New appointees to panel, commission want to give

By Nathan R. Huff

Two art lovers and a ham-radio enthusiast with a desire to help the community became the newest members of the town's government Nov. 22, when they were appointed to the Art Selection Panel and Community Services Commission.

George Bianchi Jr., a longtime West Valley resident, and Audrey Armstrong, a Southern California transplant, were chosen for the Arts Selection Panel. The panel supports the Arts Commission by recommending art for public display and pressing for more public art in general, Bianchi and Armstrong said.

Brian Klofas, a Westmont High School sophomore, was selected as the student member of the Community Services Commission, a body responsible for the organizing and executing of community events.

As an arts selection panelist, Bianchi said he would like to see more public art in Los Gatos.

"Normally, you don't see much art in small towns," said Bianchi, who comes from a family of artists and designers.

Bianchi, a contractor who specializes in bridge construction, received a civil engineering degree from San Jose State University. His work with heavy structures led him to begin dabbling in metal sculpture several years ago. He recently donated machinery and helped install two sculptures at Los Gatos High School, at which point he learned about the panel vacancies.

"It seems like a good way to meet interesting people who are also into art," Bianchi said.

In additional to more public art, Bianchi would like the panel to look at landscaping, increasing the number of trees in public areas, and creating a town sign at the entrance of Los Gatos.

Armstrong, the other new arts selection panelist, agreed with Bianchi that the town needs more public art, specifically sculpture. Armstrong is a painter who moved to Los Gatos from Ventura, Calif., with her husband, 2-year-old daughter and Russian wolfhound.

"I wanted to get more involved in the community, and I've always been involved in art," she said.

Armstrong, who has worked in numerous art galleries, said she has been showing her work consistently since graduating from Scripps College with a major in art. This has slowed lately, however, because she said she doesn't want her baby breathing paint fumes.

Armstrong recently began her own business, a high-tech public-relations firm called Funky Puppy Productions, in honor of her dog. She said one of the luxuries of being self-employed is the ability to involve herself in groups like the Arts Selection Panel.

New Community Services commissioner Klofas, who responded to ad an in the paper, said he applied for the position because he thought it "might be cool."

"I wanted to help out the community," Klofas said. Klofas, who loves the outdoors, recently returned from an icy houseboating trip up on Trinity Lake. He is involved in Boy Scouts and plays for Westmont's junior varsity soccer team.

The 15-year-old recently received his ham-radio license, which he said is necessary to "keep the nuts off the air." The radio fits well into his love for electronics and computers. His favorite subject is math.

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