Los Gatan 6-7-2023

STATE REJECTS TOWN’S REVISED HOUSING PLAN

State says town needs to go further to ‘promote an inclusive community’

Drew Penner, Reporter

Los Gatos residential housing plan is still not up to snuff yet, according to State reviewers. While Campbell got good marks from the California Department of Housing and Community Development for its Housing Element back in March, Los Gatos’s draft of its housing document was rejected last week.

Chief among the concerns?

The community failed to fully account for its segregated nature, according to a letter HCD sent to Los Gatos Community Development Department Director Joel Paulson on May 30.

Bay Area municipalities were supposed to have a completed Housing Element by the end of January.

Los Gatos adopted one on Jan. 30, but received a failing grade April 14.

Meanwhile, Los Gatos submitted a revised Housing Element, March 31, which is what HCD was responding to last Tuesday. In its latest submission, Los Gatos tried to say it doesn’t have a “Racial Concentration of Affluence,” which the HCD found at-odds with reality.

➝ Housing, 6

SAN JOSE WATER FIRES UP SOLAR POWER STATIONS IN LOS GATOS AND SARATOGA

Company expects to keep 21 tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere, each year

Drew Penner, Reporter

The publicly traded company that provides Los Gatos with water recently got the go-ahead to fire up two solar power generating stations—one in Los Gatos and one in Saratoga.

Together they’ll help keep about 21 tons of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere each year, says San Jose Water Assistant Chief Engineer Jake Walsh.

“We’re one of the larger energy users in the Bay Area,” ➝ Solar, 8

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Dan

Lee May

General Manager

Erik Chalhoub

Managing Editor

Lori Lieneke

Advertising Director

Phaedra Strecher

Editorial Production Manager

Drew Penner Reporter

Emanuel Lee, Juan Reyes

Sports Writers

Jeffrey P. Blum, Alan Feinberg

Contributors

Kate Kauffman

Senior Account Executive

Serenity Polizzi, Eric Bocanegra, Carrie Bonato

Account Executives

WEEKLYS

Stephen Buel

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Mike Lyon

Digital Media

Sonia Chavez

Accounts Receivables

Warren Giancaterino Information Technology

LEGAL NOTICES

legals@losgatan.com

DEATH NOTICES

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.

OPINIONS

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.

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 ©2023. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form prohibited without written permission.

REAL ESTATE ADVERTISING NOTICE

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

LOS GATAN OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED ‘NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION’

Can now accept legal ads from individuals, businesses and government entities

As the sunlight poured into the Santa Clara County Superior Court room, May 30, illuminating the three-panel abstract ocean scene on an austere wooden wall, Judge Evette Pennypacker was on her game, despite reduced access to digital paperwork over the Memorial Day Weekend, due to system upgrades.

She complimented attorneys and shut down bouts of bickering before they could break out (“I don’t think you’re crazy,” she placated, before a lawyer could launch a retaliatory rhetorical blow against his opponent).

Pennypacker, a UC Santa Cruz and Hastings College of the Law graduate, drew on her criminal law background to interpret how a US Supreme Court

BIZ LAUNCH

ruling about the Fifth Amendment in a death penalty case impacted a less serious matter before her; then she granted an order in a civil action against a Californian brewer.

Next, she turned to the most relevant item on the docket for this news outlet—Line 10.

It was Metro Publishing, Inc.’s application for an order declaring the Los Gatan a “newspaper of general circulation.”

For Executive Editor Dan Pulcrano and General Manager Lee May, it was a key moment of redemption in a long journey that stretches back to 1982 when they started their first paper in Los Gatos.

That publication, the Weekly, was sold in the wake of a Silicon Valley bust cycle, but in September 2021, Pulcrano and May, who grew up in Los Gatos, debuted the first issue of the Los Gatan.

On Jan. 1, 2023, Managing Editor

Erik Chalhoub signed a submission to the court confirming what our readers know to be true—that the paper’s been printed at least weekly for more than a year and that inside is filled with a variety of news and information “of a general character in the Town of Los Gatos.”

When Pennypacker turned to the Los Gatan’s lawyer, Scott Talkov, of Talkov Law Corp., who was appearing remotely via Microsoft Teams, she kept it simple.

“I granted this petition,” she informed him.

No one spoke in opposition.

May, a Los Gatos High School graduate, was thrilled to learn the news.

“This is a really big step,” he said. “It means we reach enough people to be considered a community voice.”

Being designated a “newspaper of general circulation” allows the Los Gatan to accept legal advertising from individuals (for example, name change notices), businesses (includes default notices) and government agencies (such as the water board, the Town and the County).

“I’m really excited to see the progress,” May said. “It’s a little iffy starting a newspaper nowadays. But Dan and I are really committed to providing the information and resources Los Gatos needs to remain a viable, distinct community within the county. That’s something we’ve always been happy with about Los Gatos.”

According to May, this was a win for transparency advocates.

“As we get more and more visibility in the community, it means that more people will have access to public notices through advertising in our pages,” he said. “It allows you to see what your government is doing.”

Pulcrano said the company is offering a rate of $65 for fictitious business name listings. Interested parties should contact legals@losgatan.com.

CORRECTION

Incorrect information appeared in the May 31 edition of the Los Gatan in an article entitled “Fighting fentanyl: Mother honors son with Jolly10K run.” The woman organizing the event is named Leslie Gentry. Jasmine is the name of her daughter. We regret the error.

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VOLUNTEERS TO BE HONORED WITH SENIORS OF DISTINCTION AWARDS

Staff Report

On Thursday, June 22, the Terraces of Los Gatos will host its 24th Annual Seniors of Distinction award gala. It will start at 3pm with a champagne reception, leading into a 3:454:30pm program.

The ceremony will honor volunteers for their contributions to the Los Gatos and Monte Sereno communities.

Honorees:

TOWN TO CONSIDER RESPONSE

Housing , from page 1

“The Town is predominantly a high resource category according to (Tax Credit Allocation Committee) / HCD Opportunity Maps and is predominantly higher income,” the letter reads. “These patterns differ from the surrounding region and the element should include specific analysis of the Town compared to the region.”

In fact, the Sacramento-based agency says it wants to see the Town “formulate policies and programs”— above and beyond what’s already in the Housing Element—in order “to promote an inclusive community.”

In the letter, HCD tells Los Gatos to develop more “housing mobility” initiatives that help low-income families move to better neighborhoods.

The government did note that the Town updated its draft Housing Element to include the distance between public schools and transit, but says Los Gatos didn’t go far enough. They want the Town to examine this in terms of how easily people in at-risk groups can access transportation.

“In addition, it must also analyze any disproportionate transportation needs for members of protected classes,” reads the appendix to the letter sent by HCD Senior Program Manager Paul McDougall, which requests additional information about how locations designated for housing will fix historic segregation problems. “While the element was revised with brief conclusions that identified

sites do not exacerbate fair housing conditions, it must also quantify the number of units by income group and location then evaluate the impact on socio-economic concentrations.”

Town Manager Laurel Prevetti responded to the rejection.

“The Town expected the letter from HCD to identify items for which the State is not yet satisfied, as is typical in the Housing Element review process,” she told the Los Gatan, Tuesday. “This is consistent with HCD’s letters to other jurisdictions requiring additional information and analysis. Some of the comments from HCD are inaccurate in that the Town’s Housing Element does contain the requested information. We are continuing to work with our HCD reviewer to have a Housing Element that satisfies the State.”

According to HCD, Los Gatos didn’t fully undertake a comprehensive reckoning of its history as a place that hasn’t been very welcoming to minorities.

“The element included some information about regional history, referenced stakeholder comments and discussed the location of assisted projects and housing choice vouchers. However, the element needs to provide information and analysis that relates, supports, or supplements the existing analysis, fair housing conclusions, or contributing factors,” the letter states. “The element must consider other relevant factors that

have contributed to certain fair housing conditions. This analysis must consider information that is unique to the Town or region; such as governmental and nongovernmental actions; historical land use and zoning practices (e.g., past redlining/Greenlining, restrictive covenants, planning documents, etc.); disparities in investment to specific communities including transportation investments; seeking investment or lack thereof to promote affordability and inclusion; local initiatives, or other information that may have impeded housing choices and mobility.”

The problem, according to the State, isn’t that Los Gatos is completely unaware of the problem, but rather that the solutions the community has proposed “do not appear adequate” to foster “meaningful” change.

HCD says Los Gatos should have estimated the number of housing units that need to be renovated, for one, and it noted the Town failed to fix other defective areas it pointed out in January.

The State flagged the uncertainty around Development Review Committee decisions as another place the Housing Element could be improved; HCD also pointed to where the Town could do more to help people with disabilities.

One theme the letter writer kept coming back to was how Los Gatos didn’t make the grade when it came to what’s known as Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing—that’s the concept that municipalities need to outline the serious actions they will take to overcome patterns of segregation.

Cheryl McKenzie (Friends of Los Gatos Library), Victoria Pearce (History Club of Los Gatos), Ellen J. Graff (Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos), Maureen Heath (Los Gatos Community Health and Senior Services), Craig Hulse (Los Gatos Lions Club), Carol Waitte (Los Gatos Morning Rotary), Dick Konrad (Los Gatos Rotary), Pat Smith (The Terraces of Los Gatos).

The event will be held at the Terraces of Los Gatos, 800 Blossom Hill Road.

RSVP by June 15 at 408.357.1121, as space is limited.

“For example, the element must add significant and meaningful housing mobility actions to overcome the existing patterns in the Town related to the broader region,” the letter states. “Given, among other things, the Town is entirely in the highest category of disparities in access to opportunity and largely does not reflect the socio-economic characteristics of the broader region (the Housing Element) must include significant actions to promote housing mobility within the Town and relate to the region to promote an overall inclusive community.”

This analysis followed a May 10 conversation between HCD and Town officials.

Saratoga is also behind the eight ball on its Housing Element. It submitted a third draft to the State on May 30.

On June 15 at 7pm, Los Gatos’ Housing Element Advisory Board is set to discuss how to respond to HCD.

“The Town expected the letter from HCD to identify items for which the State is not yet satisfied, as is typical in the Housing Element review process. This is consistent with HCD’s letters to other jurisdictions requiring additional information and analysis. Some of the comments from HCD are inaccurate in that the Town’s Housing Element does contain the requested information. We are continuing to work with our HCD reviewer to have a Housing Element that satisfies the State.”

Laurel Prevetti

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WATER AGENCY FLIPS THE SWITCH

Solar, from page 1

commitment to the environment and trying to reduce our emissions.”

On April 11, SJ Water got the green light to fire up a 33 kilowatt system at its Overlook Station in the hills above Los Gatos, which it expects will generate 53 megawatt-hours of electricity annually.

The company calculates this will prevent more than two tons of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere, each year.

Then on Friday, it was able to activate the Saratoga power plant (called Vickery Station), which—at 33 kilowatts of solar cell capacity, anticipated to generate 510 megawatt-hours of energy a year—is about 10 times larger.

If all goes well, this neighboring facility will stop 19.39 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the air.

Walsh explains that, for a firm like theirs that’s in the life-sustaining-element business, reducing its environmental impact comes with unique obstacles.

“We can’t just pick up and move our pump stations and tanks,” he said. “The only way to cut back energy is for people to stop using as much water, or for us to offset those emissions.”

SJ Water is trying to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint by 50%: it’s stocking up on battery packs and adding 14,000 leak sensors, for example, as it seeks to operate more efficiently and put less strain on the planet.

“It’s been very clear from our CEO that this is a goal of his,” Walsh said. “I think people, internally, have taken that to heart.”

Outfitting their properties with solar panels to power the pumps was a key component of the plan.

And while it made sense for the utility to set up enough photovoltaic cells to drive its own operations, ironically, given the current regulatory environment, it wouldn’t have been a prudent decision—fiscally speaking—to build enough capacity to sell power back to the grid, he adds.

“The challenge is, with the net energy metering agreements with PG&E, it doesn’t make financial sense for somebody to blanket their entire area on one site with solar, because you can’t take credit…for the energy use you have in other parts of your service area,” he said.

SJ Water sources liquid from a series of intakes in the Los Gatos hills and routes it to the Montevina Water Treatment Plant, which can process upwards of five billion gallons of water a year through an ultrafiltration process.

“When it’s on, it’s serving probably all of Los Gatos,” Walsh said. “Right now it’s running quite a bit.”

Its Saratoga treatment plant serves that community, and distributes water into Cupertino, too.

About 10% of water for the entire system will come from surface sources this year, he notes.

SJ Water also gets recycled product from South Bay Water Recycling, which it pushes it out through its pipes, so fresh water isn’t wasted on things like irrigating parks.

In order to get drinking water to customers in the Santa Cruz Moun-

tains, the utility has to fight against gravity.

That’s where the Overlook and Vickery stations come into play.

Water from Saratoga’s Vickery Station, where 8.7 million gallons of water can be stored, is pumped up to Los Gatos’ Overlook Station—located 847 feet above sea level.

That site now has a pump station and two water storage tanks, after a new 1.6 million gallon prestressed concrete one was added recently, bringing the total water storage there to 2.7 million gallons.

The panels in the Los Gatos area mirror what you might see on a larger residential parcel in town, as only part of this property was suitable for solar.

Then, water is sent up to a 78,000-gallon tank at 1,299 feet of elevation, to service the Beckwith Zone.

SJ Water hopes to complete three additional solar power projects over the next year.

But that won’t be the end of it.

“Solar is helping us create a cleaner Los Gatos, a cleaner Saratoga,” Walsh said. “We’re going to have to make sure we keep these panels clean.”

LOCAL SCENE

FRIENDS OF THE HERITAGE THEATRE WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Friends of the Heritage Theatre (FOHT), a nonprofit organization dedicated to community awareness, community access and fundraising on behalf of the historic performing arts venue in Campbell, welcomes two new members to its Board of Directors: Ed Gordon (Campbell resident, retired) and Nandini Acharya (Campbell resident, attorney).

The “Friends” are continuing the search for additional members who would like to contribute to their mission.

To help ensure the theater continues to be a magnet for the community following their closure due to the coronavirus, the FOHT began the planning stages for new projects to support and enhance the venue after reopening in 2022. They also continue to raise money for the theater through concession sales and special programs.

Residence in the city of Campbell is not required to serve on the board.

FOHT Board President Samantha Ince added, "Our board members are passionate about the arts, the City of Campbell and the success of the Campbell Heritage Theatre. Prior board experience is welcome but not required. This is a great opportunity to actively engage with and support the theater and surrounding community.”

For information about Friends of the Heritage Theatre or to learn more about becoming a member of the Board of Directors, email foththeatre@gmail.com or send a letter with your contact information to Friends of the Heritage Theatre, 1 West Campbell Avenue, #C32, Campbell, CA 95008.

SUPERVISORS ACT TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM WILDFIRES

At County Supervisor Joe Simitian’s urging, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors unanimously directed staff to enter into a contract for enhanced and expanded defensive space brush chipping and debris removal

services along public access areas to address the wildland fire risk in the county’s fire-prone areas on its western side.

The Board’s action, which was made in response to a request from Simitian in April, will allow the Central Fire Protection District Fire Chief to negotiate a new $1.25 million, five-year contract with the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council for defensive space brush chipping and debris removal services for owners and residents of properties located along public access areas in Central Fire’s Wildland Urban Interface area (WUI). The contract also allows the FireSafe Council to perform roadside vegetation treatments to maintain shaded fuel breaks and evacuation routes.

“The contract with the FireSafe Council will reduce hazardous fuels and increase public safety by creating more fire-resilient properties along public access areas in the WUI,” said

Simitian, whose District Five includes the entirety of Central Fire’s territories. “And it will ultimately decrease the potential for the catastrophic loss of life and property in a wildfire.”

Simitian is supporting the FireSafe Council’s request for $60,000 in PG&E grant funding for its community chipping program operated in the WUI areas of the county, which includes the Santa Cruz Mountains. This funding source would allow work to be done beyond the public access area targeted by County funds, and will further help local residents in their efforts to create and maintain safe defensible space by processing or disposing of brush and tree branches.

Simitian noted, “While this is good news in terms of keeping our area safe from fires, we need even more in terms of resources, which is why I’ve asked PG&E to approve the FireSafe Council’s request for grant funding for its community chipping program.

With the devastating storms that hit our mountain communities so hard this past winter, our mountain residents especially need and deserve PG&E’s support.”

Established in 1947, Central Fire’s boundary includes the cities of Cupertino, Monte Sereno, a portion of Saratoga, the town of Los Gatos, as well as rural unincorporated lands in western Santa Clara County, including the Santa Cruz Mountains. The District provides service outside its boundaries by contract to the cities of Campbell and Los Altos, the Los Altos Hills County Fire District, and the Saratoga Fire Protection District. In total, Central Fire provides emergency response to over 225,000 residents in these communities.

Through Central Fire’s Pre-Fire Management and Wildfire Resilience Program the District partners with local, state and federal agencies to develop pre-fire management solutions

and to implement projects to reduce wildfire losses. The program includes an eight-member Fire Fuels Crew as well as a Community Wildfire Specialist who works with local groups and supports community leaders in prefire wildland management efforts.

BLOOD DONATIONS NEEDED FOR BUSY SUMMER MONTHS

The American Red Cross is asking people to book a time to give blood or platelets now to address a recent drop in donation appointments that could lead to fewer transfusions for patients in the weeks ahead.

Type O blood donors are especially needed to ensure a strong blood supply.

In Los Gatos, a blood drive will be held June 9 from 9am to 3pm at West Valley Muslim Association, 16769 Farley Road.

To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1.800.733.2767.

Those who come to give in June will receive a $10 gift card by email to a merchant of their choice. Plus, they’ll also be automatically entered for a chance to win a backyard theater package including a projector and screen, projector tripod, smokeless firepit, Adirondack chair set and a movie night snack package.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM BEGINS

The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) is inviting everyone to join the free summer reading program, “Find Your Voice.”

Throughout the months of June and July, SCCLD libraries will host a lineup of programs for children, teens and adults. Participants can look forward to performers, arts and crafts, book clubs, speakers and more.

“According to the California State Library, Summer Reading programs can help children develop skills in art, science, math, technology and literacy, which helps to maintain what students learned through the school year,” County Librarian Jennifer Weeks said. “These free programs also help participants socially, as they build connections within the community, to each other and their libraries.”

A recent study by the Northwest Evaluation Association found that, on average, students in third to fifth grades lost 20% of their school year gains in reading, and 27% of their gains in math during the summer months. Younger children (Grades K-2) and those from low-income families are more disproportionately affected by the so-called “summer slide.”

To take part in the summer reading program, library patrons can register at sccl.beanstack.com/reader365, and log their read books and completed activities. Participants can earn a prize for reading five books and completing an activity this summer.

ALL CITIES IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY NOW HAVE SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICIES

Every city in Santa Clara County has now formally adopted a suicide prevention policy. The development is a result of years-long work by the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Service Department’s (BHSD) Suicide Prevention Program.

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg called it “a big step in addressing mental health and opening dialogue about something impacting people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds.”

“Suicide prevention policy adoption by each city is a powerful public statement of our communities’ growing focus on mental health,” Ellenberg said. “Our county takes great pride in this as we once again lead by example for other counties and communities, showing that this prioritization at the local level helps save lives.”

With support from suicide prevention stakeholders, Suicide Prevention Oversight Committee co-chair Vic Ojakian led the effort advocating for city suicide prevention policies through work with local and state government representatives, officials and staff. The policies promote suicide prevention in local communities and increase collaborative

efforts with the County’s Suicide Prevention Program, helping to fight the stigma against suicide and save lives. Most city suicide prevention policies in the county were adopted unanimously.

“Cities are not required to have suicide prevention policies. Working with the cities to pass suicide prevention policies was a long process but one that we feel was part of our commitment to strive to keep our communities healthy,” Ojakian said.

Local suicide prevention policies ensure that cities collaborate and engage in suicide prevention best practices, such as the following:

• Acknowledge suicide as a public health issue

• Support suicide prevention strategies

• Educate residents on suicide, its warning signs, and where to seek help

• Establish and follow formal procedures to share resources and follow safe messaging best practices when communicating with the community

• Adopt and activate postvention protocols when a suicide occurs in the community

In the cities of Palo Alto, Morgan Hill and Milpitas, passage of suicide prevention policies led to the establishment of city-level suicide prevention taskforces that work with the County’s Suicide Prevention Program and expand efforts to the cities.

Following the County’s adoption of a suicide prevention policy in 2010, cities began passing their own policies beginning in 2012. By the end of 2020, seven city policies were in place. Then in 2021, six more were passed, with one more coming last year. The final city-level policy was formally adopted in February.

Established in 2010, the County’s Suicide Prevention Program has the mission of reducing and preventing suicides in Santa Clara County. The program works to achieve its mission through various community activities, including providing crisis intervention services; conducting public awareness campaigns and community outreach; providing mental health and suicide prevention training to professionals and the public; partnering with schools to strengthen suicide crisis response and prevention; and providing grief supports following suicide deaths in the community.

HEADED TO NATIONALS

has a personal-record of 48.20 in the 400, which was the school record until Brennan broke it. The two are close friends and were also standouts on the football team. Romero’s meteoric ascent from last year to this season was nothing short of astronomical, as he went from a top-20 CCS runner to one of the elite.

Kamali has a PR of 6 feet, 2 inches in the high jump and advanced to the CCS Finals in the event while also placing fifth in the open 400. Bohane was the lone newcomer on the 4x400 team and proved instrumental, as he filled in that spot by regularly running 3-5 seconds faster compared to last year.

Stefanopoulos, a sophomore, continued to burnish what could be a legendary career by the time his prep career is finished. He took fourth in the 3200 in 8:57.99 and eighth in the 1600 in 4:10.55 at State, displaying a masterclass in pacing and unleashing a tremendous kick in hitting PR’s in both events.

He’s the school record holder in both the mile and two mile events and was the only top-10 finisher who did both at State. Steiner, another standout sophomore, took second in CCS and sixth in State in the shot put. She has a PR of 41-11 ¾.

Since the high school cannot fundraise for any trips outside of the state, Athletic Performance is leading the drive for donations to aid in these athletes’ quest at Nationals. Donations can be made by check to Athletic Performance, 55 W. Main St., Los Gatos CA 95030. Please make a note on the check, c/o Los Gatos Track Nationals. For information, call 408.354.7365.

Six

LGHS

T&F athletes competing

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

After a record-breaking track and field season, a half-dozen Los Gatos High athletes are headed to the famed Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene to compete in the High School Nationals June 16-18.

The list includes the boys

4x400-meter relay team of Wil Brennan, Levi Romero, Brady Kamali and Jake Bohane; Aydon Stefanopoulos in the 3200 meters and Nicole Steiner in the shot put.

The 4x400 relay team set the school record early this past season and eclipsed their own mark two additional times leading up to an incredible second-place finish in the CIF State Championships.

The quartet’s time of 3 minutes,

13.97 seconds set a Central Coast Section record. Two members of that relay team Brennan and Romero are headed to Cal Poly to compete at the San Luis Obispo-based university. Brennan set two additional school records this season: a 47.6 split time in the 4x400 and the open 400, at 48.02 seconds.

He won the open 400 in the CCS Championships this year after taking second in his junior season. Romero

Athletic Performance also hosts group runs Wednesdays at 6pm. There is an appropriate pace for runners of all experience levels, with runs ranging from 3-5 miles, either into the Lexington trails or Los Gatos Gatos Creek Trail toward Lexington Dam or toward Vasona Park.

Athletic Performance owner Tyler Harmatz and community school teacher Ingrid Lacy lead the run group, which starts at the store in downtown Los Gatos, next to Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company. The goal is for everyone to have an enjoyable run at a pace level for everyone.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WONDERFUL DAUGHTER AND SISTER CHRISTINA CESNIK…

You did it, Christina! We are so proud of you on completing this important milestoneyour graduation from Loyola Marymount University with a strong academic record and reputation for service to those at your university, in the LA community - and to those in need across California, the US and Latin America.

May God bless you as you finish this adventure and prepare for the next one!

With all our love, Daddy, Mommy & Martín

POLICE BLOTTER

MAY 28

• An unknown suspect threw eggs at a business on E. Main Street.

• A man was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license on the 200 block of Garden Lane at 3:11am.

• A man was arrested for breaking into a vehicle parked on Los Gatos Saratoga Road.

MAY 29

• A man was reportedly trying vehicles’ door handles on Marchmont Drive.

• An unlocked vehicle was reportedly rummaged through on Rosalie Court.

• A man was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance on Miles Avenue at 2:27pm.

• A woman was arrested for disorderly conduct on the 600 block of Blossom Hill Road at 5:05pm.

MAY 30

• A man was arrested for being in possession of unlawful paraphernalia and giving false identification to a police officer on Capri and Knowles drives at 1:34am.

• A wallet was reportedly stolen on Los Gatos Saratoga Road.

• A residence was reportedly vandalized on Harwood Road.

• Jewelry was reported stolen on Twin Creeks Road.

• An unknown suspect was reportedly in someone’s backyard on Garden Hill Drive at 7:43pm.

MAY 31

• A teenager was reportedly riding an electric bicycle “recklessly” on Shannon and Short roads at 4:53pm.

• A caller thought the occupants of a vehicle parked on Rose Avenue and Barry Lane were “doing something they shouldn’t be doing” at 9:26pm.

• Battery was reported Church and E. Main streets at 9:31pm.

JUNE 1

• A woman was arrested for being in possession of unlawful paraphernalia on the 15500 block of Union Avenue at 9:15am.

• A man with a child was reportedly refusing to leave a pool on a property where they do not live on Edelen Avenue at 4:07pm.

• A man, who was described as looking “depressed,” was reportedly partially in the roadway at University and Lark avenues at 5:07pm.

• Petty theft was reported on Winchester Boulevard.

• A man was reportedly in the middle of the road on N. Santa Cruz Avenue “directing traffic around a U-Haul that is not moving” at 9:29pm.

JUNE 2

• A man was reportedly watching a woman with binoculars on University Avenue and Chester Street at 9:57am.

• A caller reported 30 children for “being loud and playing basketball” at Bachman Park at 8:29pm.

• A group of children was reportedly lighting off fireworks in garbage cans on N. Santa Cruz Avenue at 9:32pm.

JUNE 3

• A man was arrested for burglary on Oleander Avenue and Camellia Terrace at 1:45am.

• Items were reportedly stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on Hernandez Avenue.

• A caller reported a movie was playing on a soccer field on Oka Road at 9:44pm.

• A man was arrested for driving with a suspended license on Highway 17 and Lark Avenue at 9pm.

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

CALENDAR

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

MYSTERY LOVER’S BOOK CLUB

The Los Gatos Library’s Mystery Lover’s Book Club meets the first Wednesday of every month. The next meeting is June 7 at 5pm in person and on Zoom. The club will discuss “The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century” by Kirk Wallace Johnson.

➝ losgatosca.libcal.com/ event/9872424.

‘MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE’ SCREENING BENEFIT

The Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation will host an evening at the CineLux Los Gatos Theatre on July 19 for the premier showing of the new movie “Mission: Impossible.” It will start at 7pm and the cost will be a $50 donation to the Veterans Foundation.

➝ bit.ly/4183sMr.

LIVE JAZZ MUSIC

Live jazz performances at the Tasting House, 368 Village Lane, take place Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9pm, and Sundays from 11am-2pm.

ENTERTAINMENT AT GARDINO’S

Gardino’s, 51 N. Santa Cruz Ave., features entertainment Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, along with Sunday afternoons.

➝ bit.ly/3OSvPHS.

ONGOING

Los Gatos Farmers Market

The Los Gatos Certified Farmers’ Market offers seasonal fruits and vegetables from Santa Clara County yearround. More than 40 local farmers and food producers sell their wares Sundays from 9am to 1pm at Town Park Plaza on Main Street and N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

➝ cafarmersmkts.com/losgatosfarmers-market.

Campbell Farmers Market

The Downtown Campbell Farmers Market is held Sundays, rain or shine, from 9am to 1pm.

➝ uvfm.org/campbell-sundays.

The Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos

The club meets the first three Thursdays of the month at noon at Double D's, 354 N. Santa Cruz Ave. First two Thursdays of the month feature guest speakers.

➝ lgkiwanisgives.org.

Rotary Club of Los Gatos

The Rotary Club of Los Gatos meets Tuesdays from noon to 1:30pm at Shir Hadash Synagogue, 20 Cherry Blossom Lane.

➝ losgatosrotary.org.

The Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club

The Club meets every Wednesday morning 7:30-8:30am at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road. Program includes featured guest speakers.

Los Gatos Lions Club

The Los Gatos Lions Club meets every Wednesday. A breakfast meeting is held at Moore Buick, 15500 Los Gatos Blvd., at 8am and a noon meeting at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, with a guest speaker. The club has been active since 1946.

Friends of Los Gatos Library Bookstore

The Friends of Los Gatos Library Bookstore is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1-6pm at the library, 110 E. Main St. For information, email friendsoflglib@aol.com.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Town Council

The Los Gatos Town Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7pm.

➝ losgatosca.gov/16/ Town-Council.

Planning Commission

The Los Gatos Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm.

➝ losgatosca.gov/189/ Planning-Commission.

Stakes and binding for trees

Few trees that inhabit home gardens begin their residency as nature intended them to. Most are exotic, from other ecosystems, regions and climates. Almost all initially grew in nurseries, with their roots confined to cans of soilless media. Most rely on pruning and binding to develop straight and tall trunks. In the garden, most rely on stakes for stability.

Nursery stakes are different from landscape stakes. They support the developing trunks of young trees as they grow in nurseries. They can do the same for very young trees that grow directly into home gardens. Such stakes do not stabilize trees. Within confinement of nursery cans, they can not extend into the soil below. They guide trunk development.

Some young trees with very limber trunks rely on constrictive binding to nursery stakes. Most trees need only loose binding. Ideally, binding should be as loose as possible, and is only temporary. Trunks that move with wind are less reliant on support as they mature. Once straight trunks develop, temporary nursery stakes should no longer be necessary.

Landscape stakes stabilize new trees after installation into a garden. Most of such trees lack stability while their roots are initially very confined. Root

dispersion stabilizes trees as they mature. Landscape stakes are only temporary during this process. They should not be so constraining that trees rely on them for support. They must be sturdy, though.

As important as it is for many trees, staking can interfere with trunk development. It limits motion from wind that stimulates trunk expansion and root dispersion. Timely removal of stakes when no longer needed promotes healthier development. Yet, some very limber trees may briefly need both nursery and landscape stakes. Timing of removal is critical.

Small trees may need only a single landscape stake after installation. Larger trees may need a pair of stakes. Some stout trees may need no stake at all. Ties that loosely attach trees to stakes should cross over between the trees and stakes. This forms a figure eight pattern that limits abrasion between trees and stakes. Short nails can hold ties in place.

Highlight: lemon cypress

Monterey cypress is a famously rugged tree that inhabits harshly exposed coastal cliffs. It grows fast to get big and gnarly with age. Lemon cypress, Hesperocyparis macrocarpa “Goldcrest,” is a more civilized cultivar. It

might potentially grow nearly 40 feet tall, but at less than a foot annually. Vertical trunks support compact and relatively columnar form.

Lemon cypress foliage is densely evergreen, with tiny and tightly set scale leaves. New spring growth is impressively cheery yellow. It fades somewhat to yellowish chartreuse through summer. If the weather gets cool enough through winter, the foliage can get a bit more amber. The foliar aroma is coincidentally slightly lemony, to match the foliar color.

Once established, lemon cypress does not require much more than occasional pruning. It is satisfied with only infrequent irrigation, and might survive with none at all. Actually, it is susceptible to rot with generous or frequent irrigation. “Goldcrest Wilma” is susceptible to foliar diseases within its even denser foliage. It stays compact enough for pots, though.

RENOVATIONS THROUGHOUT

This Los Gatos home built in 2005 has been updated in many areas.

Located at 88 Forrest Ave., the 1,510-square-foot home includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The updated kitchen includes refinished hardwood cabinets, fully extending, soft close drawers, gas cooktop, fully tiled back splash, quartzite counters, under-cabinet lighting, and SS appliances such as a newer dishwasher and microwave.

The remodeled master suite bath

includes a heated tile floor. Both upstairs bedrooms offer walk-in closets that open to additional large, carpeted storage areas.

The two-car garage with an epoxy finish floor offers various storage areas and a motorized ceiling mounted lift for bike storage.

The home is listed at $2,250,000 by Compass. For information, visit tinyurl. com/2dtkdk3j.

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The team that launched the original Los Gatos Weekly has come together once again to give the town the quality of journalism it needs. News about local people, school sports and vital community issues will fill the pages of thislocal publication –and a live web site. Los Gatos deserves real reporting.