National Parks and Recreation Month

July marks National Parks and Recreation month! The City of Saratoga has so much to offer, whether you decide to make it a summer of fun, fitness, or leisure. Saratoga is home to roughly 189-acres of beautiful parks and diverse hiking, running, or biking trails.

Spend a day at the picturesque Wildwood Park, watch a movie under the stars at El Quito Park, take a scenic hike at the historic Quarry Park, or explore Hakone Gardens, an 18 acre Japanese estate and popular destination for both residents and visitors. Hakone Gardens also offers free admission for Saratoga residents and their guests on the first Tuesday of every month. View a full list and find out more about Saratoga’s parks at www.saratoga.ca.us/parks

The Saratoga Recreation Department also offers several programs and activities, including classes, camps, and trips, for all ages. You still have time to register your children for summer activities where they can learn about sports, arts, STEM, and the outdoors! Sign up for recreation programs at www.saratoga.ca.us/recprograms

Additionally, the Great Getaways program organizes day trips for all ages. Upcoming trips include visits to Safari West wildlife preserve, Graton Casino, and a San Francisco Giants game! Visit www.saratoga.ca.us/trips to see the full schedule.

Meet Dutch, the New K-9 Around Town!

Saratogans may see paw-ficer Dutch, an extraordinary two-year-old Dutch Shepherd, out and about with his new paw-tner in sniffing out crime, Deputy Michael Keck.

Dutch is originally from Europe, and his physical skills, temperament, and drive to work and learn made him the top dog for his new job with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office. Dutch completed 4 weeks of “ruff” training in San Francisco, where he learned narcotics detection and patrol duties. Those patrol duties include obedience, indoor and outdoor searches, and apprehension.

Dutch now serves the West Valley Patrol Division and is also deployed for special narcotics and apprehension assignments throughout the County. On his days off, Dutch enjoys playing with toys, chasing tennis balls, and rolling around with Deputy Keck’s English Bulldog puppy and Staffordshire Terrier.

When you see this dynamic duo around town, feel free to ask Deputy Keck if it is a good time to pet Dutch! If you missed last month’s profile of Deputy Keck, you can fetch it from www.facebook.com/CityofSaratoga

Coming Up

Movie Night: CoCo
July 20, 2018
7:30 p.m.
El Quito Park
408.868.1249

Classic & Cool Car Show
July 22, 2018
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Downtown on Big Basin Way
www.sccshow.com

National Night Out
August 7, 2018
Organize an event in your neighborhood!
www.saratoga.ca.us/NNO

Nextdoor Digest

Register your National Night Out event by July 27!
Organize an event in your neighborhood to celebrate National Night out on August 7! Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Deputies will make every effort to visit your neighborhood if you register your event by Friday, July 27. Visit www.saratoga.ca.us/NNO to register and www.saratoga.ca.us/neighborhoodwatch for Neighborhood Watch information.

Visit Saratoga's Historically Significant Sites
The Saratoga Heritage Preservation Commission installed two Point of Interest markers near the corner of Saratoga Avenue and Park Place to commemorate historically significant locations in Saratoga. One marks the original site of the Blossom Festival, which was held to give thanks for rain after several years of drought. The second commemorates the Theatre of the Glade, a natural ampitheatre surrounded by redwoods behind the Saratoga Inn.

Apply for the Library Commission or Parks & Recreation Commission
Don’t miss this opportunity to serve your community! There is one available position on both Commissions, and applications for both are due by August 23. For more information on the Commissions and requirements, or to submit an application, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/comvac

Are you not a member of Nextdoor, or did you miss a post last month? Read about the recent trending topics right here! Sign up to receive updates from the City of Saratoga, other agencies, and your neighbors at www.nextdoor.com

Quick Tip from Captain Rich

Captain Rich Urena oversees the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office West Valley Division.

Be safe when barbecuing this summer. Make sure the grill is placed away from structures, eaves, or branches to prevent fires. Also, remove grease or fat buildup to keep it clean. Never leave the grill unattended, and always keep children and pets a safe distance away to avoid injuries or burns.

Keep track of crime in your area. Visit www.crimereports.com
Be notified when emergencies happen in your area. Sign up at www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc
For information on Neighborhood Watch and tips on staying safe, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/stayingsafe

Ask Our Staff featuring Babette McKay

Do you have a question? Email it to us at lpettipiece@saratoga.ca.us

Q: How can I volunteer for the City of Saratoga?

A: The City of Saratoga staff members enjoy working with youth and adult volunteers who help support a variety of City programs. Some volunteers donate time to ongoing administrative projects during business hours. Others join in one-day opportunities at events or activities that are held on evenings and weekends.

Some of the recent events volunteers were involved with include the State of the City, Safety Fair, Color Dash, Movie Nights, and the Paint the City Utility Box art project. In the fall and winter, volunteers also help to beautify and maintain Quarry Park trails or fill sandbags in preparation for winter rains.

If the City does not have an opportunity that matches your availability and interests, there are many other ways to get involved in the community. You can visit www.saratoga.ca.us/volunteer for information on opportunities with the City or www.volunteermatch.org to view opportunities with other organizations.

Babette McKay is the Human Resources (HR) Technician. She provides daily HR operations and support for City staff, including recruitment, orientation and training, personnel records, benefits administration, and employee wellness. She also coordinates the City volunteer program.

Connect with the City of Saratoga

For more updates on what's happening in the City, visit the City of Saratoga's website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, join the Nextdoor community, or sign up to receive notifications you're interested in.