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Saratoga home is a Silicon Valley Clean Energy showcase

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

Clean Energy showcaseSaratoga resident Carol Carrillo was among the winners of Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s (SVCE) Electric Showcase Awards for her efforts to go electric in her home.All 16 winners were recognized by the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors on Oct. 2.The Sunnyvale-based clean energy aggregator received more than 150 applications for this year’s awards from Santa Clara County residents and small business owners. The winners include 13 homeowners, an apartment complex, a reform synagogue and a hair salon.Many of the winners utilized rebates available through SVCE with state and federal incentives to help cover the costs of upgrading to heat pumps, induction cooktops, electric vehicle chargers and other technologies. Some have begun by replacing older gas appliances as they burn out, while others have gone fully electric.Emergency classesWildfire season is upon us, and it’s always good to stay informed and prepared in the event of an emergency.The Santa Clara County Fire ...

Authors Week helps Sunnyvale students see themselves in books

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

Three prolific children’s and young adult authors visited all 10 schools in the Sunnyvale School District during the first week of October for the second annual Authors Week.The district distributed more than 2,500 copies of the authors’ books so that students could read them beforehand and discuss them with authors Yuyi Morales, Jerry Craft and Joanna Ho during their school visits.Morales is  known for her books “Dreamers,” “Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book,” “Little Night” and “Viva Frida.” The latter received the 2015 Pura Belpre Medal for illustration as well as a 2015 Caldecott Honor.Craft is the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the graphic novels “New Kid,” winner of the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature in 2020, the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature in 2019 and the Coretta Scott King Author Award for the most outstanding work by an African American writer in 2020.Ho, a Bay Area autho...

Seasonal events in Los Gatos feature ofrendas, pumpkins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

Día de los MuertosDía de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is upon us. To celebrate, local artists are hosting an event, “Remembering our Loved Ones,” on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 6-8:30 p.m., at 157 Holly Way in Los Gatos.Artist Olga Enciso Smith and her son Brian M. Smith constructed a special ofrenda, a Latin American traditional altar, using typical artifacts like fresh marigolds, corn stalks, candles, gourds and handmade skeleton figures.Pumpkin saleThe History Club of Los Gatos is hosting a pumpkin sale on Oct. 28-29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Pumpkins can be picked up at 123 Los Gatos Blvd., and proceeds will go toward the history club’s facility and local charities that support women and children in Santa Clara County.Street sweeping curtailedFall leaves might be sticking to the ground longer this season.The town’s street sweeper is in disrepair and has been since late August, the town said in a memo to residents. The Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Department said once the street sweeper is r...

Seniors celebrate ‘Better Part’ of 40 years of making TV shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

A local television production company is marking its 40th anniversary next month, a milestone made more noteworthy by the fact that it’s run by Silicon Valley seniors.Cupertino TV Productions (CTVP) will close out its fourth decade on Nov. 4 with a special retrospective program highlighting its history and achievements, including clips from the more than 1,200 shows created by a staff of volunteers ages 50 and up from all over Silicon Valley. The show will honor past and present producers, editors and crew members.“We are incredibly proud to reach this significant milestone. It is a testament to the dedication, creativity and passion of our team, who are all volunteers,” said CTVP Vice President Grace Trafton in a statement. “We owe our success to our loyal viewers and partners, especially the City of Cupertino, KMVT15 and the Cupertino Senior Center, who have supported us throughout this incredible journey.”Based out of the senior center, CTVP started in 1983, producing shows under...

Testarossa celebrates ‘mostly good’ yields with 136th grape blessing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

With a distinctive autumnal chill in the air and the grounds festively festooned with pumpkins and gourds, the team at Testarossa Winery welcomed visitors to their annual blessing of the grapes earlier this month at the Novitiate in Los Gatos.In attendance were well over a dozen members of the priesthood who had once worked at the oldest winery in Los Gatos, constructed in 1888 as way to generate funds for the Jesuit seminary college built on the property the same year. The Jesuits operated a winery here until 1986, after which it was leased to other brands until 1997, when Testarossa moved in and when this particular annual blessing began.Testarossa proprietor Rob Jensen was quick to point out that this was the 136th harvest these old stone walls had witnessed. This year was particularly special, he said, because it happened to be his wife Diana’s birthday, and her mother, along with their daughter, were in attendance. Then Jensen consulted his watch, looked around the crowd, and d...

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Saratoga Library’s renovation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

Last month, the Saratoga Library celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 2003 renovations. Though the library has a very long history—the first Saratoga Library was opened in 1914 in the drugstore of George S. Buckley at 14413 Big Basin Way near Blaney Plaza—the renovation of the current building had important significance to our community.The improvements included renovations as well as an expansion, increasing the total building size to roughly 48,000 square feet. This allowed for an expansion of Saratoga Library’s collection and provided the amenities needed for the facility to transition into the digital era. The original space was constructed well before personal computers were the norm, preventing the building from keeping pace with advances in technology.Most impressive of all was the community support for the improvements to the Saratoga Library. The renovation was funded through a general obligation bond, which was overwhelmingly approved by Saratoga voters in March 2000 wit...

Milpitas City Council moves to shut down Zoom bombers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

In the wake of Zoom bombers hijacking public meetings throughout the Bay Area and spewing hate speech, the Milpitas City Council is requiring that public comments to be delivered in person or in writing through the end of the year.In recent weeks, members of the public have logged in to virtual meetings in cities including Saratoga, Sacramento, Monterey, El Cerrito, Walnut Creek, Berkeley, South San Francisco and Livermore and made racist, homophobic and other prejudicial comments. These speakers often monopolized the public comment portion of the meetings.“We stand firmly against any form of bigotry, racism or prejudice. Such views have no place in Milpitas, and we are committed to fostering an environment where all our residents feel safe, valued and included,” said Mayor Carmen Montano in a statement.Vice Mayor Evelyn Chua said Zoom bombers cross the line between free speech and hate speech.“We encourage open and respectful dialogue, where differing opinions can be shared and dis...

Leland High School grad named US Presidential Scholar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

Neighborhood NotesALMADEN>>Miranda Lu, a 2023 Leland High School graduate, was recently named a 2023 United States Presidential Scholar for her achievements in visual arts. Lu’s portfolio was chosen as a winner in the annual YoungArts National Competition, which put her in the running for the award. She was among 161 finalists nationwide.The portfolio Lu entered in YoungArts included textiles, repurposed materials, sculptures and recorded performance art displays—all on the theme of menstruation. “There’s a lot of social stigma surrounding that in school; it’s traditionally been an embarrassing or shameful topic to discuss,” Lu said in a statement. “I wanted to challenge not only the societal stigma surrounding that but also my own personal shame. Creating this portfolio helped me really not care what anyone else thinks.”Lu is currently a student at Columbia University in New York City.ROSE GARDEN>>Playful People Productions is cutting loose—footloose, that is. The San J...

Campbell households are Silicon Valley Clean Energy showcases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

Two Campbell households were among the winners of Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s (SVCE) Electric Showcase Awards for their efforts to go electric in their homes and businesses.All 16 winners were recognized by the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors on Oct. 2.“The climate crisis is increasingly urgent, and there is no time to lose.” said Supervisor Otto Lee, who also sits on the SVCE Board of Directors. “The winners of this showcase are leaders and fantastic examples of the actions that must be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change.”The Sunnyvale-based clean energy aggregator received more than 150 applications for this year’s awards from Santa Clara County residents and small business owners. The winners include 13 homeowners, an apartment complex, a reform synagogue and a hair salon.“By upgrading to efficient electric technology, residents and businesses are using their clean power to reduce local pollution and improve indoor air quality,” said SVCE CEO Giri...

Sports on TV for Monday, October 16

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:47 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsMonday, October 16MLB BASEBALL4:30 p.m.FOX — A.L. Championship Series: Texas at Houston, Game 2FS1 — A.L. Championship Series: Texas at Houston, Game 28 p.m.TBS — N.L. Championship Series: Arizona at Philadelphia, Game 1NBA BASKETBALL7:30 p.m.NBATV — Preseason: Philadelphia at Brooklyn10 p.m.NBATV — Portland at PhoenixNFL FOOTBALL8:15 p.m.ABC — Dallas at LA ChargersESPN — Dallas at LA ChargersESPN2 — Dallas at LA Chargers (Spanish Telecast)SOCCER (MEN’S)11:50 a.m.FS2 — UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying Group Stage: Azerbaijan vs. Austria, Group F, Baku, Azerbaijan2:30 p.m.FS2 — UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying Group Stage: Greece vs. Netherlands, Group B, Nea Filadelfeia, GreeceTENNIS6 a.m.TENNIS — Tokyo-ATP, Stockholm-ATP, Antwerp-ATP, Monastir-WTA, Cluj-Napoca-WTA, Nanchang-WTA Early Rounds10 p.m.TENNIS — Tokyo-ATP, Stockholm-ATP, Antwerp-ATP, Monastir-WTA, Cluj-Napoca-WTA, Nanchang-WTA Early Rounds6 a.m. (Tuesday)TENNIS — Tokyo-ATP, ...