Los Gatos Weekly-Times Editorials How the Glitch almost stole town's Christmas It's hard to imagine, what with the glittering display of lights along Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street, but the Glitch almost stole Christmas from Los Gatos this year. Happily, a whole cast of characters foiled the Glitch in its tracks, so this holiday season, downtown is literally aglow--although not quite as aglow as it might have been if the Glitch--well, we're getting ahead of ourselves. Beginning about 112 months ago, the Parks and Public Works Department began stringing lights on trees around town, including some trees that were too small for lights last year. And for the first time, 27 crêpe myrtles in the Town Plaza were decorated with lights. The idea for lighting the Town Plaza has been kicking around for years, but, according to Scott Baker, director of Parks and Public Works, it's then-mayor Linda Lubeck the town has to thank for spearheading the project. Lubeck, bringing the traditional Christmas goose theme into the story, says, "I was just the goose that goosed everyone." It was the annual pleas of longtime Los Gatans John Lochner and Frank Lazaneo for a fully lit Town Plaza that finally got to her and convinced her that it was time to make it happen. She appealed to the Parks and Public Works staff; the Council appropriated the money, and plans for a new, larger power panel to accommodate all the new lights were drawn up. Then everyone--including PG&E--approved the plans and the panel, and the parks staff strung the lights, and the new power panel was installed in time for the Dec. 4 tree-lighting ceremony. Then on Dec. 3, in great anticipation, everyone gathered 'round while PG&E came out to do its final inspection. That's when the Glitch reared its ugly head. The switch was thrown to light the cedar tree that has been decorated every year since 1969, but alas, the star would not light. The panel box, after all was said and done, turned out to be too small. So the Parks and Public Works staff, together with PG&E, came up with some compromises and some tradeoffs. And that is why only half the crêpe myrtles in the plaza are lit at the moment, and why the star on the cedar tree is lit, but the plaza fountain is not operating. That's not the end of the story, though. A panel large enough for the job is on the way. And that means during the summer, when thoughts have turned from winter holidays to lounging in the plaza, the new panel will offer additional power for musicians performing in the Music in the Plaza series. So to all the people in the town who cared enough to make this a sparkling holiday season--even in the face of a mean old Glitch--we say thanks. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, December 16, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.