It was a year that started out on a scandalous note when students were accused, and eventually expelled, for cheating at Saratoga High School, and when another student was arrested on bomb-making charges. And, sadly, it was a year when Saratoga resident Gina Loveday was killed by a motorist while trying to cross Highway 9, and when Kathleen Davey, wife of popular Saratoga High basketball coach Mike Davey, suffered cardiac arrest and slipped into a coma.

But as heartbreaking as those events may have been, 2004 was still a year for Saratogans to celebrate.

City residents came together for four popular annual events—the Rotary Art Show, Celebrate Saratoga!, Building Bridges and Treelighting Ceremonies—and Mayor Ann Waltonsmith spearheaded a successful effort to bring together the city, West Valley College and the college neighbors with an agreement to ban any stadium on the campus.

The city also began a façade improvement program to aid downtown merchants and started a shuttle service to move patrons from Big Basin Way to Villa Montalvo, encouraging shopping in the downtown.

Waltonsmith was re-elected and Aileen Kao elected to the Saratoga City Council, and Kathleen King became the new mayor with Norman Kline named the vice mayor. At the same time, voters overwhelming opposed the passage of a utility users tax.

Measure B, a library tax, failed in March, but Measure H, a bond to improve the West Valley­Mission Community College District, passed.

Dr. Kevin Skelly resigned as principal of Saratoga High; Kerri Walsh won Olympic gold and Patricia Miranda won the bronze; Hakone Gardens was featured on Home and Gardens Television; and Saratoga Elementary School celebrated its 150th birthday.

It was quite a year.

—Dick Sparrer

January

A new ad hoc committee was formed to help revitalize the downtown Saratoga Village, which had been suffering from an unstable economy and increasing competition from neighboring areas such as Los Gatos and Santana Row.

Saratoga city officials reconsidered making changes to fire protection services. The city of Saratoga was being served by two fire districts, the Santa Clara January

A new ad hoc committee was formed to help revitalize the downtown Saratoga Village, which had been suffering from an unstable economy and increasing competition from neighboring areas such as Los Gatos and Santana Row.

Saratoga city officials reconsidered making changes to fire protection services. The city of Saratoga was being served by two fire districts, the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District and the Saratoga Fire Protection District. The two groups entered a boundary drop agreement in August 2001, meaning if one fire department received a call, crews from the other department would also be notified due to a shared dispatch system.

A memorial service was held for 9-year-old Kaitlyn Langstaff, a Saratoga resident who died in December due to complications from toxic epidermal necrolysis—a form of Stevens­Johnson Syndrome. Kaitlyn contracted the disorder a year before, as the result of a severe allergic reaction to Children's Motrin. The effects of the reaction were permanent blindness, lung damage and scarring of the esophagus and mucous membranes.

An attack by a mountain lion that killed one man and injured a female biker on a Southern California trail shocked many Saratogans. It was also what some Saratoga hillside residents were afraid would happen if proper authorities didn't take immediate action against an ongoing problem of hungry coyotes lurking around residential neighborhoods.

The Walden West Foundation launched a $7 million campaign to upgrade existing facilities and build new structures at Saratoga's Walden West Outdoor School and interactive learning center, which served children from throughout Santa Clara County.

Eight Saratoga High School students were suspended for three separate incidents of cheating, but four were considered for expulsion from the school district. The incidents raised questions of academic integrity on the campus. The first problem included a group of students who used a small computer device which records keystrokes—known as a KeyKatcher—to obtain a password from a teacher's computer. Another student broke into a school computer and attempted to change a grade, while two other students took a printed test out of a classroom and made copies.

February

The Saratoga Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization of Saratoga residents and parents concerned about state funding cutbacks in Saratoga Union School District's public schools, embarked on their largest annual fundraiser—the phone-a-thon. SEF members hoped to bring in $300,000 with the help of more than 100 volunteers who made phone calls to parents and community members asking for funds.

Deputies from the Westside Sheriff's Substation arrested a 16-year-old male Saratoga High student who broke into a chemistry lab and stole chemicals intended for bomb-making. School officials also filed a temporary restraining order against the student, prohibiting him from going near campus. The juvenile was charged with counts of burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of materials with intent to bomb and obstructing an officer.

Discussions and forums were held by Saratoga High School administrators, including Principal Kevin Skelly, for students, parents, teachers and community members to address the cheating incidents that were viewed as tainting the highly-ranked school's reputation, its academic integrity and ethical conduct.

The Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District board of trustees unanimously voted to expel two students charged with violating sections of the California Education Code, related to stealing and causing damage to school property as well as disrupting school activity. The expulsion of another student was pending. The eight students from three cheating incidents were described by District Superintendent Cindy Ranii as not being "an interconnected cheating ring."

The 16-year-old Saratoga High student who was arrested on charges that included possession of bomb-making materials was released to his parents and put under "house arrest." The student was tracked by a probation officer with an electronic monitoring device, before making his first court appearance.

After 39 years in the photography business, Arthur Mintz, 79, closed his shop on Saratoga­Los Gatos Road. With his sharp eye and attention to detail, he captured countless Kodak moments in the community with just a click of the shutter.

The community rallied to support the family of Kathleen Davey, a 37-year-old mother of two and wife of Mike Davey, the Saratoga High basketball coach. Kathleen suffered cardiac arrest in late January, was immediately hospitalized and placed into a medically induced coma. While emotionally shaken, Mike said the experience was negative in terms of Kathleen's suffering, but the support they received from Saratoga residents had made the life-changing occurrence unforgettable.

Neighbors of Saratoga High held public meetings to discuss the future opening of the school's Performing Arts and Lecture Center, which was expected to seat nearly 600 people. Community members were concerned with traffic and parking impacts as well as public safety.

The Saratoga Historical Museum made plans to unveil a 400-square-foot resource room located toward the rear of the building. The room was expected to house computers and related learning materials for the public to research historical facts and figures about Saratoga. Funding for the project was made possible though generous grants from local organizations.

March

Responding to firm opposition by residents, the Saratoga Planning Commission voted unanimously against decreasing the minimum lot size of 11 residential parcels. The proposed resolution would have changed the minimum size from 40,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet and was intended to amend the city's zoning ordinance to comply with its General Plan—a requirement of state law. If the proposal had passed, seven of the lots could have been subdivided, depending on slope, environmental and other considerations.

Trustees from the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District expelled two more students in matters related to the cheating incidents at Saratoga High, putting the nearly two-month-long controversy to rest. According to Principal Kevin Skelly, one male student was expelled for violating several sections of the California Education Code, including damaging school property and disrupting school activities. He was the third student expelled out of four who were considered for expulsion; one was dismissed. The fourth student expelled, a female, was not directly linked to cheating, but was charged with engaging in habitual profanity and threatening to cause physical injury to others.

Santa Clara County ballot Measure B was expected to continue and increase funding provided by a 1994 measure. But the measure only received 60.7 percent approval, falling short of the two-thirds vote it needed to pass. Without funding from the measure, cuts to hours and purchased materials seemed inevitable at the Saratoga Library.

The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce increased its efforts to promote Saratoga businesses among residents and merchants. Saratoga business owners were losing potential revenue to retailers and service providers in San Jose and other nearby cities.

The city of Saratoga signed on to a lawsuit letting California know that "robbing Peter to pay Paul" would not be tolerated. Saratoga joined nearly 40 other cities, including Sunnyvale, Santa Cruz, Hayward and Alameda, in suing the state over legislation that takes away sales tax funds from municipalities.

Saratoga joined Monte Sereno in declaring itself free of colon cancer, becoming the second city in the nation to do so. Saratoga city council members voted unanimously to declare March "Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month" and to make Saratoga a "colon cancer-free zone."

April

Flowers, signs and balloons still marked the spot where Gina Loveday, 42, was killed in late March when she was walking her dog on Highway 9 and was struck by a car. The driver of the vehicle apparently did not see the Saratoga woman and initially did not know that he had hit her or her dog. Loveday was a resident of Saratoga, but had previously lived in Los Gatos. She was described by friends and family members as a breast cancer survivor and as an honest, caring person.

Maria Miller, a 38-year-old mother, wife and fourth-grade teacher at Foothill Elementary School in Saratoga, miraculously survived the attack of a deadly bacteria virus. Foothill teachers and parents organized meals, daycare and household cleaning services for the Miller family during Maria's recovery.

Helen and Joseph Brozda put their old yellow barn up for sale, which is one of Saratoga's oldest buildings. The rustic, three-story building, tucked away behind Harmonie Day Spa and Bella Saratoga restaurant on Big Basin Way, was once Sam Cloud's barn and had been a constant part of Saratoga's history since it was built in the 1800s.

After two recent deaths along Highway 9, government officials from Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, Saratoga and Santa Clara took formal steps to improve safety on the scenic road. They applied for a bicycle project grant through the Valley Transportation Authority to assess and possibly implement a bike lane along Highway 9.

A Saratoga-Monte Sereno Community Foundation was formed to benefit both communities, and provide funding for projects that the cities could not afford to place in their budgets. The foundation was a nongovernmental organization with a board of directors made of community members.

The Saratoga Rotary Art Show on the West Valley College campus brought in about 175 artists, 120 Rotary members and their families, and about 20,000 visitors to Saratoga. The event had provided funding for $70,000 to $100,000 worth of grants to community organizations in recent years.

Forty students were "disenrolled" from the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District because they didn't live within the district's boundaries—including about 20 students from Saratoga. The district went through an investigative process to ensure that all students listed as residents of the district actually lived in the district. Some students were found to be using improper addresses or claimed to live in the district when they actually did not.

May

The Saratoga City Council approved a façade improvement program in late April. But the program receiving mixed reactions from merchants and service providers in early May. Under the program, the city would reimburse business or property owners for 50 percent—up to $5,000—of the cost to repair or improve exterior parts of their buildings visible from Big Basin Way.

The city of Saratoga proposed cutting three full-time staff positions to balance its 2004­05 fiscal year budget. A decrease in estimated revenue and an increase in estimated expenditures led to cuts that included the proposed layoff of a city receptionist, technology coordinator and Japanese garden specialist.

Residents gawked over Saratoga and Los Gatos homes during the annual Homes of Vines and Roses Tour, sponsored by the Addison Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley. The tour featured four exquisite homes, ranging from 2,500 square feet to more than 6,000 square feet in size.

The city of Saratoga purchased the old Grace United Methodist Church property on Prospect Road in 2002, and many citizens were under the impression that the property would be used by the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council for either one or both of its senior center and adult care center operations. But since the purchase, only one of four buildings at the site was usable without spending money on upgrades, and the site's future usage was yet to be determined.

The seven-year principal of Sacred Heart School, Jane Daigle, made plans to leave the K-8 private Catholic school. Daigle took a position as principal at St. Louis the King School, a K-8 Catholic school in Glendale, Ariz. Her replacement was Arlene Bertellotti, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church since 1971.

Veterans were honored in a Memorial Day ceremony in downtown Saratoga. The ceremony started at the Memorial Arch at Blaney Plaza with a flag raising and was followed with a parade to Madronia Cemetery, the presentation of the colors, Pledge of Allegiance, patriotic musical selections and keynote speakers. More than 400 people attended the event.

Betty Peck, a longtime Saratoga resident, published her first book, Kindergarten Education: Freeing children's creative potential. Peck said the book was targeted for educators and parents, and it was Saratoga kindergarten teachers who first encouraged her to write the book.

Lisa Green, a fifth grade teacher at Saratoga Elementary School, and her mother won $10,150 in cash along with keys to their own cars on the Wheel of Fortune show themed "Mom and Me," taped in San Francisco.

NASA astronaut Dr. Janice Voss came to visit and answer questions from students at Foothill and Saratoga elementary schools. Voss' visit to the schools occurred as the result of an astronaut outreach visitation program through the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, where Voss worked.

Saratoga High School running star Alicia Follmar completed a sensational track and field season by winning the state title in the 1,600-meter run.

June

The Saratoga Fire Department made plans to mortgage out the new fire station, which was already under construction, to meet a cost overrun of $1.5 million. The new station was scheduled to be ready for use in September. The mortgage was for 25 years.

Risqué clothing trends of celebrities trickled down into the daring dressing habits and body images of high school and middle school students from Saratoga. Popular fashions included low-rise jeans, exposed pelvic areas, super-short skirts and baring skintight tops, to name a few.

The Saratoga Planning Commission approved an application for a Krispy Kreme outlet to set up a drive-through store at the corner of Prospect Road and Lawrence Expressway. Plans for a November or December opening have been delayed.

Local residents met with representatives from various city, county and state agencies and governmental bodies to discuss concerns about safety along the four-mile stretch of Highway 9 that connects Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga. Some of those representatives also shared information about completed, ongoing and planned measures to improve safety along the road. Visibility, signage, vehicle speed and the lack of adequate sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes were a few of the most common concerns.

Dr. Philip Hartley was appointed the new president of West Valley College, to begin his tenure in August. Hartley was the former executive vice president and assistant superintendent of College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita. Hartley replaced outgoing interim president Bob Jensen.

Henrietta Hen's Country Store, located in downtown Saratoga, made plans to close. The store, which specialized in country-style handmade crafts, originally started in Los Gatos in 1983 and moved to Saratoga in 1991. It had built up a loyal clientele over the years, but the owner could not afford to pay the high rent.

Ending 40 years of acrimony, the city of Saratoga, the West Valley Homeowners Association and the West Valley­Mission Community College District board of trustees reached a tentative agreement to avoid construction of an athletic stadium on the West Valley campus. The agreement—in effect for the next 30 years—was later finalized by attorneys for both the city and the district. Jack Lucas, president of the board of trustees, described the agreement as "a historic step."

July

More than 300 Saratogans attended a Fourth of July celebration at Azule Park, near Blue Hills Elementary School. It was the second year a celebration was held at the park. Frank Keffer, a staff sergeant who had just returned from serving in Iraq, attended the patriotic event.

The city put forth its plans for the De Anza trail and wanted to change the existing dust trail to a multi-use recreational and commuting trail. The VTA had expressed support for the project and pledged to provide 80 percent of the projected cost of $2 million. Some residents in the area voiced apprehension that the trail would become just another piece of asphalt.

Jason Buzi, a Saratoga resident, decided to help establish libraries and encourage disadvantaged people to read in Ghana, Africa, as part of a project called the Osu Children's Library Fund.

The summer brought a rash of burglaries, which worried both residents and the sheriff's department. Two burglars were arrested on Masson Terrace Court during a burglary attempt. Deputies advised residents to lock their doors when leaving their homes.

The city council approved a plan to place a utility users tax measure on the November ballot and gave directions to the city staff to draft a proposed ordinance. The council was acting on a recommendation made by a revenue review committee.

In an effort to attract more people to visit the Saratoga Village, the city started a free shuttle service between downtown and Villa Montalvo on concert nights. Concert participants received a free ride if they dined at a local restaurant or stayed at local inns.

Mayor Ann Waltonsmith announced she would run for the city council again. Aileen Kao, a former Saratoga Union School District board member, also decided to run for council.

The sheriff's department started citing dog owners who had their dogs off-leash. City staff said they were acting on complaints they had received from local residents.

The city completed the first phase of a signal synchronization program. All traffic lights were upgraded. The second phase envisaged a control center in city hall where signal lights could be controlled during an emergency.

Plans for a new chapel by the Serbian Orthodox Church on Allendale Avenue riled neighbors. They were worried about more people coming into their neighborhood and the safety of neighborhood children because of increased traffic.

Dr. Kevin Skelly, principal of Saratoga High, announced he was leaving to take a job as an associate superintendent at the Poway Unified School District in North San Diego County. During his tenure, Saratoga High was rated as the No. 1 comprehensive high school in California, as measured by the California Academic Performance Index. The school district started a search process to find his replacement.

Six Girl Scouts from Troop 461 in Saratoga were awarded the silver awards—the top honor girls can achieve in scouting.

Alumni of Saratoga Elementary School celebrated the school's 150th anniversary with a picnic reunion and tours of the school. Events marking the sesquicentennial celebration were scheduled throughout the upcoming academic year.

August

The city's plan to develop Kevin Moran Park ran into rough weather when residents turned up at a community meeting to protest the plan to install two soccer fields at the park. Citizens were concerned the soccer fields would lead to increased traffic and attract non-residents. The city council later decided to put the plans for the park on hold, conduct more research and include more neighborhood residents in the task force.

Andrew Barnes, chairman of the Good Government Group in Saratoga, threw in his hat into the ring for the city council election. This was the second time Barnes ran for city council.

Nathaniel Harnack , a 1999 Saratoga High graduate, became one of the youngest music composers to have a piece published. He played baritone saxophone in the school's marching band.

The city council formally adopted an ordinance to place the utility tax measure on the November ballot. If the measure passed, residents would pay a 4 percent tax on their utility bill.

Saratoga resident and beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh and her teammate won a gold medal at the Athens Olympics. Wrestler Patricia Miranda picked up a bronze. Another Saratogan at the Olympic Games was synchronized swimming coach Chris Carver. Her team earned two bronze medals.

Work at the Saratoga Retirement Community building went on at a feverish pitch so the project could be completed by the end of the year. A total of 143 new cottages and apartments were being built.

Residents in Saratoga attended a series of summer concerts at Villa Montalvo. Rita Coolidge, Judy Collins and Suzanne Vega were among the star performers in August. Concert attendees used the free shuttle service, and the city hired another bus to meet an increase in demand of the service.

Tapioca Express, a chain pearl tea shop with stores throughout California and other states, set up shop on Big Basin Way and immediately attracted a younger demographic to downtown Saratoga.

September

The city started to take applications for a façade improvement project at the Village. The project aimed to reimburse business owners who wanted to improve the exterior look of their businesses.

Dr. Richard Leakey, famous environmentalist and paleoanthropologist, came to Saratoga to speak at Villa Montalvo. He was also interviewed by a group of students from Saratoga and Los Gatos who attended Hillbrook School of Los Gatos.

The Saratoga High School football teams opened the 2004 season on its brand new synthetic surface field. The surface, funded completely by private donations, provided the Falcons with a field they could finally call their own. The Falcons lost a heartbreaker to Leigh in that first game, but defeated Pioneer a week later for their first "home" victory.

A West Nile-positive bird—a Cooper's Hawk—was found in Saratoga. At the time, 22 cases of West Nile-positive birds had been reported in Santa Clara County during the year.

The city council formally approved an agreement between the city and West Valley College ending an acrimonious relationship that dated back 30 years. In the agreement, the college gave up the right to build a stadium on its campus.

Helen Sullivan, the principal of Foothill Elementary School, stepped down from her position to pursue a career in a brokerage firm. She had been a principal at the school for eight years. An interim principal, Mary Ellen Johnson, was found to fill in for her at the start of the school year.

The sheriff's station announced that the West Valley Substation located near the Village would move to Cupertino by the end of the year. The existing station no longer met the requirements and demands of the department.

Friends of Saratoga Dogs was formed by local citizens to ensure more rights for dogs. The group was formed as a reaction to the city ticketing dog owners with unleashed dogs. The aim of the organization was to ensure that dogs had a place where they could play every day for a few hours.

The Saratoga Fire Department moved into a sparkling new fire station after years of controversy and months of construction. At 13,000 square feet, the fire station had double the area of its predecessor.

A stranger forced his way into a residence near Quito Road and severely beat up a man in his late 60s. No motive was attributed to the crime but it turned out later that the intruder, Russel Krongard, had a history of violent behavior. He was charged with two counts of attempted homicide.

The annual Celebrate Saratoga! event attracted 30,000 revelers downtown. The Heartbeats, a band impersonating groups such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Tom Jones, was a big draw.

At a special city council meeting, members decided the fate of their colleague Stan Bogosian, who had been absent for two consecutive council meetings. Councilman Nick Streit and Vice Mayor Kathleen King voted against the motion to authorize Bogosian's absence. In the end, he scraped through by a 3-2 margin.

October

The Saratoga Library announced it would remain closed on Mondays. The closure was the result of budget cuts and affected all libraries in the Santa Clara County Library system.

The three candidates for the city council election—Ann Waltonsmith, Aileen Kao and Andy Barnes—squared off at an election debate at the Saratoga Library. Waltonsmith and Kao relentlessly defended the proposed utility tax measure while Barnes opposed it. He suggested the sale of North Campus as a way to tide over the city's financial woes.

At a council meeting, petitions signed by the supporters of Friends of Kevin Moran Park and the Friends of Saratoga Dogs were handed over to the city. One petition asked for no soccer fields at Kevin Moran Park, while the other requested dog hours at a local park.

San Jose's new animal care shelter started operating and accepting animals from San Jose, Cupertino, Los Gatos and Saratoga. The $18 million project included courtyards, cat socialization rooms, classrooms, a pet supply store, kitchens and a medical clinic.

Neighbors of the Southwest YMCA complained that the Y had been a "bad neighbor." They had a laundry list of complaints ranging from incomplete landscaping around the YMCA building to illegal parking issues.

In another election debate, proponents and opponents of Measure H bond—supporting the West Valley­Mission Community College District— crossed swords. District authorities said the bond was essential because the facilities at both colleges needed to be updated.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Saratoga held a special Blessing of the Animals service. Dogs, cats, horses and other assorted animals were blessed by priests.

Building Bridges, a festival that celebrates diversity in the community, was held for the second year. Scores of people came to take in the sights and sounds of cultures that make up the ethnic tapestry in the area.

Saratoga resident Brad Schmidt competed in the Ironman World Championship triathlon in Kona, Hawaii. A total of 1,797 athletes from 48 countries participated in the event.

A Jamba Juice store in the Argonaut Shopping Center was robbed at gunpoint.

November

Charles Melvin Turner, a Saratoga resident, was arrested by deputies after they found Turner fleeced seven Saratoga residents to the tune of at least $3 million. Authorities said Turner operated a tree-trimming business and used it as a front to become acquainted with the elderly.

Home & Garden Television featured Hakone Gardens on its channel through the month. Hakone was one of 12 sites chosen to be on a HGTV public affairs campaign called Restore America: A Salute to Preservation.

The girls field hockey team at Saratoga High School completed a sensational fall season by tying for the Central Coast Section championship.

John Kolstad, a Saratoga resident who owns a bell-manufacturing company, started a project with Caltrans to install bells on El Camino Real. As part of the project, bells were installed along El Camino Real all the way from Southern California to Northern California. Many of the original bells, installed in 1906, had been stolen or removed during road reconstruction and never been replaced.

After a contentious election season, Ann Waltonsmith and Aileen Kao won the race for the Saratoga City Council, with Andrew Barnes losing by a narrow margin. The utility tax measure failed, with 80 percent of voters against it.

In the Saratoga Union School District election, incumbent Cindy Ruby and community volunteer Shinku Sharma were elected to office. In the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District, Rosemary Rossi and incumbent Lorrie Wernick won a tight contest. Measure H, the bond measure to benefit the West Valley­Mission Community College District, passed comfortably.

Three squads from West Valley Pop Warner Cheer qualified to compete in the regional finals in Reno, Nev., which were held over Thanksgiving weekend. One squad made it to the national finals.

Saratoga resident Elizabeth Belsito, the star of many silent movies in the 1920s, celebrated her 100th birthday.

Sixty-five Saratoga Sister City members traveled to Muko, Japan, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ties between Muko and Saratoga. Mayor Ann Waltonsmith was among the dignitaries.

Native American artifacts dating back 6,400 years went on display at the Saratoga Historical Museum. They were originally found near Sixth Street and Big Basin Way.

Alex Tennant was elected the new chairman of the Saratoga Finance Commission. He promised a frugal budget in the next financial year.

The city's fourth annual tree lighting ceremony was held at the Blaney Plaza. This was followed by an open house organized by the Village merchants and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce.

Patrick James, the men's clothing store on Big Basin Way, announced it would close the Saratoga store by January 2005. The shop did business in the city for four years before deciding to leave.

The city scrambled to pass an interim urgency ordinance at a special meeting. Council members voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance and amend the Saratoga Municipal Code so a loophole in the city's building laws could be plugged.

It was quite a year for Alicia Follmar of Saratoga High School. The senior, who had run to a state title in the spring of her junior year in track, was the state cross country champion in girls Division III competition. She had won league and Central Coast Section titles before winning the state honor.

December

Administrators at Saratoga High decided they would not be able to continue to support the Saratoga farmers market on the school grounds beyond the middle of 2005. School officials cited overcrowding as the main reason for not allowing the market to continue.

Kathleen King was sworn in as the new mayor of the city, and Norman Kline became the new vice mayor. Aileen Kao was also sworn in as a council member and in the process she became the first Chinese American to be part of the Saratoga City Council. Councilman Stan Bogosian ended a eight-year run on the council with an emotional farewell speech.

A Krispy Kreme outlet scheduled to open in Saratoga by the end of the year was delayed. Company officials said they expected a February or March opening.

Crime statistics for the year, released by the sheriff's department, demonstrated an upward trend in some categories. Auto burglaries and grand thefts were two categories that showed an increase.

Nancy Ondrejka was hired as the new principal of Foothill Elementary School. She had previously served as principal at Capitola Elementary School in the Soquel Union Elementary School District. She replaced interim principal Mary Ellen Johnson.

The management of Hakone Gardens announced Sony Pictures would film a major motion picture—Memoirs of a Geisha—at the gardens in January. The film will be directed by Rob Marshall, the Oscar-winning director of Chicago. The marquee stars in the movie include Gong Li, Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh and Ken Watanabe.