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News From Silicon Valley's Neighborhoods Murderer Jailed Los Gatos--Memorial services were recently held for a Los Gatos High School graduate allegedly killed by a Capitola man last year. Dennis Lee Richesin, 40, confessed to police on May 4 to killing and burying two women near a Watsonville school. On May 11, police identified one of the victims as Heather Nicole Pereira-Merchant, 25. Police said that Richesin told them he had beaten Pereira to death inside his motor home last August; Richesin then allegedly buried Pereira's body in a heavily wooded area near his place of employment, Renaissance High School. In March, Richesin allegedly did the same to 21-year-old Kelly Ann Reber of San Jose. He remains behind bars while police continue to investigate the crimes. New School Willow Glen--San Jose Unified School District officials expect nearly 300 students to attend the district's first new elementary school in nearly 25 years. Ernest Galarza Elementary School, named for a San Jose writer, educator and civil rights activist, will open August 29, and can accommodate 750 students. For more information about enrolling students, call 408.535.6430 or visit www.sjusd.k12.ca.us. Animals Spared Sunnyvale--With the June 30 deadline looming for the Humane Society to end its contract for sheltering and animal control with Santa Clara County cities, Sunnyvale is one step ahead of the game by providing its own animal control services. In recent months, Joint Powers Authority (JPA) members, with representation from each of the seven member cities, elected officers, including Sunnyvale City Councilman Fred Fowler as chairman and Debra Biggs as general manager. The JPA is in the process of looking at a site for housing its shelter. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]