One Awesome Los Gatos VIP!

Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Volunteer in Policing Don Stillwell broke the 4,000-mile mark of foot patrols along the Los Gatos Creek Friday morning.

Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Volunteer in Policing Don Stillwell broke the 4,000-mile mark of foot patrols along the Los Gatos Creek Trail Friday morning. Stillwell joined the town's VIP program in May of 2004 and has been a familiar sight to morning trail users since that time, said Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police spokesman Sgt. Kerry Harris. It was just in February 2010, that the 82-year-old Stillwell broke the 3,000-mile walking patrol mark, Harris said. On Friday, to celebrate the remarkable accomplishment, Stillwell left police headquarters on East Main Street in downtown Los Gatos at 9 a.m. on foot accompanied by Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Chief Scott Seaman. The longtime Los Gatos resident, who also patrols the Civic Center, was …

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Updated: A Miraculous Life Rescue on the Los Gatos Creek Trail

Los Gatos resident Reed Rowan's life saved by good Samaritans on March 26.

Update: 5:30 p.m., May 4: Los Gatos Park Service officer Dave Gray is the ranger who called 911 to help save the life of a local man who collapsed on March 26 on the Los Gatos Creek Trail after going into cardiac arrest, he wrote in an email to this publication today. "I am the park ranger in your story," he said.  However, he corrected some of the facts regarding the heroic rescue given to this publication by Kathy Rowan, the wife of Los Gatos resident Reed Rowan. Gray said it was Los Gatos parks maintenance worker Jerett Blaskey who discovered Rowan on the ground at the entrance to the trail and called 911. He also noted he and Amber Pinkerton, a Los Gatos seasonal park service officer, responded from his office about 100 yards away. "I …

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Patch Watch: Poop Bags on Los Gatos Creek Trail 'Not Town's Responsibility'

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

Last week we reported on the odorous dog poop baggies that are being dumped behind trees along certain parts of the Los Gatos Creek Trail. We failed to mention that the trash can at the Forbes Mill Museum has disappeared, which is maybe part of the the reason for the increase in the small stinking blue bags now becoming more prevalent. Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Director Todd Capurso informed us on Friday that the town will not be replacing the can nor adding new waste containers along the trail. "When we have those garbage cans in, they fill up with household waste," he said. "People are now limited to a certain trash container size at home and whenever you put a trash can in somebody can drive up to it and dump garbage in it." …

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Patch Watch

Patch Watch: Undisposed Poop Bags on Los Gatos Creek Trail

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

Poop bag dispensers are found along the Los Gatos Creek Trail and pet owners are using them. The only problem is that some of the odorous baggies are being dumped behind trees along certain parts of the path. Last week, we spotted several of the blue bags full of poop. We were happy we weren't stepping in it, but we weren't happy about seeing it or smelling it. Despite the bags being securely tied—thank goodness the pet owners completed this step of the process—they were still stinking up the place. LOCATION: Los Gatos Creek Trail PROBLEM: poop bags left on the ground RESPONSIBLE AGENCY: Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Department, (408) 399-5770, or email department director Todd Capurso at tcapurso@losgatosca.gov. DATE REPORTED: March 22…

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Dyan Chan

9:30 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012

This is a pet peeve of mine (no pun intended)! Yes, it should be cleaned up, and yes it should be thrown away! The comment about it being off the trail and letting nature take care of it did make me pause ... the problem is I think there's a gray area: is six inches off the trail enough? Three? What about the kiddos who like to run through the leaves at the edge of the trail? Another problem is …   more ›

Spring Arrives in Los Gatos!

Daffodils and tulips around town announce the beautiful start of the season.

Nothing announces the arrival of spring better than the sprouting of evergreen bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and other perennials. A walk last week along the Los Gatos Creek trail revealed these beauties that we wanted to share with you. According to the calendar, the official start of spring, also known as the vernal equinox, was Tuesday, March 20. If you're out there today, make sure and catch a glimpse of this miraculous phenomena. Bulbs that are dormant for an entire year, make their way out of the ground to see the sunlight and announce the change of the season.  

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Patch Watch: Los Gatos Creek Trail Overpass Graffiti Still There And Growing!

Graffiti on the Los Gatos Creek Trail overpass that crosses Highway 17, also known as the Forbes Mill Footbridge, has been on Patch Watch for more than 1½ months.

It's still there and growing! Graffiti on the Los Gatos Creek Trail overpass has gone uncleaned for a total of 55 days. It was originally spotted and reported in this column on Dec. 19, but now there's more. You can't miss it as you're driving southbound on Highway 17, after you pass the Highway 9 exit. The original ugly jibberish is scribbled on the left of north side of the bridge with the additional tagging on the right. LOCATION: Los Gatos Creek Trail overpass, also known as the Forbes Mill Footbridge, that crosses Highway 17. PROBLEM: Graffiti has been spray-painted in two spots on the north side of the overpass. RESPONSIBLE AGENCIES: California Department of Transportation, or [Caltrans]. CONTACT: Caltrans, 916-654-5266; or Caltrans…

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Police Arrest Youth After Los Gatos Creek Trail Search Monday Afternoon

San Jose 16-year-old was believed to be armed and was wanted in connection with at least one armed robbery; trail was affected for more than two hours.

A 16-year-old African-American boy from San Jose, who forced the closure of several parts of the Los Gatos Creek trail Monday afternoon for more than two hours, was taken into custody at about 6 p.m., according to San Jose police. At about 3:43 p.m. San Jose police officers were called when the suspect was spotted in the 2000 block of Southwest Expressway, near Stokes Street and Del Mar High School, said San Jose police spokesman officer Jose Garcia. The suspect then fled into the Los Gatos Creek trail area and multiple officers were sent to the park to try and locate him. "People probably saw the officers and didn't go there [the trail]," Garcia said. "The trail was affected during the time the officers were there." At about 6:07 p.m., …

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Resolution Run Draws Record Crowd

New Year's Day 5-mile race at Los Gatos High School attracts 400 participants.

A record 400 people participated in the 17th Los Gatos Resolution Run Sunday morning, looking to start the new year on the right foot. Runner Lauri Takacsi-Nagy, who finished the 5-mile race in fourth place, saw the opportunity to race on Jan. 1 as a way to set goals for a healthy 2012. “This is the first time I’ve actually gotten up on New Year’s Day and done something productive. I woke up before midday so I feel good about myself,” said Takacsi-Nagy. The 8-kilometer course began with a loop around Los Gatos High School’s track, followed Los Gatos Creek Trail to Lexington Dam and finished back at the school. Race Director Willie Harmatz, co-owner of Athletic Performance in Los Gatos, has been working races like the Resolution Run for 35 …

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An ADA-Friendly Resolution Run

Wheelchairs welcomed this year and elite open runners are participating, according to organizers.

Athletes in wheelchairs will be encouraged this year during the 17th annual Los Gatos Resolution Run taking place at 9 a.m. at Los Gatos High School. Although the 5-mile course is treacherous for those who attempt it—trail is not paved leading up to Lexington Dam—organizers will allow special-needs participants to go as far as they would like. "It will be tough to get to the top of the Dam and back," said Willie Harmatz, race director and co-owner of Los Gatos Athletic Performance store. "But they can go out as far as they want." About 300 runners, walkers and people pushing strollers are also expected, Harmatz said, the same amount as last year. Starting at 9 a.m., participants will run along the Los Gatos Creek Trail, up to the top of …

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PATCH WATCH: Los Gatos Graffiti Busters

Sandy Vaurs and company clean up more than 12 graffiti spots last Wednesday.

They're known as the Volunteers In Policing, but others call them the "graffiti busters," retired and young town residents who are now an integral part of the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department's mission to keep the community safe and clean. On Dec. 21, just three days before Christmas, Los Gatos resident Sandy Vaurs and "vipping" partner Eleanore Schock met just after noon in the Forbes Mill parking area to clean up graffiti along the Los Gatos Creek Trail. On this day, Vaurs takes pictures—as she has done in the past—of all illegal unintelligible writings and paintings on public property. Vaurs, who has been a VIP for about 10 years, goes out weekly for four hours to participate in the ritual. She and Schock wear uniforms provided …

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