You Ask, Patch Answers: Stop Light at Lark and University Avenues

Find out what public works employees are doing at this busy intersection in town and why and when the traffic signal will be ready to go.

This is the second installment of our new Sunday feature, “You Ask ... Patch Answers,” where we strive to find answers to all your questions—big, small and in-between—about the town we live and work in. Whether it’s something you’ve always wondered about, some information you just can’t put your hands on or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it. Send your queries to sheila.sanchez@patch.com or leave them in the comments section below, and I will do my best to dig up an answer for you. You also can call me at 408-391-8725. This week, Los Gatos Patch reader Melanie Allen asked: "What is happening on the new stop light that was to go in at Lark and University avenues? Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Director Todd Capurso said construction …

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Updated: Injury Crash Closes NB Hwy 17 Lane Past Lark Ave in Los Gatos

A traffic collision with injuries has shut down both lanes effective about 10:20 p.m. Sunday.

Update: 11:15 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 26: CHP now reporting that only the right northbound lane is closed as a result of a single-car accident with injuries on Highway 17 past Lark Avenue in Los Gatos. A single-car crash, reported at 10:18 p.m. Sunday on northbound Highway 17, north of Lark Avenue, has closed both northbound lanes, according to CHP dispatcher Ellie Shumer. "All the lanes are being blocked as of 10 minutes ago," Shumer said. It's unknown how serious the injuries were resulting from the accident, Shumer added. The accident could also be seen on the CHP's website as well as on this site's new traffic and gas tab. The CHP's website reported a "severe traffic alert" was in effect on northbound Highway 17 after Lark Avenue in Los …

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Sheila Sanchez

1:51 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012

Hi Nicole, read about the accident here. http://patch.com/A-rj5j Hope you're OK.   more ›

Patch Watch: Los Gatos Boulevard Sidewalk at Los Gatos Village Square

Our weekly look at blight and other problem zones in and around Los Gatos.

Two trees are planted in the middle of a narrow ADA non-compliant section of sidewalk on the east side of Los Gatos Boulevard, directly in front of the Trader Joe's parking lot and near the entrance of Los Gatos Village Square.  Several pedestrians walking northbound on this section of sidewalk complain the trees are a tripping hazard and become an obstacle for those in wheelchairs and mobility scooters. On Nov. 30, after a similar problem was highlighted by this column at Los Gatos Boulevard, between Lark Avenue and Garden Lane, Los Gatos Patch reader Tim Boyd said the area between the former Lincoln Mercury dealership and all along the Los Gatos Villa Square shopping center needs to be addressed. "Try walking with a stroller or a …

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Brad Hayden

5:34 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Wow, Was anyone in the Los Gatos Planning Commission awake during the 90's when the ADA rules were issued? How many of these areas has Los Gatos swept under the rug, spending the funds instead for who knows what. You can't ignore problems for the sake of revitalizing downtown. You can't do both so someone has to lose.   more ›

Patch Watch: Los Gatos Boulevard Sidewalk, between Lark Avenue and Garden Lane

Our weekly look at blight and other problem zones in and around Los Gatos.

On a recent Monday morning, a jogger running southbound on the west side of Los Gatos Boulevard, between Lark Avenue and Garden Lane, almost hits two PG&E poles as he tries to maneuver himself on the sliver of sidewalk he's using to avoid being in traffic. The ADA non-compliant sidewalk, about half a block long and across from the 76 Gas Station, is located in front of the San Jose Water Company property. The sidewalk is almost completely inaccessible to other pedestrians, much less those with disabilities in mobility scooters or wheelchairs or persons pushing strollers. LOCATION: Southbound Los Gatos Boulevard west sidewalk, between Lark Avenue and Garden Lane. PROBLEM: ADA non-compliant sidewalk prevents those in mobility scooters, …

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Melissa Pugh

7:55 pm on Monday, December 5, 2011

Crossing Towne Terrace while on University Ave is treacherous. There is no crosswalk, very little lighting and cars coming up Towne Terrace, toward University, are driving up a hill so they gun it. Anyone walking across that street is a prime target. Plus, drivers making a Right from University onto Towne Terrace don't look to see if there is someone trying to cross. I have almost been hit, …   more ›

Updated: Police Release Sketch of Suspected Kidnapper

Clean-shaven, Hispanic man in his mid 40s, with slicked-back, medium-length black hair, approximately 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8-inches tall, with a stocky build, is being sought by Los Gatos police in connection with attempted kidnapping Sunday, Nov. 13.

Update: 12 noon, Nov. 17: Police have released a sketch of a man they say tried to kidnap a 17-year-old girl the afternoon of Nov. 13 while she walked on Lark Avenue east of Winchester Boulevard, on the north side of the street from the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 45 years of age, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8 inches tall, with a stocky build, clean shaven, with black slicked-back medium-length hair. He was wearing a red T-shirt with a large circular logo on the front and dirty blue jeans with paint splatters on them. The victim said the suspect had no discernible accent and she didn't notice scars, marks or tattoos. The man's vehicle is described as a small four-door station wagon, possibly a …

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Patch Watch

Patch Watch: Intersection of Lark Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard

Our weekly look at blight and other problem zones in and around Los Gatos.

On a recent morning, an elderly man in a mobility scooter at the corner of Lark Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard was trying to cross the intersection heading south on the Los Gatos Boulevard crosswalk. Unfortunately, there is no ramp at the start of the crosswalk on Lark Avenue, so he was forced to use the vehicle access to the 76 Gas Station, 15171 Los Gatos Blvd., to get down to the street and access it. He then proceeded to the large triangle island, which has the traffic light, but his access again was impeded due to the lack of a ramp. He had no choice but to go around the island to rejoin the sidewalk and attempt to cross the street. While the light was red, however, he was forced to wait on the actual crosswalk and was nearly hit by a…

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Mike Calahan

11:11 am on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I'm so happy to hear this. Thanks for your hard work, Sheila. You've done a great service by bringing this to everyone's attention.   more ›

Police: Man Tries to Kidnap Girl on Lark

Girl is said to have fought kidnapper by refusing to get in his car, punching him in the face, kneeing him in the groin and running away.

An unidentified Hispanic man in his mid-40s is being sought by Los Gatos Monte Sereno police after a 17-year-old girl walking on westbound Lark Avenue said he tried to kidnap her Sunday afternoon. According to authorities, the incident happened after 4 p.m. when the 5-foot-6-inches-tall man, who was driving a small dark brown or black car, offered her a ride and approached the young woman, on the north side of the street from the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Police described the suspect as weighing about 150 pounds, being clean-shaven, with black, slicked-back, medium-length hair, wearing a red T-shirt with a large circular logo on the front and dirty blue jeans with paint splatters on them. The victim said the suspect had no discernible accent …

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Geoff Mitchell

10:23 pm on Tuesday, November 15, 2011

You know, as a parent and just as a caring human being, I'm very pleased to see a response to this promoting fighting back and not "looking" like an easy target. I will say, however, that the link and repeated references to your academy and programs strikes me as a potentially disturbing effort to use this as an opportunity to promote your own business. I certainly hope that's not the case, but …   more ›

Caltrans Postpones Highway 17 Paving Project

Repairs to roadway will now begin in late June instead of May 23 between Highway 9 and Lark Avenue.

Caltrans has announced the Highway 17 repaving project near Los Gatos that was expected to start on Monday has been postponed until late June. According to Bernard Walik, a spokesman for Caltrans, the project's contractor—Bay Cities Paving and Grading—has pushed out the work's start date, blaming the bad weather and its impact on other projects that need to be completed before it starts repairing Highway 17, on the stretch between Highway 9 and south of Highway 85. Once the exact date is established in late June, Walik said Caltrans would give the media the new schedule.  The $3.6 million project will consist of pouring concrete and asphalt on certain sections, asphalt overlay pavement on Highway 17 and the same material on the on-and-off …

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Panera Bread Opens in Los Gatos

New bakery cafe at the corner of Lark Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard celebrates grand opening.

If you love fresh warm bread and the cozy feeling that you get when you step inside a bakery, then you'll be thrilled to know that Panera Bread had its grand opening Tuesday. You couldn't miss it. Customers were standing in front of the business bright and early, at the corner of Lark Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard, eager to try what they could smell miles away—the aroma of freshly baked "pan," the Latin word for bread. "It was fantastic ... folks started lining up at 5:57 a.m.," said Jeff Burrill, managing partner of Pangenera, LLC., the regional developer for all the Panera Bread bakeries and cafes in the South Bay. Doors opened earlier than the normal 6 a.m. start, because of the large volume of customers waiting outside the bakery to …

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Sheila Sanchez

11:17 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2011

I recommend it! I had their "you pick two" deal the other day and it was quite satisfying. Their bread is delicious, too. I had the broccoli cheese soup and the spicy chicken sandwich. It was awesome. :)   more ›