News Briefs
City honors two for volunteer week
The city of Saratoga has declared April 21 through April 27 Volunteer Appreciation Week, in conjunction with the nationally designated week. The city also honored two standouts from among its corps of 150 volunteers throughout Saratoga.
Housing advocate Betty Feldhym was recognized April 17 for her work to expand affordable-housing opportunities and assistance in the city and the county.
Feldhym has served as the chairperson of the area church council's affordable-housing group, as part of the Los Gatos Unitarian Fellowship.
She also represents the city on the citizen advisory committee for the county's community development block grant program. The block grants--from federal Housing and Urban Development Department money--have often been used for housing efforts in Saratoga.
Last week, the city also honored artist Mayuri Naito.
Naito has designed and drawn calligraphy-accented invitations, name tags and portraits of city officials. She has also put together photographs of city events. Naito will return to her native Japan soon, following 4 1/2 years as a volunteer with the city.
Orchard removals will resurface
The city council will reconsider the removal of several coast live oak trees from the Heritage Orchard at a future meeting. The council had approved destruction of six mature oaks and the transplanting of five smaller oaks April 3. But orchard caretaker Matt Novakovich later said he would prefer that several mature trees stay in the orchard.
On April 17, Councilman Stan Bogosian asked that the issue be brought up again.
Grant for Hutton House in works
The city is working to secure a $210,000 grant from the state Murray-Hayden program to help convert the attic of the Warner Hutton House teen center to a study space. The city council has put aside $125,000 for the $270,000 project. The Saratoga Rotary Club has pledged another $20,000, and the Friends of the Warner Hutton House $10,000. For more information, contact the Recreation Department at 408.868.1234.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
