The Los Gatos Town Council ended a long homestand this week by taking a road trip. The council decided to take the government of the people to the people on June 30, hosting its first "Town Hall in the Neighborhood" meeting at the Belwood Cabaña Club.
It was the goal of Mayor Sandy Decker and this town council to get in touch with neighborhood issues, and what better way to accomplish that goal than to take road trips into the neighborhoods?
The first of the road trips was on Monday night, but the council will be on the road again in the fall with a Town Hall in the Neighborhood meeting in the La Rinconada area.
Through this council's efforts, no one in the community can make the claim that the town is unresponsive and that neighborhood issues and concerns are not being heard. Unlike a regular council meeting, these meetings are open forums dedicated specifically to listening to neighborhood concerns.
The gripe in the past in some parts of town has been that the council seems to ignore the issues facing residents living near some of the town's borders. So rather than wait for angry, frustrated neighbors to come to them, council members have decided to go to the neighbors.
The town is targeting those areas where residents and business owners feel underserved. The neighborhood meetings will provide a forum where those who share that feeling can "learn more about town services, ask questions, and share neighborhood concerns with the town council and key town staff," according to press release sent out by the town.
The Town Hall in the Neighborhood meetings will bring together residents and their town leaders. It's an idea that's time has come.
Sports Hall of Fame
Another idea long overdue has become a reality, thanks to the efforts of a couple of Los Gatos High School coaches and two Lions Club members.
Los Gatos High has a long and rich history of excellence in athletics. Now, at long last, those athletes who have brought such recognition to the school will get some recognition of their own.
The Los Gatos High School Athletic Hall of Fame will make its debut this year, and 14 of the school's greatest athletes will make up the first class of inductees.
Los Gatos athletic director Mark Magagna and football coach Butch Cattolico first discussed the idea with Lions Joe Zanardi and Bill Frey at a high school track meet. Their discussion gained momentum, and a committee was selected to come up with the initial list of inductees.
It's a list that clearly strikes a historical chord in Los Gatos athletics—Dave Anderson, Bob Chambers, Ken Spagnola, Hugh Campbell, Chris von Saltza, Bob Brannen, Bill Fairband, Eddie Siracusa, Holden Smith, Gary Lynn, Todd Mayo, Suzy Meckenstock, Dave Bearden and Heidee Ruiz.
At long last, Los Gatos High School will honor its own.
