Live In Los Gatos

Los Gatos, California

Los Gatos real estate, neighborhoods, condos, houses, homes, market trends, history, events, lifestyle, parks, events, businesses, home, Mary Pope-Handy

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Live In Los Gatos

Los Gatos Free Summer Music Concerts

May. 28, 2008
Categorized in: Los Gatos Events


DandilionThe town of Los Gatos enjoys a large number of wonderful free music concerts across several different venues each summer. These are fun events held around town - a great chance to unwind with family and friends and a picnic on the lawn. Mark your calendars!

(This info will be updated as announcements are made.)

Jazz On The Plazz - Wednesday evening series, 6:30-8:30pm in Los Gatos Town Plaza Park beginning June 25th (10 concerts)

Vasona Vibrations - Saturdays, 5-7pm at Vasona Lake County Park (also free, but fee to park) beginning June 7th through the end of July (8 concerts)

Music in the Park - Sundays on the Civic Center Lawn from 5-7pm - dates/schedule to be announced (10 concerts)

Last summer, Los Gatans also were treated to a free concert series on the deck next to Border's Books in Old Town, Los Gatos, too. No word so far on whether that wonderful opportunity will return.

For even more music and entertainment opportunities, view and bookmark the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce's 2008 Community Calendar and also the MetroActive website (which will include neighboring communities as well).

Squirrels Are Not A Problem in Los Gatos

Nov. 7, 2007
Categorized in: Parks in Los Gatos

Squirrels are not a problem in Los Gatos. But gophers are a problem at Oak Meadow Park in town.Let's be clear on something: squirrels, possums, skunks, racoons and other wildlife are not generally a problem in Los Gatos. Recently a mountain lion was seen on Cypress Way - and sometimes the big cats wander into suburbia. Those events constitute a problem. But by and large, the small furry animals that share our turf are not an issue.

I bring this up because I like to track who's finding "Live In Los Gatos", how they get here, what are the popular search terms, etc. It's all visible to you, too, if you are in the slightest bit interested. Just scroll to the bottom of the page and find the Site Meter button. Click on it. A whole world of info - probably much more than could possibly interest you - about how people find this spot lies in the pages beyond that portal.

What upset me today was seeing that one Google surfer found this site by asking about killing squirrels in Los Gatos. If you go through the Site Meter link and then look at the left sidebar where it says "Referrals" you will find one that reads as follows:

Referring URL http://www.google.co...uirrels in los gatos
Search Engine google.com
Search Words plan to kill squirrels in los gatos


When I clicked on the Google search page, I saw that there seem to be aggressive squirrels in Palo Alto and people are thinking of extermination. Maybe it's beyond that and it's part of a plan. But as far as I know, there's NOTHING like that in Los Gatos.

That said, I just asked my husband, Jim Handy (who is a volunteer parks commissioner in Los Gatos) if there's anything about a plan to kill squirrels in Los Gatos. "No, but there's a problem with gophers at Oak Meadow Park", he informed me. What kind of problems? "Ankle turners..." Jim explained that people have been getting hurt tripping on gopher holes at the Town's Oak Meadow Park. Apparently there is a plan to poison gophers - at that one park.

The Gophernator or Rodenator tool for eliminating burrowing pests - see www.Rodenator.comIt used to be against the law to use poison in parks in all cases. Apparently now, under heavy regulation, some use of poison is allowed. I can't say this makes me feel any better that it's a very guarded situation.

What about the historic but still timely Macabee Gopher Trap? It has been in production right here in Los Gatos for about a hundred years. Or perhaps it would be better if they would use a product like my old Saratoga High School friend Bob Bruno's "Gophernator" (or "Rodenator" since apparently it handles more than just gophers). Who ya gonna call?

Who lives here?

Jul. 13, 2007
Categorized in: Parks in Los Gatos
Tagged with: identify, los gatos, parks, spiders, webs

Funnel web found along the trail at Belgatos Park, Los Gatos, CAIn 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!

Funnel web from Belgatos Park (taken with Treo 700P), July 12, 2007.So have a look and see what you think. Any idea who lives in these?
Closeup of same spider web

Los Gatos and the Fight over the Vasona Land:
The Town Will Wait to Decide, Get Input

Jun. 6, 2007
Categorized in: LG Lifestyle


Vasona Lake County Park, Los Gatos - photo by Mary Pope-HandyLast night I heard from my volunteer Los Gatos Parks Commissioner husband, after a meeting of the Parks Commission, that the town has given a 6 month hiatus on the sale of the Vasona Park land (which the town owns) to the county. The lease isn't up until 2010. (See image.)

Jim referred me to the minutes of the town council meeting last night. If you are a patient sort of person and want to watch the video of the meeting, click here.  I didn't find the written minutes easily (archives of old meetings, yes, and videos of the recent one, yes - maybe I looked at the wrong link?). But a helpful and readable version of last night's doings can be found via the Los Gatos Observer's article.

This issue is highly controversial because there are acres of "town" land being leased to the county (at no charge) until 2010. In turn, the county is leasing 2/3 of another acre elsehwere to the town at no charge.

The land in question is about 13 acres in the middle of the county park, which is a quiet place fo picnicing, sailboating, hiking, throwing around the frisbee, and sometimes even birdwatching.

Poppies in Los Gatos, CA - photo by Mary Pope-HandySome in the town of Los Gatos want to take that 13 acres back from Santa Clara County and turn it into a skateboard park. And if not that, a soccer field. To say that one is opposed to that idea is almost to appear "anti-child".

I have kids. Teens, actually. And I am opposed to that use of the land.

I'm not anti-kid. But I like the quiet of Vasona Park. It's a nice place to go and recompose and decompress. If it becomes sports-oriented, with cheering parents and the concrete of a skatepark, it will lose that character forever.  It is the only park of its kind anywhere in the valley.

Yes, I agree we need more soccer fields. My own kids were in Rec soccer for years, and one of them just signed up again. But at what cost?

And a skateboard park? Sorry, I'm not convinced.

We have a six month or so breather now. The town will take input.

You've heard my thoughts.  Let your voice be heard.

Parks and Poison Oak

May. 5, 2007
Categorized in: Visiting Los Gatos
Tagged with: caution, los gatos, parks, poison oak

Creek scene at Belgatos Park, Los Gatos, CACreek embankments are cool and inviting on a warm spring or summer day.  It is very tempting to inch your way down to the stream, toss away the flip flops and let the gentle current sweep past your dusty, dry toes.

But please be careful. 

Everything is very, very green this time of year.  The grass and live oaks and scrub all tangle together with thistles and berries and vines.  Among them, blending in just perfectly, is poison oak.

I've been really lucky in my life: I've never been snared by this itch-inducing plant. But my older brother, Steve, used to chase after golf balls into the rough at Pasatiempo and often came back with much more than a ball or two.  He would become terribly swollen up, each occurance worse than the one before. The Calomine Lotion was slathered on generously and dried into a crusty nastiness that I will never forget.  He looked awful, and felt worse. 

Poison Oak in Spring - Shiny leaves "of three" - Los Gatos, CASomehow I just never got it. Maybe it's that I don't play golf - am not supposed to due to some rods in my back for scoliosis.  And in Spring I am plagued with hayfever - green things are not as tempting to me as to others.  So avoiding contact with the tall green everything always seemed to be in my best interest.

My better half, Jim, is a volunteer Parks Commissioner for the town of Los Gatos and he spends a great deal of time in parks.  On Sunday we went through Belgatos (again) and this time, Jim taught me how to identify poison oak. I'd always heard Poison Oak - not in direct sunlight - Spring (leaves turn red in fall) - Los Gatos, CA"leaves of three, let it be" and knew that in the autumn, the leaves turn a bright red. But I really didn't know, other that that, what it looked like.

Immediately prior to my lesson in identifying poison oak, I allowed Bella, our dog, too close to the stuff and he hollared, "don't you see the poison oak?" Apparently I was tempting fate and Jim realized I was clueless.   He made sure, right then and there, that I got a lesson in how to recognize it.  (Our vet has confirmed that dogs can, and do, carry the poison oak plant oils home, an amazing way to infect everyone quickly.  Jim pictured our pooch spreading it to every member of the family.) 

What I then noticed was most cruel: the poison oak was interwoven with wild blackberry bushes on the creek banks.

Talk about a tease.

Now I know what to look for. I want you to be equally well armed. Have a good, long study of these photos and make sure you don't ever get too close to a plant that looks like this - no matter how many berries beckon you, no matter how delicious that water looks on a warm day.

It's not worth it. Ask my brother.

Photo Tour of Vasona and Oak Meadow:
Beautiful Parks at the Heart of Los Gatos

Apr. 29, 2007
Categorized in: Great Places in Los Gatos
Tagged with: oak meadow, parks, vasona


Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad Station, Los Gatos, CA (photo by Mary Pope-Handy)Playground at Oak Meadow Park, Los Gatos, CA (photo by Mary Pope-Handy)Yesterday I visited Vasona Lake County Park to see the nesting Great Blue Herons. While there, I took 54 photos of adjoining Oak Meadow and Vasona Parks. It's impossible to capture all of these two  parks in one quick slideshow, but I did attempt to do that with another one-minute Real Estate Show.

Mary Pope-Handy's Photo Tour: Vasona & Oak Meadow Parks

Vasona Lake County Park, Los Gatos, CA (Photo by Mary Pope-Handy)

Mary's 60 second Photo-Tour of Los Gatos

Los Gatos Websites to Know

Nov. 24, 2006
Categorized in: Los Gatos Businesses

Important Links to Helpful Los Gatos Information

The Town of Los Gatos official website: http://www.losgatosca.gov/
The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce website: http://losgatoschamber.com/
Parks & Recreation Department: http://www.lgsrecreation.org/
Town of Los Gatos Parks: http://www.losgatosca.gov/index.asp?NID=102
Santa Clara County Parks: http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/ (Vasona is a Co. Park)
The fall town newsletter (pdf): http://www.losgatosca.gov/archives/38/Los%20Gatos%20Vista%200906.pdf Wineries of Los Gatos: http://www.losgatosca.gov/index.asp?nid=63
Senior Services: http://www.losgatosca.gov/index.asp?nid=52
Youth and Teen Resources: http://www.losgatosca.gov/index.asp?NID=53


Being a very highly education-conscious town, Los Gatos has many, many schools. They will be listed in a separate blog entry.

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