Los Gatan August 23 2023

TOWN TO SHARE LICENSE PLATE DATA WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT COUNTYWIDE

Detective describes using Flock cameras to investigate a commercial break-in

Drew Penner, Reporter

In the 30 days leading up to Nov. 9, 2022, in order to find 23 vehicles that might have been involved in a crime, the Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system scanned 458,411 plates, the Electronic Frontier Foundation found.

Since then, Los Gatos’ dragnet has increased significantly.

In the month prior to an Aug. 15 Council presentation, the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department says it scanned 601,133 vehicles—an increase of almost a third.

The department has been generating this dataset that it was eager to share with neighboring departments.

So, when Chief Jamie Field headed back to Council to share her summer crime update, she requested the leaders agree to loosen-up on a key digital data guardrail.

After a pilot program, Los Gatos signed on with Flock ➝ Law, 4

LG FOOTBALL PRIMED FOR A SPECIAL FALL SEASON

Wildcats aim for Open breakthrough

Emanuel Lee, Sports Reporter

In each of the last two years, the Los Gatos High football team has suffered a heartbreaking end to their season against a West Catholic Athletic League school in the Central Coast Section Division I playoffs.

Last year, it was a 29-28 overtime loss to Mitty. Two years ago, it was a last-minute 34-27 defeat to Bellarmine. Those results mean the Wildcats are among the elite programs in the section. However, they would love nothing more than to break through in 2023 and win a game or more in the ➝ Football, 10

police blotter p6 : opinion p7 : college gets funding boost p12 : ny times crossword puzzle p17

BACK IN ACTION Los Gatos High senior wide receiver and defensive back Jaylen Thomas, last year’s SCVAL De Anza Division’s Most Valuable Player, is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the entire Central Coast Section.

Jonathan Natividad

Call Me to Discuss Your Next Move in 2023

Once known as “Take A Chance Ranch” this delightful horse property is centrally located with numerous amenities. The home has been tastefully updated. Chef’s kitchen with center island/ breakfast bar, granite counters, informal dining area, stainless steel appliances, and pantry. Separate office with barn door. Formal living & dining room with high wood beamed ceiling. Primary suite with fireplace, 2-walk-in closets, stone surfaced bathroom, granite counter, and 2 sinks. 2 other bedrooms & loft with full bath. 3rd full bath on 1st floor. Wood floors throughout. Freshly painted interior. Separate barn with mini kitchen, full bath, high ceilings, slate floors, loft area, huge access door, 2 stalls, hay storage, 4 pastures, 2 paddocks, 1 round pen. Approximately 3 wonderful acres of gorgeous land.Year round stream & mountain views. Outdoor entertaining areas. Fenced yards. Plenty of space for oversized vehicles. Fully fenced property. Close to all major shopping.

CULINARY CINEMAS

Enjoy

SEPTEMBER 18

Starter: The Riviera - Boston Bibb Lettuce, Millionaire’s Bacon, Tomato, Haricot Vert, Herbed Croutons, Smoked Onion Dressing

Main Entree: Dinner at Mamma’s - Beef Meatball Sub, Tomato Sugo, Caciocavallo, Crispy Hashbrowns, Basil

Dessert: Ace Rothstein - Tiramisu, Mascarpone Cream, Espresso, Savoiardi, Cocoa, 24 Karat Gold

OCTOBER 9

Starter: Where’s Our Pizza Man?Margherita Pizza Bites, Mozzarella, Basilico

Main Entree: Loaf Is All You Need - Meatloaf, Garlic Pomme Puree, Broccoli, Beef Jus

Dessert: Peanut Butter Time - Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich, Vanilla Gelato, Reese’s Pieces Crumble

OCTOBER 23

Starter: Holy Garlic - Garlicky Toasted

Ciabatta, Herbed Butter, Citrus, Tomato

Main Entree: How Can A Billion People Be Wrong? - Stir Fried Beef, Jasmine Rice, Peppers, Carrot, Peas, Ginger, Sweet Chili

Aioli

Dessert: Bloody Delicious - Chocolate Lava Cake, Variations Of Red Beets, Chantilly

VOL.2 NO.51

POLICE: DATA HELPS CATCH SUSPECTS

Law, from page 1

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Safety at a cost of about $40,000 a year. This was OK’d through this year’s budget, which got multiple readings.

Now—just months after winning approval for the high-tech policing tool—Field was asking for Council members to flip the switch, in a single vote, on a major aspect of how it handles access to the millions of plates it scans every year.

“The data collected from this ALPR system is currently only being used by our agency and we are not sharing the information with other agencies within Santa Clara County; however, we are the only agency not sharing with other law enforcement agencies,” Field wrote in her report. “By allowing our agency to share this data with agencies within our County we will be increasing our ability to investigate and deter crime by broadening the data pool locally.”

Earlier this year, a LGMSPD Flock camera identified the vehicle it suspects was involved in a fatal hit-andrun collision, leading to the driver’s arrest, she added.

Councilmember Rob Rennie asked about how the police department stores the data, noting he’s aware Los Gatos’ policy is to destroy the information after 30 days.

He wondered what would happen to LGMSPD’s plate scans if it shared the data with an organization that’s allowed to hold on to data longer.

Rennie suggested it might be a good idea to limit sharing to organizations that keep data for an amount of time that’s within a range that Los Gatos officials are comfortable with.

“I wouldn’t want it to be indefinite,” Rennie said.

Det. Sgt. Bill Hoyt said while Los Gatos technically owns its data, it’s only accessing data that exists on a server somewhere.

Plus, police can only download data pursuant to a potential prosecution, he added.

When sharing information about a suspect vehicle, police are simply changing the permissions on who can view that very same data—not emailing or texting a dossier—he added.

“They don’t ever take our data in,” he said. “There’s no batch downloading that they need to delete.”

Councilmember Rob Moore asked for a few more specifics.

Hoyt replied with an example that was fresh on his mind: a business that had been broken into overnight. He said the cameras were helpful in responding to the crime.

“I love talking about the system. It’s incredible,” he said. “Almost all property crime is committed by people from out of town and they usually take a vehicle in.”

He was able to look at every single vehicle that entered town between 2:30 and 3am.

“There was 129 vehicles,” he said, noting after eliminating the garbage trucks and emergency vehicles it went down to 109.

About 20 seconds after a LGMSPD camera reader picks up the location, direction of travel and time of a particular plate in the Hot List database, all local police get an email and cellphone message, and dispatch is looped in.

“We’re able to flood that area and look for it,” Hoyt said. “Either a) we catch them…or 2, they take off from us. Now, most law enforcement agencies cannot chase non-violent criminals anymore, because of the huge risk during pursuits to the public. So, by having them flee, we know they came in; we know that vehicle’s been used in bad things before; we spotted them; they saw us; they think there’s probably 30 cops in Los Gatos, because four cops that are on duty—all four show up at the same place at the same time…we didn’t get to stop and catch them from doing bad things that night, or that day, but we stopped them from doing that here.”

Moore said because there are so many vehicles coming-and-going, that does appear to make it difficult to abuse the batch downloading system.

“If we do choose to share this, I think as AI gets more sophisticated and all that—and you can do more with filtering through large Excel spreadsheets and all that—I will be wanting to make sure that everyone who we’re sharing this with is still acting in good faith and not doing anything to batch download or anything like that,” he said.

Councilmember Matthew Hudes said ALPR technology isn’t about discriminating against any demographic

group, but rather an attempt to zero in on actual offenders.

“This use of cameras and matching up with known criminals is the exact opposite of profiling,” he said. “This is not looking for general characteristics, but for finding the criminal that is looking to do bad things.”

Vice Mayor Mary Badame made the motion to share data with other Santa Clara County law enforcement agencies without placing any additional restrictions on the amount of time other jurisdictions can continue to hold on to plate info collected by Los Gatos.

It was approved unanimously.

The Flock Safety roll-out in Los Gatos was not the only one that was tweaked recently in Northern California.

The installation of license plate readers in Carmel-by-the-Sea was halted after some homeowners complained.

“They were putting new poles into the ground,” City Administrator Chip Rerig said Tuesday. “I stopped any additional installation.”

The Carmel Pine Cone newspaper reported that local residents have been worried about privacy issues and visual clutter near homes.

However, Rerig told the Los Gatan people were mostly having problems with the aesthetic aspect.

“The lion’s share of the concerns have not been the civil liberties,” he said, adding he’s been working behind the scenes to develop a plan to get the cameras— which have a solar panel attached— mounted on existing structures.

However, with Council members on vacation, any on-the-ground action is on pause.

The community grappled with the privacy questions back in 2018 when they signed up with a different vendor.

“We were worried about civil liberties issues at that time—and it was nothing,” he said, adding there are plenty of similarities between a community like Los Gatos and Carmel-bythe-Sea. “Generally, people have been supportive of an increased surveillance system.”

Having a powerful network that can share data about suspect vehicles in real-time has obvious benefits, he added.

“It will ping the neighboring jurisdiction,” he said, describing the functionality of the system. “If it’s a stolen plate from Los Gatos, it tells Los Gatos.”

MAN CONVICTED OF FELONY DRUG SALES IN LOS GATOS

Armendariz to be sentenced to 12 years in prison

Staff Report

A San Jose drug dealer will be sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted last week of selling fentanyl-laced pills to a group of Los Gatos High School students.

Several students carried Narcan with them in case they overdosed on the toxic drug, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. One of the victims, a 15-yearold girl, reportedly overdosed in a bathroom at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.

Late last week, Simon Armendariz, 23, pleaded as charged to all charges and allegations, which included four felonies for selling drugs to minors,

misdemeanors for possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of fentanyl, and two strike prior offenses.

AUG. 13

• A woman was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Los Gatos Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road at 12:22am.

• A man was reported as suspicious because he kept looking at someone and “playing with his pockets” on Lark Avenue and Highway 17 at 7:26am.

• A man was arrested for child abuse on the 2200 block of Curtner Avenue at 1:35pm.

• Loud music was reported on Hillvale Avenue at 2:19pm.

• A caller thought a vehicle with four juveniles inside parked by itself in a parking lot on Winchester Boulevard at 7:49pm was suspicious.

AUG. 14

• Mail was reported stolen from two mailboxes on University Avenue.

• A vehicle was reportedly vandalized with racial slurs written on it on Winchester Circle.

• Paperwork was reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on Winchester Boulevard.

As well as other misdemeanor offenses. Armendariz will be formally sentenced on Dec. 6 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.

“Just so everybody knows: fentanyl kills,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “Just so everybody knows: if you sell fentanyl to teenagers then our prosecutors will do everything in our power to send you to prison for a very long time.”

The investigation began when the Santa Clara Police Department responded to an overdose. The pill the teen overdosed on—a counterfeit Percocet pill laced with fentanyl—was traced back to Armendariz, prosecutors said.

The SCPD, a county drug task force, and DA investigators traced the drugs to several other students, one of whom

POLICE BLOTTER

• A man was reportedly throwing cigarettes into dry brush on Shannon and Short roads at 5:06pm.

• A caller reported construction workers were using jackhammers on Hilow Road at 9:51pm.

AUG. 15

• Vandalism was reported on High School Court.

• A business was reportedly burglarized on Los Gatos Boulevard.

• A man reportedly walked up to a person and made “bizarre statements” on W. Parr Avenue and Capri Drive at 4pm.

AUG. 16

• A man was reportedly “yelling the F-word repeatedly” on N. Santa Cruz Avenue at 6:47am.

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

• A vehicle with its key inside was reported stolen on National Avenue.

• Grand theft was reported at a

business on Blossom Hill Road at 3:35pm.

• A man was arrested for threatening to commit a crime and being in possession of an open container in a public park on the 15500 block of Union Avenue at 6:37pm.

• A man on a Segway was reportedly going door-to-door on Forest Hill Drive claiming he was from PG&E at 8:03pm, but refused to give identification.

• A package was reported stolen on Withey Road.

• Items were reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on Oak Rim Court.

AUG. 17

• A group of juveniles were reported for “being loud” at La Rinconada Park at 12:02am.

• A man was arrested for weapon law violations and vandalism on the 200 block of Union Avenue at 7:24am.

• Someone stole a vehicle’s license plates on Elm Wood Court.

would get the $10 pills delivered from the dealer at school before first period or at the nearby parking lot of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Los Gatos.

• A caller reported their neighbor shot their vehicle with a paintball gun on Union Avenue.

AUG. 18

• Unknown suspects stole two vehicles’ catalytic converters.

• A man was arrested for displaying an unauthorized disabled person placard in Municipal Lot 4 at 2:26pm.

AUG.

19

• A caller reported they were threatened when they asked someone to turn down their music on Lark Avenue at 11:48am.

• A man reportedly jumped out in front of moving vehicles “waving his arms” on Monterey Avenue and Andrews Street at 8:43pm.

• A home was reportedly burglarized on Montalvo Oaks Circle.

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

Simon Armendariz

If you sell fentanyl to teenagers then our prosecutors will do everything in our power to send you to prison for a very long time.

Jeff Rosen

GUEST VIEW

THE DILEMMA FACING CAREGIVERS OF OLDER ADULTS

Jeffrey P. Blum, Contributor

I am an old geezer who likes to stay informed. This means I am a news junkie and a voracious reader. Give me a good newspaper (electronic format is OK), a good magazine (paper form only), an interesting podcast, and a good audible book or one available through Amazon or Libby (preferably of the nonfiction variety), and I’m a happy camper.

I’m also an old geezer who is an active volunteer.

The combination of life as a hardcore news and reading consumer and dedicated volunteer has led me to participate as a member of Rotary Club of Los Gatos (although many of our approximately 145 members are not old geezers), and to become a commissioner on the Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC).

This makes me tend to focus on educating myself about issues facing older adults, by reading a lot about aging and by seeking out experts who deal with older adults in a variety of capacities.

I keep reading and hearing the problem of caregiving for older adults.

This older adult caregiver dilemma is mentioned in the Senior Services Committee Road Map report, which was completed about nine months ago, and

which the Los Gatos Town Council has approved as a plan for improving senior services. CHSSC is tasked with implementing this road map, which means we must find ways to address this dilemma.

According to a survey mentioned in the Road Map, more than one-third of the survey respondents are caring for someone who is 55-plus. Although Los Gatos now has an adult day care service (i.e. Live Oak Adult Day Care), a future crunch is predicted for caregiving support.

A recent study funded by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors titled the “Adult Caregiver Study” will further educate our commission and our community to the need for action to address the increasingly dire caregiver situation. Some of the findings in the study include the following:

• Most family caregivers are women, an adult child of the care recipient, 45-64 years of age, and married.

• According to a survey by Sourcewise, which is mentioned in the study, caregivers indicate that in-home assistance is the top service missing for older adults. The survey also indicates that a substantial number of caregivers identified respite (i.e. short term breaks) as the most important unmet need for caregivers.

• Top priorities for family caregivers include information on caring for a loved one, counseling or help managing care, and information on managing difficult behaviors.

• Family caregiver needs also include emotional/mental health support, financial aid, housing/placement, disease specific information, family caregiver education training and transportation.

• Choosing not to invest in Santa Clara County family caregivers and direct

care workers is likely to result in significant human and economic costs for the county. More family caregivers will suffer from depression, burnout and poverty. Fewer individuals will become direct care workers, making an already understaffed workforce unprepared to meet future demand. And hospital and health systems will likely experience overcrowded emergency rooms, avoidable hospital admissions, and a surge in nursing home requests. More than one-fifth of Los Gatos residents are seniors. The older adult population in Los Gatos is expected to grow to approximately one-third in the next several years. Thus, as the study notes, the older adult dilemma is likely to worsen, with our caregivers who assist these older adults experiencing many adverse consequences. The study is comprehensive, and it offers many concrete suggestions for addressing the older adult caregiver dilemma, such as calling for county departments, including health departments and hospitals to work together with community organizations to create specific programs that address the caregiver dilemma.

Addressing the caregiver dilemma doesn’t end with publication of the study, however. More old geezers like me who love to read, educate themselves and volunteer can help by contacting our Board of Supervisors to express their concerns, joining CHSSC to help us construct recommendations for improving the situation, and/or by otherwise applying their knowledge, experience and connections to finding answers to the older adults dilemma.

Thank you for successful film festival

A heartfelt thank you to Los Gatan reporter Drew Penner, who attended our first KCAT Summer Media Film Festival on Aug. 14! Drew, we are grateful for the front page picture of two of our leaders, Noah Hirsch and Owen Fugit, plus your feature article inside was terrific.

A big shout-out goes to Paul Gunsky and his entire team at the Los Gatos CineLux Theatre for supporting KCAT's popular summer program by hosting this event. We packed the house and you all made the experience flawless. We love our partnership with the theater!

We are so proud of our stellar counselors/leaders who taught and mentored seven CITs and 202 of our next-gen filmmakers, directors, producers, podcasters, scriptwriters and influencers. This is the magic that KCAT gives to our community: paid job opps and resume builders for high school and college students pursuing their dreams; CIT training for middle schoolers; and an incredibly creative and inclusive summer media experience for ages 9-14.

Lastly, “Entering the Potatoverse” was voted as the best headline by all of us at KCAT.

Melissa Toren Executive Director, KCAT

Jeffrey P. Blum is a family law mediator who lives in Los Gatos. He can be reached at blumesq@aol.com.

SPORTS

WILDCATS SET TO KICK OFF 2023 CAMPAIGN

• Last season’s record: 8-3, 5-0 (Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division champion)

• Playoffs: CCS D-I quarterfinalist

Senior wide receiver and defensive back Jaylen Thomas, last year’s SCVAL De Anza Division’s Most Valuable Player, is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the entire CCS.

He caught, threw and returned a kick for touchdowns last season, and was equally impactful as a ball-hawking safety. Scott Garwood returns at the other safety spot and coach Mark Krail said the duo can run the defense from the back end. Senior Ryan Vernale, the 2022 SCVAL De Anza’s Lineman of the Year, anchors the offensive and defensive lines along with Lyndon Bailey. Los Gatos prefers to have its linemen play just one side of the ball but Vernale and Bailey will go both ways, a testament to their talent and toughness.

Los Gatos prepares to compete in new league

Emanuel Lee, Sports Reporter

The Los Gatos football team is loaded with an arsenal as usual following a successful season that led them to a Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza title and a Central Coast Section Division I postseason appearance.

The Wildcats merged into the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division—a top tier of the five divisions within the league—that features Wilcox, Sacred Heart Prep, Menlo-Atherton, Burlingame and Mountain View.

Below is a breakdown of the upcoming 2023 season.

Los Gatos Wildcats

• Head coach: Mark Krail (11th season)

• League: Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division

Spencer Burg, a senior fullback and linebacker, is a team captain and “one of the catalysts for a lot of our success in the middle of the defense and point of attack on offense,” Krail said. The Wildcats are one of the few programs that still utilize the fullback position and do it well, with Burg and returning fullback and linebacker Henry Masters expected to lead a strong ground attack along with running backs Boxer Kopcsak-Yeung and Andrew Sandoval.

2023 schedule

• Aug. 24: Soquel, 7pm

• Sept. 1: at Liberty-Brentwood, 7pm

• Sept. 8: at Live Oak, 7:15pm

• Sept. 15: Palo Alto (Alumni Night), 7pm

• Sept. 29: Pittsburg, 7:30pm

• Oct. 6: Sacred Heart Prep* (Homecoming), 7pm

• Oct. 13: Mountain View*, 7pm

• Oct. 19: at Burlingame*, 7pm

• Oct. 27: at Wilcox*, 7pm

• Nov. 3: Menlo-Atherton* (Senior Night), 7pm

*Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division game

LONGTIME LEADER Los Gatos High coach Mark Krail is entering his 11th season with the Wildcats football program.

READY TO GO Los Gatos High fullback and linebacker Henry Masters is expected to lead a strong ground attack for the Wildcats football team in the upcoming 2023 season.

Photos by Jonathan Natividad

STRONG UP FRONT Ryan

Vernale, the 2022 De Anza Division Lineman of the Year, gets physical during the Wildcats’ practice on Aug. 14.

FIERCE Lyndon Bailey, 2022 De Anza Division

MVP Jaylen Thomas and Ryan Vernale will help lead Los Gatos High to what is expected to be another tremendous season.

STARTERS RETURN TO FOOTBALL TEAM

Football, from page 1

Division I Open, particularly against one of those WCAL squads.

Los Gatos has another talented team under coach Mark Krail, who is in his 11th season at the school.

The Wildcats return 11 starters led by senior wide receiver/safety Jaylen Thomas, one of the more dynamic playmakers in the CCS.

The 6-foot, 170-pound senior threw, caught and returned a kick and inter-

ception for touchdowns last year, a testament to his versatility and ability to affect the outcome in every facet of the game. The 2022 Peninsula Athletic League De Anza Division MVP, Thomas often gains huge chunks of yardage after the catch.

“He’s one of those guys where the defense is going to know where he is [because he’s so dangerous],” Krail said.

Thomas and fellow senior safety Scott Garwood cover a lot of real estate defensively, where their instinct for the ball results in plenty of pass breakups and interceptions.

“We’ll count heavily on both of them to run the defense from the back end really,” Krail said.

Traditionally strong up front, the Wildcats are expected to have another solid group led by two-way senior linemen Ryan Vernale and Lyndon Bailey. Vernale, last season’s De Anza Division Lineman of the Year, and Bailey are the tackles on the offensive line.

Los Gatos prefers to have its line-

men play just one side of the ball but Vernale and Bailey are too good not to go both ways.

“Our hope is they don’t have to play both ways, but they’re good enough they could play there,” Krail said. “We’re still trying to figure some things out and we do have some depth on the offensive and defensive lines. The goal is to have one-way players but very seldom can you do that. If we can find other guys to play with no dropoff, we’re better for it.”

Nathan Ryvola and Henry Anslinger are projected as the starting offensive guards, with Matt Ludeman at center. Leading up to the season-opener, Krail said the positions on the defensive line were wide open, with George Charles, Aurelio Valdez, Franklin White and Joseph Matthews in the mix, to go along with Vernale and Bailey.

“There’s a lot of in and out going on right now,” Krail said a week into fall practice. “We start with the offensive line first and try to figure that out and coach up the other guys to play D-line.”

Spencer Burg, a senior fullback/ linebacker, is a team captain and “one of the catalysts for a lot of our success in the middle of the defense and point of attack on offense,” Krail said. The Wildcats are one of the few programs that still utilize the fullback position and do it well, with Burg and returning FB/LB Henry Masters expected to lead a strong ground attack along with running backs Boxer Kopcsak-Yeung, Andrew Sandoval and Justin Mazzaferro.

The biggest question mark comes at quarterback and replacing Jake Boyd, who was consistent, steady and a veteran presence. However, the cupboard is far from bare as Krail said there are four players—AJ Minyard, Scotty Brennan, Grant Murphy and Shane Timmons—who are all capable.

Minyard started the Palo Alto game last season and had a nice performance, Brennan was the best junior varsity QB in the league last year and Timmons is a Saratoga-transfer who will no doubt be an impact player once he’s eligible to play after completing the mandatory sit-out period.

Of note, Los Gatos is now in the PAL Bay Division which includes former SCVAL schools Wilcox and Mountain View to go along with Sacred Heart Prep, Menlo-Atherton and Burlingame. Whoever wins the Bay Division will no doubt be a top-four seed in the Open Division playoffs.

Photos by Jonathan Natividad

LOCAL SCENE

COLLEGE OF THE ADAPTIVE ARTS RECEIVES $2.2M FUNDING BOOST

Senator Dave Cortese joined with leaders of special education on Friday to announce a $2.2 million state investment into the College of the Adaptive Arts (CAA) in Saratoga.

This funding will expand on CAA’s efforts in delivering college-level education to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities—along with a greater career pipeline including educational apprenticeships and teaching classes.

“It’s an honor to announce that we secured $2.2 million for the College of the Adaptive Arts, located at the West Valley Community College campus,” Cortese (D-San Jose) said. “This investment will expand collegiate-level educational opportunities, workforce development and career guidance for young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. CAA's model is not just about education; it's about fostering lifelong connections and growing communities that embrace acceptance and belonging.”

“These resources, secured by State Senator Cortese, will allow this innovative, lifelong collegiate model to reach full operational fruition for adults who historically have not had access to college education,” said Deanna Pursai, co-founder and executive director of CAA. “We will use these resources to fortify the program, build stronger partnerships with West Valley College, and build a replicable blueprint model that we plan to mentor other like-minded education leaders locally and around the world to consider adapting in their communities.”

CAA launched in 2009 and currently serves more than 224 students across nine states, offering more than 69 courses across 10 Schools of Instruction this summer/fall semester at the West Valley Community College campus. The college's expanded curriculum includes fields such as business, science and technology, communications and library arts.

“Every campus around the world should partner with CAA and make space for college students like me. I am so proud to be a lifelong learner,”

said AJ Vanderpan, a current student. “CAA has pioneered special higher education programs for students just like me—hungry to keep learning and growing into the best version of ourselves. I love that I get to choose my classes each semester. This quarter, I am studying technology, fitness, Italian, visual arts and employment skills.”

The California Department of Developmental Services is currently the only recurring public funder of CAA.

The new $2.2 million state investment will fund a variety of initiatives aimed at enhancing CAA's programs.

Additionally, the new state resources will strengthen the existing collaboration between CAA and its host institution, Saratoga-based West Valley College. Students of West Valley College will have more opportunities to engage with CAA through apprenticeships and through volunteering as part of their newly established Democracy Institute.

For information about the College of the Adaptive Arts, visit collegeofadaptivearts.org.

SCHOOL DISTRICT WELCOMES NEW ADMINISTRATORS

The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District (LGSUHSD) announced the appointment of five new administrators who have been hired as replacements to outgoing personnel supporting the schools and District Office.

Selected as a result of a comprehensive search process throughout the late spring and summer are:

• Director of Continuous Improvement and Accountability Patrick Bernhardt

• Saratoga High School Assistant

Principal/Activities Director Kristen Cunningham

• Director of Human Resources

Dagmar Derickson

• Director of Facilities, Maintenance, Operation and Transportation Toby Mockler

• Los Gatos High School Assistant Principal David Poetzinger

Bernhardt joined the district as the Director of Continuous Improvement and Accountability in July. He is a former high school math and social studies teacher, department chair, data resource teacher, and president of the San Jose Teachers Association in San Jose Unified School District.

Cunningham, a current teacher and Activities Director at Saratoga High School, has been selected to serve in the Assistant Principal position beginning this school year, continuing her role as an Activities Director. She has 22 years of experience in K-12 schools as a teacher, counselor, and Student Support Services Director, among other positions.

Derickson joins the district from Mill Valley School District where she has served in the same role since 2021. She has served as Chief Negotiator, Chief Investigator and has worked to streamline the projects and role of HR, including overseeing recruitment, staff evaluations and compliance with changing personnel laws and regulations.

A former District Facilities Manager at Fremont Union High School District, Mockler joined the district in July. Mockler managed several high school campus Facilities Managers and built up the maintenance planning procedures, vendor relationships, and community facility rental processes.

Serving his last three years as the Assistant Principal of San Lorenzo Valley High School, Poetzinger is the new Assistant Principal at Los Gatos High School. He is a former English and Journalism teacher, and football coach, among many other roles throughout his 32 years of service in a high school setting.

MERKEL HONORED AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY

KB Merkel of Los Gatos was named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List at Montclair State University in New Jersey.

Merkel is a Theatre major.

Merkel was among nearly 6,000 students named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List. To qualify, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

STATE VISIT Senator Dave Cortese shakes hands with College of the Adaptive Arts Co-Founder and Executive Director DeAnna Pursai during the Friday announcement of $2.2 million for the Saratoga-based college.

Senator Dave Cortese/Facebook

SPORTS

WILDCATS POISED TO STRIKE AGAIN

Girls vball team aims to rise to the top

Emanuel Lee, Sports Reporter

With a top-tier non-league schedule early on, the Los Gatos High girls volleyball team will know exactly what it will need to improve on from the start of the year.

The Wildcats open their season against perennial state power Mitty on Aug. 24 and then play in a tournament hosted by Hillsdale High, which advanced to a CIF State Championship final two years ago. They also have matches against Sacred Heart Prep and Presentation all before Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division play kicks off on Sept. 11.

“We kind of stacked our preseason to see more teams that we’d [eventually] see in the postseason,” said Nicole Ciari, who is in her first season as the Los Gatos High coach. “So we’re really excited for our tougher schedule of matches and the team came in ready to go. The first match is versus Mitty which we’re excited for.”

Los Gatos is one of the more storied programs in the Central Coast Section but is coming off an atypical season in which they finished three games under .500 (11-14), third in league and lost in the opening round of the Division I playoffs.

This year’s team is intent on doing a reversal on all three fronts, including winning league, CCS and CIF NorCal titles.

“The girls have lofty, gigantic goals they’re ready to achieve,” Ciari said. “They realized on the first day of workouts they needed to be pushed and pushing hard the first couple of weeks in training will help them reach their goals.”

With 11 returning players including six seniors and a stellar junior class, Los Gatos could be in position to once again be among the elite programs in the section. The Wildcats will run a high tempo offense with returning setters in junior Maya Walker and senior Kate Vanderbosch.

“With Maya setting she just opens up so many options for us,” Ciari

ON

said. “But we do have depth. Kate has shown so much growth in the offseason and is really competing with Maya for those one and two top setter spots.”

Junior outside hitter Nicole Steiner has been an impact player since her freshman year and Ciari expects even bigger things from the 6-foot-1 talent.

“Nicole has been on varsity since her freshman year and now we’re pushing her to reach her next level of potential,” Ciari said. “We’re going to be asking a lot of her, asking her to hit from the back row as well which means she’s playing [all] six rotations. She’s been working hard on her first contacts and that’s where she needs to grow the most and we’ve already seen progress there.”

Junior Mia Halsey pairs with Steiner as the team’s top pin hitters and will be counted upon to terminate the ball and be efficient on the attack.

“Mia has really transitioned out of the middle and this past club season

she’s seen leaps and bounds of improvement at the pin,” Ciari said. “She wants to learn and is really working hard. Her and Nicole really push each other in practice, constantly competing with one another and that means there’s a lot of energy there as they push each other to get better.”

Senior Allison Black is a four-year varsity player and one of the more reliable and steady players in the area. A versatile talent who excels in every phase of the game, Black will play wherever the team needs her: at the pin, middle or passing in the back row.

“She’ll be filling holes wherever we’re lacking because she is that type of athlete you can put anywhere and she will excel,” Ciari said.

Just as important as her physical skills, Black brings the intangibles that every team needs in abundance to be successful.

“Allie and I were reminiscing the other day and what she used to be like

as a freshman,” Ciari said. “She came in kind of nervous, not sure of what her role was on the team. Very typical freshman energy. Now, four years later she’s our positive energy provider. She works hard everyday at practice and gets it done no matter where she’s playing.”

Freshman Britt Melinauskas and junior Reilly Mendez are two newcomers who have left an impression with Ciari during summer workouts and the opening weeks of fall practice. Melinauskas wasn’t afraid to put her goals out there from the start.

“Even before she stepped in the gym, Britt let me know very early on her goal this season was to make varsity as a freshman,” Ciari said. “At first I was skeptical because a lot of people have lofty goals heading into high school tryouts. I was like, ‘OK, I appreciate the confidence you have in yourself.’ And she came in and hit it out of the park. And even now after making the team, she’s working hard. She’s a heavy hitter and digs the ball well.”

Mendez has earned praise for her ability to transition and make adjustments to improve when given instruction.

“Riley is still very new to volleyball and doesn’t play club in the offseason because of basketball,” Ciari said. “But even without having those extra touches, she’s just a natural athlete. And for us as coaches it’s wonderful because we can tell her to do something and her brain-body connection is so strong. She takes up space in the front row and she’ll be a menace with her block. And as we teach her more technical pieces of how to move, I can see her making some big contributions.”

Ciari has ample experience coaching high level volleyball and she said this team has already left an indelible impression.

“This group is so connected,” she said. “They’ve already done a handful of team-bonding activities and truly enjoy spending time with each other.

I’ve never seen a group have this type of chemistry with no coaching intervention necessary. They’re naturally going to work hard for the person next to them because of their connection. So, we can get down to the nitty gritty of how they can grow as volleyball players and that will help us grow faster as a team than in previous years.”

THE ATTACK Los Gatos High senior Mia Halsey hits through the block in their home Sportsmanship Game on Aug. 21. Halsey is part of an outstanding junior class.

Jonathan Natividad

NEW CHAMBER DIRECTOR PLANS TO PUT ’FASTIDIOUS’ NATURE TO WORK FOR LOS GATOS’ BUSINESSES

Jennifer Lin was born in the Greater Toronto Area, moved to Danville with family

Drew Penner, Reporter

The current mayor of Monte Sereno hails from the Greater Toronto Area. And now, adding to the ranks of Canucks turned Silicon Valley leaders is the new executive director of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce—as she is also from the GTA.

But while Jennifer Lin was born 50 years ago in a hospital in North York, Ontario, she moved to Danville in the East Bay when she was four.

So, it’s more accurate to call her a “Bay Area girl,” she explains.

Lin takes the reins of Los Gatos’ business booster from Catherine Somers, a formidable advocate for the community’s retailers, restaurateurs, salon owners and more, who espoused progressive priorities and pushed Town Council members to pull up their socks.

With a son and a stepson going off to college (one of them is headed to Vancouver, B.C.), Lin felt the time was the right to embrace this career move.

“I’ve realized in a transition year, in a role like this, when you’re serving a lot of different constituencies, it’s really important to listen,” she said.

After getting a Bachelor’s of Arts in sociology, she attended Columbia in New York, where she got a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration.

She launched into the consulting world during summer breaks, and scored positions with KPMG and Anderson.

She stayed with Anderson for three years and then transitioned into a specialized aspect of the field with a role at Addis Brand Strategy.

It suited her quite well. That’s because she enjoys identifying challenges and problems and then making adjustments.

“I love helping organizations run better,” she said. “I like fixing.”

That goes all the way back to her Canadian roots.

“I was definitely a creative kid,” she said. “There’s definitely a fastidious

part of me. I just love efficiency. I like things working well. I’ve always been that way.”

Lin pledges to tap into that aspect of her personality and put it to work for Chamber members.

“I do think that background is extremely relevant to what I’ll do here,” she said. “We serve the business com-

munity. We serve our community at large. We have a lot of stakeholders.”

Lin had returned to Danville to raise her children.

She moved to Los Gatos to marry—given that her husband works in the technology industry, it made more sense for them to be in the South Bay, she decided.

They’ve now been Los Gatos residents for four years.

One of the targets Lin has in her sights is marketing Los Gatos’ charm to a wider audience.

“How do we make the messaging of the town more interesting to visitors?” she wondered aloud. “We really have to deliver.”

BUSINESS LEADER Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Lin settles in to her new office on a recent Friday.

Drew Penner/Los Gatan