Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Angel Cheng, Adam Bortolussi and Anita Bruna receive recognition from Los Gatos Youth Park president Sue LaForge. They will lead the Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade.

Ted Simonson named parade grand marshal

By Shari Kaplan

The annual Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade is already gearing up for its Dec. 6 procession, with the grand marshal and official whistle-blowers chosen and a continuous flow of entries from groups and floats that will walk, dance or roll down the parade route.

This year's grand marshal is Los Gatos High School principal Ted Simonson, who was chosen from among many community nominees by members of the Los Gatos Lions Club and the Los Gatos-Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation.

Simonson has been at LGHS for 47 years--about as long as he and his family have lived in Los Gatos. In that time, he has gotten to know--sometimes to his surprise--several generations of Los Gatans going through the school system. He is also active in the LGHS Parent-Teacher-Student Association, Community Against Substance Abuse (CASA) and the Los Gatos Lions Club.

"The school is central to a community like this, so things that go on here [at LGHS] naturally involve the community. I don't consider myself in the same league as those people who have to go way out of their way to do things for the community," Simonson said about his honor as grand marshal.

He said he feels flattered because he cares greatly for not only the community but its young people, and he hopes to help youths make something of their lives. He also acknowledges that not everyone loves him as much as he loves the community.

"In a small-town ambiance, you can't be a principal for years without making some people unhappy with you." Simonson said.

Joining Simonson are three Los Gatos teenagers, Angel Cheng, Adam Bortolussi and Anita Bruna, who will serve as official whistle-blowers in the parade. They were honored in October as Los Gatos Youth Citizens by the Los Gatos Youth Foundation and by Youth Park president Sue LaForge. Youth citizens are chosen based on their many school, civic and community activities.

Individuals, groups and clubs interested in marching in the parade or having a float still have time to pick up an entry form from the Los Gatos- Saratoga Recreation Department. The deadline is Nov. 14. For more information, call 354-8700.

The Los Gatos Christmas Foundation, which has been raising funds for the parade since 1984, welcomes contributions; all donors are recognized at the annual Christmas Cotillion, which takes place Dec. 9. Donations to the Los Gatos Christmas Foundation are tax-deductible. Call foundation president Frank Lazaneo at 356-3666 for more information.

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