Los Gatan 09 01 2021

Inaugural Issue

vol . I , no. 1 : september 1-14 , 2021 : losgatan.com

GAS RUPTURE PROMPTS HIGH SCHOOL SHUTDOWN

LOS GATOS BUSINESSES ARE HIT BY A SLEW OF ADA ACCESSIBILITY LAWSUITS

Los Gatos High evacuated for second time in recent months Dan Pulcrano, Executive Editor Dan Pulcrano/Los Gatan

Owners question accusations by serial litigant Drew Penner, Reporter

At least 16 Los Gatos businesses have been hit with disability access accusations by prolific lawsuit-filer Scott Johnson, a paraplegic who claims they’re in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), local officials said.

This comes just days after the New York Times released an episode of the popular Daily podcast, which highlighted Johnson’s sheer volume of civil actions during the pandemic, and also explored the lack of government oversight over disability requirements in businesses.

According to the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, Yokohama Sushi, Main Street Burgers, Loma Brewing, Lexington House, Los Gatos Roasting Co., Voluptuary, Time Out Clothing, Redemption, Juice Co. and Los Gatos Café are among the local companies facing ADA lawsuits filed by Johnson.

Yvonne Khananis, the owner of Grocer + Goddess, says ➝ LAWSUITS, 6

UNDER CONTROL Santa Clara County firefighters and Pacific Gas and Electric crews responded to a gas leak next to Los Gatos High School on Aug. 30.

IMMERSED

Founders of new event venue hope to transport guests to another dimension Katie Lauer, Reporter

Opening Oct. 1, “Immersive: Los Gatos” is an aptly named venue offering year-round events at 15 North Santa Cruz Ave. Business partners Donovan Friedman and Alex Hult say the current plan is to host themed dinner shows Monday through Wednesday, pay homage to the live music legacy of the former

neighborhood watering hole Mountain Charley’s on Thursdays, and showcase late night club entertainment on the weekend.

“The goal is when people walk in, their jaws are gonna drop and go, ‘Where am I right now?

I've just been transported into a different dimension,’” says Friedman, an entrepreneur, event promoter and self-described “Director of Happiness.” “We’re tapping into something that nobody's doing down here right now. This immersive experience space, we’re just at the infancy.”

The building has a storied history of its own. Los Gatan Jim Farwell and business partner Jack McNamara founded Mountain Charley's in 1972 as a restaurant and saloon, before the late Mark Achilli ran the live music eatery. Entering this new chapter as Immersive: Los Gatos, the space now joins one of the latest “trends” that museums, venues and artists are capitalizing on as society precariously reopens during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The South Bay is gaining several new opportunities this fall:

➝ IMMERSIVE, 8

For the second time in four months, Los Gatos High School was evacuated on Monday, Aug. 30, due to a gas line accident at an adjacent construction site.

A police cruiser parked across Main Street at the intersection of Jackson Street near the high school, blocking the thoroughfare shortly after the morning 2-inch gas line rupture. The pipe burst when it was hit by a backhoe during an excavation. ➝ GAS LEAK, 6

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Home is at the heart of what we do.

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VOL.1 NO.1

STAFF Dan Pulcrano Executive Editor and Publisher Lee May General Manager Erik Chalhoub Managing Editor

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

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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.

TOWN EXTENDS PARKLETS Vice Mayor votes against cracking down on noncompliant businesses

Dan Pulcrano/Los Gatan

Lori Lieneke Advertising Director

NEWS

Drew Penner, Reporter

Los Gatos has extended the date businesses can operate temporary outdoor areas in front of their locations to the end of January 2022 as the Town transitions to a new, semi-permanent “parklet” regime.

At its Aug. 17 meeting, Council voted to direct $680,000 from federal American Rescue Plan Acts (Covid-19-related) funds into helping owners build better outdoor areas for customers, while also directing enforcers to crack down on non-complying build-outs.

Back in May 2020, Los Gatos kicked off its drive to come up with solutions to supporting local businesses through the pandemic. That's when Council adopted an emergency resolution reducing parking requirements in private lots and authorizing parklets.

In January, Council extended its temporary parklet program to the fast-approaching date of Sept. 19, while agreeing to help underwrite the cost of building semi-permanent parklets.

Perhaps it's not surprising the Town found overwhelming support for this idea, since it proposed paying up to $40,000 or 75 percent of the cost (whichever is less). Now, that plan is official.

TIME EXTENDED Los Gatos is moving toward a more permanent parklet program. is expected to cost upwards of $1.73 million. Adding about $200,000 in retroactive grants, that brings the total up to $1.93 million. Hence, the need for Council to authorize the additional funds.

Councilmember Matthew Hudes asked if staff had made any progress directing visitors to available parking.

Staff said the Town is currently in the process of finding a vendor to install the signs and added it's also working on a program where local employees will have somewhere to park off-site, to free up parking for patrons.

Vice Mayor Rob Rennie said he feels like, in some cases, the illegal tents actually cover up unsightly things like a

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WHO WE ARE Los Gatan is published Wednesdays by Weeklys.

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Reproduction in any form prohibited without written permission.

‘For a long time there wasn’t much traffic. So, our retailers suffered through it.’

—Matthew Hudes The Town had received 38 applications for new semi-permanent parklets by the end of July—on top of the five that were part of the pilot program. This means the program

metal box or an unattractive parking lot.

“I realize it’s difficult to apply things uniformly,” he said, adding he didn't want to put another undue burden on local businesses. "I’m suggesting maybe we allow the tents as they are."

Councilmember Maria Ristow wasn't on board with this.

“I would have to respectfully disagree with you,” she said. “I think the tents are pretty obscuring.”

After all, she said, it's important to remember these areas are part of the public commons.

“Essentially, we’re giving our public space to give assistance to our restaurants,” she said. “We’re also giving a lot of money to subsidize these parklets.”

In fact, the language in the resolution specifies that businesses will have to get their own insurance and must leave furniture out after hours for people to enjoy. Rennie supported the extra funding and extending the sunset date, but he voted against cracking down on structural violations. Otherwise the three motions would have all been approved unanimously.

Hudes wondered if there might be ways to find economies of scale, given dozens of businesses are planning to take advantage of the Town's midterm streetscape scheme.

“I doubt that we’re going to end up with 38 contractors,” he said. "Is it possible to reduce costs?"

Staff emphasized that the semi-permanent parklets will ultimately have to go, since the Town wants to roll out a comprehensive streetscape plan in the next seven to 10 years.

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LAWSUITS, from page 1

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she’s a victim of Johnson’s vigilante approach to enforcing the ADA. The law, signed by George H.W. Bush in 1990, is the cornerstone of America’s approach to ensuring people can freely shop, dine and frequent establishments, regardless of their ability level.

“I found out that we were being sued by an attorney that was soliciting us for him to represent us in this lawsuit that I had no idea existed,” Khananis said. “I opened up the email and I’m like, ‘I have no idea what this is.’”

It was strange to her because they are not a restaurant with a Town-approved temporary parklet meant for dining.

She’d just purchased a few tables and chairs to add to the public space during a difficult time.

“I just thought it was a nice thing to

do for the neighborhood—to add to the aesthetic,” she said. “The truth is, this guy is infamous for doing this— not just for people in Los Gatos.”

The six chairs and three tables cost her around $800-$1,000. And now she’s staring down the possibility of having to settle a lawsuit for what others have told her could cost upwards of $15,000. Her small business is lucky to bring in $20,000 a month, she said. Instantly she knew what this could mean—bankruptcy—just as she was planning to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her business.

Khananis says she doesn’t believe the plaintiff has ever been there.

“None of us have seen him around,” she said. “And we’re open seven days a week.”

Because, she says, if he did, he

Dan Pulcrano/Los Gatan

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

STANDING UP Stephen Shelton, co-owner of The Lexington House, said he plans on fighting the lawsuit against his business.

might’ve liked what he saw: a designated handicap parking stall, three ramps and standard-issue tables that can be easily maneuvered.

Khananis doesn’t understand how the man could feel discriminated against because of his disability.

“I have no idea how he picked us,” she said. “I believe that the lawsuit is without merit, only because there has got to be a position of giving us time to remedy the situation, before you place a monetary value on anything.”

Stephen Shelton, co-owner of The Lexington House, knows of multiple disabled people who’ve dined at his establishment this summer—including the family member of one of his employees. None of them had a problem with access in the restaurant, he said.

Shelton describes how, after modifying a parking area for pandemic outdoor dining, Town Attorney Robert Schultz commended him on the plywood floor he’d put in to make the area level with the sidewalk, so people in wheelchairs could roll onto it easily.

Schultz said businesses such as The Lexington House were required to sign an agreement where they agreed to comply with all ADA requirements in order to get approval for a temporary outdoor eating area protected from traffic by a “k-rail” barrier.

“The Town did not issue building permits or make any formal inspections for any improvements in the temporary k-rail parklets,” he said.

“In addition, the businesses using the temporary k-rail parklets agreed to indemnify the Town for their use.”

Shelton plans on fighting the suit.

“I’m not worried about the cost,” he said. “If I lose, I lose.”

Because, he says, he strongly supports ensuring ADA compliance measures in public places.

“In my opinion, the system needs to change,” he said. “California law needs to change.”

He believes lawmakers need to bring in a process that’s similar to health inspections, where a recognized authority works with owners, to ensure their establishments are up to code.

“If I’m not compliant to ADA laws, I want to know about it,” he said. “There is no ADA compliance system out there. They don’t come in and check.”

The Los Gatan was unable to reach one of Johnson’s lawyers, with Center for Disability Access, a division of Potter Handy, LLP, for an interview, despite repeated attempts.

BAD HAIR DAY, NO WAY Unfazed by the prospect of a San Bruno-style gas explosion, which fire officials say was never in the cards, one salon continued a hair treatment on the sidewalk across the street.

GAS LEAK, from page 1 Workers and student evacuees gathered on nearby street corners as the smell of natural gas wafted through the air and public safety officials admonished against smoking.

In a typical Los Gatos moment, a woman mid-way through a salon color treatment sat in a chair on a street corner with layered foil squares in her hair.

Santa Clara County Fire Department said the call came in at 9:37am and units were on the scene less than five minutes later. Two engines, a rescue unit and a hazardous materials unit responded.

Responders from the fire agency in gas masks and full body suits with oxygen tanks worked until 10:30am to cap the loudly hissing leak behind the Los Gatos Athletic Club construction site.

Pacific Gas and Electric responded with trucks as well and stood by in bright vests. While the public agency prefers that the utility handle its own pipes, SCCFD Captain Justin Stockman said that due to the “dense population and proximity to the high school, we had to stop the gas from leaking any farther.”

The loudly hissing pipe, Stockman said, was sealed using a “crimping tool” called a “Mustang.”

Afterwards the high school’s language arts and math buildings were vented with large fans, and air was tested in other parts of the high school.

“The quick response by County Fire averted a potential disaster,” Stockman said.

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IMMERSIVE, from page 1 Santana Row’s iChina, complete with a 360-degree virtual-reality private dinner room, “Beyond van Gogh” offers ticket-holders the opportunity to “step into” the movement of the Dutch painter’s masterpieces and the Factory of the Sun cyberspace video installation by Hito Steyerl at the San José Museum of Art. But Immersive is trying to break away from the pack, changing the concept of the space every six to 12 weeks, so there's always going to be a “new” grand opening to check out.

“I have the most grandiose ideas,” Friedman says. “If we can pull off 50% of what I want to accomplish with this space on this first activation, people are going to be blown away.”

The tech behind immersive experiences has been around for decades, but its recent resurgence has fueled criticism that the projects are “too Instagrammable,” as opposed to more traditional venues. However, Friedman says his 20 years curating tactile-based environments across the Bay Area will help toe the line between hosting an otherworldly playground and a social media gimmick.

“Clearly, there's going to be countless photo opportunities for people to post on social media—it’s such a critical part now in today's culture to incorporate that,” Friedman says. “But there's so many more layers to what we're doing in this space.”

Those layers will create a complete story, down to the food and cocktails.

Hult, a professional hockey player turned restaurateur, is holding out on specifics to maintain suspense, prospective guests should come thirsty, open to the unusual and with a fully charged phone battery. The cocktail and nosh will be as immersive as the shows—pleasing for the eye as well as the tongue—by balancing tricks with seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients.

“This is all so out of my comfort zone and very unique, but I love doing it,” Hult says. “We're trying to not have any of the ‘gimmicky’ stuff that's just lame.

Everything is ‘immersified,’ but it's still quality.”

Hult brings a savvy for business, paperwork and staffing to the table, pulling from his experience managing four separate Flights restaurants, with several new venues coming down the

BE TRANSPORTED Los Gatos will showcase its founders’ extensive event experience.

Contributed

Dan Pulcrano/Los Gatan

WATERING HOLE Los Gatos will pay homage to Mountain Charley’s.

ANOTHER WORLD Immersive experiences have received a resurgence as of late. is very limited post-9pm, so I think this will be a huge add on and attract people from all over the place.”

The goal is for the venue’s staff and guests to organically grow together, offering experiences that pique everyone’s interests—from South Bay locals to residents across the entire Bay Area

peninsula. But will Immersive be able to attract regulars, or will it become more of a tourist destination? The business partners are waiting to see what happens.

“I'm almost nervous about being too busy, because I know there's going to be a huge demand when we launch this,”

Hult says, noting that more than 2,000 people have already signed up for Immersive’s “sneak preview” event. “This is going to be a pretty crazy Halloween in Los Gatos.”

For information, visit immersivelg.com.

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Contributed

pipeline. Without a kitchen onsite at Immersive, he says a key to their menu is future partnerships with neighboring grills, coffee shops and bakeries, including his own Flights kitchen.

The duo are confident the venue’s facelift and immersive nightlife will live up to most expectations—despite pressure to impress patrons in the same location as the legendary Mountain Charley’s.

“I don't think anyone has done anything remotely close to this—except Donovan,” Hult says, deeming himself the “Director of Madness” to balance out his partner. “Right now, [the area]

REASON TO RETURN There will always be a “new” grand opening to check out.

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SPORTS

THE WILDCATS ARE ON THE PROWL FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON Juan Reyes/Los Gatan

Los Gatos wins its season opener against Elk Grove’s Monterey Trail High School

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Juan Reyes, Sports Editor

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The Los Gatos High football team was ready to play its season-opener against Oak Grove High on Friday night.

They were warming up prior to their game when coach Mark Krail was notified about five minutes to 7pm that there was going to be a delay. The delay turned into postponement after the Eagles backed out due to the poor air quality.

Krail’s immediate response was to push it back until the following day but the Oak Grove coaching staff was still hesitant to play.

“They didn’t want anything to do with Saturday,” he said.

Krail and his coaching staff went on the hunt to search for a school that was available to play. They found Monterey Trail, which is a school based out of south Sacramento, and called them at around 11pm to set something up.

Both teams ended up playing at Soquel High on Saturday night, avoiding what could’ve been one less game for the players.

“The air was a lot better over there then it was here, so we ended up going over there,” Krail said.

The Wildcats had about eight hours to prepare for the Mustangs, which ran a veer offense scheme similar to Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division rival Wilcox High.

Yet, they were victorious, 42-20, and began the season with a 1-0 record.

Krail said they played well in all three phases of the game but it was the defense that stepped in and made the big plays. They forced four fumbles and an interception, which set them

READY TO THROW Los Gatos High junior Jake Boyd will lead the offense as the starting quarterback for this season.

up with some great field possession.

“I think we play at a level that’s really fast,” he said. “When you’re fast and aggressive, you can kind of make up for things. They just rally to the ball really well.”

Los Gatos senior linebacker Jake Ripp, who plans to play at Boise State, is the heart and soul of the defense.

Ripp said he knew they were going to be facing a great opponent in Monterey Trail. They went over different schemes and managed to put together a game plan against the Mustangs.

“We just balled out and I had fun

playing with the guys,” he said.

Ripp added that it’s going to be exciting to see the defense in action, especially when they have 28 players who can potentially step in as a starter. “[Krail] can put in anyone and they can do a great job,” Ripp said.

Ripp mentioned that they’re stacked in the skilled position department and the offensive line is one of best he’s played with in a while.

Krail said they don’t have a ton of experience on the offense but they will have senior receiver Quinn Merritt, center Nathan Yore and fullback Cas-

pian Bailey returning this season. The Wildcats will also have tight end Lucas White, who can line up in three different positions on offense and defense.

“He’s just got a great nose for the ball,” Krail said.

Prior to the game, White had to wake up at 6am to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test in Concord. He also had to do a walk-through and study some film just hours before kickoff.

“I’m just really proud of our team because it’s hard to win against a veer ➝ WILDCATS, 12

11

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Submitted

Los Gatos girls volleyball a CCS gold standard

Juan Reyes/Los Gatan

READY TO DIG IT

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One of the most tradition-rich girls volleyball programs in the Central Coast Section are working their way into peak form, one pass and spike at a time.

Los Gatos High, five-time Central Coast Section champion and 10-time runner-up, stands at 4-2 through Aug. 30. The Wildcats are simply happy to have a full season playing in front of crowds that were sizably reduced in the Covid spring season due to state health orders.

“The players come into the gym after school and work so hard, and this is something they really haven’t been able to do in 18 months,” Los Gatos coach Brynja Thompson said.

Thompson is carrying a large 18-player roster for competitive purposes.

“I like a big roster because it keeps competition healthy,” she said. “It gives players more opportunities to play at a higher level. It’s also a great situation for them, having 18 players learn from each other rather than 12 or 13.”

Clearly excited to talk about her team but at the same time not wanting to fully reveal her hand, Thompson said one of the biggest challenges this season is replacing graduated setter Adrina Tang.

“We have giant shoes to fill at the setter position because Adrina Tang was the best in the land,” Thompson said. “We have to work real hard not just at the setter position, but all the other positions in order to replace such a valuable setter like that.”

Thompson said up to four players are competing to get the bulk of the playing time at setter, though she doesn’t expect the situation to solidify itself for another couple of weeks.

Offensively, the Wildcats are potent with senior outside/opposite Natalie Anthony, freshman outside hitter Nicole Steiner and sophomore middle blocker Allison Black.

“Allison is so fast and extremely quick off the ground,” Thompson said.

“Nicole is fantastic and she’ll be bringing in a lot of kills. Natalie is doing

BACK IN ACTION The Los Gatos High football team goes through some lineman drills during practice.

WILDCATS, from page 10 SHE’S GOT GAME Natalie Anthony, a senior outside hitter/opposite for the Los Gatos High girls volleyball team, is one of the team’s most potent offensive weapons.

great things as well. Our firepower is incredible, and we have cannons across the net. We’ve got a huge attack and talented high-flying attackers.

And we’re ready to showcase it.”

Defensively, the Wildcats are led by senior libero Emily Gouldrup, who provides the team with tremendous passing and somehow finds a way to dig up a ball that would drop against most other players.

“The ball doesn’t hit the floor near Emily—that’s a special thing to have on your team,” Thompson said. “Emily makes others around her better and she is going to be a large reason as to why this team is successful.”

Thompson measures excellence in how a team does not just on the court, but off the court as well.

“As a coach, the aim is to always help the athletes with lifelong lessons, not just volleyball,” Thompson said.

“Hopefully, they walk away with skills in how to work well as a team and how to lose a little better, which is always a hard skill to learn when you’re very good and competitive as they are.

Hopefully, they manage their time well because they are very good at being students first and athletes second.

We want to promote the fact they’re student-athletes, not just volleyball players.”

“We kind of reap the benefits when they get to us as juniors and seniors,” he said. “We’re in a pretty positive place right now, which is great.”

Both White and Ripp said no game this season is set in stone but it’s great to know that they’ll most likely have a full 10-game schedule. Last year, the Wildcats played just five games and there was no chance of going to the Central Coast Section playoffs.

They’ll be looking forward to making another trip back to the postseason and winning their second championship in three years.

“I just want to see how far we can take this thing,” White said. “I know our team’s really good and I just want to see us show the world that.”

offense without any prep,” White said.

“But coach [Krail] somehow was able to tell us what to do and we just followed his game plan and won.”

Last minute changes are nothing new for Los Gatos after coming off a shortened spring season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They finished with a 5-0 overall record and Krail believes the momentum carried on to this year.

The 58-year-old coach said they have a good mix of upperclassmen, which includes four juniors starting on the offensive line. They also have junior quarterback Jake Boyd leading the offense.

“There were some new bodies on the offensive side and they really held up pretty good,” Krail said.

The Wildcats have more than 150 players in the program, including a full freshmen team and coaching staff.

Krail said they’re doing a great job of building the expectations and culture of working hard.

LOS GATOS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Juan Reyes/Los Gatan

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Emanuel Lee, Reporter

TEAM VETERAN Los Gatos High football coach Mark Krail is entering his ninth season as the skipper of the program.

Monterey Trail High at Soquel High, win (42-20) At Liberty High, 9/3 at 7pm At Live Oak High, 9/10 at 7:30pm Half Moon Bay High, 9/17 at 7pm Wilcox High*, 9/24 at 7pm At Santa Clara High*, 10/1 at 7pm Homestead High*, 10/8 at 7pm At Palo Alto High*, 10/15 at 7pm Mountain View High*, 10/28 at 7pm At Milpitas High*, 11/5 at 7pm *SCVAL-De Anza division play

It’s time to give Los Gatos the community journalism it deserves once again!

Los Gatos’ tradition of community journalism dates back to 1881, 140 years ago, and has contributed to the town’s many unique qualities.

However, since the local weekly was acquired by an East Coast hedge fund, c ommunity coverage has declined.

The team that launched the original Los Gatos Weekly has come together o nce again to give the town the quality of journalism it deserves. News about local people, school sports and vital community issues will fill the pages of a local publication, along with a strong digital component.

Be a part of this exciting launch!

CONTACT

Serenity Polizzi serenity@losgatos.com 408.200.1323

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Join us as a charter advertiser! Your marketing dollars will not only brand your business to highly engaged and demographically desirable residents —it is an investment in rebuilding a thriving business sector.

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BUSINESS

Online survey questions residents on businesses they’d like to see

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Judy Peterson, Reporter

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In recent years, online sales and big box stores delivered a double whammy to retailers nationwide, with the pandemic making it even more difficult to stay in business.

That’s evident in Los Gatos, where numerous businesses across town have shut their doors.

To be sure, new businesses are popping up—BevMo! proposes to take over the former Pier One location at the Pavilion Shopping Center and the Shepherd & Sims restaurant is opening soon in the former Viva! site at the Cornerstone Shopping Center.

Resident Stacy Gerrity wanted to know “What’s missing from Los Gatos,” so she used that question as the basis for a Nextdoor survey that was conducted July 17-20.

The topic generated responses from 480 Los Gatos households.

Some people named specific businesses they’d like to see, many of which have come and gone over the years. For example, one person said, “A Cold Stone Creamery would be great.”

But a downtown Cold Stone franchise closed in 2011.

Several folks wrote about their desire for a new version of the old Domus home goods store and a “good Irish Pub.” Still others brought up a skateboard shop, a bookstore, a Chinese restaurant, even coffee shops.

There’s already a skateboard shop, three Chinese restaurants, numerous coffee shops and a used bookstore in Los Gatos.

“When you look at the responses to what people want, it’s things we already have,” Gerrity said.

She believes people don’t know what’s out there in part because “retailers aren’t seizing opportunities— we saw a ton of vegan and fresh food requests.”

In fact, “vegan” topped the list of wants, followed by drop-off childcare, a teen center and sporting goods stores—even recreational spots such as a skateboard park, which was turned down by voters in 2008.

No. 4 on the list was vegetarian offerings, with beer and wine shops, coffee houses, fresh salad spots, upscale restaurants, ice cream/yogurt shops and Asian food rounding out the top 10.

Following the first survey, Gerrity conducted an email survey of residents via SurveyMonkey. It showed that 36 percent of the 2,143 respondents would like the town to communicate with them via a newsletter mailed to homes; social media was preferred by 17 percent and an online newsletter/web site was preferred by 12 percent of respondents.

“The bottom line is that communication is probably the most important thing in my findings—people are uninformed due to a lack of communication from the town and retailer,” Gerrity said.

She said, too, that “Amazon and WalMart are winning because small businesses aren’t utilizing free communication platforms. I see a lot of want—people want to know what’s going on—but there’s a heavy lack of communication.”

Gerrity, who is a marketing and communications specialist, also believes that “local businesses need help because they refuse to adapt or anticipate customers’ needs.”

“There’s a sentiment that retailers here are entitled. Prices are higher but there’s less service. People work hard for their money and expect good service and to be treated nicely. Also, shoppers can no longer rely on familiar salespeople,” Gerrity said.

She went on to say the survey showed “there’s a loss of personal touch” and “inconsistent hours are not helpful. Once I went to a children’s store and there was nobody there.

The owner said later that ‘sometimes

Judy Peterson

WHAT WE WANT

COMING SOON Well-known chef and restaurateur Jim Stump’s newest restaurant, Shepherd & Sims, is opening soon in the Cornerstone Shopping Center, at the corner of Los Gatos Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road. Previously, Stump was the chef/owner of downtown’s Los Gatos Brewing Company, which closed in 2015.

I don’t have any customers so I don’t open.’”

Gerrity summed up her recommendations: advertise more by taking advantage of free social media platforms, emphasize small business charm, offer unique products and services, be reliable and adaptable.

Although Gerrity hopes to one day open her own business in town, the survey was sponsored by a business

developer, with results reflecting plus or minus four percent.

Most respondents were 54 or older and 51 percent were female, 92 percent white, two percent Hispanic, 17 percent Indian and one percent black.

Seventy-four percent were married.

Congratulations to Dan Pulcrano and his team on the launch of the Los Gatan!

I share Dan's enthusiasm in "reinvesting in community journalism in Los Gatos" and am excited and honored to be a charter advertiser.

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Street party draws community praise Judy Peterson

Majority of businesses say Promenade Thursdays had a positive impact Drew Penner, Reporter

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For seven Thursdays in a row, music wafted through the streets of Los Gatos thanks to money from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. The number of revelers grew steadily, each week.

As Catherine Somers, the executive director of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, looked back on the Promenade Thursdays, during a report to Town Council Aug. 17, she couldn’t help but tear up a little.

“It was actually an honor to be able to put this on,” she said, pausing for a moment, overcome by joy. “I think the town really needed it.”

More than 64% of companies surveyed online said the Promenades had a positive impact on their business.

And more than 55% noted the event led to increased sales.

Bands that performed included The Complications, The Summit Sisters, Jokers and Thieves, and Suburbamore, who are recent grads from Los Gatos High School.

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SUMMER JAMS They were dancing in the streets during this summer’s Promenades that were held on Thursday nights— giving residents an opportunity to rock out to live music and reunite with old friends.

‘Our residents really came out and made a point of shopping local and dining local. We have a really tight-knit community.’

—Catherine Somers Vice Mayor Rob Rennie said he was a little skeptical about the event series in the beginning, but as they progressed he was won over—particularly after experiencing it himself.

“I saw the value of our residents coming together outside,” he said. “My question is, why not continue?”

Somers replied that she thinks the seven dates ended up falling within the perfect time period, before kids returned to school, adding she hopes to do something similar next summer, or possibly during the winter.

In an interview with Los Gatan, Somers said many local businesses have been struggling during the pandemic, and so she was glad to be able to do something to support them.

“We just kept inviting people down into town,” she said. “We not only survived but thrived.”

Somers explained that, out of the $7 million the Town got in ARPA funding, $80,000 went toward the Promenades, which cost about $12,000 each week.

“A lot of towns had to use the ARPA funding to fill in lost revenue,” she said, pointing to Los Gatos’ better-thanexpected performance from hotel and sales tax revenue streams, adding, “We were really lucky that we’ve been pretty conservative in our spending.”

While some retail shops didn’t see much of an uptick in sales during the Promenades, some of these businesses reported increased business on later days, Somers said, noting it was the restaurants that were the biggest winners.

“Our residents really came out and made a point of shopping local and dining local,” she said. “We have a really tight-knit community.”

Tait Avenue residents Martha and Mario Queiroz wrote to Council to express their appreciation.

“It is the best thing to happen in Los Gatos for a long time, and I hope that you will allow it to continue to take place every summer moving forward,” they wrote. “We run into many friends, drink and eat, walk around, and listen

to the bands. And the road closure is very nice, allowing plenty of room to mingle.”

In her report to the council, Somers suggested future Promenadetype events could feature more collaboration with other venues, partnerships with businesses located outside of the event area, continuing to ensure pedestrian movement along N. Santa Cruz Avenue, increased cultural diversity of musical options and wristbands for people over the age of 21.

Now the chamber is gearing up for its end-of-summer celebration on Labor Day Weekend—Saturday, Sept. 4, from 1–8pm at Town Plaza Park. Bands scheduled to play are EZ Motion, Extra Large and the House Rockers.

While N. Santa Cruz Avenue won’t be shut down that day, Montebello Way will be. And local officials are mulling a possible Christmas-time reboot of the Promenade idea.

CELEBRATION

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BOOTH SPONSORS Special thanks to Brian Bernasconi for arranging our music for the summer.

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PRESENTED BY

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Voices shine a light inside the reality of the Title IX process at schools

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Drew Penner, Reporter

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“Survivor rights are human rights!”

“Rapists do not belong at prom!” “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Gender violence has got to go!”

These were just some of the chants about 70-80 students and others belted out as they walked along N. Santa Cruz Avenue just after 3pm as part of the Downtown Los Gatos Survivor Solidarity March and Rally, Aug. 10.

As they arrived at Town Plaza Park, a variety of speakers began to focus their ire on what they characterized as a lack of action on the part of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District in responding to incidents of reported sexual assault.

Addressing the crowd, Abbi Berry, a co-founder of From Survivors For Survivors, reflected on being part of a group that inspired more than 160 Los Gatos High School students to share about sexual assault and harassment experiences on the Instagram account @metoo.losgatos.

“A little over a year ago I was really angry, and I was driven by the anger to hold abusers and enablers accountable,” she said. “I felt empowered by survivors to speak up and challenge the systemic rape culture that I knew had been around for too long.”

Berry says she’s happy LGHS now has a Title IX complaint process on its website and that Santa Clara County has been conducting a county-wide Title IX audit.

“People are still talking about the shockwaves we sent through the town,” Berry said. “This team, our movement, did a lot.”

But, she says, it took a toll.

“We had parents calling and yelling at us; moms texting their friends, slut-shaming survivors, begging their friends to take their sons’—their abuser’s—side,” she said, adding high school administrators refused opportunities to work together to address the problem. “We lost friends and teachers. At times we abandoned our emotional well-being for this fight.”

Dr. Alice Milano, a member of the Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition and a Stanford Spanish lecturer, says she made it through high school—at West-

‘BELIEVE THE SURVIVORS’ Homemade signs and passionate chants filled the air during the Downtown Los Gatos Survivor Solidarity March & Rally Aug. 10.

mont High School in Campbell—without being sexually assaulted.

“But in college I wasn’t so lucky,” she said, sharing the account of how she ended up alone with her abuser at a party, after some female friends abandoned her. “Those young women that left me that night didn’t have my back.

But we have each other’s back. We’ll stay informed. We’ll share information with each other.”

It’s important to look out for people around you too, she stressed.

“Because sexual assault can happen to anyone, no matter your age, race, gender or sexuality,” she said. “We have to tell would-be attackers that it’s not OK. And we have to tell the police that it’s not OK. And we have to tell administrators, counselors and teachers, that it’s not OK.” Milano says she believed youth today were more progressive and less likely to engage in sex-based crimes. But she says that faith was shaken when Chanel Miller was sexually assaulted by star swimmer Brock Turner at Stanford University.

“Occasionally, a student or a colleague has come to me to let me know that they, too, have been sexually assaulted or harassed—which I have reported each time,” Milano said. “I didn’t think the students I taught would ever harm another individual.”

Milano urged the crowd to consider joining a planned demonstration at the Aug. 24 meeting of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District Board.

“You may get an earful of four-letter words from a parent,” she said. “But if we all unite, we can beat back that assault, too.”

Foul language from a parent is something Alaina Fox, the former editor-in-chief of the Los Gatos High School newspaper El Gato, says she’s already experienced. But during her speech, her criticisms were leveled more directly at district administrators, and the advisor she says continually shut down attempts by reporters to bring problems with sexual violence within the school community to light.

“I ran into censorship time and time

again,” she said. “When the staff of the paper overwhelmingly favored an editorial piece on the failings of the sexual assault education, the idea was immediately vetoed. Another time, a staffer’s brainstorming suggestion to write about sexual assault was denied before the words were fully out of her mouth.”

In an interview with Los Gatan, Fox, who recently graduated, said their journalism teacher even refused to let students write about a case that was already proceeding in the courts, meaning they would’ve had protections against defamation concerns.

“We’re really just asking for the basic, bare minimum,” she said. “It seems like some sort of outside help is needed.”

When asked about the situation, District Superintendent Michael Grove didn’t address it directly, but said the school system wants to make sure students feel free to express themselves.

“When it comes to student journalism, we work to create an open environment where students and advisors work collaboratively to challenge each

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

March for sexual assault awareness

to speak with you and perhaps clear the air.”

In the email, Farrell described the request from the boy’s family for an informal solution as “genuine and heartfelt,” which Pistaferri says made her feel like the Title IX coordinator was taking the boy’s side.

In an email interview with Los Gatan, when asked about the “Italian model” comment, the “informal resolution” email and the formal complaint Pistaferri subsequently filed, Farrell explained she isn’t able to comment on the case.

“I previously worked for Palo Alto Unified School District, and I left that position of my own volition and on good terms with the district,” she said.

“Although I do not currently work with PAUSD, I take the confidentiality of students who engage with the Title IX process very seriously, and thus, I cannot comment on allegations related to any specific investigation.”

On Feb. 23 this year, PAUSD Deputy Superintendent Trent Bahadursingh sent a letter to Pistaferri titled “Re: Outcome of Investigation.” He notes she formally complained about Farrell Dec. 7, 2020, and that the Palo Alto-based Marek Law Firm took about a month to look into her claims.

“The investigation found that a preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that, when Farrell met with you and your parents, Farrell said that you reminded her of an ‘Italian model,'” and that, “Farrell made this comment as part of an effort to make you feel more comfortable,” Bahadursingh wrote. The investigation also found that, while interviewing Pistaferri for the Title IX investigation, Farrell didn’t silence her phone, because she was monitoring updates about her mother’s health—and when Farrell answered a phone call, it was to speak with her mom.

“The investigation also found that a preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Outcome Letter, which was authored by former Title IX Director Megan Farrell and signed by former Deputy Superintendent Karen Hendricks, incorrectly claimed that the school had already investigated your complaint and determined that no policy violation had occurred,” Bahadursingh told Pistaferri, adding Gunn administrators “did not take adequate steps” to protect her from continued harassment.

Grove defends Pistaferri’s hiring at Los Gatos.

“When looking for someone with the background and expertise necessary to

assist our district with Title IX training, compliance, and investigation and prior to Ms. Farrell joining our district as a consultant, we did an extensive analysis of her professional experience and checked references, including with PAUSD and other organizations with whom she worked,” Grove said. “After the district’s assessment of her track record, we were, and continue to be, confident that she is the right person to assist us in our efforts on this critical issue.”

Grove says the district is “firmly committed” to addressing sexual harassment and assault.

“Unfortunately, this is a deeply-rooted social ill in our broader culture and there are no quick fixes globally, nationally, or locally,” he said.

Grove pointed to steps the district has taken to refine its short and longterm strategies to ensure that students are safe: revising Title IX policies, updating its extracurricular code of conduct, approving a confidential tip line, expanding sexual harassment / assault training and bringing in restorative practices to resolve conflicts, among other things.

“Our district is committed to ensuring that our campuses are safe and supportive environments,” he said.

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Judy Peterson

other as part of the journalistic process,” he said. “Although not always perfect, it has worked because we are constantly reflecting on the process and providing our students with the necessary resources and guidance that allows them to lead the decision-making in the student newsroom including guidance that maintains journalistic integrity to ensure the pursuit of truth based on facts.”

During her poetry-tinged speech, Fox said she sees a pattern of punishment for those who try to shed light on problems at her former school.

“The goal wasn’t to make things better,” she said. “The goal was to avoid having to deal with us. The culture has yet to change. But we have changed…

We refuse to burn out.”

Next, Isabella Pistaferri, a recent graduate of Henry M. Gunn High School, in the Palo Alto Unified School District, spoke. She told of how she co-founded the “Hands-Off IX” club there, after what she characterized as issues she experienced with the Title IX sex assault reporting process, first hand.

She says when she initially reported a sexual assault to a Gunn wellness counselor but had to leave to take a test, she was told she’d be called back to make a more extensive report, but then never was. This was later confirmed in documents obtained by Los Gatan.

According to Pistaferri, she says she was frustrated with how their Title IX coordinator, Megan Farrell—who now does this work for the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union School District—treated her.

“The first thing Ms. Farrell said to me when she saw me was I reminded her of an Italian model—a seemingly inappropriate comment to make to a vulnerable 16-year-old girl on behalf of an educator,” she told the crowd, claiming Farrell even answered her phone as Pistaferri was trying to officially report sex abuse. She added Farrell tried to push her towards settling for an informal resolution with the boy she says abused her, even though she says she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested in mediation.

In a September 2019 email to the Pistaferri family provided to Los Gatan, Farrell offered to connect the families.

“I wanted to share that the boy and his parents have indicated that they would be interested in meeting and exploring an informal resolution of this matter,” Farrell wrote. “They would like

SPREADING THE MESSAGE Marchers listen to speakers gathered downtown.

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Residents urge to prepare in event of disaster

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Judy Peterson, Reporter

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As wildfires burn through California, residents across the state are urged to have a “go bag” packed and ready to grab since precious minutes can make the difference between living and dying.

That’s why members of the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Community Response Team, CERT, were called out to a wildfire drill on a recent Saturday morning: to practice evacuating residents of Foster Road.

People who live on Foster Road were alerted in advance that the drill was taking place, so they were ready to go.

Sort of.

“We thought we were prepared but we went over the list of everything and realized we still aren’t prepared,” resident Laurie Patrone said. “So, it’s a reminder of how many ways we’re not ready and what are the things that are important to us. If we legitimately had 10 minutes this morning we would not have been prepared to take the things that matter. Now we’re going to go home and rethink our planning.”

One thing Patrone learned is that she and her husband need another dog leash for their golden retriever.

Turns out, having an extra leash is one of the things the ASPCA recommends including in a pet go bag.

Other things residents should include in a go bag are listed in the informational box adjacent to this story. Some things, such as lightweight pouches of food and water, are available online and at sporting goods stores.

The simulated evacuation of Foster Road was coordinated with that neighborhood’s volunteer CERT team.

The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department and DART—the Disaster Aid Response Team—played critical roles as well.

So, when the call to evacuate went out, DART and CERT volunteers were dispatched to Foster Road to facilitate

traffic control, while others manned a traffic post at Alpine Road and Main Street, directing evacuees to Calvary Baptist Church on Los Gatos Boulevard.

Calvary’s parking lot served as the drill’s communications hub, where Gretchen Sands worked as a scribe, recording all the radio traffic coming and going.

“Scribes need to be very detail-oriented,” Sands said. “There’s traffic coming in from the field and the Emergency Operations Center, and there are instructions we have to give people in the field, so you’re using all your communication skills. I write down everything to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.”

Testing radio communications is an important part of any simulated drill.

Cell phones may not work in a real disaster, so CERTs and other emergency responders are equipped with handheld radios that are set to specific frequencies.

The internet could be down, too.

But a dedicated internet portal that’s being developed county-wide will link the Los Gatos and Santa Clara County emergency operation centers.

“The technology will be capable of sending traditional email but also the message packets that our HAM radio operators send to each other,” Los Gatos Assistant Town Manager Arn Andrews said.

During a drill debriefing, Capt. Jamie Field said the drill was of “huge value” because it helped the police department identify weak points.

“We see how these fires can expand overnight. Things can change quickly, so we need to be able to move quickly.

It’s also important that people know what they need to grab,” she said.

Resident Kathy Cotton was reminded that she needs “to take my computer because it has everything on it.”

Several residents learned they aren’t on the alert list. AlertSCC is the county’s official emergency notification system that works with cell phones and landlines, and all Los Gatans are encouraged to sign-up for it by down-

Judy Peterson

WILDFIRE DRILL PREPARES RESIDENTS FOR EMERGENCIES

BE PREPARED Community Emergency Response Team members Brian Whitaker (left) and Michael Parker participated in the July 24 wildfire drill that tested radio communications, among other things. Alpine Road residents also practiced evacuating their neighborhood, with several realizing their emergency “go kits” needed updating.

loading the app or visiting emergencymanagement.sccgov.org.

The town of Los Gatos is listed as a “Community at Risk” by the California Fire Alliance, with approximately onefourth of the town’s residents living in Wildfire Urban Interface areas—that’s an area that transitions from a natural or wildland condition to human settlements.

Because of the high risk of wildfires, town leaders consider wildfire mitigation to be a top priority and have beefed up the CERT program.

CERT Academies are on hiatus due to the pandemic but it’s hoped they will resume in Fall 2021. The

town’s CERT information page is at losgatosca.gov/152/CERT-members.

“The purpose of CERT is to save lives,” said Rinconada Neighborhood CERT Bruce Preville. “We’ll save lives if people practice because knowing how to evacuate will be more familiar to people since they’ve done it before.

It builds confidence.”

The CERT program was founded after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake to assist first responders, who are expected to be overwhelmed in a true emergency.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN AN EMERGENCY GO KIT The Santa Clara County Fire Department recommends keeping a sturdy pair of shoes and a flashlight near your bed in case you’re sleeping when an evacuation order is issued.

Backpacks make great go kits and should be stored near an exit door. Each family member needs their own backpack and pets need one, too.

The fire department suggests that go kits include food and water but practically speaking that’s a challenge. So, many people store food, water, pet supplies and other bulky items in their vehicles.

Your kits should include: • Flashlight and extra batteries • Three-day supply of prescriptions • Three-day supply of nonperishable food, water • Extra set of car and house keys, credit cards and cash • Change of clothes • Toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, anti-bacterial wipes and diapers/sanitary supplies if needed • A spare pair of eyeglasses or contacts • Basic first aid kit

• Copies of important documents, such as birth certificates, insurance, passports, etc.

• A mobile device charger Be ready to run with your pet: • Three-day supply of pet food • Dishes and water bowls • Medicine and medical records • Pet taxi/crate with a blanket and toys • A recent photo in case you’re separated from your pet • Cat litter box, litter and scooper • Doggie “poop” bags

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• Battery-powered radio and extra batteries

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LOS GATOS REALTORS EXPECT $2 BILLION IN 2021 HOME SALES Record prices, strong demand leading surge Erik Chalhoub, Editor

The red-hot real estate market that’s scorched Los Gatos and the rest of the state could be showing signs of cooling, but the market promises to be robust for the foreseeable future, local agents predict.

REAL ESTATE According to data by the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, 46 single-family homes sold in Los Gatos in July, at a median price of $2,772,500. Homes sold on average for 108 percent of listing price.

Data from MLSListings shows single-family home inventory in Santa Clara County had grown in July compared to June, while sales decreased by eight percent and the sales price over listing dropped by a percentage point.

Doug Goss of KW Bay Area Estates in Los Gatos, who is the president of the SCCAOR, said it’s been a seller’s market since agents were allowed to show homes to prospective buyers once Covid-19 restrictions were slightly lifted in May 2020.

known what the forecast will be for the market’s future. Goss said that while many properties may have received upwards of 15 offers earlier this year, things have slowed slightly, with homes maybe receiving around five offers.

Being a seller’s market also means it’s been difficult for buyers, who are feeling like they are getting “beat up,” he said.

“They are making attractive offers, but they are getting blown out of the water time and time again,” he said.

Goss recommended buyers work with an agent who is experienced with the area.

“Having a good strong agent that knows the market, knows the inventory, that’s the best thing the buyer can do,” he said.

As of late August, more than 500 residential properties had sold in Los Gatos this year, with just under $1.4 billion in total sales.

Several Los Gatos-based agents have said that their personal sales have exceeded $100 million or are quickly approaching the milestone.

Goss added that he was confident total sales in the county would surpass $2 billion by the end of the year, as median sales prices are at a record.

“Sales are very robust,” he said. “It’s gone through the roof.”

The market continues to be driven by low interest rates, and inventory remains low due to a strong demand from buyers looking to move into the desirable Los Gatos area, Goss said.

While it remains a great time for sellers, according to Goss, it’s un-

HOME OF THE WEEK CURB APPEAL, INSIDE AND OUT

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Intero Real Estate

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Renovated Los Gatos home has $500K in upgrades

JAMIE COURT Pavers on the driveway and sidewalk are some of the many details of this Los Gatos home.

This single-story home in the Belwood/Belgatos neighborhood of Los Gatos was recently overhauled with $500,000 in renovation.

Located at 100 Jamie Court, the 2,428-square-foot home includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

One of the bedrooms has been converted into an office, complete with a skylight and two built-in desks. The kitchen is outfitted with a commercial stove, built-in refrigerator, wine refrigerator, an island and built-in speakers.

The backyard features three porcelain-tiled patio areas, built-in gas barbecue, a pergola with lights and mature trees.

The home, built in 1979, is listed at $2,378,000 by Intero Real Estate Services. For information, visit bit.ly/3Dgwkq9.

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Vaccination rates are so high, Covid-19-prevention clinic will offer flu shot, too Drew Penner, Reporter

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By the time the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District held its first meeting since classes returned, Aug. 24, it’d already dealt with two coronavirus cases—a teacher and a student—one in Saratoga, and one in Los Gatos.

While demonstrating the publicly-available “dashboard” for trustees, Brian Safine, the district’s director of human resources, said the school system was fortunate to have seen so few to date. And he began outlining how the district will identify and react to positive cases as they show up.

“When we get notice of a case, we need to inform everybody who is considered a close contact—which would be the teachers and the students in a classroom,” he said, noting the district uses the Screener19 health-screening app to track for symptoms. “It also lets us know which campus spaces they’ve been in, so that helps us with the contact tracing, response and mitigation.”

The district did rapid testing of staff in both positive cases. For example, the student, he said, was tested over the weekend and got a positive result by Monday. The district tested the female

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student’s teachers, even though they’d been vaccinated (although, those tests were returned as “negative”).

Because the goal, Safine stressed, is to “have schools open and back to normal as much as humanly possible, while we maintain safety.”

But there’s a cost each time a case shows up, he pointed out.

“It’s going to consume about a halfday at the schools in terms of man and women power, to get messaging out, to make sure that teachers are cared for, that students are cared for, and that everyone is in the know about next steps,” he said. “So, very time-consuming work, but important, obviously— and in the interest of student and staff safety.”

In line with state rules, all students, aged 12 and up, are “strongly encouraged” to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but it’s not mandatory, while teachers and staff will have to show proof of vaccination.

“We began our roll-out of that this week,” Safine said, noting staff quickly responded when he shared details about how to attest to vaccination status. “In the first, I think, 20 hours that the message had gone out, we’d already had 100 staff members upload their vaccination records.”

The HR director isn’t too worried about having a large contingent of

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

DISTRICT ROLLS OUT NEW PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS

DISTRICT UPDATE Brian Safine, Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District’s director of human resources, speaks at the Aug. 24 board meeting.

resistance on the payroll. After all, in a summer survey, 94% of staff (300 out of about 320 respondents) said they were already fully vaccinated.

“There has been great thirst for the vaccine in our staff, since very early spring,” he said, adding for those who haven’t gotten the jab or prefer not to say, the district is offering testing through BinaxNOW. “That is beginning this week.”

Unvaccinated students can be tested weekly, but it’s currently not required.

“Our next step, for students, is to assess the vaccination status of students, via survey, and to offer weekly Covid testing of students, beginning next week,” Safine said.

The district will host its first vaccination clinic Sept. 12 at Saratoga High School, to serve both high school communities, with the assistance of Safeway. “Realizing that so many people in the community are vaccinated already, we are adding a flu clinic, so folks can come for either the Covid vaccine, or flu vaccine.”

POWER OUTAGES LEAVE CUSTOMERS MYSTIFIED Residents say better communication is needed Drew Penner, Reporter

Los Gatos-area residents say they keep getting left in the dark by PG&E—in more ways than one.

The company reports at least some of the frequent outage situations are related to efforts to avoid sparking another catastrophic wildfire, but critics say they need to do a better job communicating during blackouts.

“They keep us in the blind,” said Fran Coad, a resident of Marty Road, which is off Summit Road in the Los

Gatos postal area. “They don’t tell us anything.”

Out of 10 Los Gatos-area outages since the end of July, according to PG&E, one happened after a crossarm broke, two were caused by a transformer failure, and four were caused by trees. Two, however, are listed as “Unknown cause, no damage or hazards found.” None were part of a pre-emptive blackout program.

Mayra Tostado, a PG&E spokesperson, says the company is trying to improve its ability to deliver power during heightened wildfire conditions.

“First of all, I want to apologize for

the inconvenience our customers in Los Gatos have experienced due to recent outages in the area,” Tostado said.

“We understand how frustrating it is to be without power.”

The company’s stock has dropped 25% this year, and it says its equipment might’ve caused the Dixie Fire, which has scorched 800,000 acres across five Northern California counties.

But, she says, during some blackouts it will just take longer to restore power than it used to, due to ampedup safety measures.

“PG&E is taking additional steps

to further mitigate the potential for equipment-sparked wildfires,” she said. “One of those steps is increasing the sensitivity of fault-sensing devices, such as circuit breakers and line reclosers, in high fire-threat areas.”

Coad, a retired engineer, thinks this could be the reason for the “unknown” outages.

“My question is, where are those fault-sensing devices? Are they out in the flatlands? Or are they out in the mountains where they have dry timber?” he wondered. “If everybody ➝ POWER, 28

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Was your home built before 1970?

27

Making Shannon Road safer Drew Penner/Los Gatan

Town officials collecting and analyzing feedback from residents

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Drew Penner, Reporter

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Spray paint along Shannon Road indicating where speed humps and other municipal infrastructure will go is a taste of what's to come.

But for now, students continue to wander along the shoulder, since there's no sidewalk in some segments, while cars race by.

But a process is underway at Town Hall to calm traffic, install sidewalks and paint bike lanes here.

Plenty of community voices, from neighborhood residents, to government officials, to workers at a childcare facility on the road, say it's time to make this route much safer.

Under the Shannon Pedestrian & Bikeway Improvement Project plan, the idea is to facilitate better cyclist and pedestrian flow on Shannon Road from Los Gatos Boulevard to Cherry Blossom Lane.

Mayor Marico Sayoc says Shannon Road is really busy because motorists use it as a way to get around traffic snarls in Los Gatos.

But, she says, it's not a raceway, and needs to be designed to make sure schoolchildren are protected as they come and go.

"It’s part of our Safe Routes to School program," she said, explaining the Town has already done some renovations on Shannon Road. "There’s been several improvements we’ve made."

The Town partnered with the Los Gatos Union School District, the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District and Hillbrook School for a study of traffic around local schools back in 2016. The county has been pushing for these sorts of upgrades, too.

Los Gatos even got $940,100 in federal funding from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, via the Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at Schools grant program, to support the initiative.

Over the years there's been a series of public meetings to invite civic engagement from parents and others.

Now, locals get to have their voices

POWER, from page 26

PROCESS UNDERWAY Shannon Road is under the microscope at the Town Hall for new safety measures.

heard on potential upgrades for Shannon Road.

The effort falls under Connect Los Gatos, a program of bike and pedestrian projects meant to promote connectivity throughout the community.

Sayoc said it's so important to get community feedback in order to make sure the Town is proceeding with the right measures, particularly since developing its road network doesn't come cheap.

"As you know infrastructure changes are very expensive," she said, but notes Shannon Road is one that seems to be on the top of many people's lists.

"Shannon Road is one of many roads that’s been viewed critically."

Christine Brokaw, a Shannon Road resident, says people speed along the road so fast it's dangerous.

"That's why I back my car in, because I'm terrified that I'm going to run into something when I'm coming out of my driveway," she said, adding improvements will benefit more

than just people who live there. "It's a thoroughfare, with kids walking home from school."

"I didn't know it was happening. I think it's a good idea. People drive so fast along here. It would be nice."

Julia Robertson, 14, wandered away from Los Gatos Boulevard down the side of Shannon Road she likes best, flanked by a friend. Both were eating icy treats in the hot sun.

"But there's no sidewalk, so I usually walk on that side," she said, motioning to the other side of the street that she doesn't like to travel down as much. "I just like this side better; I don't know why."

With names like "road diets" or "safer streets" projects, such municipal initiatives to calm traffic, boost safety, and make communities more walkable are all the rage in California, right now.

You can learn more by going to losgatosca.gov/ConnectLG.

turns on their air conditioning, it’s probably going to trip.”

Sometimes it’s taken PG&E days to get the lights back on.

According to Tostado, one of the reasons for lengthy outages is because crews have to actually go out and look at all the lines with their own eyes, to make sure there aren’t any dangling wires that could spark a forest fire.

“When these patrols find damage or hazards affecting our equipment, additional time might be required to complete repairs,” she said. “While this is done in the interest of safety, we understand it is unacceptable for our customers to experience frequent or long-duration outages, and are actively looking at ways to improve the process to provide safe and reliable power.”

Coad says he understands the need to take precautions during wildfire season.

“But it just takes forever to do it,” he said. “If a line came down and caused that system to trip and open the circuit, that’s a good thing. But when it’s in another area and that control box gets tripped because of another break in another area, that’s not good.

Because now we’re being held back because of someone else’s power loss.”

But the part that frustrates him most is what he describes as poor communication from the power company.

“People want to know what’s going on,” he said. “If they gave us some feedback on their broadcast system (about) their failures, it would help them, because people wouldn’t be complaining about it so much.”

The Marty Road residents have banded together to keep their own records and seek answers.

While, in some cases, their numbers line up with the data released by PG&E, for other entries, times they’ve received from PG&E aren’t the same as what eyewitness accounts have shared through a digital Telegram-app group they started.

“I think that they energize the main line, but it’s all these spurs, like the Marty line, that they have to inspect before they turn it on,” he said. “The infrastructure of wires is so old it can’t carry the current load.”

November 20 & 21, 2020 SaN JoSe CeNter for the PerformiNg artS SymPhoNy SiliCoN valley.org • 408-286-2600 Part of the Harry Potter™ Film Concert Series

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s21)

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EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF THE FILMS WITH A LIVE ORCHESTRA

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Joseph Zahriya understands that buying or selling a home is more than just a transaction:

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it’s a life-changing experience.

Joseph Zahriya Realtor® M: 408.666.4608 joseph.zahriya@compass.com DRE 01486890 Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

License Number 01486890. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

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TOWN BRINGS METAPHORICAL A CLASSIC LOS GATOS HIGHWAY GETS $2M IN FEMA FUNDS FOR REPAIRS ‘PERSONAL TOUCH’ BACK TO CIVIC LIFE Commuters describe longoverdue repairs Travel along the gnarled reaches of Los Gatos’ Old Santa Cruz Road and you’ll encounter grape vines and apple trees, cyclists peddling and commuters zooming, contractors hammering and residents leaf-blowing.

But now, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has set aside $2 million for repairs in the area, House lawmaker Anna G. Eshoo announced Aug. 20. The cash will flow to Santa Cruz County officials for the job.

“The storms in 2017 overwhelmed county public works and as a result, far too many roads have remained unusable four years later,” Eshoo said in a press release. “I’m proud to announce that with these funds, significant and long-overdue repairs will be made possible, easing travel through the beautiful Santa Cruz mountains.”

This money comes as a grant providing $1,987,067.16 in federal funding to Santa Cruz County’s Department of Public Works, under a program meant to address winter storms, flooding or mudslides.

It’s up to Sacramento to make sure the money gets handed out properly.

“Following the state’s review process

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Drew Penner/Los Gatan

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POPULAR SPOT A bicyclist rolls down Old Santa Cruz Highway recently.

WITH COUNTER-SERVICE RESTART

Erik Chalhoub/Los Gatan

Drew Penner, Reporter

and upon receipt of appropriate documentation, they will provide funds to the sub-recipients on a reimbursable basis,” the release states.

Jeremiah Ellison, 44, a Santa Cruz resident, uses the route to dip around backed-up traffic on Highway 17, sometimes. After all, he’s an educator in Silicon Valley, and he has kids to teach.

“Well, it’s not going to go very far,” he said, calling $2 million a drop in the bucket. “There’s a retaining wall that needs to be fixed, and that alone would probably cost $5 million.”

But he says, some improvement is better than nothing.

“Some of those areas around the corners are very tight,” he said.

His friend, Ryan Pryor, 48, is a Scotts Valley resident who also commutes to Silicon Valley daily. He says it’s nice to have Old Santa Cruz as a back-up option.

“If things are crazy we’ll slip over to some other road,” he said, but adds, “I don’t think I care if the road looks better, or is better.”

But he says, it will probably make a big difference to locals who use it more frequently.

While in Los Gatos about to get in his truck, Miguel Serna, 37, said he travels on Old Santa Cruz road every week. The Santa Cruz County resident is glad to hear about the upgrade plan.

“I think it’s nice they’re fixing it,” he said, but notes, “If I have those $2 million, I’d spend it more on Old San Jose Road.”

That backroad is even worse, he explained, as he wondered aloud if the FEMA money will trickle down that way.

“It’s more hillsides,” he said. “There’s been a lot of mudslides.”

Either way, he’s glad to learn about the improvements.

“I think it’s a little bit safer with less holes in the road,” he said.

The current state of Old Santa Cruz Highway wasn’t safe enough for one deer, which lay decomposing along a tiny inner shoulder Aug. 20. However, it’s unclear if $2 million will be enough to prevent those sorts of fatalities in the future.

WELCOME BACK The Town of Los Gatos reopened its public counters for drop-in services.

Public access returned after long closure Drew Penner, Reporter

When Los Gatan reached Mayor Marico Sayoc on Aug. 16, she was thrilled to talk about how many Town staff had just begun working in-person again—that very day.

The next step, she explained, was for the municipal office building to open its doors for drop-in services Aug. 30.

“We’re excited,” she said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

Local officials say they are working “diligently” behind the scenes to create a safe and convenient environment for staff and local residents.

But, Sayoc says, it’s not the first Town building that’s re-opened for indoor use.

“Our library has been open to the public,” she said. “Certain other areas of high-visibility have been open to the public.”

The library, located at 100 Villa Ave., is currently open 10am-6pm seven days a week.

“We’re just trying to model that we have to live with the pandemic and the changes are occurring,” Sayoc said.

“All the cities are having those active discussions.”

She urges people to get vaccinated and mask-up, and says it’s important for the Town to make sure it is responsive to the needs of its citizens.

“That requires a personal touch,” she said. “Ultimately, we are a high-service organization.”

Reflecting on the recent history of the pandemic months, the mayor says she’s proud of how far the community has come.

“The journey has been difficult,” she said, but added, with a healthy dollop of positivity, “At this time we have high vaccination among our staff.”

2021-2022 SEASON Saturday, September 11, 2021, 7:30pm Hammer Theatre, San Jose Fanfare for the Common Man . Aaron Copland Adagio for Strings . Samuel Barber Symphony No. 6 . Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Saturday, March 26, 2022, 7:30pm Hammer Theatre, San Jose

Ethiopia's Shadow in America . Florence Price Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4 . Heitor Villa-Lobos Symphony No. 7 . Jean Sibelius

Remember Someone Special 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.

Saturday, June 25, 2022, 7:30pm Venue - TBD Short Ride in a Fast Machine . John Adams Black, Brown, and Beige . Duke Ellington (arr. M. Peress)

Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, doorsteps and news racks all around town

ALL CONCERTS FREE ADMISSION DONATIONS ACCEPTED

www.cambriansymphony.org

Supported by SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose.

Call or email for details: Lynda at 707.353.1148 or LifeTributes@Weeklys.com

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Symphony No. 3 . Johannes Brahms

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LIVES

Dean Belshaw April 5, 1968 – August 6, 2021

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ean Belshaw passed away at home surrounded by his loved ones on August 6, 2021 at the age of 53 after a heroic battle with brain cancer. Dean was born in Nottingham, England on April 5, 1968 to Carol and Brian Belshaw.

An avid golfer, Dean was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, friend and colleague. He loved sports; competitive by nature, he was athletic his whole life. His favorite football club was Manchester United.

He started his career in IT consulting and soon moved into management.

He met his wife Dagmar working at NCR in Germany and they moved together to the US for work. In 1998 they settled in the Northern California Bay Area where their daughter Natasha and son David were born. After a long career with Hitachi Data Systems, he moved to work for FireEye in 2017.

Dean is survived by his beloved wife of 24 years, Dagmar, his daughter Natasha and son David, his mother Carol, sister Debbie Kevan and family, and best walking companion, Buddy.

He is predeceased by his father Brian.

His fun-loving personality and sharp wit will be missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of life was held at Darling & Fischer in Los Gatos on Friday, August 20.

Barbara Jackson Junge December 1, 1931 – July 26, 2021

B

arbara Jackson Junge, a longtime Los Gatos resident, teacher and international educational consultant, died after a long illness on July 26 surrounded by family and friends. She was 89.

Born Dec. 1, 1931 in Los Angeles, she was the second of three daughters of actor Thomas Jackson and Llellwyn Smith, a Brentwood dance studio owner. Barbara graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in international relations and teaching from UCLA in 1953. She met her future husband, Norwegian native Bjarne Junge, while they were UCLA students, marrying in 1954. She began her teaching career in Los Angeles public schools, and the couple moved to San Jose when Bjarne joined IBM. After the birth of two daughters, Barbara earned an M.A. in education administration from San Jose State and taught junior high in San Jose Unified until 1968.

After the family moved from Los Gatos to Boulder, CO, Barbara earned a PhD in curriculum and instruction at the University of Colorado.

Returning to Los Gatos in 1972 with her family, Barbara joined the faculty at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont until 1975 and began educational consulting abroad for more than three decades. Speaking many foreign languages, including

Italian, Norwegian and Amharic, Barbara represented several organizations, including UNESCO, UNICEF and USAID in Ethiopia, Thailand, Nigeria, Nepal and Papua New Guinea, among other countries.

She treasured her assignments in Ethiopia the most and in retirement she maintained strong ties with the local Ethiopian community.

Barbara loved to read and write poetry and was a past Poet Laureate of Los Gatos. She enjoyed yoga, hiking, Lake Tahoe, gourmet cooking, Broadway plays in NYC and traveling.

Barbara is survived by Bjarne, her husband of 67 years; daughters Maria (Jim Nix) of Saratoga and Karina (Graham Hutt) of McKinleyville, CA, and three grandsons: Erik Nix of Oakland, Karl Nix (McKenzie) of Dublin, CA, and Dylan Hutt of McKinleyville; and sisters Virginia Miller of Santa Barbara and Betty Jackson of San Luis Obispo.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Los Gatos, on October 9. Please RSVP for details to barbarajacksonjunge@gmail.com.

Steven Edwards Beasley March 28, 1932 - July 3, 2021, Resident of Los Gatos

S

teven Edwards Beasley, 89, of Los Gatos, California passed away July 3, 2021, at the Woodlands Healthcare Center after battling cancer. He was born March 28, 1932, in Baltimore Maryland to Dr. Willis C. Beasley and Margaret (Edwards) Beasley.

Steven graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland in 1950. He then earned BS degree in Biology from the University of Maryland and an MS de-

gree in Regional Planning from Penn State University.

Steven served in the US Navy from 1950 to 1955 during the Korean War. In the Navy he trained as a medic and served on the USS Philippine Sea and the USS Hancock. On September 16, 1961, he married Evelyn Okrina in Minnesota. Together they had three children: Bruce, Michelle and Kelly.

As a science writer, Steven worked at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. Maryland. He later became an Executive Personnel Career Placement Officer and won several national awards for accomplishing successful career transitions for executives. Following his retirement, he was the Managing Editor of and wrote many articles for the Career Planning and Adult Development Journal.

He was also a competitive ballroom dancer participating in ProAm competitions. He taught dancing and dance history at the Santa Cruz Senior Center for about five years. He often was a part of many competitions at San Jose State University. At the Calvary Church in Los Gatos, he was a teaching member of the Ballroom Dance Ministry. He was also part of a pilot program in Palo Alto teaching patients with Parkinson’s how to dance. For many years, he brushed up on his skills in dancing classes at Brigham Young University.

Steven was also a classically trained pianist, he once performed at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC for the Daughters of the American Revolution.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Ronald W. Beasley. He leaves to mourn three children; son Bruce and his wife Krista, and daughters Michelle and Kelly; a brother Danforth Bewley and numerous nieces and nephews.

Steven will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a ceremony sometime next year.

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T U M M I E S

E S T N C U T O U T H L E A B L E T D A N I Y O G A I N N I S I T P E T E A S E D N E R M E R A P E S E A P B A L L E L I E E E Z E R D E N

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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Numbers 01079009 and 01272467. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

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