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July 2007
 In the sunniest parts of the Belgatos Park trails, the gravely areas just off the paths are filled with funnel spider webs. At first, one family member asserted confidently that these were tarantula webs. But before putting something on my blog, I went to check it out. So I spent (wasted?) over two hours reading up on it today.
Now I'm thoroughly confused, and will probably be having dreams (or nightmares) about spiders all night. Apparently there are all kinds of spiders that make these types of webs. Collectively, they are called Funnel-Web Spiders (Agelenidae). One site says that "aggressive house spiders" (apparently the kind you need to worry about) are a member of this class of spider too.
I did learn that all of these spiders wait until they feel a vibration on their web and then realize that dinner is served - so pop out to grab their prey. I'll keep my distance!
 So have a look and see what you think. Any idea who lives in these?
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One of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Los Gatos is the Edelen District. Originally a vineyard just north of the town's school (where Old Town stands today), it runs alongside the Los Gatos Creek to University Avenue or North Santa Cruz. Streets include University Avenue (south of Highway 9), Miles, Miller, and Edelen Avenues.
 This historic area also once included homes downhill (off Miles), along the banks of the Los Gatos Creek. But frequent flooding made that untenable. Now the lower area, by the banks of the Los Gatos Creek, is home to the town's recycling center, truckyard and carlot as well as the parks department's building (Department of Parks and Public Works).  And it houses the relocated Maria's Berry Farm buildings too (formerly near Highway 17 and Lark Avenue and moved when Highway 85 was constructed in the early 90's).
 Filled with beautiful Victorian homes, many built in the late 1800s, the Edelen District boasts an incredible proximity to downtown Los Gatos (as does the Almond Grove, but this area is even closer "in"). The streets are tree-lined and delightful looking, and most owners clearly prize their distinctive and historically important homes and have restored and maintained them lovingly.
For visitors to the Edelen District, parking is a pain. Most of the area is permit parking only, 24 hours a day. And it makes sense. These residences were constructed largely without garages in mind. The folks who live there need to park at home without competing for space with visitors to Old Town or other downtown draws. To further protect this area from undesired traffic, Miller Avenue is closed to automobile traffic where it intersects with Edelen. Shoppers are therefore not tempted to park illicitly.
 There are countless architectural treasures in this area, but let's have a peek at just a couple so you can get a flavor of the neighborhood. (Thanks in advance to the fabulous book, Los Gatos Observed by Alastair Dallas and to the Town of Los Gatos for its Hooked on History Project, sponsored by the Los Gatos Library and History Museum)
The home I photographed this week above and to the left is at 129 Edelen Avenue. It's a gorgeous Queen Anne Victorian and was built in 1892. Because of the large bushes and trees, it is difficult to get a clear view of the home today from one photographable angle. The "Hooked on History" project of Los Gatos has a wonderful photo on its site, though, and it provides a better view of the house (if in black and white).
.jpg) Directly across the street is another gorgeous house, located at 130 Edelen Avenue. It was built in 1886 and has been the setting for a movie and a television show. It, too, is a gracious Queen Ann Victorian with lots of splendid detailing. This was the winter residence of John Miles, a founder and developer of this district.
My suggestion for seeing this historic neighborhood is to park at the public lot behind the newer section of Old Town, stroll down University Avenue to Miller and walk down the street to Edelen. Cars cannot pass through the intersection, but pedestrians can. Enjoy a leisurely walk up the tree lined street and then turn back toward University on Miles Avenue.
Bring your camera!
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 Do you like fantasy? Midieval costumes? Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Renaissance fairs? Mythological battles of good vs evil in books or even video games? If so, then you should be introduced to Live Action Role Playing (LARP), and you should know that it's happening right here in our own Los Gatos.
Belgatos Park is the home (at least part of the time) to Nero West,"a live-action, live-combat roleplaying game where players take on the roles of fantasy heros and heroines, waging battles with necromancers, goblins, zombies, and other mythical beasts and diving into the mystery and intrigue of this fantastic society" (from the NeroWest website, www.NeroWest.com).
So that's the description, but the reality is that if you see the NeroWest participants at Belgatos Park, you'll find a group that's all dressed up in fun costumes, doing a role playing game and having a fantastic time in a gorgeous setting. I'd been curious about it for months but Sunday, when Bella and I took our daily trek through the park, I had the chance to chat with a few of the nice participants. They filled me in and gave me a card. Very cool stuff. And it seems to be very affordable as well - low cost for the most serious participants, and free for the more casual volunteer. Do check it out!
If you're interested in learning more, visit the NeroWest website: www.NeroWest.com, or give them a call at 1-800-249-9909.
Mary Pope-Handy, Realtor, CRS, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, ASP, RECS, CNHS
Helping Nice Folks to Buy & Sell Homes Since 1993
Co-Author: "Get The Best Deal When Selling Your Home In Silicon Valley"
Intero Real Estate Services, Los Gatos, CA (Silicon Valley)
408 357-5760 (Direct); 408 204-7673 (Cell); 408 715-0201 (eFax)
www.PopeHandy.com www.ValleyOfHeartsDelight.com
emailto: Mary@PopeHandy.com
Blog: www.LiveInLosGatos.com
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 In the Los Gatos area, some homes are identified with a 3-digit address, some with a 4-digit one, and others with a 5-digit house or building number.
Does it mean anything?
Most of the time, yes. At least initially, this is how the breakdown worked:
3 Digit Addresses: Los Gatos (in the town, not just the area or address)
4 Digit Addresses: Not Los Gatos but Campbell or San Jose (with very, very few exceptions)
5 Digit Addresses: Unincorporated area, belonging to the county, county jurisdiction
Does this all really matter very much? For buyers, it does. If you buy an area "in town" that is actually unincorporated, there may be plusses and minuses that effect you. For instance, in the county areas you may have more leeway with remodeling than in the town - but so does your neighbor, so you could end up with something you didn't think was possible near your home because the restrictions are different between the county and the town. Also in county areas, the Los Gatos Police doesn't patrol the areas, but rather the Sheriff does. Your response time may not be as fast in a county pocket as it might be in an incorporated area. A plus to the county areas for many is the lack of street lights, the more rural feel. Also in the county areas, you won't be able to vote in town elections, but only county ones. It's important to understand what you are getting and what you are giving up. But don't assume that if the house has 5 digits it's in the county area. Check it out.
 On a more mundane level, the house numbers are helpful to understand when you're trying to find a residence. There are a few streets in town which can be particularly trying for the uninitiated, one of them being Blossom Valley Drive (by Alta Vista School). The hapless visitor may start in an area with 3 digit houses, go through a patch with 4 digits, and then pop back to 3 digit addresses again.
What happened?
Boundaries. The border of Los Gatos and San Jose zigs in and out through Blossom Valley Drive. Pity the poor soul who sees homes with four numbers while searching for one with only three. This happens in other areas, too, where it goes from incorporated to unincorporated areas, for instance.
Along these lines, there are properties with a Los Gatos mailing address that are really either San Jose or Campbell homes. The maps show them as San Jose or Campbell, so attempting to get a delivery to a home with a confusing address can be problematic.
So when identifying a property address in Los Gatos, always get (or give) the cross street!
It helps to understand the little things.
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Live in Los Gatos:
A blog about Los Gatos real estate, homes, houses, condos, townhomes, housing market, neightborhoods, history, events, businesses, parks, schools, photos, issues, and lifestyle.
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Sick birds, infected with the West Nile Virus, have been found in Cambrian district of San Jose at the Los Gatos border (Union and Los Gatos Almaden area). .jpg)
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