The Los Gatos Town Council took a major step in February with the controversial approval of the Sobrato Development Company mixed-use facility that would bring a 288,000-square-foot research building and 135 apartments to Winchester Boulevard.

The police made headlines in January with a successful sting operation that resulted in the drug-related arrests of six adults and 16 juveniles following a three-month undercover operation at Los Gatos High School.

And Holly Ilse experienced her 15 minutes of fame with her courageous act of filing suit against two clergymen for sexual molestation on behalf of one of two mentally disabled men in town.

Doug Sporleder retired after 38 years as the Santa Clara County fire chief, replaced by Ben Lopes, and Larry Todd retired after 14 years as the chief of the Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Department, replaced by Scott Seaman.

The town lost two of its finest citizens with the passing of former Vice Mayor Bob Hamilton and newspaper legend John Baggerly, and Los Gatos mourned the tragic loss of 18-year-old high school senior Eric Quesada in a drunk-driving accident.

Randy Attaway and Steve Blanton each decided that, after 12 years of town council service, they would not seek re-election. Joe Pirzynski did, and was re-elected to the council. Mike Wasserman and Diane McNutt also won council seats. In Monte Sereno, Barbara Nesbet won re-election and Mark Brodsky and Curtis Wright joined the council.

The Los Gatos and Monte Sereno councils worked in a joint effort to approve a stoplight at the corner of Winchester Boulevard and Daves Avenue to provide a safer crossing for school children at the intersection.

Photograph by George Sakkestad A happy band of Wildcats celebrated after winning the Northern California Division 2 championship in girls volleyball.

Police made the last of 22 arrests stemming from a three-month Los Gatos High School undercover operation. Six adults and 16 juveniles, most of whom were students, were charged with at least one count of sales and/or possession of marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine or methamphetamine. A Los Gatos­Monte Sereno police officer posed as a high school junior, enrolled in Los Gatos High in September 2001, and was able to engage in drug activity. The operation culminated with officers removing a dozen students from their third-period classes on Dec. 20, 2001.

The Los Gatos Planning Commission decided to forward the Sobrato Development Companies' mixed-use facility proposal to the Los Gatos Town Council without a recommendation. Sobrato wanted to build a 288,000-square-foot research and development complex, along with 135 apartments, on its Winchester Boulevard property. Planning commissioners felt there were a host of policy questions surrounding the application that could only be answered by the council. The main issue was the long-term vision for the entire area, examining traffic, housing plans and a potential light rail line.

The town paved the way for Shakespeare to come to Los Gatos as the Los Gatos Town Council gave its approval for a nine-performance Shakespeare Festival at Oak Meadow Park. Council members liked the Festival Theatre Ensemble's plans to put on A Midsummer Night's Dream, Henry IV, Part I, and an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island for three weekends in July.

A small fire in downtown Los Gatos damaged three businesses. Labels of Los Gatos was the most impacted by the early-morning Dec. 7 blaze, which also affected Hers Studio and Elite Wireless.

Santa Clara County firefighters honored Los Gatos resident Doug Sporleder, who retired as fire chief after 38 years in the service. Sporleder's brothers Steve and Bert had also been involved in the fire service, as had their father and grandfather. Ben Lopes was named fire chief later in the year.

Greg Stowers, Los Gatos resident and business owner, was named president of the board of the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce. Stowers replaced Domus owner Margaret Smith and will hold the position until June 2003.

Planning commissioners unanimously approved designs for the Habitat for Humanity house on Charles Street. Commissioners liked the plans for the two-story, three-bedroom, two-bath 1,254-square-foot home, which will house a low-income family.

Linda Graef Salter announced her plans to retire as chancellor of the West Valley­Mission Community College District at the end of the semester. Salter said her decision to retire had nothing to do with the various controversies surrounding the district but was because she wanted to spend more time with her family.

Public opposition to a dog park at Belgatos Park caused the Los Gatos Parks Commission to table the idea until an alternate site could be found. The town received a petition with more than 100 signatures of those against the idea of using part of the 17-acre park for canines. Diane Blum and Veronica Presedo-Floyd, initiators of the "Unchained Love Project," said they were unprepared for the decision.

February

A request to demolish and rebuild some buildings by Hillbrook School was approved by the planning commission. Previously neighbors had fought against the proposal because of the traffic the school generated in nearby streets. Hillbrook ultimately was allowed to demolish and replace its administration building and library, construct a new art center and expand the middle school building.

Different parties came close to reaching an agreement that allowed the California Department of Forestry (CDF) Alma fire station and helipad to continue operations. Santa Clara County planners approved the construction of two homes directly under the flight path but required that future homeowners accept the facilities' existence in writing. The CDF and landowner Brian Hinman—credited with purchasing the property to save the fire station—also entered into a contract, which kept CDF on the site for 50 years but allowed Hinman occasional use of the helipad.

Staples announced that it would close its Los Gatos store in the spring because it was "underperforming" in terms of financial profits.

The Los Gatos Town Council made one of the town's biggest steps in development, as it approved the Sobrato mixed-use campus in a packed meeting. With the exception of Vice Mayor Sandy Decker, council members granted Sobrato the requested zone change. More than 50 speakers spoke at the three-hour discussion on the proposed 288,000-square-foot research building with 135 apartments. While Decker wanted more time for the town to make a decision, other council members said the development's benefits outweighed the adverse impacts and pointed out that it would go hand in hand with a future light rail station in Los Gatos.

A county judge ruled in favor of the West Valley­Mission Community College District in two separate cases filed by Saratoga residents. Michael Scandling asked the superior court to issue the district a preliminary injunction for allegedly violating the Brown Act; Victor Monia also asked for a preliminary injunction but accused the district of using public funds to disseminate materials that advocate the district's own bond measure. In both cases judges ruled on the side of the community college district.

Ten Los Gatos restaurants and bars violated town code by failing to obtain special events permits for an unapproved Mardi Gras celebration, called the "Fat Cat Walk." The businesses banded together for joint advertisements and food and drink specials, causing a party that drew at least 1,000 people. Those 10 businesses faced fines or harsher penalties because of the disturbances and complaints that resulted from insufficient enforcement. Police, however, decided to issue citations along with fees but did not pursue revoking those businesses' conditional-use permits. Sgt. Dave Gravel said the businesses honestly had not expected the volume of attendees and willingly cooperated with town officials.

The Monte Sereno City Council decided that a stoplight at Winchester Boulevard and Daves Avenue would be the traffic measure that would best increase the level of pedestrian safety. Los Gatos had approved the light in September 2001, but Monte Sereno council members commissioned a series of studies to examine other alternatives, including a roundabout and a mid-block crosswalk. Consultant Richard Hopper, however, recommended the stoplight, along with other, more minor improvements.

Police searched for a Caucasian man in his 30s after he allegedly raped a woman staying at the Los Gatos Motor Inn. According to the victim, the man forced his way into her room while waving his knife.

Los Gatos council members denied authorization to construct a swimming pool on Cypress Way, citing neighborhood impact and site incompatibility as reasons for denial. The property in question was on the hillsides, and constructing a pool could have led to runoff problems.

Monte Sereno directed two of its council members to look into adopting a sister city. The council brainstormed about choosing Kabul, Afghanistan or the town of Athy, in Ireland.

March

Elections led to the approval of some school bond measures and the rejection of others: Voters decided against Measure E, a $268,653,300 bond for the West Valley­Mission Community College District. The bond would have funded the construction and repair of district facilities, as well as the upgrading of the stadium at the West Valley campus. The Loma Prieta Joint Union Elementary School District's Measure K bond was approved. The bond provided $4,965,000 for the upgrading of the campus.

The Jewish community center gained approval from the planning commission to expand and renovate its facilities, which would include a performing arts center, a gym and a fitness center. The proposal consolidated the center's multiple buildings into one structure. The center would house the Jewish Federation of Greater San Jose, the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center, Yavneh Day School and Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley. Commissioners said the athletic facilities and the performing arts center would benefit the entire community, since those uses would be available to the general public.

County parks commissioners denied the town's request to build a skatepark at Vasona Lake County Park. In a 4-3 vote, commissioners decided that a skatepark did not belong at Vasona for a variety of reasons. Town officials said they would either appeal the decision to the county board of supervisors or pursue the possibility of a land swap with the county. The land swap would allow the town to own the Vasona park site and be free to build the skatepark, while in exchange giving the county ownership of other, nearby land.

The final decision was made to build a Habitat for Humanity home on Charles Street, after a resident tried to appeal the planning commission's approval of it months earlier. Los Gatos Town Council members disagreed with architect Gary Schlohs' argument that the designs were not in keeping with the town's building standards.

Police took four San Jose residents into custody in connection with a check forgery in Los Gatos. After Ace Hardware on Los Gatos Boulevard notified authorities that someone had forged a check in its store, leading officers to arrest Kelly Montalvo for violating probation, possessing stolen property, possessing altered bank checks and delaying officers in performance of their duties; Angel Romeo for possessing methamphetamine; Lawrence Vieyra for possessing stolen property; and Michael Klein for possessing methamphetamine and felony warrants for previous drug offenses.

Lakeside School District principal and superintendent Martin St. John announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2001­02 school year. Joyce Salisbury was subsequently selected as the new principal and superintendent.

Kennedy Road homeowners requested to build two concrete tanks to store 1.5 million gallons of water. The residents no longer wish to truck water up to their property, and their existing storage facilities were insufficient. Planning commissioners, however, said the project was lacking and asked the applicant to come back with revisions.

The Los Gatos Town Council appointed Michael Burke and Morris Trevithick to serve as the town's newest planning commissioners. Trevithick, a former consultant, and Burke, an engineer, replaced Peggy Marcucci and Jim Lyon. A third planning commissioner, Suzanne Müller, resigned; school grant manager Joanne Talesfore was chosen to replace her some weeks later.

April

Voters in the Los Gatos Union School District renewed a parcel tax for the fourth time in a row, approving a $40 increase to the $290 per parcel. The parcel tax was part of Measure B—which voters originally passed in 1990—to fund small class sizes in grades four through eight, as well as academic programs, student support services and maintenance.

Two mentally disabled residents of the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center filed suit against two clergyman for sexual molestation. The two victims, both men, said the abuse had happened for up to three decades. Holly Ilse, owner of the Main Street store Nuance, filed suit on behalf of one of the men. The other man was represented by his sister.

Former Los Gatos Vice Mayor Bob Hamilton passed away from liver cancer. Hamilton served one term on the council and had a reputation as an outspoken Republican who never held a grudge. A retired Army official, Hamilton was survived by his wife, Carol, and their three grown children.

Neighborhood opposition led the Los Gatos Planning Commission to deny MetroPCS's plan for cellular equipment on an existing PG&E tower on Lester Lane. No residents supported the request to place three antennas on the 150-foot tower; nor did any commissioners, who said the facility was not in harmony with the town's blueprint for development.

The Los Gatos Farmers' Market moved to the civic center, as construction crews began the nine months of work on Town Plaza Park. The park would be spruced up with new landscaping, new benches and a new fountain before it reopened in September.

Police made three separate arrests, taking men into custody for sex-related charges. Los Gatos resident Gerald Steven Jacobs was taken in a nationwide Internet child pornography sweep in an operation centered around an Internet group called "Candyman." Police also arrested San Jose residents Michael D'Arrigo and Keith Casey Moh for two separate incidents of setting up meetings with a girl under the age of 14 for the purpose of having sex. Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Detective Randy Bishop posed as the "girl" in online chat rooms.

The new science and home economics building opened at Los Gatos High School. The new building is 44,000 square feet and contains 14 classrooms, a teacher conference room, teacher offices, storage areas and a science library.

Aaron Martin, who grew up in Los Gatos, died on an Alaska mountain range at the age of 30. The writer, musician and skier had attended local schools until he moved to Squaw Valley to attend high school on a scholarship. Martin had been climbing and skiing down Mount St. Elias with his best friend, Palo Alto resident Reid Sanders, and two others. Martin and Sanders slid down the mountain; the two others survived.

A jury convicted Campbell resident Steven Burt Hall for cat burglaries in Monte Sereno. Hall, who had an obsession with Elvis Presley and wore his black hair in a hairsprayed pompadour, was found guilty on two counts of burglary and one count of terrorist threats. Hall had also been linked to cat burglaries in Saratoga.

Photograph by Kristopher Gainey Jess and Georgette Sanchez lit candles at a vigil held on the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of their daughter, Jeanine Sanchez Harms.

The town welcomed a new assistant town manager and new assistant director of community development in the form of Pamela Jacobs and Tom Williams, respectively. Jacobs was previously assistant to the San Jose city manager and would serve as town manager Debra Figone's "second-in-command." Williams, formerly a consultant, would be responsible for running the department on a day-to-day basis.

Saratoga resident Erwin Solís Silva, 24, was killed driving on Highway 9. Silva was reportedly going 60 to 70 mph eastbound and driving erratically before he turned into oncoming traffic and ran into two other vehicles. The other drivers also suffered injuries. Police later attributed Silva's driving to alcohol.

Yahoo! employees did a weekend of community service in Los Gatos when they participated in Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley. Volunteers worked to rehabilitate the home of 78-year-old Longwood Drive resident Ruth Achziger. Workers laid down new carpeting, built a ramp into the house, painted the exterior, fixed drainage problems and installed insulation and vents in the attic.

A "shabby-looking" lot on the corner of University Avenue and Highway 9 would be improved with an office and apartment building, planning commissioners decided. Although commissioners said the 11,000-square-foot office building and six apartments would brighten up the area, residents complained about the existing neighborhood traffic and said the development would contribute to the problem. In response, the developer agreed to spend up to $50,000 on traffic-calming measures.

Town council members approved the designs for the stoplight at Winchester Boulevard and Daves Avenue. Conceptual plans included a center median and a bulbout at the corner of Winchester and Daves. The council nixed the idea of extending the intersection to include Farley Road.

Police arrested Roman Catholic priest Edward Thomas Burke for committing lewd acts with a mentally disabled person. The arrest stemmed from an investigation conducted in response to Los Gatos shopowner Holly Ilse's discoveries after she befriended a resident of the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center. That man had been victimized by another priest who had been convicted of committing a lewd act against a mentally disabled person. Burke was held for other crimes with another resident of the same facility.

Campbell resident Charee Carman was arrested for prostitution after Los Gatos­Monte Sereno police conducted an undercover operation. She was charged with one count of maintaining a house for the use of prostitution and one count of solicitation of prostitution.

Too many Monte Sereno residents buy homes, cut down multiple trees and then claim ignorance when city officials tell them they have violated city code, said council members. The council warned those who remove trees illegally of the penalties against doing so, which range from replacement to payment of fines. Council members said there were an extraordinary number of cases of "willful ignorance."

Two men were taken into custody for stealing mail from homes in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Gilroy, Milpitas and other cities. County sheriff's deputies suspected Isaac Anthony Ortega and Vincente Rodriguez Vindiola of having a connection to a bag of stolen mail on Kennedy Road after they found stolen checks and credit cards in the men's car.

The town offered San Jose Police Capt. Scott Seaman the job of Los Gatos­Monte Sereno police chief, as Chief Larry Todd planned on retiring over the summer. Seaman, who lived in the Evergreen area of San Jose, would start the position July 1.

Anna Esparza served her resignation as executive director of the Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, after a mere five months on the job. Esparza had been the Chamber's third director in less than two years. Esparza said she was planning to pursue other job opportunities in Sacramento.

June

A Massol Court fire was deemed a case of arson, and police searched for San Jose resident Rick Kase as the suspect. The flames that damaged a recently renovated home on Massol was attributed to the parolee, who allegedly also burglarized the house. Kase was arrested later that month after a violent evening in San Jose.

Engineer John Joseph Kirby was found guilty of funding a Los Gatos hair salon that was a front for prostitution. Kirby was arrested in association with two women and was charged with conspiracy to pimp and pander.

Residents blasted the Los Gatos Town Council for approving an eight-unit subdivision on Calle Marguerita despite residents' opposition to the intensity of the project. The neighbors said council members had not taken their concerns into consideration, while the council said the development was in keeping with the town's General Plan.

Police arrested the fifth of six suspects in a June 2001 stabbing at Oak Meadow Park. Mehdi Navid arrived in San Francisco after staying in Iran for almost a year immediately after the stabbing. Navid was charged with eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. In the stabbing, two young men had been injured, though neither fatally.

Los Gatos staff conducted a successful pilot program of the downtown streetscape project, which showed merchants that each section of sidewalk could be torn up and replaced within five days. Store owners said the program had not significantly impacted their businesses and praised CB Construction, who they asked to work on the actual streetscape project.

The West Valley­Mission Community College District Board of Trustees named Stan R. Arterberry as the new CEO and chancellor of West Valley College. Arterberry, 53, was selected to replace Chancellor Linda Graef Salter. Previously Arterberry had served as president-superintendent of the Solano Community College District.

The first Leadership Los Gatos class "graduated" after completing nine months of visits, seminars and worksheets. The 22 residents said they had learned about town issues and infrastructure and told program organizers that they would help recruit for the second year.

Randy Attaway and Steve Blanton, both 12-year members of the Los Gatos Town Council, decided not to run for reelection when their terms expired in November. Mayor Attaway said he wanted to focus on the mechanical contracting company that he had recently founded, while Blanton said he wanted to spend more time with his family and concentrate on his career. The third council member whose term was up, Joe Pirzynski, said he was running for reelection.

MetroPCS' cellular equipment proposal came before the Los Gatos Town Council. The cellular company tried to appeal a decision that the planning commission had made in April to deny its request to place equipment atop an existing 150-foot PG&E tower on Lester Lane. Council members, however, decided to place a moratorium on all proposed telecommunications facilities and look into drafting an ordinance that would protect neighborhoods from cellular and radio towers.

Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Chief Larry Todd retired from his 14 years as chief and handed the baton over to the new chief, Scott Seaman. Todd was honored with a banquet before taking off for a vacation with his wife.

July

A six-month review indicated that Hillbrook School met its traffic limits, satisfying the conditions of a town-issued conditional-use permit. The town had required a limit on the number of cars going in and out of the Hillbrook parking lot to decrease the amount of traffic going through the neighborhood. The permit allowed the school to proceed with its plans for renovation and expansion. Neighbors, however, said the school had manipulated the numbers by encouraging parents to drop children off on their driveways instead of in the school parking lot.

Los Gatos United Methodist Church was given the green light to close its day care center and in its place open a preschool serving the community. The church was also given approval for its shared parking agreements with nearby lots.

The Main Street bridge mural, a work in progress for five months, was completed and unveiled. Under the tutelage of artist Carol Huboi-Werry, 60 volunteers spent time painting the landscape that would adorn the Los Gatos Creek Trail.

Los Gatos council members extended the moratorium on wireless telecommunications applications from 45 days to approximately one year. The moratorium put a temporary halt on all companies with related applications for facilities in the town's planning process.

Local elections started heating up when five candidates filed nomination papers to run for the Los Gatos Town Council and three residents stated their intention to make a bid for the Monte Sereno City Council. Mike Wasserman, incumbent Joe Pirzynski, Barry Bakken and Diane McNutt made official their intent to take one of the three available council seats in 2002, while David Guimarin obtained the necessary documents but did not file them. In Monte Sereno, Kim Hanrahan, Deepak Chopra and incumbent Barbara Nesbet announced that they were vying for the three seats.

A fire on Bear Creek Road burned five acres, consuming timber and ground litter on a "very steep hillside." Authorities credited power lines with starting the fire.

Los Gatos woman Jeanine Sanchez Harms was still missing after one year in a case that baffled officials and friends. Harms' family remembered her disappearance with a well-publicized candlelight vigil on the lawn of the Los Gatos Civic Center. Harms' parents, Jess and Georgette Sanchez, spoke, as did Los Gatos­Monte Sereno Police Chief Scott Seaman.

A San Jose resident died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound when she was staying at the Los Gatos Lodge. Reven Merrill had reportedly made suicidal comments to family and friends earlier.

Los Gatos' only Indian restaurant, Mount Everest, closed its doors after a new landlord doubled the rent. Restaurant owner Harminder Parhar said the landlord did not give him the option of extending his previous lease. Instead, Parhar shopped for a new location for his establishment.

Longtime Los Gatos Weekly-Times writer John Baggerly died at the age of 87. Baggerly had written for the paper back when it was the Los Gatos Times-Observer, alternately as a sports reporter, editor and columnist. Baggerly was also known as a tireless supporter of Los Gatos High School and local athletics. He was survived by his wife, Barbara, and three grown children.

August

Monte Sereno council members appointed four residents to serve on a reorganized Monte Sereno Site and Architecture Commission. The citizens would meet on a regular basis to decide on new homes, residential rebuilds, significant remodels and two-story homes. The commissioners were architect Christine Laing, former Santa Clara city councilman Frank Barcells, business owner Lori Cooper and retired Intel executive Bob McDonald.

Los Gatos Mobile Home Park will stay a mobile home park, town officials decided, as a developer's plan to turn it into a housing complex was denied by the town's planning commission. Commissioners said it was lack of movement on the part of the applicant that motivated their denial; property owners, however, blamed the town for the lack of specific direction for their project.

Monte Sereno Mayor Jack Lucas decided that after 18 years on the city council, he still wasn't through with local politics: Lucas announced that he was running for the West Valley­Mission Community College District Board of Trustees. A retired educator, Lucas had maxed out on city council term limits and was encouraged to make a bid for the college board.

Construction crews working on the downtown Los Gatos streetscape project hit a pipe, causing a gas leak downtown and forcing the closure of some Almond Grove District streets for more than two hours.

In both Los Gatos and Monte Sereno, five residents finalized their bid for three seats on their respective councils. Along with Diane McNutt, Mike Wasserman, Barry Bakken and incumbent Joe Pirzynski, planning commissioner Paul Dubois added his name to those who had filed nomination papers with the state for a Los Gatos Town Council bid. David Guimarin and John Housley, who had originally said they were running, both opted not to do so. Curtis Wright and Mark Brodsky joined incumbent Barbara Nesbet, Deepak Chopra and Kim Hanrahan as candidates for the Monte Sereno council.

Sobrato Development Companies passed its last phase of the planning process in Los Gatos, as planning commissioners approved design plans for the mixed-use development on Winchester Boulevard. The mission/Mediterranean-style complex had a 288,000-square-foot research and development building.

A car speeding from Highway 9 to Highway 17 was stopped by Los Gatos­Monte Sereno police officers. Police arrested the three men in the car for auto burglary and possession of stolen property after they linked the men to car stereo thefts in Campbell and Los Gatos that had occurred earlier that day. Ramon Avalos, Jorge Salazar and Javier Rosas allegedly had stereos and other stolen goods in their car.

Mozart Avenue residents attended a VTA-held meeting that addressed the Highway 17/Highway 85 cloverleaf. VTA representatives shared their plan to demolish the existing Oka Road overpass and replace it with a direct connector. Residents, however, said there was no reason for that construction and said it would impact the neighborhood even more than the overpass did.

September

Los Gatos remembered Sept. 11 with an interfaith memorial and prayer meeting at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Representatives from more than nine faiths gathered to sing, light candles and pray for the victims of the terrorist attacks. Local victims were Mark Bingham and Todd Beamer, both of whom were on Flight 93, and David Williams, who worked in the Pentagon. Town officials also held a moment of silence in commemoration of the day.

With sizable donations from the Valley Foundation and from the town, Los Gatos High School received 90 percent of the funding it needed to construct a new pool and associated facilities. The town council approved a request to use $300,000 of its redevelopment money to build the community pool. The foundation jumped in two days later with a decision to give the school a $1 million grant—on top of the $500,000 that it had previously granted.

Town officials charged with finding a temporary location for a skatepark proposed placing the facility on two tennis courts at Blossom Hill Park. Councilman Joe Pirzynski, chairman of the skatepark ad hoc committee, said the group had looked at several options but the Blossom Hill tennis courts were the most feasible and least costly.

Construction crews broke ground on the Oak Meadow Park bandstand, which would serve as the foundation for the historic Lyndon cupola. The bandstand had been a project more than 10 years in the making after the 115-year-old cupola was discovered. The Los Gatos Community Foundation, which coordinated the bandstand plans and fundraising, hoped to make the bandstand the site of the 2003 Shakespeare in the Park, as well as the 2003 Los Gatos Film Festival.

West Valley College was denied any further legal action in its desire to build a stadium when the California Supreme Court refused to hear the college's appeal. The college was appealing an earlier court decision that granted the city of Saratoga the right to determine if a stadium could be built on the campus.

Saratoga's city council caused a flap when it issued an informal letter endorsing three candidates for the West Valley­Mission Community College District Board of Trustees. Signed by Mayor Nick Streit and Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith, it said four of the five council members supported incumbent Jeffrey Schwartz, Bret England and Gagan Singh. Streit and Waltonsmith sent the letter to all council members of surrounding cities. Although legal counsel said the letter was not illegal, candidate Jack Lucas said he was angered that Streit and Waltonsmith had mischaracterized his stance on some community college issues.

Los Gatos celebrated the reopening of Los Gatos Town Plaza Park with an all-day event that had an estimated attendance of 10,000. The Sunday event started with presentations and introductions of town officials and the starting of the new fountain and continued into the day with A Place for Teens' annual Food Fest. Although the day suffered a mild setback in the afternoon when a light in the fountain put the structure temporarily out of commission, thousands stayed for a street dance with the Joe Sharino Band.

A community meeting drew almost 200 people, most of whom opposed building a skatepark at Blossom Hill Park. The majority of park neighbors, tennis players and even skateboarders said the proposal to put a temporary skatepark on two Blossom Hill tennis courts was inappropriate for a variety of reasons. Town Manager Debra Figone told the crowd that the town was still pursuing the possibility of constructing a permanent skatepark at Vasona Lake County Park but wanted to find an alternative in the meantime.

Photograph by George Sakkestad Diane McNutt (center), Barry Bakken (far left), Joe Pirzynski (right) and Mike Wasserman (far right), candidates for the Los Gatos Town Council, responded to questions from the audience at an October forum.

Candidates were announced for the West Valley­Mission Community College District Board of Trustees. In district one, Jeff Schwartz, Don Wolfe, Jack Lucas and Bret England announced their candidacy. Gagan Singh and Kevin Moore announced their intentions of running for district two.

As a result of a neighborhood meeting held the previous month, the Los Gatos Town Council decided to drop the idea of building a temporary skatepark in town. Skatepark committee members said the meeting had made them aware of several issues that they had not known before and the comments were compelling enough to make them focus on the permanent skatepark at Vasona Park.

Preliminary campaign financial records indicated that Mike Wasserman and Barry Bakken were the biggest spenders in the Los Gatos Town Council race up to Oct. 7. Wasserman had spent $14,279.70 in monetary and nonmonetary expenditures and raised $15,634.51. Bakken had spent $13,962.55 and raised $20,405.06. Next in line was Paul Dubois, who had spent almost $7,000; Diane McNutt and Joe Pirzynski each had spent $4,500 and $2,000, respectively.

The Los Gatos Weekly-Times and League of Women Voters jointly sponsored a forum for the five candidates for the Los Gatos council. While the candidates gave similar answers to many audience questions, others revealed differences in ideology and focus.

The long-awaited South Bay Children's Medical Center opened its doors at a location just off Los Gatos Boulevard. The medical center had evolved from visions of a large hospital to a building with urgent care facilities and doctors' offices.

"Tough economic times" forced Oakville Grocery to close its branch in Old Town Los Gatos. The specialty food store, which had been in town for four years, slashed all its prices to 30 percent before shutting down. Town officials said they did not know what would replace the grocery.

Opera House owner Paul Dorsa came to the town with a proposal to keep business in Los Gatos by letting the Toll House Hotel take over Opera House banquet facilities. The other option was for Dorsa to sell the facility to a national realty company and turn it into a two-story retail center. Los Gatos planning commissioners liked the concept of the hotel taking over the banquet facilities but had questions about the proposed valet parking plan and traffic. Commissioners asked the applicants to refine some aspects of the project and come back.

The West Valley­Mission Community College District denied allegations that it was running a $5 million deficit. The supposed deficit was a contentious issue throughout the community college board election race.

The five Monte Sereno City Council candidates fielded questions from the public in a forum hosted by the Los Gatos Weekly-Times and League of Women Voters. The forum lasted merely 45 minutes due to a lack of audience questions.

Los Gatos hit a milestone when it approved a requirement on all new chain stores throughout town. Council OK'd the plan to require a conditional-use permit from all new "formula retail businesses" in the downtown area and all formula retail businesses elsewhere of more than 6,000 square feet. That way the council could have some control over the percentage of chain stores and of independent businesses in town, since a frequent concern voiced by the community is the amount of chain stores in town.

A second set of campaign financial disclosure statements showed that while Wasserman and Bakken were still the top spenders—approaching $15,000—McNutt had more than doubled her previous spending and Pirzynski was a close fourth. Dubois remained in fifth, spending less than $8,000.

November

Election Day results made Mike Wasserman, Diane McNutt and Joe Pirzynski the new Los Gatos Town Council members for 2002­06. Wasserman maintained his lead through most of the local precincts, with McNutt and Pirzynski consistently pulling second and third places. Paul Dubois and Barry Bakken were unsuccessful in their bids for the council.

In Monte Sereno, Barbara Nesbet won an easy victory in her try for a second term on council. She was joined by newcomers Curtis Wright and Mark Brodsky. Deepak Chopra did not win a seat but said he would try again; Kim Hanrahan said she would not.

Winners of the board of trustees election for the West Valley­Mission Community College District were announced. For the district one running, incumbent Jeff Schwartz placed first with 26,210 votes. Monte Sereno Mayor Jack Lucas took a close second, landing 25,000 votes. In voting district two, Kevin Moore took first place with 39,130 votes.

Police discovered a methamphetamine lab inside a Chestnut Avenue home after they found that the homeowner was driving with a suspended license and "under the influence of a stimulant." Officers arrested Robert Quinn, then searched his home, which had items that are used to make methamphetamine. The materials were capable of manufacturing more than 12 ounces of the drug.

Diane Ogilvie fulfilled a 14-year dream when Hotel Los Gatos opened. The 72-room facility across the street from Los Gatos High School houses Kuleto's, an Italian restaurant, and Preston Wynne Spa; the spa would open a month later. The hotel called itself a "destination escape" with an "eclectic, sophisticated style" and hosted a party for outgoing Los Gatos Mayor Randy Attaway before its official opening date.

Planning commissioners gave Double D's the thumbs up to proceed with their plans for a high-end steakhouse on N. Santa Cruz Avenue. The commission approved design plans and a request for off-site parking for Forbes Mill Steakhouse, which would replace Stovie's. They also recommended that the town council allow the restaurant operators to have full alcohol service and a full bar. Steakhouse owners Dean and Darin Devincenzi and Ron Garald planned to welcome customers by March 2003.

Two people arrested in Los Gatos for bilking Sharper Image stores were suspected of stealing more than $10,000 from the chain. San Francisco residents Ervin Lacayo and Wendy Alvarez allegedly used stolen gift cards to purchase merchandise from multiple Sharper Image stores. Police considered arresting a third suspect.

Monte Sereno City Council members decided to take no action on a lighting ordinance, despite both complaints and accolades for a massive lighting display on a Danielle Court home. In a much-publicized dispute, neighbors said Alan Aerts' holiday lights invaded their privacy and caused safety hazards because of the spectators who drove into the four-home court. Aerts and other residents, however, said he was benefiting the community. Council members said there was no reason to enact a citywide regulation and instead directed Aerts to compromise with his neighbors.

Sandy Decker became mayor of Los Gatos, sliding over from her yearlong vice mayor position. Fellow council members elected Steve Glickman to serve as her second-in-command. Decker replaced Randy Attaway, who was stepping down after 12 years on council.

During Thanksgiving week a drunken driving accident claimed the life of one Los Gatos High School student, gravely injured another, and landed a third in jail. Eighteen-year-old Eric Quesada was killed when the car he was riding in hit a pole on Hicks Road; his friend Kellin Dunne suffered major injuries. The 16-year-old driver of the vehicle was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Another 16-year-old was in the car but was not injured. The group had fled a party that county sheriff's officers had tried to break up after the boy hosting the party called 911.

The Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce named Ronee Nassi as its new executive director. Nassi had been doing the job—albeit unofficially—since May. The Los Gatos resident's duties include coordination of the holiday carriage rides, arranging Chamber mixers and printing the town's calendar.

Photograph by George Sakkestad This year Jack Lucas transitioned from being mayor of Monte Sereno—and an 18-year councilman—to trustee for the West Valley-Mission Community College District.

Eric Quesada was memorialized in a service that had teens overflowing the First Baptist Community Church. The Los Gatos High senior, who had died in the Nov. 26 Hicks Road crash, was evidently much loved by acquaintances, close friends and family. Quesada was characterized as someone who knew the importance of living life to the fullest, being kind to others and not taking certain rules too seriously. He was survived by his father, Jerold Quesada, mother Kathleen Wolski, stepfather Karl Wolski, and baby sister Grace.

Los Gatos held a weekend of holiday festivities. The town started Dec. 6 with a Christmas tree­lighting event, followed by the first Chamber of Commerce downtown carriage rides. The annual Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade happened a day later, unhindered by rain or any other inclement weather.

Town officials put in place the first of six parking zones in the downtown area. The olive zone—on E. Main Street and including Los Gatos High School and the civic center—limits parking on public streets and nearby residential areas. The zoned approach to parking means that drivers can no longer move their cars a space or two once their time is up; they have to relocate to a completely different zone.

The town's planning department closed its public comment period for its draft hillside development guidelines, which had been substantially revamped from its original version from 1980. The guidelines explained the town's policy on various aspects of design in the hillsides and were to be given out to developers, residents, architects and even real estate agents. The draft will be reviewed by town commissioners and council members in early 2003.

Randy Attaway and Steve Blanton bid adieu to 12 years in town government when they gave up their expiring seats on the Los Gatos Town Council to Diane McNutt and Mike Wasserman. Each thanked the community and their families before swearing in the new council members, which included incumbent Joe Pirzynski.

Monte Sereno council members nominated David Baxter as the city's next mayor. Baxter, a high-tech executive, thanked outgoing Mayor Jack Lucas for his 18 years of service to the city. Lucas was moving on to become a trustee for the West Valley­Mission Community College District. Councilman Erin Garner was nominated as the new vice mayor.

Town council members decided to move back the Los Gatos Farmers' Market to Town Plaza Park come February. The market had been held temporarily at the civic center while construction occurred at the plaza, but majority opinion caused the council to vote for the relocation.

Two Los Gatos planning commission seats became available when commissioners' terms expired. Lee Quintana and Phil Micciche were reappointed to the commission, despite the council receiving two other applications for the positions. One of the other applicants, Barry Bakken, was appointed to the town's community services commission.

In one of their last major decisions of the year, Los Gatos Town Council members cleared the way for Forbes Mill Steakhouse to open in March 2003. The council gave the steakhouse owners—who also own Double D's—permission to offer full alcohol service and establish a full bar in the N. Santa Cruz Avenue restaurant. Planning commissioners had previously approved other parts of the steakhouse application.