By Larry Sacks

 

Santa Clara’s Civic Center Plaza is the host to the workings of our City government.  City Hall and the City Council Chambers are two of the more prominent features.  The reflecting pool and fountain adorns the plaza, yet many people walk past it without giving it much of a glance or reflecting on its presence.  The sound of the water provides a calming influence on the area, but on Saturday morning, the reflecting pool took on a completely different meaning and purpose. 

 

As early as 6:05 a.m., people were lining up for their chance to get to the reflecting pool.  But not for a chance to reflect or enjoy the pool for the idyllic feelings it evokes.  Excitement and anticipation could be felt in the air as the crowd grew.   Children ranging in age from 3 to 11 were getting out of bed extra early – earlier than some cartoons even – for the chance to try their hand at fishing at the Annual Fishing Derby. 

 

Before the event even starts, sixty 300 pound blocks of ice are put into the fountain to bring the temperature down to the chilly 55 degree range.  Once that level is achieved, 1,250 Rainbow Trout are released into the fountain.   Starting at 6:30 a.m. and continuing until 11 a.m., these fish were available to be caught by the young anglers present for as many times as they wanted to get back in line and try their hand at fishing again. 

 

Over 30 volunteers help put the event on and make it the success it is and has become known to be.  The Santa Clara Kiwanis Club, Santa Clara Elks Club, Santa Clara Lions Club, Mission City Community Fund and Santa Clara Parks & Recreation Department help put on the event and their volunteers were there in force to do everything from bait the hooks to hand out prizes awarded for the next fish caught.  Even the Explorer Scouts, who are normally there to help handle the crowd got into the act by removing the hooks from the caught fish and placing them into water-filled plastic bags so the freshly caught fish can be taken home. 

 

With the event due to start at 6:30 a.m., the crowd starting building long before then.  At 6:15 a.m., they started to become restless and chants of “OPEN!  OPEN!  OPEN!” and “FISH!  FISH!  FISH!” broke the pre-dawn quiet.  These people were here to fish, lured on by the attraction of the fun times to be had.  Sunnyvale residents, Jeffrey (5) and his sister, Jillian (8), were both returning for their fifth straight year.  Neighbor Megan (10), the “Lizard Catcher” was there with them for her first time after hearing about all the fun she’s missed out on having.  The event has even attracted people from as far away as San Bruno and Gilroy.  Brothers Brady (7) and Ryan (5) have both been fishing before and returned for their second straight year of fun and fishing. 

By the time the event wound down and the last child had caught his or her fish, the remaining fish were taken by the Santa Clara Kiwanis Club members to Heart of the Valley Baptist Church for their food program, Operation Share, with the Kiwanis Club members cleaning the fish.   Based on the smiles, excited voices and fast walking of children desperately trying not to run, the event was yet another success.