos Union School District. It includes a 2% annual “inflation adjustment” that kicks in during year two. The new tax will take effect in July. The Official Canvass was conducted by the Registrar of Voters Office to complete the official counting of all qualified ballots. A manual tally of 1% of the total number of precincts in these contests were also conducted as part of the Official Canvass. The official election results can be found by visiting sccvote.org
OFFICIALS URGE BOOSTER SHOTS Vaccines, and the subsequent booster shot, remain the most important tool to reduce the chances of serious illness or death from Covid-19, especially as the new Omicron variant has been discovered in San Francisco,
county health officials said. First found in South Africa, Omicron was designated as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization on Nov. 26, and the first known case in the United States was reported in San Francisco on Dec. 1. It is not yet clear if the variant is more transmissible or deadly than the other variants, according to WHO. Dr. Jennifer Tong, associate chief medical officer for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, said as of this week, Omicron has not been detected in the county, but said health officials have a “high level of suspicion” that it will be found eventually. County officials are encouraging those eligible to receive their booster shots in anticipation of a holiday surge in cases. Booster shots are now available to everyone over the age of 18 who received their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna at least six months ago, or who received their Johnson & Johnson dose at least two months ago. Roughly 78 percent of eligible county residents ages 5 and older have completed their vaccination, according to county data, with that number jumping to 90 percent for those 12 and over.
“It’s easy to say ‘why should I get the vaccine if I can get sick even after I get it?” Tong said. “What we’re seeing in people who are getting infected after being vaccinated is that the infection is much less severe. There are much less hospitalizations and deaths.” The county last reported four deaths on Nov. 8, with 111 Covid-positive patients hospitalized in the county as of Dec. 2. No proof of insurance or identification is required at the vaccination sites. Appointments are recommended. To make an appointment, visit sccfreevax.org. Pop-up vaccination locations are also listed on the website.
MAYOR, VICE MAYOR TO BE CHOSEN The Los Gatos mayor and vice mayor will be selected for the following year during a special town council meeting on Dec. 14 at 7pm. The meeting will be open to the public, and held at the Town Council Chambers, 110 E. Main St.
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Remember Someone Special
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Capture the essence of a departed family member with an obituary in the Los Gatan. 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 publish one you provide.
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Call or email for details: Lynda at 707.353.1148 or LifeTributes@Weeklys.com
LOS GATOS MAN ON PROBATION FOR INSIDER TRADING NOW FACES DECADES IN PRISON DOJ: Former Silicon Valley Bank VP faked several reference letters Drew Penner, Reporter
After being scooped up by the FBI recently during a federal court hearing in the Northern District of California, Mounir Gad, 35, had just made bail ($50,000—cash) and was on his way back to Los Gatos. He’d been ordered to live, once again, with his parents, his new attorney told the Los Gatan, Nov. 26. It’s the latest twist in an insider trading scheme with Gad, the former Silicon Valley Bank Vice President, at its center—one that appeared to have finally come to an end just weeks ago. “His dad will be picking him up,” said James T. Reilly, who recently signed on as his lawyer, but is already in the process of parting ways with Gad. “I filed a motion to withdraw as counsel.” In a sealed deal, Gad, who worked with SVB’s Sponsor Finance Group arm, pleaded guilty to tipping off his friend, Nathan Guido, to the acquisition of Procera Networks, Inc. in 2015, and to the buyout of Sizmek, Inc. in 2016, netting $27,000—which they shared. He avoided a grand jury by pleading early, and got two years’ probation. It wasn’t until after the original sentence was handed down that his lawyer at the time, Thomas D. Stout, of Oakland-based The Stout Firm, P.C, learned letters of support he’d submitted to the court on Gad’s behalf had been altered, Reilly said. It was Stout who brought the phony references to the court’s attention. Stout declined to comment for this story. And so it was that Gad was charged with tampering, identity theft and criminal contempt. He declined to comment when contacted by the Los Gatan and referred questions to a legal representative. Gad was forced to return to court Nov. 22. “That hearing never took place,” Reilly said. “The FBI showed up about maybe 15 minutes before the time set
for the hearing. So, he was taken into custody at that point.” The following day, the Department of Justice explained what happened. “Of the 12 letters submitted, Gad altered three of them without the authors’ knowledge, adding additional language praising (himself ),” a spokesperson said in a release. “Additionally, Gad submitted three more letters that were not written by the purported authors and without the purported authors’ knowledge.” In fact, in a post-sentencing hearing, District Judge Lucy H. Koh said it was the made-up part of one of the letters that had moved her most.
What I considered and what I found to be very compelling about this letter, are lies that Mr. Gad put in the letter. District Judge Lucy H. Koh
“What I considered and what I found to be very compelling about this letter, are lies that Mr. Gad put in the letter,” Koh said Nov. 10. That letter writer was in the gallery during the Nov. 3 sentencing. She reached out to Gad’s lawyer to bring the discrepancy to light, according to the criminal complaint. As investigators combed through the documents, they discovered Gad had altered two other letters stating he demonstrates “the highest integrity and character,” and for being “produc-
tive in a moral and ethical way,” the Justice Department said. He also submitted a “bogus” letter from his ex-fiancé, and from two other people who’d previously written letters of support in connection with other litigation, prosecutors said. If convicted on the new charges, Gad faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for document tampering, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for identity theft.
Securities Fraud According to a Nov. 27 DOJ sentencing memo, Gad was working for Silicon Valley Bank’s Sponsor Finance Group in Palo Alto in March 2015 when he began advising Francisco Management, L.P. on the takeover of Fremont-based hardware company Procera Networks. Later, after the new owners—a private equity firm with $10 billion under management—gained control, some Procera staff raised concerns the company might be helping the Recep Tayyip Erdogan regime in Turkey spy on its citizens, according to Forbes. As Gad worked on the $240 million deal, back in March and April 2015, he told his friend, Natghan Guido, to buy shares of Procera before the news of the acquisition was public. He bought 750 shares April 16, 2016. The sale was announced six days later. Guido entered an order to sell the shares on May 21, 2015, resulting in a $2,200 gain. Just over a year later, Gad had begun advising Vector Capital on its acquisition of Austin-based Sizmek, an online advertising firm. He learned of the buyout July 25, 2016. Using a secret code, Gad shared the ticker symbol with Guido. His friend got the message and snagged 26,022 Sizmek shares Aug. 1, 2016—two days before the deal was announced to the public. This time, Guido didn’t wait to sell. That very same day, he ditched the shares, raking in a $27,000 profit, which they split, the DOJ said. Sizmek filed for bankruptcy in 2019.
POLICE BLOTTER
• Two unknown suspects stole an electric bicycle from a driveway on College Avenue at 7:32am. • A van was spotted driving on the grass near town hall on E. Main Street at 5:13pm. A caller reported that the driver then got out of the van and began playing a guitar.
NOV. 29
• A man was spotted trying to open doors of vehicles parked on Pine Wood Lane at 4:51am. • Someone cut Christmas lights at a home on Nino Way. • Tools were stolen sometime overnight on Los Gatos Boulevard. • A man was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance and unlawful paraphernalia on the 14600 block of Winchester Boulevard at 11:17am. • A woman was arrested for robbery on the 15700 block of Corrine Drive at 3:35pm. • A caller reported a man wearing a black hoodie and black sunglasses was sitting in a truck with a computer and “what appears to be a device that steals people’s info” on Blossom Hill Road at 3:58pm.
NOV. 30
• A man was arrested for being in possession of unlawful paraphernalia on National and Carlton avenues at 12:18am. • A residence was vandalized on Lora Drive.
DEC. 1
• A caller reported two days in a row that a pair of springer spaniels have been running around a neighborhood unleashed at Kennedy Court and Kennedy Road. • A vehicle was stolen on Andrews Street. • A retaining wall on Escobar Avenue was vandalized with graffiti. • A caller reported they were pushed by a business’ employee on National Avenue at 2pm. • A caller reported two dogs barking
at their neighbor’s house for the past couple of hours on West Parr Avenue at 8:15pm.
McAfee Center, Saratoga
Tickets at LosGatosBallet.org
DEC. 2
• A vehicle was keyed on High School Court. • Unknown suspects “forcibly removed” tables and benches that were bolted into the ground on E. Main Street. • A man reportedly pushed a shopping cart into three customers on Union Avenue at 3:07pm, “yelling at them about masks.” • A vehicle was reported stolen on Pinehurst Avenue. • A man stole beer and chicken from a business on N. Santa Cruz Avenue at 6:30pm, “knocking over bottles as he stumbled out of the store.” • A man was reported knocking loudly on the front door of a residence on Jo Drive and asking for money at 7:20pm.
DEC. 3
• A man was arrested for being in possession of unlawful paraphernalia on the 100 block of Carlton Avenue at 1:03am. • A wallet was stolen from a store on the 400 block of North Santa Cruz Avenue. • A caller requested extra traffic enforcement on Wedgewood Avenue due to drivers “constantly flying down” the road. • A person reported being hit with a bottle by a juvenile on the 100 block of North Santa Cruz Avenue at 3:20pm. • No injuries were reported after a vehicle struck a fire department rig on Francis Oaks Way at 4:53pm. • A caller reported seeing a man checking car door handles on West Main Street and Lyndon Avenue at 6:16pm. • A vehicle was burglarized on the 500 block of University Avenue. • An unknown suspect ransacked a home on Twin Creeks Road. Information is compiled from public records released by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.
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NOV. 28
December 17th-19th
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GUEST VIEW
Prioritizing children over plastic
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Giulianna Pendleton
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What were your favorite school memories as a child? Mine included counting roly-polies in the grass at recess, having mud-sliding contests after school, and picking wildflowers with my friends. Some of my least favorite memories were having to play soccer on plastic turf on an already hot day (the field was at least 20 degrees hotter and smelled bad), then having to clean my shoes, socks, skin and bag from the turf pellets, and usually cleaning bleeding cuts from falling on plastic blades. The Los Gatos Union School District is renovating outdoor spaces for three elementary schools: Louise Van Meter, Daves Avenue and Blossom Hill Elementary. The question on the table: install artificial turf or natural grass and plants? At the school board meeting on Nov. 18, district staff recommended using natural grass for playing fields, a mix of artificial turf, concrete, plants and other synthetic material for courtyard and play areas, and a statement declaring artificial turf safe to use for all future school uses. However, after the school board meeting it seems artificial turf may still be an option for the three playing fields. The final decision for courtyards is expected at the board’s Dec. 14 meeting and the play fields in the spring. Installing plastic turf at elementary schools would be putting our children’s long-term health at risk and robbing them of a holistic education. If you’re worried about your children’s fate, consider: 1. Replacing fields and courtyards with concrete and plastic turf would eliminate already thinning natural spaces. Elementary schools should be places for children to learn and explore—inside the classroom and out. Do we want to teach our children about plastic pollution or about native plants, bugs, birds and rabbits? Studies around the world have found that
into another field and it most often ends up in the landfill every 10 years. The field’s shockpad can be reused once, but then it will go to the landfill too. Rather than playing in nature, children will be playing in future trash. If a person lives to be 100, that person can witness artificial turf from one school be sent to the landfill 10 times. If Van Meter, Daves and Blossom Hill’s fields were all switched to artificial turf that would mean 30 plastic fields going to the landfill in one person’s lifetime. 5. Turf blades have been found to contain fluorine, a major indicator of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS, along with similar hormone-disrupting chemicals found in turf pose a wealth of health risks: Attention Deficits, Early Puberty, Obesity, Asthma, reduced male fertility, and cancer (Diana Zuckerman, National Center for Health Research).
Giulianna Pendleton
‘Installing plastic turf at elementary schools would be putting our children’s long-term health at risk and robbing them of a holistic education.’
experience with nature from a young age is beneficial for children’s immune systems and mental health. Though grass isn’t the same as an old growth forest, it does allow them to watch a robin hunt for a worm, see rabbits run across the grass, and a ladybug land on their hand. 2. Plastic gets hot. Twenty-plus degrees hotter than grass surfaces. On an 80-degree day, the plastic field will be
100 degrees, whereas trees and grass are natural coolers. Playing games in that kind of heat is unhealthy. 3. Plastic from turf runoff bioaccumulates in our soil and watershed. As it breaks down, plastic releases toxic compounds that compromise water quality and harm wildlife and human health. 4. Artificial turf cannot be recycled
6. Plastic fields require close maintenance. It must be raked of all mold-causing leaves, cleaned with special chemical-based solutions, watered for both cooling and cleaning, and free of any overhanging trees to prevent tree or bird droppings. While nature is a self-cleaner, artificial products require artificial maintenance. 7. Maintenance also includes monitoring for toxic chemicals: metals, organic compounds, pesticides and PFAS. Why expose children to hazardous materials as they play? If there is any glimmer of doubt for children’s safety, I would hope our school district would take the safe route and put our children first. 8. Once plastic is installed, it is very difficult to turn back to grass or any natural landscape. Meaning, once you have the plastic, you are most likely stuck with the plastic. Giulianna Pendleton grew up in and currently lives in Los Gatos. She is the Environmental Advocacy Assistant for Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society.
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16515 Butterfield Blvd., Morgan Hill, CA LomaClaraSeniorLiving.com | (833) 581-8885
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Drew Penner/Los Gatan
AINSLEY HOUSE HOLIDAY TEAS AND TOURS
CALENDAR
The annual Ainsley House Holiday Teas and Tours will be held from noon to 2pm Dec. 9-12. Guests will be treated to a special Ainsley House tea blend, sparkling cider or champagne, and an assortment of sandwiches and desserts. The Ainsley House is located at 300 Grant St. in Campbell. Admission to the event is $50-$60. → bit.ly/3xjQFsk
SARATOGA RETIREMENT COMMUNITY MEETING A virtual public meeting for the Saratoga Retirement Community project will be held on Dec. 9 at 6pm. where attendees are invited to share their comments on the type and extent of environmental analysis to be included in the Environmental Impact Report. The 249-unit project is proposed for 14500 Fruitvale Ave. in Saratoga. → bit.ly/3pveauW
HOOTENANNY! Hootenanny! will perform pop hits at Number 1 Broadway, 102 South Santa Cruz Ave. #B (Upstairs), on Dec. 9. Doors open at 7pm, with music starting at 9pm. → number1broadway.com
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STAND UP COMEDY
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Comics Frankie Marcos, Ian Levy, Nicole Tran, Sk Morton, Leslie Lang and Emily Van Dyke will perform at Pruneyard Cinemas, 1875 S Bascom Ave. in Campbell, on Dec. 10 and 11 at 7pm. Hosted by Jason Toupes and Hank Romeo. Attendees must be 18 or older. Tickets are $20. For information and tickets, visit bit.ly/3dplxyb
NUTCRACKER Los Gatos Ballet’s “Nutcracker” returns in person to McAfee Performing Arts, 20300 Herriman Ave. in Sarato-
HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE Los Gatos Ballet will perform “Nutcracker” Dec. 17-19. ga. Showtimes are Dec. 17 at 7:30pm, Dec. 18 at 2pm and 7:30pm, and Dec. 19 at 2pm. Admission is $28-$58. For information and tickets, visit losgatosballet.org/nutcracker
CARRIAGE RIDES Horse-drawn carriages ride through the streets of Los Gatos will delight riders with lights, sights and sounds of a small town. Rides begin at Town Plaza. To book a ride, visit bit.ly/3nKUFPj
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. Next meetings: Dec. 2, local architect Terry Martin on accessory dwelling units). Dec. 9: Author and retired Special Ops Game Warden Lt. John Nores on environmental and wildlife protection.
THE LOS GATOS MORNING ROTARY CLUB The Club meets every Wednesday morning 7:30-8:30am at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road. Program includes featured guest speakers.
LOS GATOS LIONS CLUB The Los Gatos Lions Club meets every Wednesday. A breakfast meeting is held at Moore Buick, 15500 Los Gatos Blvd., at 8am and a noon meeting at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, with a guest speaker. The club has been active since 1946.
PUBLIC MEETINGS Town Council The Los Gatos Town Council meets virtually on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7pm. → losgatosca.gov/16/Town-Council Planning Commission The Los Gatos Planning Commission meets virtually on the second
and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm. → losgatosca.gov/189/ 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. → bit.ly/3DaJRi9 Los Gatos Union School District Board of Trustees The board meets monthly at either 6:30pm or 4pm. → 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
Give the gift of Timeless Trails
Together, we will create, restore, and sustain trail access to our cherished public lands.
Scan me with your phone camera, or visit: santacruztrails.org/tt
Donate today $
SILICON VALLEY’S ONLY DINE-IN CINEMA Tickets & Showtimes at PruneyardCinemas.com
presents
DECEMBER 10TH & 11TH
Live Stand-up at Pruneyard Cinemas
SCAN FOR TICKETS!
SATURDAY LINE-UP 6:00PM & 8:30PM FRANKIE MARCOS IAN LEVY EMILY VAN DYKE NICOLE TRAN SK MORTON HANK ROMERO JASON TOUPES
Move Young, Age Well.
CULINARY CINEMAS
JOIN US FOR A FILM-INSPIRED CULINARY ADVENTURE Throughout each film, a film-inspired three-course meal will be delivered directly to your luxury recliner!
DECEMBER 9TH
$57.50 - DINNER INCLUDED! FILM-INSPIRED MENU STARTER Stuck To Your Tongue Lobster & Egg Salad Toast MAIN COURSE A Christmas Turkey Meatloaf, Whipped Sweet Potato & Cranberry Ketchup DESSERT You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out Coconut Cream Pie
1875 S BASCOM AVE, CAMPBELL | (408) 717-4715
Small 24 hour Open Studio Classes and Services Treat pain, lose weight, increase flexibility, balance & strength...
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(408)358-4915
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No Other Fees
Comedy Night $20 FRIDAY LINE-UP 7:00PM FRANKIE MARCOS IAN LEVY NICOLE TRAN LESLIE LANG SK MORTON HANK ROMERO JASON TOUPES
99mo
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Our Planet’s Greatest Challenge. Our Largest New Exhibit.
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201 S. Market St., San Jose, CA 95113 | thetech.org |
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Recreation LGS Recreation
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM IN LOS GATOS Join us as a charter subscriber! The team that launched the original Los Gatos Weekly has come together once again to give the town the quality of journalism it needs.
Become a 55 Plus Program member today! Membership includes community building activities, classes, incentives and discounts, trips, referral services,
News about local people, school sports and vital community issues will fill the pages of thislocal publication –and a live web site.
Volunteer Opportunities,
Los Gatos deserves real reporting.
and more. Contact us for details.
408.354.8700 www.lgsrecreation.org
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lgsubs.com
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REAL ESTATE
HOME OF THE WEEK
Compass
Los Gatan T-shirts Now available for purchase Order online: wklys.co/lgtshirt
WOOD ROAD This home sits on more than 21 acres.
PRIVATE ESTATE PROPERTY IN LOS GATOS
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The more than 21-acre property also features a pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, firepit, gym facility, dry sauna, fourcar garage and more. A separate secondary home is also on the property. The home is listed at $7 million by Compass Saratoga. For information, visit bit.ly/3rGMRR2 Compass
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This Los Gatos home is surrounded by natural scenery highlighted by native plants and trees. Located at 130 Wood Road, the 6,276-square-foot home includes six bedrooms and six bathrooms. French doors lead outside to decks and courtyards as well as meandering pathways and lawns.
Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Find us on Facebook, Instagram, doorsteps and newsTwitter, racks doorsteps and news around town allracks aroundall town
@losgatan on social media @losgatan losgatan.com on the web on social media losgatan.com on the web
Subscriptions: lgsubs.com Subscriptions: lgsubs.com
INSIDE A gym facility is also part of the home’s amenities.
Quality House Cleaning
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SANTOS HAULING SANTOS HAULING The ORIGINAL Santos Hauling since 1998
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R&R
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Providing quality service and meeting your real estate needs in both sales and property management since 1977 Broker, Jeanne Jensen Shada
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ASPHALT
CLUTTER BUG
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Tapas & Tunes December 10
Mindful Movie Night December 11
Saturday Supper December 11
Celebrate December with Our Last 1440 Community Events of 2021 Reconnect with yourself, friends and loved ones in the redwoods with 1440 Multiversity Community Events, presenting new learning opportunities to explore our 75-acre campus in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Immersive educational experiences including Mindful Movie nights, live music under the stars and delicious globally inspired meals comprise just a sample of our day guest learning offerings, inviting you to re-energize in the fresh mountain air at 1440.
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$ 55
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Tapas & Tunes: Take a tour
of Joanie’s Garden before beginning your culinary adventure at Kitchen Table sampling a variety of sustainable food favorites from around the world and learning about “Food As Medicine” from the 1440 Culinary Team. After, relax at Common Grounds Patio by the fire pits and enjoy live music from popular Santa Cruz performers.
$ 10
Mindful Movie Night: The
Mindfulness Movement is a feature documentary that profiles the growing number of people who believe mindfulness – a peaceful quality of attention anyone can develop by simply focusing on the present moment in a non-judgmental way – is the key to creating a healthier, happier world. Become inspired to develop your own mindfulness practices in the new year.
$ 75
Saturday Supper: Enjoy a
Chef’s Open House & Garden Tour at the 1440 Teaching Kitchen before indulging in a multi-course dinner menu at Kitchen Table. Relax into the evening with live music and a Mindful Movie screening of The Mindfulness Movement at Redwood Auditorium, complete with mindfulness tips and exercises to begin or strengthen your practice.
1440 Multiversity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit philanthropic campus – all ticket purchases help feed families in our community and support our 1440 grant and scholarship program fostering the 1440 vision of creating hope for living well.
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA | 1440.ORG | (844) 544-1440