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‘historic’ budget surplus
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: locals thrive in hockey p11 : year in review p12: ny times crossword puzzle p17 Contributed
DOCTOR SAYS PHYSICIANS GROUP HELPED HER SURVIVE PANDEMIC
Longtime public safety official began with local department in 2009
Pandora Chua describes the dangers of being on the front lines
Drew Penner, Reporter
The Town of Los Gatos has named its new top public safety official, a 20-year veteran cop who’s been on the local force since 2009. Jamie Field says when she learned she would become the community’s first-ever female police chief, she was overjoyed. “I’m honored,” she said in an interview with the Los Gatan. “This is a wonderful opportunity.” She is also the only female head of a municipal law enforcement agency in Santa Clara County.
Drew Penner, Reporter
Just as the world was shutting down with the arrival of SARS-CoV-2, a Brazilian doctor named Carlos R. Degrandi Oliveira, penned an article in a peer-reviewed journal that sounded the alarm about a little-discussed at-risk group— anesthesiologists. On top of day-to-day dangers, such as ionizing radiation, electrical mishaps and noise pollution, he drew on lessons from the 2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto to signal ways to safeguard people in the profession. “Covid-19 imposes a new reality, with a high degree of additional risk and the requirement of extended protection never seen before during the anesthetic management of a patient,” he wrote in the April 2020 edition of Anaesthesia, Pain & Intensive Care, urging practitioners to get enough sleep, have each other’s backs, and maintain contact with ➝ Chua, 8
TOWN APPOINTS JAMIE FIELD AS THE NEW POLICE CHIEF
➝ Chief, 7
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LIFELONG PASSION Dr. Pandora “Dora” Chua grew up in the Redwood Estates area of Los Gatos and currently lives in Saratoga. She became fascinated with science and technology at a young age.
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Give a LLC. call Antoday! © 1 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker him Real Estate Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. All rights reserved. This information was supplied by Seller and/or other sources. Broker believes this information to be correct but has not verified this information and assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyers should investigate these issues to © 1RealColdwell EstatewithLLC.Coldwell All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker®areis aIndependent registered trademark to ColdwellandBanker Realemployees Estate LLC.of Coldwell An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Banker HousingResidential Opportunity. Each Coldwell Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a their own satisfaction. Estate Banker Agents Real affiliated Banker Residential Brokerage Contractorlicensed Sales Associates are not Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Brokerage or NRT Banker LLC. CalBRE License # 01908304. Subsidiary of NRT LLC. All rights reserved. This information was supplied by Seller and/or other sources. Broker believes this information to be correct but has not verified this information and assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyers should investigate these issues to their own satisfaction. Real Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License # 01908304. ©2022 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. All rights reserved. This
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information was supplied by Seller and/or other sources. Broker believes this information to be correct but has not verified this information and assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyers should investigate these issues to their own satisfaction. Real Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License # 01908304.
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.
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VOL.1 NO.19 Dan Pulcrano Executive Editor and Publisher 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 Judy Peterson Contributor Serenity Polizzi Carrie Bonato Account Executives Marie Hicks Subscriptions
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NEWSOM PROPOSES BUDGET WITH MEDI-CAL EXPANSION Governor presents $45.7B surplus Eli Walsh, Reporter
Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his proposed 2022-2023 state budget Jan. 10, including a proposal to extend health care coverage to every low-income resident in the state. The proposal would expand access to Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid, to all residents who meet the program’s income eligibility threshold, which varies depending on household size, regardless of immigration status. Medi-Cal is already available to adults age 50 and up and people under age 26. Newsom’s budget proposal estimates it will cost roughly $2.7 billion annually once the expansion is fully implemented by 2024. Overall, Newsom proposed a total budget of some $286.4 billion, with a $213.1 billion general fund, with funding focused on combating the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and its effects, homelessness, the state’s cost of living and public safety. The total proposal is roughly 9% higher than the 2021-2022 budget, Newsom said Monday during a briefing on the budget. “The budget is not a reflection of me, but it is a reflection of what I believe are our values as a state,” he said. The budget includes a $45.7 billion surplus, but only roughly $20 billion will be usable for discretionary spending as the state has obligations to reserve a certain amount of its budget to education funding and pension liabilities. Newsom noted that he expects both the budget’s overall and surplus amounts to change during negotiations with the state legislature this spring and by the time he issues his revised proposal in May, when the state will have more clarity on its total tax revenue. At that time, the state will also have more clarity on whether its surplus will be large enough to send out stimulus checks as it has during the current fiscal year.
“My sense is … there likely will be substantial contributions back to the taxpayers,” Newsom said. “What form they come in, we’ll work with the legislature, and to what degree in terms of total amounts of dollars will be determined in May.” State Republican Party Chair Jessica Millan Patterson called on Newsom to avoid a “reckless spending spree” with the surplus, arguing that his policies are driving people to move out of the state. “Democrats should take the budget surplus accrued from aggressively over-taxing Californians and work with Republicans to make wise investments that will restore the Golden State to a place where people come because of opportunity, not one they are rushing to leave,” she said.
The budget proposal includes some $2.7 billion to support increased Covid-19 vaccination and testing and bolster the state’s healthcare workforce. The budget proposal includes some $2.7 billion to support increased Covid-19 vaccination and testing and bolster the state’s healthcare workforce. The funding would be split across the two upcoming fiscal years, with $1.3 billion for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and $1.4 billion for 20232024. To combat climate change, the budget includes some $1.2 billion for wildfire prevention efforts, $648 million to bolster Cal Fire’s workforce and equip-
ment and $750 million in funding for immediate drought response. Newsom’s proposal also includes roughly $2 billion for homelessness services, mental health support and to clear encampments, which the governor called “unacceptable” and “inhumane.” The homelessness funding builds on the $12 billion the state allocated in the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget. The proposal also includes a slew of grants and tax credits both to support the construction of housing units across the state and to support small businesses that have struggled to remain open throughout the pandemic. Newsom’s budget proposal received plaudits from the Bay Area’s state legislators, who argued that it positions the state well to combat immediate issues while also investing in broader support for the state’s economy and environment. State Senator Dave Cortese, who represents Los Gatos in District 15, applauded Newsom’s decision to direct portions of the surplus to the state’s Covid-19 response. “While we have a healthy budget outlook this year, we must also keep in mind that these conditions won’t be permanent and take action to shore up our reserve accounts in preparation of tighter budget years ahead,” he said in a statement. “I am encouraged by this proposal and look forward to working with my colleagues and Governor Newsom to reach an agreement on a responsible and transformative budget that will address the most fundamental needs of our communities across California while safeguarding our state’s economic strength and fiscal stability.” Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, both argued that the proposed budget aligns with the Senate’s goal of utilizing California’s wealth to make the state more equitable for middle- and low-income families. “I look forward to reviewing the governor’s plan and working with Pro Tem Atkins, legislative colleagues and the administration to create a 202223 budget that further moves toward an equitable economy for all,” said Skinner, the chair of the Senate’s Budget Committee. The full proposed budget can be found at ebudget.ca.gov/FullBudgetSummary.pdf. Copyright © 2022 Bay City News, Inc.
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This information was supplied by third party sources. Sales Associate believes this information is correct but has not verified this information and assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyer should verify accuracy and investigate to Buyer’s own satisfaction.
january 12 - 18, 2 02 2 : los gatan.com
5 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | 4,500 SF Living | 1.36 Acre Lot | Pool & Tennis Court | 3-Car Garage
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Dancing like a whirling dervish to ring in her 70th Meredith Williams
Drew Penner, Reporter
When Teri Hope, the owner of Los Gatos Roasting Co., plans a groovy gathering on the cusp of a milestone year, Los Gatos takes note. There was certainly plenty of love to go around at the hippie-themed 70th birthday party she threw for herself at the History Club of Los Gatos Jan. 4. Dinner itself was sensational. From the pomegranate, kale and sweet potatoes in the Winter Cous Cous Salad, to the garlic confit in the Artichoke-Yukon Potato Puree, to the vegetable risotto and Meyer lemon brown butter vinaigrette in the Pan Seared Filet of Salmon, to the rosemary chimichurri drizzle on the Grilled "Lamp" Lollipop, CP Fine Catering brought their A-game. Newly anointed Mayor Rob Rennie rocked a pair of violet circular specs on his nose, placing a peace-sign sticker on his shirt in a risqué upside-down orientation. Meredith Williams, of Meredith Williams Photography, operated a photo booth with both digital photography and Polaroid options. There were plenty of props to spice things up.
PARTY Three generations of Hopes. Meredith Williams
Carlos Santana discovered him.
Along with an assortment of creative cocktails, there were several grape-based varietals on offer from Silver Mountain Vineyards flowing. Peace-sign and “LOVE” cupcakes nailed the burnt orange and lime green mid-century flavor. Looking back on the trippy mayhem in an email, Hope had kind words for
those who helped her make the most of arriving at the big 7-oh. “A very special thanks to my daughter Rene for making me look a little younger, and Jessica for coordinating the awesome party of the century, Tony Lindsay, Janice Maxi-Reid and Deszon Clayborne for the entertainment and to all of you who attended
SMILE FOR THE CAMERA Attendees pose at Meredith Williams Photography’s photo booth. and to those of you who smartly quarantined as the ever changing situations dictated! Needless to say—I had a blast and danced the night away like a whirling dervish!”
Drew Penner/Los Gatan
january 12 - 18, 2 02 2 : los gatan.com
Meredith Williams
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LEGEND Los Gatos knew about Tony Lindsay long before
NEW CHIEF OUTLINES PRIORITIES Chief, from page 1 Courtesy of Town of Los Gatos
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TOP OFFICIAL Jamie Field, who has risen through the ranks of the Los GatosMonte Sereno Police Department, was named chief on Jan. 11.
“I have a passion for this profession,” she said. “I had the opportunity to… share some of my formative experiences.” She’s previously instructed at Los Gatos’ own field training program for new officers. Now, she hopes to start a special mentorship program in the department. To Field, after a couple years of lockdowns and civil unrest, there are unfortunate divisions that need some smoothing out in town. “That needs to be mended,” she said, pledging to build a positive internal culture on the force. “I think the department is really looking for stability and longevity.” She’ll do that through three key priority areas, she says: focusing on recruitment and retention, planning for the future of the department, and maintaining service consistency and accountability day-in and day-out. “I want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to be heard and has a voice,” Field said. “We want to look back after a year and say, ‘Wow. Look where we came from, and how much stronger we are.’”
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Prior to joining Los Gatos, Field worked as a deputy in the Monterey County Sheriff ’s Office and later for the Pacific Grove Police Department as a detective. She started at the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department as a rankand-file officer, making captain in 2020, and serving as interim police chief by the end of 2021. Mayor Rob Rennie says he believes Field is the right person for the job. “It has been great to see her career develop over the years,” he said. “She is a great choice with a great vision for the department. I look forward to working with her as chief. Good things are going to happen in the police department this year.” The previous chief, Peter Decena, resigned in September. Capt. Clinton Tada acted as interim chief until December, when Field took over. Bob Murray & Associates, a recruiting firm, was in charge of finding and evaluating candidates, with retired Walnut Creek Police Chief Joel Bryden overseeing the process. In November, local residents weighed in during a public meeting with input about what they’d like to see in a new chief. Suggestions included hiring from within and considering female candidates for the position. The finalists faced multiple interviews, including one involving three current Bay Area police chiefs, the Town said in its release. Town Manager Laurel Prevetti said part of Field’s job will be to help address staffing challenges, since there’s a slate of employees in the department who are eligible to retire in 2022. “With new staff, we will need to focus training on our core community policing mission and continue to be at the forefront of police best practices such as de-escalation, appropriate crisis intervention, and partnering with county mental health resources,” Prevetti said. “Chief Field has the skills, abilities and experience to do this work collaboratively with the police department staff, and the communities of Los Gatos and Monte Sereno.” Field was an adjunct professor at Cabrillo College, where she taught students about the criminal justice system.
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CHUA IS HEAD OF SEDATION SERVICES AT LOCAL HOSPITALS
Chua, from page 1
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A ‘rigorous process’ Long before Chua became head of sedation services for both Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose and St. Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, she experienced a small slice of the future. “In my research at Princeton, one of the things I worked on was putting little bits of RNA…into nanoparticles,” she said, noting this experience has given her a lifelong connection to the broader scientific movement to develop new medicines for microbial afflictions. Although, she notes, when it
comes to the current slate of coronavirus vaccines, “At this point, this vaccine does not modify someone’s genes.” Chua says she’s genuinely excited to obverse the progress that’s been made on protecting humans against coronaviruses. Perhaps more than anything else, her days at pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc. deepened her appreciation for what it takes to birth a safe and effective vaccine—one that’s verified as such by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “It’s a very rigorous process that involves many smart people working very hard to review data and evidence,” she said. “There’s a lot of great work and great people who do everything they can to keep people safe and bring these important medicines to patients.” The main product she worked on was a chickenpox vaccine. Another was VAQTA, which protects patients against hepatitis A. In that case, the virus is grown, harvested, and purified through proprietary chromatographic techniques that were developed at Merck Research Laboratories. Although Chua enjoyed her time at the pharma giant, she was still committed to completing medical school. She spent the first year-and-a-half in a classroom setting, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, now known as the Perelman School of Medicine. What seemed interesting to her about anesthesiology was how workers get to interface with so many different aspects of care. Chua did an internship at the publicly-run Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and then completed her residency at Stanford in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine. After serving a year as a Pediatric Anesthesia Fellow at Stanford Children’s Health, she returned to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center as a full-fledged anesthesiologist, which she says was quite the thrill. “It was amazing,” she said. “It was actually exactly where I wanted to be. It’s a great place. I really enjoy taking care of the community.”
On the front lines Propofol and sevoflurane are two of the main tools in the anesthesiological arsenal. These chemicals do a good job of putting patients down for
Contributed
family and loved ones. “We can expect that in this period we will continue to have an increased risk related to work activity.” It was a wake-up call to the world about a group of medical workers who, to this day, remain largely under-the-radar. And it foreshadowed the experience of one local resident, who credits the Valley Physicians Group for inspiring her to stay strong in tough pandemic times. Dr. Pandora Chua, who goes by “Dora,” grew up in the Redwood Estates area of Los Gatos. She attended Lexington Elementary and then Saratoga High School, joining the Los Gatos Rowing Club—even competing internationally. Her parents had moved to the community after immigrating from Malaysia in the early 1980s, and first living in San Jose. By 2006, she’d been named Los Gatos Youth Citizen of the Year. “I just had very supportive, encouraging family and teachers along the way,” she said, noting her dad made sure she understood Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) fields could be a viable career path. “I definitely thought science and math was great.” By the time she was in high school, Chua’s older sister, who is now a nurse, had already taken an interest in medicine. When she graduated, Chua decided to study chemical engineering at Princeton, and became engrossed in biomedical subject matter. But it would still be years before she decided her calling was to be to anesthesiology (which she notes is pronounced AN-esTEE-si-OL-ogy)—and years before we all became as fascinated with microbiology as she was in those early years.
PROTECTION Anne Panopio, a registered nurse, gives Dr. Pandora Chua her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 18, 2020, at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center at the end of an overnight shift.
the count, but Chua says she, and her fellow sedation doctors, do much more than just knock people out. She likens her work to flying an airplane, because while take-off and landing may be key aspects of pilots’ work, they constantly monitor a wide range of signals to make sure the flight goes smoothly. If a patient hits “turbulence,” that’s when anesthesiologists jump into action to ensure the patient makes it through to the other side, without incident. Most people don’t dream while they’re under, she notes. “I think one way to think about it is, these medications kind of scramble the signals in the brain, just to the point where there isn’t good information,” she said. “There’s no sense of the passage of time.” And then, in early 2020, things got crazy. “There was a lot of concern,” Chua said, remembering the emergence of the novel coronavirus, which causes a complex disease that came to be called Covid-19. “Especially as anesthesiologists, we are directly involved in the care of Covid patients.” Those plastic breathing tubes? Guess who puts them in. “That’s one of the things we’re best at,” she said. “It’s also something that exposes the anesthesiologist to risk.” Chua says she feels fortunate that authorities in the Bay Area took swift public health action. “It didn’t get that bad here, but it wasn’t great, and there were a lot of patients in the hospital with coronavirus,”
she said, noting an uptick in pandemic duties corresponded with a reduction in some regular ones. “In preparation for the surge of Covid patients, we shut down a lot of surgeries.” Being on the front lines day after day—it was a lot—from hand gesturing to fellow medical professionals through glass panes at work, to the N95 mask imprint that stays indented into her face for hours after she gets home. “It can be very disheartening and pretty sad to take care of really sick patients,” she said. “We don’t like to dwell on it, but there are patients that die.” For Chua, the 500-or-so fellow union-members in the Valley Physicians Group were her lifeline. “Those coworkers are like a family at work to me,” she said. “We are dedicated to the community and the public, and providing them with the highest quality of care.” But we’re not out of the woods yet, Chua cautions. With Omicron sweeping the nation, she urges people not to let their guard down. At least this time, there isn’t so much uncertainty, she notes. “We have a lot more tools and more knowledge than we did before,” she said. “I think it’s fortunate that, so far, the data seems to show that the infections with the Omicron variant seem to be less severe.” She urges people to get vaccinated and keep wearing masks. “Hang in there,” she said. “Do what you can to keep yourself safe, so you can keep the community safe.”
POLICE BLOTTER
• A man was arrested for being in possession of unlawful paraphernalia on Los Gatos Boulevard and Roberts Road at 12:46pm.
JAN. 3
• A man was arrested for vehicle theft on the 15700 block of Los Gatos Boulevard at 6:15am. • A homeless man was found sleeping in front of an entrance door on Los Gatos-Almaden Road, and the caller was reluctant to wake him up. • A caller noticed their car was broken into on University Avenue after they found a spent cigarette inside it at 8:17am. • Two sealed barrels of batteries and lithium waste was reportedly found dumped on a property on Los Gatos Boulevard. • Items were stolen from two unlocked vehicles parked on San Benito Avenue. • A man was arrested for battery and trespassing on the 15900 block of Los Gatos Boulevard at 2:10pm.
JAN. 4
• Two unknown suspects were searching mailboxes on Kennedy Court at 2:50am. • A vehicle was reported stolen on Carlton Avenue. • An unknown suspect attempted to break into a home on Fairmead Lane. • A man was spotted cutting the lock on a fence on San Benito Avenue. • Mail was reported stolen on Andre Court and S Kennedy Road.
JAN. 5
• A stolen vehicle was recovered on Arroyo Grande Way. • Electrical items were reported taken over a three-day period on Garden Hill Drive. • A transient suspect on Los Gatos-Almaden Road reportedly refused to leave, saying he is a “nice guy unless he is messed with” at 1:49pm.
• Mail was reported stolen from a locked box on Ridgecrest Avenue. • Two men were arrested for being in possession of a stolen vehicle and a controlled substance on the 15100 block of Los Gatos Boulevard at 4pm. • A driver was reportedly traveling in the wrong direction on Los Gatos Boulevard and Shannon Road at 7:49pm. • A man was arrested for reckless driving on Los Gatos-Almaden Road and Los Gatos Boulevard at 9:30pm.
JAN. 6
• A work yard on Garden Hill Drive was reportedly broken into five times during the week. • A male suspect was spotted tagging an overpass with graffiti on Highway 17 at 3pm. • A woman was reportedly “throwing trash all over the place” and scaring children on Union Avenue at 3:47pm.
JAN. 7
• A man pushing a shopping cart on Garden Hill Drive was thought to have stolen a snowman display from Vasona Park. • A business was burglarized on Blossom Hill Road. • A man was reportedly holding a steak knife on Blossom Hill and Roberts roads, but was not threatening anyone at 11am. • A license plate was stolen from a vehicle parked on Los Gatos Boulevard.
JAN. 8
• A catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle parked on Sharon Court. • An intoxicated man refused to leave a store on Los Gatos Saratoga Road at 10:42pm. Information is compiled from public records released by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.
january 12 - 18, 2 02 2 : los gatan.com
JAN. 2
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SPORTS
SHORT TIME OVERSEAS PAYS OFF FOR LETO Jonathan Natividad
Los Gatos senior develops away from home
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Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor
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Like all of his peers in the previous 2020-2021 school year, Darrius Leto spent his junior year at Los Gatos High relegated to remote learning. Knowing nothing was going to change, Leto decided to look into attending a soccer academy overseas which would allow him to keep playing soccer regularly while attending school online. “During online school, I was just staying at home and thought about what I could do that would be beneficial for me during this time,” said Leto, who is a senior defender/midfielder and co-captain with Kai Perez on the Wildcats boys soccer team. So Leto and his family made some overtures to European-based agents which ultimately led Leto to spend two stints playing for Olympia Professional Academy in Sulmona, Italy. Leto’s first stint with the team— which involved practices and scrimmages—started in late September 2020 and went to Thanksgiving, and his second stint with the team went from May 2021 to early July. “I loved it so much there from the first time I was there—from the lifestyle to the different style of play— that I decided to come back and play for the team in that second trip,” he said. “The second trip was a real season for a lower level professional team that had an academy 2004 age group team. It was a great experience and a really nice introduction to what I hope to be doing in college because I was living by myself which was very interesting for me. It was something I had to adapt to.” Despite being overseas, the schedule worked out nicely for Leto, who trained with the team in the morning and afternoon and because of the time zone difference had online classes in the evening. “I was able to do all my classes
VERSATILE TALENT Los Gatos High senior Darrius Leto aims to be a central figure in the boys soccer team’s second-half turnaround. and kept my grades up,” he said. “It worked out great.” Leto said he further improved his soccer skills in Italy, and returned a more polished player. Wildcats coach Frank Marotti Jr. said Leto also developed his in-game decision-making. “Darrius had a pretty cool experience in Italy and came back a lot smarter with a little different outlook on the game,” Marotti said. “He’s a left back and utility player, and I had him in the midfield versus Leland and up top as well. He’s really skilled and can play anywhere, and his leadership has helped us in a big way.” Leto is looking to help lead Los Gatos to a turnaround as the team has struggled for the last month after playing well in a 1-1 draw with Watsonville on Dec. 9. Since then, Marotti said the team hasn’t quite
matched the work rate and execution they showed from that contest. “We had a Zoom meeting a couple of days before Christmas where I laid it out that it’s going to be up to them and how they work because it’s really been the work ethic from a couple of key positions that’s been missing,” Marotti said. “The focus is trying to get back to the level we’re capable of. If we win league, then we get a ticket to the dance and that’s all we’re hoping for right now. That’s still the goal for the players and myself.” Perez, the team’s outstanding forward, excels on the field and in the classroom. Marotti said Perez carries a 4.6 GPA and has applied to schools like MIT and California Institute of Technology. “On and off the field, Kai is pretty much what you want out of a player,”
Marotti said. “You combine what he does as a player and his grades, and you don’t run into many players like him.” Leto is optimistic the team can return to its early season form when it was playing with a relentless energy, marking solidly, unleashing counter attacks and players supporting each other whether it was making the extra pass or moving well off the ball. “I think we need more energy in practice and in games,” he said. “We need higher intensity and to uphold each other to a higher standard than how we’ve been playing the last few games.” Said Marotti: “I still have a lot of confidence in this team in the leadership and possibilities. We’ll keep fighting until there's no more time left basically.”
WILDCATS THRIVE IN SHARKS HOCKEY LEAGUE Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor
Now in its sixth season as a program, the Los Gatos Wildcats ice hockey team remains one of the best and most consistent in the area even amid a pandemic. The sport took a major hit worldwide in youth club participation levels at the onset of Covid, but the Wildcats Varsity Division I team is vying for a championship in the Sharks High School Hockey League this season and entered the week in first place with 16 points and an 8-3 record. Even though the squad is predominately made up of Los Gatos High students, it is only loosely affiliated with the school since ice hockey is a club sport and not sanctioned by the Central Coast Section. Several of the players also are on travel teams and have been playing the sport for most of their lives. Senior co-captain Fintan Stevens has been around the game his entire life and was born in the province of Quebec, Canada. The forward/defenseman also plays for the Junior Sharks travel team which along with dozens of other club teams throughout the state competed in a tournament in Irvine on Jan. 7, the same night the Wildcats played at the SAP Center. Save for the occasional game at SAP—the home arena of the San Jose Sharks—Los Gatos meets at Solar4America Ice Rink in San Jose for its practices. They usually get a game at SAP once or twice a season, something that Stevens got to experience in November when Los Gatos played Pioneer. Talk about a dream come true. “As kids it’s our dream to eventually play in those arenas as players for pro teams, but it’s nice to have our dream fulfilled in this way as well,” Stevens said. “Being at a rink where pros play is a dream because we’ve been playing hockey for so long.” Stevens dabbled in a couple of other sports growing up, but nothing could come close to replicating the thrill and excitement of playing hockey. “It doesn’t have the same adrenaline rush,” he said. “Hockey gives me a different type of happiness I’ve loved for my whole life.”
DIFFERENCE MAKER Los Gatos High senior Ainsley Aboud has been a key player for the Wildcats ice hockey program for four years.
Though checking is limited in the high school game, Stevens said there is the occasional clean, hard check that people gravitate to. “Most people don't check as much, but there is still a good amount of checking and violence which we do like to see,” he said. Coach Patrick Sgarlata has taken over most of the day-to-day operations of the team from fellow coach Peter Santangeli, who started the program six years ago. Ice hockey works a bit differently from the traditional sports at the high school level. For one, the disparity between the junior varsity and varsity squads are pretty much inconsequential. Up to a dozen players play for both the JV and varsity teams. The varsity fall/winter division is made up of purely high school teams and runs from October through March. The Wildcats JV A team was a perfect 9-0 and in first place entering a Jan. 9 game against the Longhorns. “The disparity between the varsity and JV is not that great,” Sgarlata said. “Our JV plays in the highest JV division and while the varsity is a little faster and skilled, both levels are really a big mixture. You’ll always have a few
JV teams that would be one of the better varsity teams, but as league rules shake out they’re not eligible to enter the varsity division. We’ve got unique rules and tricks for high school hockey in California and we make it all work.” The Wildcats compete in a league that includes Bellarmine, Leigh, Palo Alto, Pioneer and Valley Christian. The 2020-2021 season was cancelled due to Covid, which did a number on youth participation levels. In the 2019-2020 season, Leland, Westmont, Willow Glen and Tahoe Prep also fielded teams in Varsity D-1. However, the Wildcats have a healthy roster number—25 combined for JV and varsity this season. “I’d say 75 to 80% of the team is Los Gatos High School students,” Sgarlata said. “We also pick up a handful from Saratoga and some kids who attend local private schools who live in our district.” Stevens, Alex Elmazaj, Chris Santangeli and Paavo Makela are tops on the team in points, with co-captains Santangeli and Stevens leading the way in goals scored. The duo have been with the program all four years. “Fintan and Chris are both really stellar players and our success starts
with them,” Sgarlata said. “They’ve stepped into leadership positions and set the tone from day one.” Stevens, Santangeli, Makela and Giuliano Kaminski—another one of the team’s standouts—all attend Los Gatos High, with Makela being the only junior of the four. Elmazaj, Makela and Kaminski are primarily forwards, but the latter two also play some defense. “Giuliano and Paavo are awesome players,” Sgarlata said. “And Alex has been really great, energetic and has got tons of skill and is very competitive. He fits right in and has found a good role, and we’ve found a lot of success with him on the ice.” The Wildcats have solid goalies in Robin Castren and Phoenix Long, who have proven reliable and given the coaches peace of mind at that ultra important position. “Both goalies have been awesome,” Sgarlata said. “We never run into any issue where goaltending has even remotely been an issue. They’ve been so consistent and so good, which makes a huge difference for any hockey team when you can trust a goalie to make the saves.” Sgarlata was effusive in his praise for Los Gatos High senior Ainsley Aboud, who has been with the program all four years. Aboud has developed into one of the team’s leaders and even though girls have played in the league before, Sgarlata said Aboud
represents a special case.
“Ainsley is unique in that we’ve had other girls come through the program, and you see a lot of other girls on other teams come and go, but Ainsley has fully put herself into the program from day one,” Sgarlata said. “I think it takes a lot of courage for a girl to stick it out with the boys high school team for four years. That says a lot about her and how she was able to find a role as a serious leader.” With just a handful of games left in the regular-season, the Wildcats should be primed to make a run at the league playoff championship. “It’s certainly one of our goals,” Sgarlata said. “This year we’ve grown to realize we do have a really good group, and if we continue to show up, play cohesively and complement each other's skills, there’s no team we can’t beat.”
january 12 - 18, 2 02 2 : los gatan.com
Jonathan Natividad
Team made up primarily of Los Gatos High students
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GUEST VIEW
Wasserman: 2021 in review
january 12 - 18, 2 02 2 : los gatan.com
Mike Wasserman, County Supervisor
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Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and remained healthy. I’m a “cup is half full” kind of guy, and believe that 2022 has a lot of positive surprises in store for all of us! Board President. In December, my colleagues selected me to serve as President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for 2022 and District 4 Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, to serve as Vice-President. I am honored to continue to serve our County of two million residents in this role. COVID-19 Vaccinations. In 2021, the County’s Health System administered more than 1.5 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine; nearly 40% of all vaccine doses administered to Santa Clara County residents. The County’s mobile vaccination program provided more than 1,000 “pop-up” clinic days making vaccines as accessible as possible, especially for hardest-hit communities. Incredibly, Santa Clara County leads all large counties with more than 92% of residents ages 12 years and older vaccinated! Animal Center. In February, I led the grand opening of our new 37,000-square-foot Animal Services Center! After 10 years of planning and preparation, this state-of-the-art facility was completed on time and under budget. Set on 4.5 acres in San Martin, our no-kill facility allows for enhanced animal care for the 4,000 animals taken in every year. The Center is also a hub for South County activities, providing a community public meeting space for up to 300 attendees. Protecting Open Space. In November, the County worked with the Open Space Authority and partners to purchase and protect an additional 60 acres of prime farmland in Coyote Valley. This acquisition is a win-win for our community—preserving farmland and securing open space. The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is working to establish sustainable, local climate-smart agricultural practices within the Coyote Valley Conservation Program Area.
Mike Wasserman
On a personal note, I have decided that 2022 will be my 20th and final year as an elected official.
VTA Shooting. In May, tragedy struck when a mass shooting occurred across from the County building at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) rail yard. Ten people were killed during the shooting and the VTA, the County and the community rallied to support survivors, the victims’ families and coworkers. Airport Closure. In August, a majority of the Board voted to expedite the closure of Reid-Hillview Airport. I advocated for leaving the airport open and switching aircraft to unleaded fuel since it is a critical reliever airport for San Jose International (SJI) airport. In fact, Reid-Hillview has more takeoffs and landings than SJI! The Board universally supported my resolution affirming that any future actions taken at Reid-Hillview must not adversely
impact the residents of San Martin and South County. Affordable Housing. In February, the Board of Supervisors approved $100 million for new affordable housing, from the $950 million 2016 Measure A Affordable Housing Bond. Five housing complexes will generate 566 new units and house roughly 2,100 people. That brings the total to 34 new projects for homeless and low-income households in Santa Clara County. The County is now more than 60% of the way toward our 10-year goal in just four years! Redistricting. In December, the Board of Supervisors approved a map adjusting some Supervisorial district boundaries. The new map was approved 3-2 with Supervisor Simitian and I voting no. I voted no due to its much higher population deviation between the five districts, lack of geographical compactness or contiguity, the addition of more urban areas to District 1, and grouping too many small cities in District 5. The new map is effective as of Jan. 13, 2022 and will be in place for the June 2022 Primary election. Vietnamese American Service Center. Santa Clara County is home to the second largest Vietnamese population outside of Viet Nam. In October, the County unveiled the Vietnamese American Service Center (VASC)—a one-stop location offering wellness programs including behavioral health services, primary care, dental care, social services, a senior nutrition program, on-site child supervision in both Vietnamese and Spanish, bringing more equitable resources to our diverse residents. On a personal note, I have decided that 2022 will be my 20th and final year as an elected official. It is time for me to step aside so that my wife Kim and I can enjoy more family time and resume a less hectic life. Let’s make 2022 a wonderful year! Mike Wasserman is president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. This column appeared in his January 2022 newsletter.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A mom’s response Thank you, Giulianna Pendleton for your opinion of artificial turf (Los Gatan, Dec. 8-14). One simple, shortened response from a mom of three former child student-athletes, now college/graduate school adults: Staph. Constantly recurring. Don’t go there. Very truly yours, Denise Donnelly Los Gatos
Article was too confusing I have read the story “Woman who threw parties” (Los Gatan, Dec. 29, 2021-Jan. 4, 2022) six times and still cannot understand what the author is trying to say. Grammatically, the article is written so poorly that the reader loses the ability to understand what is being presented. Most sentences run on aimlessly incorporating unrelated or divergent content leaving the reader confused. I had three other people read it to verify my thoughts and they were puzzled, also. Does anyone at the Los Gatan proofread and edit the articles you publish? An example of the poor and confusing structure and wording of the article follows: Who is Minor? Minor is an adjective used to describe a person under the age of 18. The writer used Minor as a noun causing confusion to this reader who could not find anybody in the story named Minor. Is Minor a shortcut for identifying the alleged perpetrator mentioned in the article? The reader has to guess. Marlene Burak Los Gatos
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‘IN THE COMPANY OF TREES’ EXHIBIT “Jane Olin—In the Company of Trees” will open Jan. 14 in New Museum Los Gatos’ Spotlight Gallery, 106 East Main St. The exhibit features photographs from Olin’s study of trees, documenting their social structures and ecological relationships. The exhibit runs through June 5. → visit numulosgatos.org
MOLDING AND CASTING WORKSHOP New Museum Los Gatos, 106 East Main St. will hold a hands-on sculpture workshop on Jan. 15 from 1-4pm. Participants will learn how to make one- and two-part, non-toxic silicone putty molds and then cast multiples from them using a variety of substances. In addition, artist Sawyer Rose will give a walkthrough of her “Carrying Stones” exhibition, which closes on Jan. 22. → numulosgatos.org/events/january2022-sawyer-rose-workshop
BOOK CLUB The Tuesday Evening Book Club is held on the third Tuesday of the month at the Los Gatos Library’s Fireplace Room from 5-6pm. Next meeting: Jan. 18.
january 12 - 18, 2 02 2 : los gatan.com
→ losgatosca.libcal.com/ event/8584487
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VIRTUAL WINEFEST & AUCTION The second Rotary Club of Los Gatos Virtual WineFest & Auction will be held Jan. 29 from 5-7pm. Enjoy a night in the comfort of your home nibbling on goodies and tasting four different premium Argentinian wines or non-alcoholic beverages from Rootstock Wine Bar. The virtual event will feature a live musical performance by Lavender Fields. All proceeds benefit Los Gatos Rotary Charities Foundation. This year’s “Raise the Paddle” proceeds will go to Los Gatos House of
Courtesy of New Museum Los Gatos
CALENDAR
The Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club The Club meets every Wednesday morning 7:30-8:30am at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road. Program includes featured guest speakers. Los Gatos Lions Club The Los Gatos Lions Club meets every Wednesday. A breakfast meeting is held at Moore Buick, 15500 Los Gatos Blvd., at 8am and a noon meeting at Los Gatos Lodge, 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, with a guest speaker. The club has been active since 1946.
PUBLIC MEETINGS Town Council The Los Gatos Town Council meets virtually on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7pm. → losgatosca.gov/16/Town-Council
HANDS-ON New Museum Los Gatos will hold a workshop on Jan. 15 on how to make non-toxic silicone putty molds.
Hope, Peninsula Food Runners, and West Valley Community Services. → losgatosrotary.org/stories/virtualwinefest-auction
DIEGO FIGUEIREDO GUITAR RECITAL The Los Gatos Community Concert Association will welcome Brazilian-born jazz guitarist Diego Figueiredo in concert at the Los Gatos High School Theater on Jan. 30 from 2:304:30pm. Figueiredo fuses jazz, bossa nova and classical into his own style. Admission is $5 for students, $25 seniors and $30 adults. → lgcca.org
ONGOING Los Gatos Farmers Market The Los Gatos Certified Farmers’ Market offers seasonal fruits and vegetables from Santa Clara County year-
round. 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 Pedro’s Restaurant, 316 N Santa Cruz Ave. First two Thursdays of the month feature guest speakers. 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
Planning Commission The Los Gatos Planning Commission meets virtually on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm. → losgatosca.gov/189/PlanningCommission Santa Clara County Supervisors The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors meets virtually on Tuesdays at 9am. → bit.ly/3oy2Zmq Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District The board meets every other Tuesday at 5pm. → bit.ly/3DaJRi9 Los Gatos Union School District Board of Trustees The board meets monthly at either 6:30pm or 4pm. → bit.ly/3oywlRA Other Town commissions The Town of Los Gatos has various committees that serve as advisory bodies for the Town Council. → losgatosca.gov/12/BoardsCommissions-Committees.
losgatan.com
LOCAL SCENE
On Jan. 15 at 10am, a community meeting is scheduled to provide design updates for the Shannon Road Pedestrian & Bikeway Improvement Project. This will be an in-person meeting and will be held on site at the driveway of 16639 Shannon Road. The current plan for the project is to construct sidewalks and buffered Class II bike lanes on both sides of Shannon Road between Los Gatos Boulevard and Cherry Blossom Lane. The project would involve installation of a new curb, gutter, sidewalk, buffered Class II bike lanes and ADA curb ramps on Shannon Road within the project limits. Anyone interested in the project is welcome to attend. For information, visit losgatosca. gov/2687/Shannon-Pedestrian-andBikeway-Improveme.
COUNCIL TO DISCUSS CANNABIS The Los Gatos Town Council will hold a virtual meeting on Jan. 18 at 7pm to discuss the potential for commercial cannabis in town. When voters approved Proposition 64, the 2016 initiative that legalized recreational marijuana sales in California, 62 percent of Los Gatos residents voted for the measure. But Prop. 64 allowed municipalities to prohibit dispensaries within their jurisdictions, so Los Gatos banned them. In an earlier meeting, Former Town Attorney Rob Schultz estimated revenues from one or two dispensaries could increase town coffers by as much as $1.5 million on the high end and $250,000 on the low end. The town council decided in January 2021 to seek resident input on cannabis questions. The survey ran through October. If the council decides to move forward, Los Gatos voters would then decide if cannabis sales should be taxed. The tax question would be included on the November 2022 ballot, Schultz said.
The Jan. 18 meeting will be held online. For information, visit losgatosca.gov/ agendasandvideos.
POLLINATORS Keeping Company With Flowers
HALCÓN APPOINTED AS DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE Kasey Halcón has been appointed as deputy county executive for the County of Santa Clara. In this position, effective Feb. 7, she’ll continue her public service career, which has been rooted in services for victims of crimes and the coordination of response and recovery efforts in mass casualty events. “In many of the recent events that have tested our collective resiliency—including the 2019 tragedy at the Gilroy Garlic Festival and last year’s shooting at the VTA yard—Kasey was the leader behind the countywide efforts to support the victims and our community,” said County Executive Jeffrey V. Smith. “Many of our programs for victims’ services did not exist before she joined the County administration. She knows how to build from the ground up, and as deputy county executive, her out-of-the-box thinking will make even more of a difference for our most underserved communities.” Currently, Halcón is the director of victim services at the District Attorney’s Office, a program she established, built and grew for the last six years. There, she leads victim services coordination and mass victimization-related programs including the Victim Services Unit, the Children’s Advocacy Center, the Gilroy Strong Resiliency Center and the VTA Resiliency Center. She has worked in victim advocacy for more than 15 years, providing services to victims of crime and their family members. “I fought for years to give voice to those who don’t easily have one and worked to develop programs designed to improve access to services for our most vulnerable community members,” Halcón said. “These same goals will stay with me as deputy county executive. Every decision I make and every project I champion will be guided by this vision.”
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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.
SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM IN LOS GATOS Join us as a charter subscriber! The team that launched the original Los Gatos Weekly has come together once again to give the town the quality of journalism it needs. 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.
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(831) 818-4324 unlicensed operator
Jesse’s General Landscaping & Masonry
Pavers and concrete Patios Landscape design Yard work Improvements and installation
Affordable Rates
408-608-9335 ORGANIZER
Feeling Overwhelmed? Organizing challenges of any kind. Home or office. Relocations, downsizing. Nonjudgemental.
Premmium service and resonable rates Call today for a free estimate! 25+ years of experience, references, bonded and insured.
(831) 239-4645 cleansweep1989@gmail.com
REAL ESTATE
Careful Management
Looking to Move from the Bay Area?
New construction Remodels Water heaters Repipes and repairs Give us a call at 831.610.8147 or email hwy9plumbing@gmail.com
Lic # 1045811
PROFESSIONAL
Scotts Valley Chiropractic Dr. Paige Thibodeau, D.C.
831.438.0308
4736 Scotts Valley Dr, Ste B scottsvalleychiropractic.com
Third generation chiropractor, established in 1976
Got Piano?
We have been providing quality service and meeting your real estate needs in both sales and property management since 1977.
Scotts Valley Property Management Broker, Jeanne Jensen Shada 831.438.2208 4615 Scotts Valley Dr, Suite B DRE #00606749
Got Window Shirt?
Washing
Order online: wklys.co/lgtshirt
Housing too expensive here? Now with working in place, you can live where you want for much less and keep your job. Let me find you a real estate broker out of the area or out of state. I will do the leg work. I will also give you a $100 gift certificate when you purchase through my referral!
All I need to know is the city you want to move to. The Rodino Realty Group Give me a call or text at 408.431.6640
losgatan.com
“You rest and relax, and I’ll clean your windows.”— Randy Sauro
R&R Window Cleaning 831 588-4243
clutterbug.net
I buy and sell quality used pianos or can place pianos on consignment.
PAINTING
Give me a call for a free piano refinishing estimate.
References and insured. Lic # 108576
House Cleaning
REAL ESTATE
CLUTTERBUG
I specialize in homes!
Clean Sweep
Over 40 years experience to serve you.
Call Christy Best at 831-247-0988
I use plant-based cleaning products and top of the line equipment. I am vaccinated for COVID-19 and follow all proper protocols for your safety.
Call or Text Kristina: 650-703-5179
PLUMBING
Moon Painting Interior and exterior. Pressure washing Call Saul:
(831) 331-0111
Window Washing To adverstise call Serenity Polizzi 408.200.1323
“You rest and relax, and I’ll clean
I have 48 years experience in the piano business as a PTG Registered Craftsman serving the Bay Area.
Call Rich at 408.260.2740. No text
831-252-5353
Designer’s Tailoring
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Professional Alterations for Men and Women 469 N. Santa Cruz Ave Across from Safeway
408-354-8903
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HANDYMAN
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