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America’s Support for Cannabis Legalization Hits 70%

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

On the heels of Ohio’s big cannabis win on election night, Gallup announced a record 70% of Americans now support the legalization of marijuana. The number has been climbing for years. In the mid-1990s when Prop 215 passed, less than 30% of Americans were on board with legalization. But once the ball started rolling, it was off to the races. Support would break 30% in 2000. Then as more and more medical states came online in the 2000s, eventually support would hit half of Americans in 2011. The next big catalyst for support was the first couple states to legalize. With the exception of a 2% dip in 2017, more Americans have supported cannabis legalization every year since Colorado and Washington decided to be the canaries in the coal mine. But the sky has not fallen, and now a little less than a decade later, we’ve hit 70%!The nation’s oldest marijuana reform organization, NORML, was thrilled with the news. “There’s no ‘buyer’s remorse’ among the public when it come...

Sunnyvale public safety officer wins advocacy award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

Officer wins advocacy awardAt the 30th annual Domestic Violence Conference on Oct. 13, Sunnyvale Public Safety Officer James Pine received the Melinda “Mindy” Zen Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Award. Pine was recognized for his efforts in supporting a domestic violence victim during an extensive investigation. He obtained a gun violence restraining order, recovered a firearm and safely apprehended the perpetrator. He was able to create a strong rapport with the victim and supported her throughout the investigation and court process.Pine is currently assigned to the patrol division as a field training officer and is a sniper on the SWAT team.New traffic signal at WolfeConstruction at the intersection of South Wolfe Road and Dartshire Way has begun. This project is intended improve pedestrian safety by tightening the corners, installing new curb ramps, installing crosswalks and allowing protected vehicular left turns. Dartshire Way will be slurry sealed and striped in December. Tr...

State recognizes Los Gatos, Saratoga high schools for ‘Edible Learning’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

Award for ‘Edible Learning’The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District won a 2023 Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association for its food service program.In 2019, Los Gatos High School assistant principal Kristi Grasty worked with chef Paul Boundas, owner of Country House Kitchen, to create a plan that would improve the school cafeteria model while enhancing student nutrition and providing a pathway for nutrition-related education. The resulting program, “Edible Learning: Transforming School Cafeterias into Wellness Communities,” was successfully replicated at Saratoga High School.Serving over 1,000 meals a day, both schools’ cafeterias offer breakfasts and lunches created entirely from scratch, ditching the traditional heat-and-serve method. Because fresh ingredients are more cost-effective than their frozen counterparts, the district also went from spending 55% of its cafeteria budget on food to spending 33% in the 2022-23 school year.“The cafeteria tran...

Montalvo, museum host holiday happenings in Saratoga

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

Montalvo’s Yuletide BoutiqueMontalvo Arts Center is hosting its annual holiday pop-up boutique on Nov. 17-18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Nov. 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Local vendors will display holiday art and decorations, collectibles, photography, clothing, crafts and specialty gourmet food items for purchase. Handmade items created by members of the Montalvo Service Group will be for sale, and collectibles will be available in the Vintage Treasures Shop. The shop will hold a clearance sale on Nov. 19, when all remaining items will be half off.For vendors and more information, visit www.montalvoarts.org/yuletide.Museum open houseThe Saratoga History Museum, located at 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, is hosting an open house Nov. 24, 1-8 p.m., with holiday readings, a sing-along and light refreshments. Visitors can tour the new blacksmith exhibit and check out the museum’s holiday décor. For more information, visit saratogahistory.com or call 408-867-4311.Let’s Work SaratogaResidents ages ...

‘Our family hasn’t been the same since she’s been gone’: Pair receive life sentences for killing popular East Bay restaurant owner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

OAKLAND — Two men have been given life sentences with differing chances for parole in the 2018 murder of a popular restaurant owner killed outside one of her businesses during an attempted robbery.Paul Paez, 43, was sentenced to 25 years to life, while Donte Holloway, 45, was sentenced to 50 years to life, court records show. Both men were convicted in April of murdering 61-year-old Cindy Le during an April 2018 attempted robbery in Alameda.Prosecutors say the pair followed Le from the Pho Anh Dao restaurant in Oakland to a second location of the restaurant in Alameda, then attempted to rob her. During the fracas she was knocked to the ground and assaulted. Though witness testimony disputed whether both men physically attacked her, prosecutors argued they were both culpable for murder under the law.At the sentencing hearing last August, Le’s daughter, Jennifer Nguyen, submitted a written letter stating that after five years, Le’s family is relieved the court proces...

Milpitas Library has ‘Things’ to check out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

The Milpitas Library recently launched a pilot program called “The Library of Things.” The program allows patrons to use their library card to borrow a variety of items including kitchen equipment, hobby kits, health and wellness items, technology items and cool things for kids.“The Library of Things allows patrons to discover new tools and devices to help them learn, create and connect,” said Milpitas Community Librarian Kelly McKean. “Perhaps you only want to try something once, or you want to try something before you buy; these things can save you money and space.”Popular items include a hot pot with grill, sous vide equipment, Go Pro 11, Tonieboxes, and kits for birdwatching, sewing and making music. The collection may be modified at a later date to meet the community’s needs.Milpitas Library staff reached out and worked with libraries all over the Bay Area to find their best practices regarding Libraries of Things. Staff also attended conferences and webinars, learning from oth...

Vehicle vandalized at Saratoga open space preserve

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

Oct. 30Assault: At 2:34 p.m., deputies responded to a prior assault at a residence in the 13000 block of Upper Hill Court. An investigation revealed the suspect slammed a door into the victim. The case is being submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review.Possession of drug paraphernalia: At 12:23 a.m., deputies stopped a motorist at Saratoga Avenue and Prospect Road for an equipment violation. An investigation revealed the suspect was in possession of drug paraphernalia.DUI, unlicensed driver: At 4 a.m., deputies stopped a motorist at Cox and Saratoga avenues for equipment and traffic violations. An investigation revealed the suspect was unlicensed and driving under the influence of alcohol.Nov. 1Vehicle burglary: Between 9 p.m. and 11:10 p.m., someone vandalized a vehicle parked at Fremont Older Open Space Preserve on Prospect Road. The suspect broke the vehicle’s windows, spray-painted the vehicle, broke its lighting equipment and opened all the doors so that the hinges...

Los Gatos holiday tree marks centennial year in town plaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

This marks the 100th year that the holiday tree has stood in the town plaza on the corner of West Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos. As is customary, the tree will be lit on the first Friday in December, and this year the ceremony will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1.The centennial ceremony will include recognition for the History Club of Los Gatos, which donated the tree all those years ago. History Club President Diana Crawford and many club members will be in attendance to commemorate the occasion.The History Club was established in 1897, and in the years leading up to 1923, the club annually decorated a tree that had been cut and brought down from the mountains. Each year, the tree was placed in the Plaza (then called Lyndon Plaza in keeping with the Hotel Lyndon, which was demolished in 1963), and the club dedicated an annual budget of $15 to this project.It is documented in the board meeting minutes of Jan. 3, 1923, that the ladies of the History Club disc...

Skimmers found on ATMs in Campbell

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

Oct. 3111:56 a.m. in the 100 block of South Leigh Avenue: Someone smashed a door, gained entry into the residence and stole items.Nov. 2Overnight at West Hamilton Avenue and Phoenix Drive: Someone smashed the rear window of a gray Chrysler Pacifica rental vehicle and stole items.757 a.m. in the 300 block of Union Avenue: The victim said his ex, 36, struck him with a vacuum cleaner during a verbal argument.Overnight at San Tomas Aquino Road and Villarita Drive: Someone smashed window to a white Nissan NV200 and stole items.5:48 a.m. in the 00 block of Cristich Lane: The suspect left the victim three harassing voicemails during which he repeatedly used obscene language and said the victim would “feel the pain.”4:57 p.m. in the 100 block of West Hamilton Avenue: A woman, 40, was contacted at the rear of a store during a welfare check. A records check revealed she had several outstanding warrants. She was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance, and in possession of co...

California Cricket Academy celebrates 20 years in Cupertino

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:55 GMT

About 350 people crowded the cricket pitch adjacent to the Cupertino Library Nov. 5 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the California Cricket Academy (CCA).The event was hosted by CCA founders Hemant and Kinjal Buch, who launched the academy because they wanted their sons to enjoy the game of their childhood in India within the Silicon Valley community. In the ensuing two decades, membership has grown from 23 to over 400 in eight cities.The CCA received special recognition at the gala from the office of Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), Cupertino City Councilmember JR Fruen and academy sponsors.Kalra last month announced his intention to introduce an Assembly resolution to recognize and support the sport of cricket in California. Cricket is played all over the world, especially in South Asian countries, Commonwealth nations and the United Kingdom. It was recently announced that cricket will be played in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, one of five new sports to be inc...