Los Gatos Weekly-Times file photograph

Just as it did three decades ago when this photo was taken, the Los Gatos Rec. Department's swimming classes attract youngsters during the dog days of summer.

Picture from the Past

Swimming is, and was, a popular summer Rec. Department activity

By John S. Baggerly

How lucky can you get? That's a reference to Los Gatos-Saratoga Dept. of Community Education and Recreation, at 123 E. Main Street, just a few steps west of Los Gatos High School. It's our town's main venue for all things recreational, including a popular summertime favorite: swimming.

In charge of the little tykes was the late Stella De Geronimo, shown above, who was a member of the Rec. Department staff.

The pool complex itself was quite lucky. A short time before Los Gatos High School built a two-pool complex, the State of California was constructing a through-town freeway under the Main Street Bridge and up the canyon to a widened four-lane highway to Santa Cruz.

Paving through Memorial Park meant sacrificing the town swimming pool. The money given to the Town for its pool was routed to the high school for a racing pool, an extra-deep diving pool and a wading pool in which timid children got the feel of water before daring the deeper racing pool. A day or two in the wading pool and the rascals couldn't wait to try the big pool.

Just last week, all Los Gatos High School alumni received notice that a new swimming pool will replace the old one, and donations are welcomed.

The Rec Department is headed by Bob Best and his board. Back when this writer was on the board, one of the few public complaints against the department came when it offered classes in the apparently too-suggestive hula dancing. There were also some complaints against busing adults to a horse-racing track up the peninsula.

The "old man" of the Rec Dept. staff in terms of service, for some 17 years, is Harley Crock. He has stayed young by working that large venue, the Los Gatos High School campus. A few weeks ago, for example, the front lawn had to be readied for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. The event was a success--every tiny tot went home with an egg or two.

In one of the two magazine-style brochures Crock brought this writer was the mention of English as a second language (ESL) courses. This brings to mind that as early as the 1920s, the Town of Los Gatos prevailed upon Los Gatos High School to teach English as a second language to the many Italian residents who were eager to become American citizens.

Dorothy Tonietti, fluent in Italian and English, became the English teacher for many local Italians. She also became Mrs. Fred Canrinus. Now widowed, she lives in Palo Alto.

Los Gatos High School's mammoth front lawn area recalls a long-ago battle between the tightwads and the spendthrifts. Happily, the big spenders won. The giant lawn is a unique venue for graduations. The school, in general, also caught the eye of a movie producer a few years ago, and the school became a setting for part of his independent film. Some car clubs have also used the lawn for displays of their automobiles, both vintage and modern.

Getting back to summertime and the Rec Department--the activities for children, as well as adults, are too extensive to report in this space, but they are certainly worth checking into. For a free catalog, visit the Rec Department at 123 E. Main St., or call 408.354.8700.

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