I will not be covering this story; however, I want to inform LG residents.

InsideLG's thoughts are with the Achilli Family.

Please refer to the Mercury News article for further information:

Saratoga: Slain Los Gatos businessman Mark Achilli's widow killed in fiery crash

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The following agenda is from the Town of Los Gatos website:


ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 11, 2012

Minutes of July 11, 2012

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - NONE
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Some of these are rumors but if you look at my past article, “What’s Going in Where in Downtown Los Gatos,” you’ll see that I only post when I know my sources are accurate. If you have anything to add, please do so in the comments.

Downtown:

The old Domus building, located at 40 N. Santa Cruz, was separated into five units. I know there were some inaccurate articles floating around indicating that there were four units; however, let’s set the record straight. We already know that Liv and Haute Bride moved into two out of the five units. Rumor has it that LG Beauty Supply is planning to move, pending approval, into the 1,600 sq foot unit. Also, an interested retail store is in the planning process for the 1,800sq foot unit. Furthermore, Lexington House, a new restaurant, is set to stand in front of the Planning Commission in August for the 1,200sq foot unit. I've heard some chatting around town about the new establishment and it sounds exciting!

The former Inspire Interior Design, located at 208 N. Santa Cruz, is going to soon be the Natural Mattress Store.

I know I’ve already written about the following but I don’t know who reads what, so just to reiterate, Mike’s Bikes received the approval and will be busting down a wall and expanding into the former Jigsaw ...

I decided to take a break from InsideLG because it's summer and I enjoy spending extra time with my kids. Also, with the Town Council taking July off and LGUSD not having more "irregular" July Board meetings, I thought I could have an escape; however, an eagle-eyed reader informed me that LGUSD is having a "Regular Board Meeting" on Friday, July, 27th at 7:30am. What the what?

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the early morning meeting because not only is it at a totally inconvenient time for parents, it's also my daughter's birthday. I'm posting the agenda to inform our readers. If you make it, please let me know how it goes.

Also, while I'm writing about LGUSD Board Meetings, I did not attend the previous meeting because a house that my family owns was one of the first homes evacuated near the recent Robbers Fire in Iowa Hill, CA. I was biting my nails in anticipation at how close the fire was to our house; I knew I would not pay attention to the Board Meeting if I attended because I was submerged in watching the Cal Fire website. Luckily, after Cal Fire lifted the evacuation, I was able to check on the house and it was untouched. ...

I have heard the comment from Hillbrook School parents and a trustee that Marchmont Drive and surrounding streets are public streets. The implication is that neighbors have no right to object to heavy traffic generated by Hillbrook because the streets around the school are free and open to anyone. It makes me sad to hear this because it suggest that many people at Hillbrook turn a deaf ear to neighbor’s concerns about safety and quality of life. They see no reason to stop using—and abusing—neighborhood streets.

I would like to counter the idea that there should be no limit to the use of our neighborhood’s streets, especially since Hillbrook is requesting an almost 32% expansion of its student body--which would also, of course, increase Hillbrook traffic by at least 32%. I would like to point out that Town policies are aimed at protecting neighborhoods along residential streets like ours—Marchmont, Hilow, Topping, Stonybrook, Englewood, Cardinal, and Robin to name just some—and that residential streets are not in fact open to excessive use.

The Town has policies to protect neighborhoods like ours. ...

The following can be found on the LGUSD website:

Regular Board Meeting
July 27 - 7:30 a.m.

Thomas P. O’Donnell District Office Board Room
Click here to view previous board meetings!
Superintendent
Dr. Diana G. Abbati

Board Members
Kathleen Bays
Scott Broomfield
Doug Halbert
Chris Miller
Tina Orsi-Hartigan

Members of the public are always welcome at meetings of the Board of Trustees except for Closed Sessions. Individuals wishing to address the Board regarding agenda items may do so when an item is under consideration. Oral communications regarding items not on the agenda may be made during the Public Comment opportunity listed on the agenda. Trustees would appreciate it if you would identify yourself by name and address when addressing the Board. Individuals requiring special accommodation, including but not limited to an American sign language interpreter, accessible seating or documentation in accessible formats, should contact the Superintendent’s office at least two working days before the meeting date.

1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:30 a.m.

2. REGULAR SESSION - 7:30 a.m.

2.1
Approval/Amendment of Agenda


2.2
Public Comment

This is the opportunity for members of the public to address the Board on any item described in this notice or any other issue. In ...

Every Monday and Friday, InsideLG features StorySnoops, a Los Gatos based Company. To find out more information, please click HERE.

Some books just need to be written. I’m not sure how many coming of age books feature a lesbian protagonist, but any adolescent who is questioning their identity, sexual or otherwise, needs to get their hands on The Miseducation of Cameron Post. I first became aware of this book when I heard the author, Emily M. Danforth, speaking on NPR about her own early model for lesbianism, the main character in Rita Mae Brown’s Rubyfruit Jungle. Ms. Danforth’s insights had me rushing to the bookstore.

After twelve-year-old Cameron Post’s parents die in a car crash, she is completely convinced that she caused the accident, even though she was hundreds of miles away. Their deaths can only be punishment for Cam’s behavior, because on the day of the crash, she was busy kissing her best friend Irene. Knowing she cannot possibly be Irene’s friend any longer, Cam becomes withdrawn, numbing herself with an endless marathon of movies ...

The following agenda can be found on the LGUSD website:

The meeting will be teleconferenced at the following location: Boston College, Ignacio Hall, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. Agenda has been posted at this location per Government Code 54953.

Regular Board Meeting
July 12 - 6:30 p.m.

Thomas P. O’Donnell District Office Board Room
Click here to view previous board meetings!

Superintendent
Diana G. Abbati

Board Members
Kathleen Bays
Scott Broomfield
Doug Halbert
Chris Miller
Tina Orsi-Hartigan
...

Every Monday and Friday, InsideLG features StorySnoops, a Los Gatos based Company. To find out more information, please click HERE.

Bass Ackwards and Belly Up
by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain
PUBL. RECOMMENDED AGE: Young Adult
PUBLISHER: Poppy
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The following agenda can be found at the Town's website:


ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 23, 2012
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Quick note from Kir: I know LGBT Pride month was in June but I still want to share this blog post by the Snoops. Sorry I'm late -- too much traveling last month means that I have a lot of catching up to do!

Every Monday and Friday, InsideLG features StorySnoops, a Los Gatos based Company. To find out more information, please click HERE.

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Help celebrate 10 years of Jazz on the Plazz by attending the Jazz Gala featuring Barbara Morrison on July 24th, 2012.

For more information, please refer to the flyer below. Also, if you are interested in tickets, I know someone who is selling them. Please shoot me an email for more information. kir@insidelg.com


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Here are a few things you can take part in:

Wednesday, July 4, 2012 9:00 a.m.
The Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos will officially dedicate the new flagpole by the bandstand in Oak Meadow Park to the memory of longtime civic and volunteer leader Paul A. Dubois on Wednesday, July 4, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. As part of the town’s 125th Jubilee Year celebration, the Kiwanis Club will hoist a 30’ x 20’ American flag. The community and media are invited to attend. For further information, please click HERE.

A few photos from the event:
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Every Tuesday, InsideLG features a blog post for our "Imperfect Parents" Column. Today, we welcome Jessica.


I started traveling alone when I was seven years old. I guess I wasn’t actually alone alone because I had my four year old sister with me, but we were most certainly learning to fly the friendly skies at very young ages without our parents or any caregivers.



I was always excited to take a plane ride (ever the independent, wandering soul), my sister always was not. Our mom would walk us to our gate, make sure our backpacks were properly filled and our paperwork in tact, and say goodbye with tears streaming down all three of our cheeks. Every year for probably ten years we would do this routine: Saying goodbye to our mother in California and hello to our dad and the rest of our family in Ohio. We’d stay with him for a month and then the same scenario would play out: Goodbyes and tears all around until the following summer.

Things were much different then. The year was 1986 when we took our first flight, and I remember it very vividly. I was scared, but I tried to hide that fear from my sister. Without our mom there, it was my job to help make her feel safe. I like to think that she did.

I think they gave us wristbands so that the flight attendants would know that we were traveling alone and to “take care” of us. We almost always were taken care of, too: I have distinct memories of the stewardesses giving us manicures, coloring with us, and holding our hands to the gate to meet our parents. ...

I received the following letter from a group of LGUSD parents. I want to preface it with some information because, if you are like me and new to the school board meetings, this is all a little shocking. HMC, the architects who are currently working on the Lex project, performed work outside of their contract without approval from the Board and are now asking for $273,520. My question: Who is driving (or should I say crashing) the bus with our money?

During the meeting I sat in disgust as I watched, in my opinion, a company take full advantage of our district. Not only that, we have been down this road before with HMC. Yes, that is correct; according to Trustee Tina Orsi-Hartigan, she had the same discussion with HMC over the Daves Avenue project 8 years ago because HMC conducted work without preapproval. My personal question to the board: Why? Why are we still working with a company who is not following protocol?

Pay close attention to what Lee Salin from HMC stated at the most recent Board meeting: “We did this work believing that it was what was needed. We realize and thoroughly appreciate what Leslie has shared with you about the district wanting to work in such a way that you know what your professionals are going to do before they do it and how much it’s going to cost and we did not do that during this long stretch of time…” What Lee failed to mention in his statement is the word “again.” HMC did not do it “again.”

Sometimes I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone at these board meetings because common sense would say, “Red Flag!! Stop all future work with HMC. We’ve learned our lesson TWICE. Shame on us!” Unfortunately, that’s not what happened.

I turn you over to the group of parents who have data to back up their claims:

Open Letter to the LGUSD Board of Trustees:

Dear Trustees:

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Every Monday and Friday, InsideLG features StorySnoops, a Los Gatos based Company. To find out more information, please click HERE.

Thou Shalt Not Road Trip
by Antony John
PUBL. RECOMMENDED AGE: 12 and up
PUBLISHER: Dial Books
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I bumped this back up to the top.

With much of the historical information disappearing (or turning up as 404 File Not Found) from the LGUSD website, a concerned citizen/historian compiled information regarding current and past board members.

The chart below displays the current board members and how long they've served. Also shown, for reference, are past board members and our history of revolving-door superintendents.
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LGUSD June 26th Board Meeting recordings:

The agenda and minutes are linked from the LGUSD web site.

Agenda

3.1, 3.2, 3.3 - Flag Salute, Report out of Closed Session, Approval/Amendment of Agenda (1:21)

3.4 Public Comment (2:16)
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Joe Friday submitted the following recordings from the June 19th LGUSD Board Meeting.

Per Joe Friday, the BOT is curious to know how many people are listening to the Board Meeting tapes. If you have the time, can you please email the board and let you know that you're listening. Their email is: boardmembers@lgusd.k12.ca.us

Again, I want to personally thank Joe Friday for making these tapes available to the public.

The agenda and minutes are linked from the LGUSD web site.

Agenda

3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 - Flag Salute, Report out of Closed Session, Approval/Amendment of Agenda, Public Comment (2:18)
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