'Thanks And Giving' event marks Old Town's revival
By Nathan R. Huff
The dust has finally settled. After years of construction, remodeling and roadwork, Old Town will celebrate its official rebirth on Nov. 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
While may of the businesses in the new pastel stucco buildings have been open for a number of months, the "Thanks and Giving" ceremony will formally open the newly remodeled Old Town shopping area.
Vice Mayor Steve Blanton will join Town Chamber of Commerce officials and Old Town management in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the festivities. There will be musical entertainment, children's crafts, costumed characters and store demonstrations, among the many activities.
Volunteers from the Chamber's Nov. 6 "Sunrise Sidewalk Sweep" cleanup of downtown will also be recognized during the opening ceremonies.
"It's a great thing for the town," says Steamer's co-owner Paul Matulich, who moved his business into all new digs across the street from its former Old Town location. "It's nice to see the whole thing up and running again. It was all about ready to be condemned."
Keeping with the theme of "Thanks and Giving," Old Town selected the Los Gatos Community Foundation as the beneficiary for its fundraising efforts. Some 20,000 postcards have been sent to Los Gatos and Saratoga homes advertising the reopening and fundraising drive. For each postcard returned, Old Town will donate $1 to the Community Foundation, as well as give the customer a gift.
"We're absolutely excited," says Paul Dubois, president of the Community Foundation, which is raising funds to construct a bandstand, topped by the historic Lydon cupola, in Oak Meadow Park. "[The news] came right out of the blue, and makes us all very happy," Dubois said.
Chamber executive director Sheri Lewis said that Old Town's opening seemed like a natural opportunity for the Chamber and Old Town businesses to support a group like the Community Foundation. "The town's organizations like to support each other," Lewis said. "It's all about preserving the unique community we have."
"It's great for everybody," Matulich says. "People are going to come in and walk around just like back in the '70s."
Old Town is owned by federal Realty Investment Trust.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
