News Briefs
Friends of Libraries elects new officers
Friends of the Saratoga Libraries on May 6 elected seven new officers for its 2002-03 year.
Beginning July 1, Bill McDonnal will replace Chuck Page as president; Page will replace Jan Pemberton as vice president, community affairs; Virginia Parker will replace Tom Blaisdell as vice president, finance; Tat Blesch will remain as vice president, membership; Pemberton will replace Anne Cross as vice president, programs; Cindy Ruby will replace Ed Matlack as vice president, public relations; and Sarah Model will replace Katrina Freeman as secretary.
For more information about the Friends visit www.FSLonline.org.
City approves bid on church
The city council on May 7 approved making an offer to purchase Grace United Methodist Church on Prospect Road and submitting a check for a 3 percent deposit, which comes to $135,000.The city is one among several parties interested in the four buildings, totaling about 11,800 square feet, on the 2.6-acre lot. The city is interested in the site as a possible location for senior citizen activities, an athletics area, general city services and a community meeting space.
The church will be merging with Los Gatos United Methodist Church in June.
Saratoga permitted to demolish house
The Santa Clara County Superior Court last week granted Saratoga permission to enter property at 12623 Quito Road and take down the house suspended on stilts there.
The house is owned by Michael Costa, who is suspected of planning to grow marijuana beneath the house, and has been drawing the attention of passersby and the irritation of neighbors. It is also in violation of city planning codes, and city officials have tried, unsuccessfully, to get Costa to bring the house into compliance.
With the court's ruling, the city began finalizing a contract with Stevens Creek Quarry Construction to take down the house and fill in the excavation beneath it. The work should begin soon, take about two weeks and cost about $74,000.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
