Recently I attended my first concert (and apparently also my last) on the sprawling grounds of Coyote Ranch (tucked back behind the trees just off highway 101 near Metcalf Road). The experience was so enjoyable, with the warm evening breezes, the food and drink booths, the relaxing lawn seats and the country music of Patty Loveless, that I emailed the owners. I wanted to let them know that the community would appreciate it if they would book more such events, and that their grounds were a lovely place to experience a concert. The email I received back from them is something I would like to share with everyone in the community. Following is an email reply to me from Michelle Browning of Coyote Ranch: "Thank you so much for writing us in regards to the Patty Loveless Concert! I am glad you enjoyed it! Only one problem, ....right after we scheduled the concert we found out from the County that the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors signed a 50, yes 50, year contract with House of Blues (the ones that are taking over the fair grounds and supposedly renovating it). The contract that they signed was for House of Blues to build a concert hall, or whatever it is called, on the Fair Grounds and that the County will guarantee them a NO Competition clause so that no one in the County can compete with them for any "open to the public staged event." Pretty sweet deal, hah! We are a private business and have been operating here for more than 40 years (long before the County or House of Blues came into the picture) doing group picnic events during the days. The County purchased all of the land down to Anderson Dam when they built Hwy. 101 about 18-20 years ago. The business is still privately owned and operated by our Family, ....as are all the land improvements. Anyhow, ....we were informed that we would not be able to do any more open to the public concerts even though the concert hall at the fair won't even be built for 3 years. It seems extremely unfair and one even questions how something like that can be legal but never the less they said that no one but House of Blues can do concerts on any county grounds, parks, etc., ....until the year 2050. And to top it off the County promised to never sell ANY land to any one in the County Boundaries that will ever use the land to do public events. Feel free to contact your County Board of Supervisors if you also feel the way we do." -- Angelica