Los Gatos student to play with Italian National Lacrosse Team
Los Gatos High School junior Agata Fin has been selected to join the Italian U21 National Lacrosse Team, in preparation for the European U21 Lacrosse Tournament 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic the first week in July.
As one of only three players selected in North America, Fin attended an open tryout in Houston, Texas, open to any Canadian or American of Italian lineage. She participated in the Italian Lacrosse Training Camp June 2-4 in Treviso, Italy in preparation for the tournament.
Playing since third grade, Fin has been a member of Los Gatos High School’s Varsity Lacrosse Team since her sophomore year, and played Junior Varsity her freshman year.
“Our student athletes are so much more than just competitive participants in their sport,” Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District Superintendent Bill W. Sanderson said. “Their character development and tenacity help develop them into strong leaders and prepare them for incredible moments such as this one. I wish Miss Fin the best of luck and congratulate her on this unique opportunity.”
Input sought on Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Santa Clara County FireSafe Council (SCCFSC) announced that the public comment period for the draft update to the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) opens on June 19 and will run through July 2.
All Santa Clara County residents are encouraged to read and review the draft plan, and to submit their input and feedback for consideration in what will become the final CWPP later this summer.
Cal Fire awarded a $250,000 grant to SCCFSC to lead the 2022-2023 Community Wildfire Protection Plan update. With this grant, SWCA Environmental Consultants has been selected to update the current CWPP (drafted in 2016) in coordination with regional stakeholders. In December 2022, SCCFSC held a series of five community meetings (one in each County Supervisor’s district), to review the process and solicit initial public input.
Santa Clara County FireSafe Council assembled a management team comprised of county agencies and a management advisory committee with more than 70 representatives from across the county, with expertise in fuels management, technology, utilities, staff of elected officials, previous CWPP planning, and various other groups to help guide the process and provide input into the development of the plan.
“CWPPs are a critical element for county wildfire preparedness,” said Seth Schalet, chief executive officer for Santa Clara County FireSafe Council. “We want the public’s engagement and input to ensure as many voices are heard when the final version is released later this summer. Wildfire frequency and severity is on the rise, increasing risk here in Santa Clara County. We worked closely with our community partners, with the support of the Board of Supervisors, to bring forward the current plan so that the CWPP will further wildfire preparedness initiatives throughout the county and provide support for residents seeking resources to be better prepared for wildfire.”
Residents can visit the FireSafe Council CWPP website to review the draft document at sccfiresafe.org/cwpp.
Supervisors establish 25-mph speed limit on Oleander Avenue
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on June 6 to establish a 25-mph speed limit on Oleander Avenue in Los Gatos between Orange Blossom Lane and Azalea Way, with appropriate signage.
The County Roads Department is scheduled to return to the Board later in June to approve radar enforcement by California Highway Patrol along Oleander Avenue. Radar enforcement would begin after appropriate signage is installed.
“Local residents saw a problem and spoke up,” Supervisor Joe Simitian said. “They were heard.”
Oleander Avenue is located in an unincorporated County pocket adjacent to the Town of Los Gatos. In response to neighborhood concerns, the Santa Clara County Department of Roads and Airports recently completed an Engineering and Traffic Study, which recommended the 25-mph limit. The San Jose CHP Office reviewed the study and concurred with the County’s recommendations.
“Higher speeds in residential areas, where kids, parents and grandparents ought to feel safe, are clearly dangerous,” Simitian said. “Now that the County has completed the study, we’re able to improve safety in the neighborhood.”
In the past year, since Los Gatos and the Santa Cruz Mountain communities were redistricted to the Fifth Supervisorial District (now represented by Simitian), the Board has approved the following proposals to improve road safety:
• In June 2022, and in response to concerns raised by Los Gatos residents, the Board adopted a resolution to extend the 30-mph speed limit on Black Road between Thompson Road and Highway 17 Frontage Road.
• In September, the Board voted to move forward with a preventive maintenance project to maintain the safety and integrity of Aldercroft Creek Bridge at Old Santa Cruz Highway in Los Gatos.
• Since January, the Board of Supervisors has allocated $15.4 million for repairs to roads damaged by the 2022-2023 winter storms, and is working to reopen Old Santa Cruz Highway, Bear Creek Road and Aldercroft Heights Road.
• In February, the Board unanimously approved a $1 million contract for the installation and replacement of roadside safety barriers at six locations throughout the county, including at the intersection of Old Santa Cruz Highway and Ogallala Warpath, near the Chemeketa Park community in Santa Cruz Mountains.
“It’s not particularly flashy stuff,” said Simitian, “but this is the work that keeps people safe. That is, and should be, priority number one.”
Bucknell graduate accepted into international exchange program
Katrien Weemaes of Los Gatos, a 2021 graduate of Bucknell University, has been accepted into the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which is often considered the country’s most prestigious international exchange experience.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright enables American graduate students the opportunity to study, conduct research or teach English abroad.
Weemaes, an economics and environmental studies double-major, will step away from her current position as a government consultant with Deloitte Consulting to travel to Indonesia, where she will serve as an English teaching assistant. Weemaes says she believes her time in Indonesia will inform her ultimate career goal, which is to develop and implement policies and strategies to help communities contend with the consequences of climate change. Indonesia is considered a vulnerable, high-climate-risk country.
At Bucknell, Weemaes’ myriad academic and artistic interests (she also minored in dance and management) inspired her interest in Indonesia, where artistic expression, economic development, community resilience and sustainable innovation are at the forefront of daily life. “Many local communities in Indonesia have persisted through recurring natural disasters, yet grow stronger economically while maintaining rich cultural and artistic practices,” she said.
Weemaes added she is grateful for the connections she formed at Bucknell, particularly with supportive faculty members.
“They encouraged and challenged me to tackle a variety of academic and artistic endeavors,” she said. “I’m extremely grateful for the everlasting connections I made at Bucknell.”
Local student graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Alice Bibaud of Los Gatos graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on May 20.
Bibaud earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, located in Troy, N.Y., awarded a total of 1,988 degrees during the ceremony.
Hughes named to Dean’s List at Miami University
Haley Hughes of Monte Sereno was named to the Dean’s List at Miami University for the 2023 spring semester.
Miami University students who are ranked in the top 20% of undergraduate students within their division for the spring semester 2023 have been named to the Dean’s List recognizing academic performance.
Hughes is earning a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Health, Entrepreneurship and Emerging Tech.
Miami University is a public university located in Oxford, Ohio.
