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Negotiating the ins and outs of San Jose Jazz Summer Fest

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

Last year’s San Jose Jazz Summer Fest was arguably a victim of its own success in that so many people turned out to hear the main stage acts that the security checkpoints couldn’t get them through the gates until after the music had started.Festival organizers have taken steps to get folks settled in Plaza de Cesar Chavez for this year’s Summer Fest, taking place Aug. 11-13.“Organizers have both made infrastructure changes and are working closely with fest security on updated gate procedures to ensure a smoother, faster line process at the main gates,” says Summer Fest Operations Director Annie Hermes.Among these changes, a second VIP entrance has been added near the main stage to help alleviate main gate congestion. For everyone else, there’ll be an express line for those who forego camp chairs and come only with clear bags and small purses.Related ArticlesEntertainment | Taylor Swift breaks curfew for second night in a row at Levi’s Stadium Entertainment | ...

Westmont High School junior is a winner in Be-You-tiful contest

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

Be-You-tiful winnerWestmont High School junior Jupiter Polevoi is among the winners of this year’s Be-You-tiful contest, sponsored by the Campbell-based Eating Disorders Resource Center (EDRC). The annual contest asked Bay Area middle and high school students to share their thoughts on how social media affects body image and overall well being.In her winning video, Jupiter sings an original song about a young woman’s struggle with an eating disorder. According to the EDRC, As many as 30% of girls and 16% of boys in American high schools suffer from disordered eating.First-, second- and third-place winners in the Be-You-tiful contest’s  various categories won $300, $200 and $100, respectively.Register for Teal RunRegistration is open for the ninth annual Teal Run, a fundraiser for women and families affected by ovarian cancer. The 5k fun run/walk is set for Oct. 1, 7:30-11:30 a.m., at Campbell Park.The race is hosted by the Teal Foundation, started in 2015 to promote a sense of commu...

Denise Rocchi named new Saratoga postmaster

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

New Saratoga postmasterDenise Rocchi was sworn in July 20 as the new postmaster of the Saratoga Post Office.A 17-year postal service employee, Rocchi started her career in 2006 as an associate supervisor of customer service in Redwood City. She then served as supervisor of customer service at stations in Palo Alto and San Jose. Her latest post was as the manager of customer service at the San Jose Blossom Station.Rocchi comes from a long line of postal workers. Her grandparents, Jean and Bill Croteau, served respectively as clerk and carrier in San Jose, her mother Jeanne Rocchi was a clerk, and both her aunts also worked for the USPS, one as a supervisor and the other as a human resources principal.As the postmaster of Saratoga, Rocchi supervises 41 employees and oversees the retail services and daily distribution of 48,000 pieces of mail and packages to 11,822 delivery stops, 1,814 P.O. boxes, 22 city delivery routes and two rural routes to a community of over 30,163 residents....

Milpitas Library hosts mental health care event

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

Mental health info at libraryThe Santa Clara County Library District is partnering with the County of Santa Clara Health System, National Alliance on Mental Illness Santa Clara County, and Bay Area Legal Aid to educate and empower local residents around mental health care through a series of events taking place at district libraries. The goal is to provide crucial information about accessing mental health care services.A presentation at the Milpitas Library is set for Monday, Aug. 21, 6-7 p.m. The presentation explains how common mental health conditions are and how to recognize signs and symptoms. It’s estimated that one in five adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness. In Santa Clara County that equals about 340,000 adults.Mental health parity requires that commercial insurance plans provide the same level of coverage for mental health services as they do for physical health services. The presentation includes information on rights to mental health care, steps and resources ...

Los Gatos proposes changes for Blossom Hill safety improvements

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

Blossom Hill trafficTown officials are reassuring Los Gatos residents that the increased traffic along Blossom Hill Road won’t be permanent. In response to safety concerns for cyclists and pedestrians near Blossom Hill Elementary School, officials began implementing changes to the road—including reduced speed limits—in July. Since then, there have been some growing pains. But town staff say they are actively monitoring the traffic in the area and will address it however they can, including modifying traffic lights in the area.Parking downtownNext Thursday, Aug. 10, residents interested in the town’s downtown parking programs can attend a stakeholder meeting to discuss recent recommendations to the Town Council about paid parking and employee parking permits. The council is set to discuss the item at its Aug. 15 meeting, but business and property owners—as well as staff who work in the area—are invited to give input in one of two sessions ahead of time. The Chamber of Commerce will h...

San Jose winery named Best New Winery Experience by USA Today readers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

Shaun Coleman is clearly delighted that Alamitos Vineyards, the New Almaden winery he co-owns with Chris Maune, is tops among USA Today readers, who voted it Best New Winery Experience in the latest 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.“We are absolutely thrilled,” Coleman says. “This accolade reflects the hard work and passion that our entire team invests in creating a memorable and enjoyable experience for our visitors.”This honor came about as a result of a visit by Amber Gibson, a travel reporter for Register in the UK, who visited Alamitos about  six months ago, courtesy of Visit San Jose. Her subsequent article, combined with a mini campaign by the City of San Jose to promote #SanJosePride, helped them secure a spot on the 10Best list.“Her story stated that you don’t need to go to SF or LA,” says Coleman. “We have the Winchester Mystery House, Santana Row, La Foret and wineries right here, which is very appealing to European travelers.”He says that since the 10Best story ...

Preliminary 3.5 earthquake hits South Bay

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

(KRON) -- An early morning shaker hit the South Bay city of Morgan Hill on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey. Taylor Swift fans break VTA ridership record on Friday night in Santa Clara The earthquake hit around 6:49 a.m. around 8 miles north of Morgan Hill city center.

Verstappen wins Belgian GP to extend huge F1 lead, Red Bull teammate Perez 2nd

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Defending Formula One champion Max Verstappen emphatically won the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday for an eighth straight win and 10th overall of a crushingly dominant season.He finished 22.3 seconds ahead of teammate Sergio Perez to give Red Bull and easy 1-2. It moved Verstappen ominously closer to a third straight world title and his own F1 record of 15 wins from last year. Verstappen is 125 points ahead of Perez after just 12 races, and his next target is matching Sebastian Vettel’s F1 record of nine straight wins with a victory at the Dutch GP when the lopsided season resumes on Aug. 27.Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc finished in third spot for a third podium of the season, with Lewis Hamilton in fourth for Mercedes ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.George Russell was sixth for Mercedes, with Lando Norris (McLaren), Esteban Ocon (Alpine), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), and Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) completing the top 10.Leclerc started on...

Angels outfielder Taylor Ward placed on IL with facial fractures after being hit in head

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was placed on the 10-day injured list with facial fractures on Sunday, a day after he was hit by a 91 mph pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah.Ward was taken to a Toronto hospital after being struck in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 6-1 loss. He was released from hospital Saturday evening.To replace Ward, the Angels selected the contract of infielder Kevin Padlo from Triple-A Salt Lake.Batting with the bases loaded, Ward was hit by a 2-0 pitch from Manoah. The ball appeared to strike Ward next to his next left eye, knocking off his batting helmet.Plate umpire Andy Fletcher motioned to the Angels’ dugout for the trainer as Ward went down, blood running down his face. Angels staff rushed to the plate and held a towel to Ward’s face. After a couple of minutes, Ward got to his feet and left the field on a cart. His left eye appeared to be swollen shut.A six-year veteran who has spent his entire career with the Angels, War...

Palestinian factions meet in Egypt seeking reconciliation as violence surges in the West Bank

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:57:41 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Palestinian factions met Sunday in Egypt to discuss reconciliation efforts as violence in the occupied West Bank surged between Israel and Palestinian militants.The main groups, Hamas and Fatah, have been split since 2007 and repeated reconciliation attempts having failed, so expectations for the one-day meeting were low.Participants at the closed-door meeting gave no indication of what was discussed. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who initiated the session in the Egyptian city of el-Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea, said at its conclusion only that the meeting was a “first and significant step” in efforts to end the long-running division.It came amid soaring violence in the West Bank, where Abbas and his Fatah group are based and exert limited self-rule. Israel has been staging near-nightly raids in Palestinian areas of the territory in what it says is an attempt to stamp out militancy, especially in areas where Abbas’ security forces have less of a foothol...