Public safety contract

Saratoga will continue to contract law enforcement services with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office for the next five years, the city council decided on Oct. 7.

Due to the increased cost of services from the county sheriff and a structural deficit in the city’s budget, Saratoga considered partnering with the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department for policing. The city considered both providers on the basis of public safety service levels, long-term cost predictability and financial sustainability. City councilmembers and staff also sought  community input through public meetings, town halls and an online survey.

“We heard clearly from our residents that public safety and responsive emergency services are among their highest priorities,” said Mayor Chuck Page in a city news release. “While continuing with the sheriff’s office currently comes at a higher cost, the City Council determined that maintaining this longstanding partnership provides the level of service and continuity our community values.”

The county sheriff’s office will continue to provide law enforcement services to Saratoga, including patrols and emergency response, for the duration of the existing contract, which was signed on Aug. 19.

Mountain Winery concert

Four-time Grammy nominated pop-reggae band UB40 will be playing at Mountain Winery on Oct. 23.

This is the fifth consecutive year the British band has played in North America. Their stop at the West Valley venue is part of the U.S. leg of “The Unstoppable Tour.” The band has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and is known for the songs “Red Red Wine,” “(I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You,”  “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” and “The Way You Do The Things You Do.”

UB40 formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England as a group of young friends with working class origins. They have been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

The original band members are James Brown on drums; Robin Campbell on guitar and vocals; Earl Falconer on bass and vocals; and Norman Hassan on percussion and vocals. They will be accompanied by Martin Meredith, who plays keyboards, WX7 and saxophone; Jahred Gordon, who plays the keyboards; Laurence Perry, who plays the trumpet, flugelhorn and trombone; Ian Thompson, who plays the saxophone; Gilly G, who provides MC vocals; Matt Campbell, who provides backing vocals; and lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Doyle.

The group’s former lead singer Ali Campbell left the group in 2008 to pursue a solo career. His brother Duncan Campbell fronted the group until he retired due to illness in 2021. Doyle has acted as lead singer and guitarist for the last four major UB40 tours and performed on the band’s latest album “UB45” in 2024.