Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Park recognizes whistle-blowers

Youths were nominated by schools, churches and local service clubs

Three Los Gatos Youth Citizens will be honored for their civic and school activities at the Los Gatos Youth Park Oct. 5 by the park's board of directors. The event is part of Los Gatos Youth Park Day, which also includes demonstrations by the Los Gatos Police Department, DART, Central Fire District, Boy and Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs and other local groups.

Being recognized in the junior category is 11-year-old Jean Weber of St. Mary's School. Intermediate category honoree is Joel Key, 14, of Fisher Middle School. Anna Marie Arnaudo, a 15-year-old Los Gatos High School student, will receive recognition in the senior category.

Weber plays volleyball and basketball at school and plays both the flute and piano. She has contributed to American Girl magazine, works during the summer as a teacher's aide, babysits, and assists her grandmother, who has multiple sclerosis.

Key is active in several school activities, including student government, the school orchestra, spirit and booster committees, and environmental projects. He belongs to a community soccer team and participates in clothing and food drives for the needy.

Arnaudo is active in the LGHS Leo Club, Good Samaritan Junior Auxiliary, CASA, Special Olympics, St. Mary's Church and the Girl Scouts, in which she earned the Silver Award. She has received both academic and spirit awards at school.

Youth Citizens lead the annual Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade and serve as official whistle-blowers. They also are honored at the annual tree-lighting ceremony the night before the parade.

In addition to the three winners, the following six youths were also nominated by schools, churches and local service clubs: Katie Allan of St. Mary's School; Philip Roan, Adam Bortolussi and Chris Bartlett of Fisher Middle School; Tony Palma of Westmont High School; and Jonathan Scanlon of Bellarmine College Preparatory.

Judges in the competition included Town Manager David Knapp, Deputy Town Clerk MarLyn Rasmussen, Los Gatos Weekly-Times Editor Dale Bryant, Youth Park President Sue LaForge and Youth Park Board Co-chairman Dave Gibson.

The Los Gatos Youth Park is located behind LGHS opposite the tennis courts. Activities begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at noon. The Youth Citizen ceremony begins at 10 a.m.