On July 20, Denise Rocchi followed a tradition dating back to 1855 when Levi Millard was the first Postmaster of what was originally called the McCarthysville Post Office before becoming Saratoga Post Office in 1865.
Rocchi raised her right hand to take the official Oath of Office as the Postmaster of the Saratoga Post Office.
Manager of Post Office Operations Rick Keppler administered the oath.
Rocchi, a 17-year postal service employee, started her career in 2006 as an Associate Supervisor of Customer Service in Redwood City. Rocchi went on to advance as Supervisor of Customer Service at stations in Palo Alto and San Jose. Rocchi served as the Manager of Customer Service at the San Jose Blossom Station as her most recent role before her promotion to Postmaster of Saratoga.
Rocchi is no stranger to the Postal Service, coming from a long line of postal lineage. Her grandparents Jean and Bill Croteau served as clerk and carrier in San Jose, her mother Jeanne Rocchi served as a clerk and both her aunts also joined the service as Supervisor and Human Resources Principal.
“I am honored and privileged to be selected to serve the community of Saratoga as its Postmaster,” Rocchi said. “I am passionate about providing excellent service to every customer and providing a great place for our employees to work.”
Rocchi resides in San Jose and in her spare time enjoys rooting for her favorite baseball team the San Francisco Giants, traveling, hiking, varieties of music, movies, musical theater, concerts, the beach and parks.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and is a member of the supervisory committee for the Pacific Postal Credit Union. Rocchi enjoys giving back to the community and supports local charities including San Francisco Junior Giants, UCSF and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospitals.
As the Postmaster of Saratoga, Rocchi supervises 41 employees and oversees the retail services and daily distribution of 48,000 pieces of mail and packages to 11,822 delivery stops, 1,814 P.O. Boxes, 22 city delivery routes, two rural routes to a community of more than 30,163 residents.
Discussion to cover downtown parking
Downtown businesses and other interested parties are invited to a discussion on recommendations being proposed to the Town Council regarding downtown paid parking and employee parking permit programs.
Two sessions will be held at the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, 10 Station Way, on Aug. 10 at 9am and 12:30pm.
To RSVP, email mr***@lo********.gov.
The council is scheduled to consider this item on Aug. 15 at 7pm.
Behavioral Health Navigators now at Los Gatos Library
A Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Navigator will now be at the Los Gatos Library every Tuesday from 1-4pm to help residents connect to and access the County’s mental health system, including public and community-based resources.
“The Mental Health Navigator Program is a one-stop shop, designed to help those who encounter challenges or barriers when seeking mental health care for themselves or their loved ones,” said County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who serves as chair of the County’s Health and Hospital Committee and proposed the program. “By bringing our navigators to community locations residents already know and trust, like the library, we’re hoping to increase access to this service, and help even more folks find the right path to treatment.”
“The Los Gatos Library welcomes County Behavioral Health Navigators to assist the community find needed resources,” Library Director Ryan Baker said. “The library is a central gathering place for people of all walks of life and is a natural fit for this exciting, new partnership.”
The Behavioral Health Navigator Program launched in July 2022 to connect individuals and families to County and County-contracted services, and when appropriate, identifies private resources and helps guide the public through the mental health system.
Following established privacy protocols, trained navigators offer:
• Personalized assistance to get help for behavioral health needs
• Information and resources for mental health, substance use, suicide prevention, support groups and more
• Peer guidance about options for wellness services and support
• Connection to County and community-based resources
• Support from peers with an understanding of local services
“Navigators listen to concerns, provide information and connect people with resources for themselves and their families. They work with County programs and nonprofit partners to find the best fit,” Simitian said. “From the beginning, my hope has been that by helping folks make their way through and around barriers, we can help them get the treatment they need and get their lives back on track.”
Residents may drop in and meet in person with a behavioral health navigator at the Los Gatos Library, 100 Villa Ave., on Tuesdays from 1-4pm. No appointment necessary. Residents may also contact the Behavioral Health Navigator Program by calling 800.704.0900, option 4, or emailing BH*********@hh*.org.
Series discusses dementia
Belmont Village Senior Living will host an educational series on navigating dementia as a caregiver, care partner or friend.
The series will educate on topics such as the basics of dementia, changing family dynamics, communication tips, and how to navigate challenging behaviors associated with dementia. New approaches and techniques will be taught to effectively care for a loved one.
The first installment of the series will be a discussion on what dementia is and what you need to know about the disease. A Q&A will follow the presentation.
Joyce Mahoney, CTRS, APRS, Regional Vice President of Memory Care and Programming at Belmont Village Senior Living, will lead the series.
The event will be held virtually on Aug. 16 at noon. To RSVP, visit belmontvillage.com/webinar. For information or to send questions to the speaker, email co**@be************.com.
Orchard City Community Chorus seeks new members
The Orchard City Community Chorus (OCCC) is seeking new members.
The group is searching for singers for all sections: soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
OCCC is a non-audition, all-age community chorus which is preparing for its annual Winter Concert in December.
Rehearsals are on Monday nights in the Choir Room at Campbell United Methodist Church, 1675 Winchester Blvd., starting at 7pm and ending at 9pm.
The first rehearsal of the new season will be held Aug. 21.
For information, email Bobbie Wright at bw********@gm***.com or call 408.374.2622.
Thilak graduates from Fairleigh Dickinson University
Iswaryadevi Thilak of Los Gatos, a student at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Vancouver Campus, in Vancouver, Canada, graduated with a MAS in May.
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university and features more than 100 liberal arts and professional degree programs and two international campuses.
Emerson College recognizes Monte Sereno student
Brandon Krish of Monte Sereno earned Dean’s List honors for the Spring 2023 semester at Emerson College.
Krish is majoring in Media Arts Production and is a member of Emerson College’s Class of 2025.
The requirement to make Dean’s List at Emerson College is a grade point average of 3.7 or higher for that semester.
Emerson College is based in Boston, Mass.
Weidick graduates from University of Vermont
Natalie Weidick of Los Gatos recently graduated from University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in Community Entrepreneurship.
UVM President Suresh Garimella conferred degrees on an estimated 3,383 graduates at the university’s 222nd Commencement ceremony.
Located in Burlington, Vermont, UVM is a national research university educating more than 14,000 students.
