@losgatan
vol . 5 , no. 26 : february 25-march 3, 2026 : losgatan.com
water fountain funding p4 : snow in los gatos p6 : niko tsakiris p12 : Faizi Samadani / Los Gatan
HIGH SCHOOLER PLEAS PROMPT LG ELECTEDS TO EMBRACE THE RAINBOW FLAG Rennie abstained from Flag Policy vote, joined majority to OK Progress Pride Flag-raising
➝ Pride Flag, 10
SCRAPPY THE CAT IS THE TOWN’S NEW UNOFFICIAL MONUMENT Resident saved her recycling to make sustainable statue Faizi Samadani, Contributor
Drew Penner, Editor
The Town of Los Gatos will raise a Progress Pride Flag during the month of June this year, after Council approved a Flag Policy update and a Pride Flag resolution, following heartfelt public comments from a contingent of local high schoolers on Feb. 17. Unlike the significant opposition expressed during the prior meeting on the subject, this time, the vast majority of statements were in support of the plan to hoist the rainbow colors. “I was really confident we would get this passed,” said Lee Cummings, a 16-year-old junior at Los Gatos high school. “I’m just really excited that it actually did happen.” The first step was for the Council to consider a Flag Policy update, to add the ability to raise commemorative flags. Staff recommended these rules: A display must be initiated by a Councilmember; approval must occur by a resolution of the Council; the resolution must confirm it’s a form of government speech—and is consistent with the Town’s strategic priorities; it can only occur at a single flagpole at Town Hall; flying the flag is limited to a period no more than 31 consecutive days; and each
blood drive p12
Scrappy the Los Gatos trash-gato is Lauren Surrette’s newest artwork, and it’s creating quite a stir. She started with a turkey for Thanksgiving, and a snowman for Christmas. And now, made from recyclables at home (where she lives with her family), Scrappy the Cat is Surrette’s newest addition to her upcycling collection. Since it went on display in February, thousands of people have seen it—thanks to how visible it is, as they live along Blossom Hill Road. Surrette says, while there are always some naysayers, 90% of the feedback has been positive. She’s hoping Scrappy will stand for years to come. Los Gatos is named after t h e c o u g a r s t h at f a m o u s ly roam the Santa Cruz Mountains. There are several ➝ Scrappy, 6
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LARGER THAN LIFE Lauren Surrette’s DIY sculpture Scrappy the Cat, along Los Gatos Boulevard, leans into traditional sculpture aesthetics while offering lessons about consumption and recycling processes.
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