First-year teacher named Los Gatos High’s Educator of the Year

There are many unsung heroes working behind the scenes to further education, among them Joanne and Joe Rodgers. Since 1992 the Rodgerses have given a nontaxable gift of $2,500 each year to the Los Gatos High School Educator of the Year. The spin is that the winning teacher is voted upon by the students and differs from the Teacher of the Year award from the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District. The winner is announced at the yearend picnic on the front lawn of LGHS.

This year’s winner is Ken Nakamoto, director of bands, who is finishing his first year at LGHS. His students say, “He’s Nakamazing!”

“For his first year, Mr. Nakamoto has gone above and beyond to make the band environment (both marching and concert) continue to thrive,” said one student.

July is Rider Appreciation Month at the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad in Oak Meadow Park. The man who started it all will be celebrated on Sunday, July 24, when riders get to name the amount of their donation for each ride on the train or the carousel. The Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad is a nonprofit organization and receives no outside funding. This popular attraction operates solely on the generosity of customers. Train and carousel hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the snack shack is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the barbecue will be cooking from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.