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Del Amo mall increases security to crack down on crime, violence

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

The Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance is taking action amid increased mayhem, fights, and brawls involving young people. Local authorities are swarming the Del Amo mall this weekend with the intent to crack down on crime for the sake of businesses and keeping frightened families safe. “For us, I have kids and you’re worried,” said Susan Sisay, Torrance resident. “Am I going to go to the store and somebody’s gonna grab my wallet or something like that? Very concerned.”Aside from frequent smash-and-grabs across Los Angeles County, there’s been an increase of fights breaking out at the mall. In August, video captured a large group of teens chasing a young boy through the Del Amo mall before knocking him to the ground. The teens surrounded the boy before beginning to kick and punch him. “I just have to make sure it’s safe for me and my kids to go to the mall, so I’m always looking around to make sure there’s no suspicion,” Sisay added. “I feel sorry for the businesses be...

L.A. prop store struggling to stay open as actors strike drags on

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

As the SAG-AFTRA strike stretches past day 100, small businesses are struggling more than ever to keep their doors open. Hollywood production remains at a standstill and the owner of a prop store is speaking out about the impacts the ongoing strike is having on businesses like his. Marc Meyer, the owner of Faux Library Studio Props, says he’s been helping studios create Hollywood magic for decades, but fears that his business may not survive much longer if striking actors and studios can’t reach an agreement soon. Over the course of 30 years, Meyer has collected a warehouse of period piece treasures that he uses to dress film and television sets. The Hollywood strike has slammed his business to a screeching halt. "We usually have 15 or 20 trucks a day come through here and they would pick different set dressings or desks and furniture and books,” Meyer said. “The landlord keeps saying, ‘what am I gonna do, what is he going to do, because he’s not getting any inco...

Campbell gets $500k from state for ADA improvements

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

ADA improvementsState Assemblymember Marc Berman presented the City of Campbell with a check for $500,000 from the state of California for ADA improvements to city hall at the Oct. 17 city council meeting. Berman secured the funding in the 2023-24 state budget.The funds will be used for renovations to public counters and public meeting spaces in Campbell’s city hall, as well as accessibility improvements to the main entrance, which has long sloping ramps that would be improved to meet current standards.Other areas of city hall in need of accessibility upgrades include the community development, planning and building, public works, engineering, and finance and administration departments.This project would also remove the fixed seating in the council chambers and provide for better access to the dais and related spaces.Fruit fly quarantineSome areas of Campbell are within a portion of Santa Clara County that the California Secretary of Agriculture has placed under quarantine for the o...

New state law aims to reduce racial, socioeconomic disparities of pesticide exposure

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill authored by state Assemblymember Alex Lee aimed at reducing the racial and socioeconomic disparities of pesticide exposure.“AB 652 will create an avenue for communities most impacted by pesticide exposure to be heard,” said Lee, whose district includes Milpitas, in a statement. “Historically, these communities have not had the opportunity to provide meaningful input on pesticide policies and programs, and it’s high time for (the Department of Pesticide Regulation) to create an Environmental Justice Advisory Committee. This committee will play an important role in advancing health and environmental equity in California.”Under AB 652, this committee will be formed by Jan. 1, 2026, and will recommend ways for the state to integrate environmental justice considerations into its decision-making processes. The committee will consist of up to 11 members including  environmental justice leaders who represent rural and urban communities with the most ...

Saratoga students qualify for National Speech and Debate Tournament

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

Saratoga students are top debatersTwo Saratoga High School students were among the 4% of students from across the country who qualified for the 2023 National Speech and Debate Tournament held in Phoenix, AZ in June.Junior Kinnera Potluri qualified for the first time in the humorous interpretation category after placing third in the California Coastal District Tournament last spring.In his second time qualifying for the tournament, Junior Timothy Leung placed eighth as a semifinalist in program oral interpretation with his speech titled, “Tell My Story.” His speech encourages victims of child molestation to break through cultural or family norms of remaining silent, and do what is necessary for them to heal. Timothy has been an advocate for victims to heal through art and spoke on this topic during Saratoga High School’s “Speak Up for Change” event in January.Also attending the tournament was Jenny Cook, Saratoga High School’s new speech and debate coach. A National Speech and Debate...

Los Gatos home is a Silicon Valley Clean Energy showcase

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

Clean energy showcaseLos Gatos resident Justin Liu was among the winners of Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s (SVCE) Electric Showcase Awards for his efforts to go electric in her home.All 16 winners were recognized by the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors on Oct. 2.The Sunnyvale-based clean energy aggregator received more than 150 applications for this year’s awards from Santa Clara County residents and small business owners. The winners include 13 homeowners, an apartment complex, a reform synagogue and a hair salon.Many of the winners utilized rebates available through SVCE with state and federal incentives to help cover the costs of upgrading to heat pumps, induction cooktops, electric vehicle chargers and other technologies. Some have begun by replacing older gas appliances as they burn out, while others have gone fully electric.Opera lectureThe San Jose Opera Guild is hosting a Nov. 1 lecture on “Omar,” the 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner for music by Rhiannon Giddens, with a libretto b...

County honors Saratoga, Los Gatos teachers at annual awards event

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

Three teachers from the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District have earned recognition for their efforts in STEM education, graphic design and social justice.Saratoga High School engineering teacher Audrey Warmuth, Los Gatos High School graphic design teacher Alex Czech and LGHS English and social justice teacher Tiffany Hamm were set to receive 2023 Special Teacher Recognition Awards from the Santa Clara County Office of Education at an Oct. 23 celebration.Warmuth, winner in the Innovation in STEM category was an integral part of launching Saratoga High’s interdisciplinary STEM program.“Working tirelessly over the past seven years to help develop the new engineering lab, Audrey reiterates in every lesson that not succeeding on an attempt to do something doesn’t mean actual failure,” reads a release from the district. “She shares that engineering is all about problem-solving, and students are successful in the class if they learn what works (by successes) and what doesn’t wor...

Cupertino high school district seeks public input on trustee areas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

FUHSD districting committeeAs part of its transition from at-large to trustee area elections, the Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) is forming a Community Trustee Area Districting Committee to facilitate the process of gathering input and developing draft district maps.These maps will then be considered by the FUHSD Board of Trustees for elections from 2024 and through 2032. The district is looking to create five trustee areas.The committee will be tasked with holding multiple community meetings to gather public input. The board of trustees’ goal is that the committee will represent the diverse communities, interests and experience of the residents of the Fremont Union High School District.The committee application is available at https://www.fuhsd.org/newsroom/trustee-areas/ctad. The application deadline is Oct. 30 at 4 p.m.New hub for muni codesThe City of Cupertino recently unveiled Gridics CodeHUB, a one-stop destination designed to simplify the retrieval of zoning requ...

Los Gatos foodies say hello to Parkside, farewell to The Palms

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

There’s never a lull in the action on the Los Gatos dining scene.Parkside, in the former Boulanger space on Montebello Way, is finally open. They started dinner service earlier this month and so far, so good.“It’s going great! Really positive feedback so far,” says owner Darren Matte.As of Tuesday, Oct. 17,  Parkside is open for lunch Tuesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., and beginning Oct. 21, they will offer weekend brunch service from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.As soon as the railings arrive and are installed, that gigantic concrete-slathered space in front will morph from a storage area for tables and umbrellas into an actual parklet. Hopefully, the weather will hold.Longtime Grocer+Goddess customers will barely recognize the new space. The seating is now couchy and cushy, with flowers on each table. The grab ’n’ go case has been moved to the side wall to streamline the process of ordering takeout items from the kitchen counter. In addition to drinks and premade lunch salads, you’ll find con...

Opinion: MetroED is one of Santa Clara County’s best-kept secrets

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:13 GMT

In our ever-changing job market, there’s no such thing anymore as traditional pathways to success. While higher education remains a worthy aspiration for many, there is a growing recognition of the equally important role that career and technical education (CTE) plays in shaping a well-rounded and skilled workforce. More than just an alternative pathway, CTE provides myriad opportunities for fostering innovation and learning, economic growth and prosperous communities.But even CTE has to keep pace with changing times. I know a lot of folks grew up taking auto shop or wood shop or home economics. Today, though, it’s a different world—a world that requires a different set of skills and talents that are in demand. So, we have to do more.Recognizing this need, last year I proposed a one-time county grant to the Metropolitan Education District (MetroED) to establish two new CTE programs: a nursing science program to support the growing demand for healthcare workers in our county, and an ...