Los Gatan April 8, 2026

RESIDENTS URGED TOWN TO KEEP CURRENT MOSQUE SITE ZONED FOR WORSHIP

Neighbors fought to kill a 10-17-unit singlefamily subdivision, opening door to Islamic Center

Drew Penner, Editor

Last week, when Planning Commission held a second hearing for the West Valley Muslim Association’s efforts to extend their mosque’s hours of operation to better align with official prayer times, neighbors brought up noise and traffic concerns, and urged the decision-makers to claim the project could harm the environment, in contradiction of staff’s findings.

The Los Gatos Islamic Center at 16769 Farley Rd. is a Sunni facility which used to be a Jehovah’s Witness church, but welcomes people of other branches of the faith—as well as the public, such as during community iftars

Proponents on both sides of the debate have been careful to make considered arguments. Listening to the statements from the record number of participants, one would scarcely know a joint American-Israeli operation had assassinated the top Shia leader in Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, days earlier.

Based on the March 31 special hearing alone, you wouldn’t have been able to predict that just a few days later—and on Easter Sunday no less—the commander-in-chief of the United States, Donald Trump, would post, “Praise be to Allah”

WILDCATS SLIDE INTO SPRING BREAK WITH 14-1 RECORD

Softball team firing on all cylinders in fast start

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

When a softball team spots an opponent three runs in the first inning—as was the case when Los Gatos High School fell behind 3-0 against Wilcox in a SCVAL De Anza Division game April 3—it’s usually a cause for concern.

Not so for the Wildcats, who

have the offensive firepower to put together a big inning on a moment’s notice. And that’s exactly what happened in a 13-5 victory over the Chargers. Los Gatos scored four runs in the top of the third inning, seven runs in the fifth and added two more in the sixth to win going away. The next day, Los Gatos won the gold division of its own tournament, knocking off Santa Teresa 16-2 in the championship contest.

In the semifinals, the Wildcats beat Homestead 7-2, a team they will play two more times in league action. That Los Gatos sports a 14-1 record entering spring break is even more impressive when you consider the fact it only has an 11-player roster. Three projected starters were lost before the season even began, thinning the numbers.

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VOL.5 NO.32

Dan Pulcrano

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TO THE EDITOR

Article about the mosque hearing was not balanced

I am writing to express my disappointment regarding Drew Penner’s recent article about the West Valley Muslim Association’s CUP modification application.

As a writer for 35 years, I understand that a journalist's cardinal rule is to represent all sides of a story to ensure unbiased reporting. Despite a petition signed by over 70 neighbors asking the Town to deny the modification, the article included only three lines to convey our perspective.

This is the second instance in which Mr. Penner cherry-picked material to suit a specific narrative on this subject. There are also significant factual omissions. The article quotes WVMA founder Razi Mohiuddin, who states that the only change since the previous property owner is the applicant's religion.

In reality, the neighborhood experiences daily disruptions from light and noise pollution, to ongoing code violations, and, most concerning, unsafe streets. There's a reason Los Gatos Planning Commissioner Rob Stump called Farley Road “a disaster waiting to happen from a public safety standpoint.”

I urge your publication to practice more rigorous fact-checking and provide the balanced coverage this community issue deserves.

Kim Ratcliff Los Gatos

Where was the coverage of the No Kings protest?

I was disappointed that your April 1-7 issue had no coverage of the March 28 No Kings rally on Los Gatos Boulevard. There was a mention in the story “Luminaries of Los Gatos…” that stated: “Mayor Rob Moore had just arrived from a ‘No Kings’ protest across town,” but that was it.

I drove past the Tesla dealership before the official start of the protest and there were already dozens of people there, with more pouring in from the side streets and walking down the boulevard.

Please explain why a local event of this importance and magnitude wasn't featured in our only truly local newspaper.

Mary Martin —via email

JAMI CASSADY, 1950-2026

Los Gatos has a deep literary legacy stretching from Jack London and Ambrose Bierce to John Steinbeck. The thread took an even more curious twist when, in the early 1950s, Southern Pacific brakeman Neal Cassady bought a home in then-unincorporated Monte Sereno with money from a settled railroad injury.

Cassady’s East Coast friends included poet Allen Ginsberg and author Jack Kerouac, who, during visits here, hung his lantern from a tree in the backyard to journal at night. The literary nexus epicentered along Highway 9 in the 50s and 60s ties directly to the ascendance of the Beat Generation and the psychedelic counterculture that followed—and morphed into the innovation culture of Silicon Valley.

Carolyn had been an ambivalent steward of Neal’s legacy, because in the pre-feminist days, raising a family with a non-traditional husband was painful and challenging. The task fell to Jami, the keeper of the Cassady legacy after Carolyn died in 2013.

Neal had been known as a literary muse to Ginsberg and Kerouac, and later Ken Kesey and the Grateful Dead—when he drove the Further bus (chronicled in Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test). Both the Dead and the Doobie Brothers have songs dedicated to Neal Cassady.

raised in Los Gatos as the middle child of Neal and Carolyn Cassady. She carried forward the creative and intellectual curiosity instilled by her parents, who gave her unlimited access to the arts, philosophy, spirituality, literature, dance and painting throughout her life.

BY D AN PULCRANO

Carolyn and Neal Cassady raised their three children here: Cathy, Jami and John. Neal died in Mexico in 1968. John played in bands and worked for Los Gatos-based optical character recognition pioneer Caere Corp. Carolyn sold the home in the 90s and moved to England.

It was Jami Cassady who ultimately completed the narrative. She displayed her mother’s oil paintings at restaurants in Santa Cruz and galleries in the East Bay. She uncovered and published the Joan Anderson letter, which established Neal Cassady as a literary force in his own right.

Celebrating the life of Jami Cassady Ratto

Saturday, Apr 11, 12pm.

Vasona Lake County Park, 333 Blossom Hill Rd. Creekside Site, Los Gatos, CA, 95032.

Melany Jane “Jami” Cassady Ratto passed away Jan. 16, leaving behind a life defined by devotion to family, service to others and a deep commitment to art, culture and legacy.

Born in San Francisco, Melany was

On Feb. 8, 1975, Melany married the love of her life, Randy Ratto, on what would have been her father’s birthday. Together they shared 40 years of marriage, building a life rooted in partnership, curiosity and shared purpose. She was a devoted mother to her daughter, Rebecca Elizabeth, and a proud grandmother to Bradley, Elizabeth and Elliott.

Melany dedicated 45 years to a career in dentistry, retiring in January 2015. Her professional life was marked by care, precision and a genuine concern for the well-being of others.

In later years, Melany and Randy lived in a beautiful coastal village in Northern California. For more than 15 years, they studied the Beat legacy and committed themselves to preserving and advancing the Beat inspiration of the Cassady Estate. In November, she curated an exhibition of her mother’s paintings. Melany considered this work a blessing and a responsibility, honoring a remarkable cultural legacy with passion and humility.

She is survived by her husband, Randy Ratto, her daughter and grandchildren and her siblings, older sister Cathy and younger brother John, as well as the extended Cassady family to whom she felt a deep and enduring connection.

Jami Cassady Ratto will be remembered for her warmth, intellectual curiosity, devotion to family and her lifelong reverence for creativity and expression.

4.6 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE REVERBERATES ACROSS REGION

Light-to-moderate shaking was felt up and down the peninsula

Drew Penner, Editor

The 4.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the San Lorenzo Valley, early Thursday morning, a little under a mile southeast of Boulder Creek, brought 24-year-old Ben Lomond resident Sherlyn Alvarez’s mind back to the disastrous 2017 earthquake in Mexico City, where she used to live. In that natural disaster, she remembered, lots of people died.

Because, even though the fault movement near her Santa Cruz County mountain home around 1:30am was technically less severe, in some ways it was more intense.

“This one freaked me out,” she said. “The house shook more.”

The earthquake dislodged drawers in her second-floor room, and sent a bunch of her younger sister’s perfume bottles tumbling.

When Alvarez got to work, the cook reported nothing was out of place in the kitchen.

Felton resident David Hofvendahl, 64, happened to be awake at the time of the earthquake—which he estimated lasted at least six seconds.

“There’s absolutely nothing you can do,” he said. “It was kind of fascinating.”

He was worried it might be the fir tree that towers over his home, swaying dangerously.

Hofvendahl’s ex-wife was the first to call.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He assured her he was. Within hours, he’d hear from concerned contacts from around the country.

A terrifying quake was on the itinerary for the third day of vacation here for Trent Morrison, 27, and his wife.

“We’re staying in a tiny mini-house,” the Michigan resident said of the quaint

ARTIST JAMES ONG’S CALIFORNIAN DREAMS COME TRUE

Local artist’s work inspires, challenges perspectives

Amanda Senior, Contributor

Designed with Japanese aesthetics, Iwasawa Oriental Art is an immersive experience. Taking center stage, a tatami mat is set with tea ceremony utensils. Curated antiques, some several centuries old, are displayed throughout in glass cabinets.

One wall features an impressive collection of abstract paintings by artist, James Ong. Blending antiques and contemporary art is a little unusual, yet with proprietor Kumiko Iwasawa’s discerning eye and artistic flair, the two meld seamlessly.

Ong grew up in the US, after immigrating from Taiwan as a young child. For decades, he worked as an engineer while dreaming of being an artist. Tiring of the tech grind, Ong decided to paint his own path. He traded engineering for art.

“When I was starting out, it shocked

me that people wanted to buy my paintings,” he said. “It's always good to meet the buyers and ask them why they buy it, and why it affects them. I’m grateful to Kumiko and her belief in me, for the opportunity to show my art.”

Perched at the entrance is a wooden fukurou—an owl good luck charm— warding off misfortune and hardship.

Judging by the success of the current abstract installation, “California Dreams,” I'd say the fukurou is a keeper.

Ong’s work is influenced by Zen Buddhism, as well as Japanese art and design.

“Creating art is a form of meditation. When I’m painting, nothing else is on my mind. The world goes away,” he said. “I'm focused on what I feel when I see the colors on the surface. Sometimes they end up dark. There’s a story coming out.”

Like any artist, Ong has his preferences, painting with Golden brand acrylic, and Holbein Acrylic Gouache.

“I’ve mainly used acrylic so I can build layers,” he said. “If I wait for it to dry, that

sive resume across the Bay. And he hasn’t stopped there. His work has been featured in galleries in Colorado and Arizona.

In addition, Imagery Estate Winery & Art Gallery, located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, commissioned him to create a label for their 2021 Upper Ridge Vineyard Tempranillo. Priced at $58 per bottle, it’s an affordable piece of art for a small scale space. And local restaurant Chez Philippe has installed five art pieces, so guests can get a taste of Ong’s work while enjoying French cuisine.

Having attained his own dream, Ong now encourages others to pursue theirs. To seize the moment.

“We can plan for the future, we can regret the past, but life is happening right now,” he said. “I hope my paintings have people take a moment to slow down, make their own art.”

moment is gone; it changes the field.”

Iwasawa’s art piece of the month, “California Dreaming” features a layered kaleidoscope of neon color, reminiscent of a serene sunset.

“When I finished this piece, I saw surfers. It’s a California dream. Bright sunny days relaxing on a beach overlooking blue waters,” he said, gesturing at his painting.

Ong is a modest man, so Iwasawa chimed in, “It’s impossible not to feel happy when looking at this piece.”

Iwasawa removes “Rainbow Eucalyptus Dreams” from the wall, demonstrating how Ong’s work can be displayed horizontally or vertically.

I’m secretly relieved by the principle, given that I admittedly hung a decorative pinboard in my living room without a clue as to which way was up or down.

“My daughters bought my first pieces,”Ong said. “They still have the paintings, and they're still some of my favorites.”

It wasn’t long until other art enthusiasts caught on. Ong has built an impres-

Ong measures success by creating his paintings on his own terms. In the future, he’d like to add 3D objects to his work, such as construction toys and wooden blocks in interactive installations. Ong has plenty of wisdom to impart to aspiring artists.

“You have to learn to trust yourself and develop a sense and sensibility,” he said. “Don’t compare yourself to others. Each person is on their own path. Measure your progress with your older artworks. Keep learning, experimenting, observing. Paint for yourself, focus on the process… the end result will surprise you…in a good way…hopefully.”

So, how should one choose art?

“I think art chooses the person,” he said. “When it grabs you, it makes you experience something. That's the influence that art has on you, reminding you of a place or childhood.”

Before leaving, I took a moment to meditate over Ong’s piece, “Journey to Nirvana.” I saw gold capped-mountains—hard work paid off. In the distance, a steeper range rises, yet to be conquered. And for Ong, it seems the only way is up.

VICE CHAIR COMMENDS MUSLIM COMMUNITY, NEIGHBORS FOR CIVILITY

Mosque, from page 1

in a mocking fashion on social media. Or that he’d vow residents over there would be “living in Hell” if the Strait of Hormuz wasn’t reopened by yesterday.

Indeed, supporters of those who live in the upscale single-family-home neighborhood where the local mosque is situated took great pains—almost to a person—to stress their concerns have nothing to do with religion.

But several comments on the Los Gatan’s Facebook post of last week’s article about prominent Jewish community members speaking for the conditional use permit modification were less civil. User Marvin Humphrey posted a meme of a transparent beaker suggesting Islam is incompatible with American values: with "ISLAM" the yellowish oil at the top, and "WESTERN CIVILIZATION" the much larger, clear liquid below that. Another Facebooker, Linda E Lopez, whose location is set as San Jose, wrote, “No more mosques, no more Muslims.” Other comments were removed or hidden because they were even more toxic.

On the other side of things, designer Sydnee Elocin accused the neighbors of making a “classic NIMBY” case, for stating they aren’t against a mosque in Los Gatos—they just don’t want to have to deal with the traffic and noise it’s brought.

No one mentioned during either hearing that WVMA could’ve proposed a byright high-density housing project with at least some units for lower-income individuals, during the period Los Gatos

was out of compliance with State housing laws, but didn’t.

Ironically, it was apparently anti-development attitudes in the neighborhood that helped open the door to the mosque in the first place.

On March 6, 2018, Peter H. Benson, a Farley Road resident, wrote to Jocelyn Shoopman at the Town of Los Gatos, to oppose a single-family home development pitched for the site.

“We and many neighbors want to keep the lot zone for a church. Any increase in homes in that area will only add to traffic congestion and noise pollution during construction,” he wrote. “Knock on any door and you will know that all our neighbors share in this hope.”

Kim Ratcliff also emailed Shoopman to fight against the up-to 17-home proposal—and specifically for keeping the location a place of worship.

“We already have a ton of traffic on Farley Road from Jack in the Box and Affordable Treasures,” she wrote. “Distracted speedsters race up and down the street making it dangerous to walk our dog or children to ride bikes and scooters. No sidewalks exacerbates the problem. A large scale development project will add more traffic to our neighborhood both during the building phase and afterward with an influx of new residents.”

Al Honorio & Kristi Branch derided the idea that the Jehovah’s Witness organization could get to “profit” from a development that “could negatively

impact our safety, our financial investment, and our neighborhood tranquility,” in another email.

Other neighbors shared similar concerns.

The submission from Hunt Hale Jones Architects for the 2.76-acre site promised to hew to existing Town guidelines—which would be a welcome change for many local residents, who, these days, are used to developers seeking density bonuses and invoking the Builder’s Remedy to go far beyond what would normally be allowed.

According to minutes for the March 14, 2018 Conceptual Development Advisory Committee meeting, a variety of public comments about a potential residential development for the Jehovah’s Witness site were considered, including that the developer be urged to go with larger lot sizes for the subdivision.

The CDAC, which issues non-binding feedback, said it would be more supportive of a maximum of 10 lots, of at least 8,000 square feet each. But, aligning with the residents, the body declined to encourage a church sale.

“It is recommended to continue talks with neighbors,” the minutes read. “With two-story homes, privacy could be a huge problem.”

The neighbors got their way, as the residential development was scrapped.

Less than two years later—at the outset of the pandemic on March 11, 2020— Planning Commissioner Jeffrey Barnett made the motion to modify the original Jehovah’s Witness CUP to allow the

West Valley Muslim Association to operate there, with current Council member Matthew Hudes seconding it. The minutes record no opposition, and only two public commenters (including a representative for the mosque).

WVMA Community Outreach Director Kareem Syed said that they’d expect just a handful of cars leaving towards the 11pm cutoff—but did point to things being somewhat different for the month of Ramadan. Planning Commission unanimously approved the change, including that hours of operation “shall not begin prior to one and a half hours before sunrise or extend past 10:30 p.m., seven days a week to accommodate indoor, morning and nighttime prayer services; and / During the 30-day month of Ramadan, indoor nighttime prayer services shall not extend past 11:30 p.m. whenever sunset is prior to 7:30 p.m., or until 12:00 a.m. whenever sunset is after 7:30 p.m.”

The second Planning Commission hearing

So many people showed up to the special Planning Commission session on March 31, that some—including female attendees wearing head-coverings—sat on chairs set out in the Council Chambers foyer. At least one woman at the meeting wore a veil that left just her eyes exposed.

One of the neighbors who provided public comment, Bill Hoeft, spoke of the stream of vehicles to-and-from from the mosque as like a “water-drip torture treatment.”

“It’s light after light, after light,” he said,

adding he worries things could get worse, as mosque attendance continues to grow. “Is it going to double, triple, quadruple?”

Another resident characterized the house of worship as “a permanent disclosable nuisance onto our property records” and asked for another noise study that might better capture the decibel level at peak transit times.

Noise-measurement company Salter, Inc. conducted three long-term ambient noise surveys between Jan. 31 and Feb. 11.

The highest reading clocked while the congregation was leaving an event was on Friday, Feb. 7, when the sound rose to 53 decibels (dBA) at one location. The weekday ambient noise level at a time when no WVMA event was happening rose to 55 dBA, between 8 and 9pm, at the same reading point. The noise level for congregant arrivals, between 9 and 10am, was 56 dBA, at Farley Road— compared to ambient noise readings of up-to 64 dBA between 9 and 10am, when no WVMA event was happening.

This is well below the non-commercial vehicle noise limit in California’s Vehicle Code of 95 dBA—and even within the Town zoning maximums (of 61 dBA

on weekdays in the morning, and 65 dBA until 10pm—and 54 dBA on weekday overnights).

“Our measurements and analysis indicate that the requested extended use hours would not violate the Town's applicable noise standards,” read a letter from the consultant. “Additionally, measured event arrival and departure activity did not noticeably increase noise levels above ambient.”

But residents say the study should’ve been conducted during peak times, such as during the month of Ramadan.

Greg Slack said it would be unfair to allow extra hours for the mosque, since a Burger King development he’d worked on in the area was denied due to the impact it would’ve had on the neighborhood.

Scott Hepworth, a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints, signed a letter alongside other faith leaders in support of WVMA’s application.

“My main message is to thank everyone here—these wonderful Muslims, and these wonderful neighbors,” he said, when it was his turn at the podium, adding he knew it would be a difficult decision for commissioners. “Congratulations on your assignment.”

expansion of use,” he said, adding noise levels may even drop, since mosque attendees will be able to disperse over a longer period of time. “And the number of trips doesn’t go up either.”

The Town Engineer said the road is in such good condition—including boasting plenty of extra space for pedestrians—that it’s pretty far down the priority list of capital upgrades, to, say, add a sidewalk.

“My opinion is, I don’t think there’s an unsafe situation out there,” he said.

But Commissioner Rob Stump said he was caught off-guard by an apparent Muslim pedestrian while driving to the site recently.

“I didn’t want to become a statistic,” he said, adding he thought it might be a good idea for fire officials to inspect the facility in order to reevaluate the 1,217-capacity limit.

Vice Chair Barnett said he’s never seen a controversial matter like this where the parties were as polite.

“And in my six years, it’s the most difficult decision,” he said.

Barnett made a motion to approve a draft resolution to allow an extension of hours, but included a number of conditions, including for increased police patrols and an electronic speed sign during Ramadan, and that the mosque complete a parking lot improvement within a year, as well as granting the right to build a taller-than-normal fence.

But under the new system of government that the Town Council recently adopted, up to three motions are allowed on the floor at once.

So, Commissioner Rob Stump jumped in before Barnett’s motion could find a second and poured cold water on what had looked, seconds earlier, like a considered compromise.

During an intermission, a good chunk of the audience went to the roof of the structure, next to a fountain that was not running, removed their footwear, turned towards the Adult Recreation Center and performed the Maghrib prayer—men in front, women behind—on a tarp that had been spread out.

Dueling legal opinions were provided that evening.

Erica Hagelberg, of Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel, ran through examples of court cases she said show the Town needs to do a better job of assessing the environmental impacts of the mosque (for example, Spirit of Aloha Temple v. County of Maui; New Harvest Christian Fellowship v. City of Salinas; Sunflower Alliance v. Cal. Dept. of Conservation).

But a lawyer for the Islamic Center said some of the case law cited by Hagelberg—specifically Sunflower Alliance v. Cal. Dept. of Conservation— makes his point better than hers, since a California appeals court found minor alterations to a project would not trigger a California Environmental Quality Act review.

“The fundamental point is there’s no

He proposed delaying a final decision so the Muslim group and the neighbors could enter formal negotiation at the mosque’s expense.

“We’re concerned that this just creates more tension for our community—and uncertainty for our community,” said WVMA founder Razi Mohiuddin, though he said they’d be open to the idea “reluctantly”—if they could split the cost of a (likely expensive) mediator who understands the Islamic perspective and relevant legal frameworks.

The neighbors huddled to discuss this option, but didn’t want to commit right away, without knowing the price tag.

In the end it was a third motion that won the day—to continue the hearing to give the parties time to explore the possibility of mediation.

“We had asked them to really delay the vote, because we wanted to get more testing,” Kim Ratcliff told the Los Gatan afterwards, suggesting if the parties can sort out their differences it could serve as a playbook for the rest of the country. “We want to be the first neighborsand-mosque that can come to a mutually-beneficial resolution.”

POLICE BLOTTER

MARCH 29

• Someone reportedly stole a rear license plate on Cherryston Drive. The theft occurred after 6:00pm on March 28, but was reported on March 29 at 9:30am.

• Someone reportedly walked into the caller’s garage and stole an e-bike on Winterbrook Road at 6:03pm.

• A subject reportedly stole a golf cart from Los Gatos High School on High School Court at 9:29pm.

MARCH 30

• Two juveniles reportedly ran into 7-11 on North Santa Cruz Avenue and stole alcohol at 12:56am.

• A homeless subject was reportedly drunk in public and harassing passersby on the sidewalk at Chevron on Los Gatos Saratoga Road at 12:03pm.

• A man and woman were reportedly searching under a front doormat for a key at a home on Drakes Bay Avenue and checking the front of the house, including the garage and keypad, at 3:22pm.

• A caller reported feeling dizzy and hitting their head after being involved in a vehicle accident at Lark Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard at 4:12pm.

MARCH 31

• Officers issued a cite and release arrest for a subject drinking alcohol since the morning outside of T Birds Pizza on North Santa Cruz Avenue at 4:54pm.

• A caller reported a suspicious person who returned to stare from their van at dancers in the studio on Los Gatos Boulevard, but later canceled the call at 6:25pm.

APRIL 1

• A subject was caught on camera rifling through the caller’s backpack, taking face wipes, a step counter and a pair of socks at The Terraces of Los Gatos on Blossom Hill Road at 10:42am.

• Three men stole eight batteries from the shelf in O'Reilly Auto Parts on Los Gatos Boulevard and left at 1:07pm.

APRIL 2

GUEST VIEW

The civic union breakdown

Rocky marriages and urban planning actually have more in common than you might think

• A caller reported their jacket and keys were taken at Number One Broadwalk on South Santa Cruz Avenue at 12:26am.

• An older man reportedly urinated in front of Calvary Baptist Church on Los Gatos Boulevard at 9:41am.

• Someone broke the caller’s vehicle window and stole a laptop and tax files at Hercules Draft House & Cantina on Los Gatos Saratoga Road at 10:46am.

• Two subjects stole $1,274.60 worth of personal care products from Safeway on North Santa Cruz Avenue. The theft occurred the previous night, but was reported at 11:43am.

• Individuals reported a male subject holding a sharp metal object in his hand on North Creek Trail to a county ranger at 5:26pm.

• A man reportedly attempted to steal hundreds of dollars’ worth of meat from Safeway on Pollard Road at 5:41pm.

APRIL 3

• A man was reported lying down in the reporting party’s backyard at Mountain Laurel Lane, while the caller wasn’t home at 4:25pm.

• A teenager was in a go-kart speeding up and down Anne Way and Union Avenue at 4:33pm.

• A caller reported seeing a subject stealing her vehicle at Tasting House on Village Lane. The theft occurred on March 30, but was reported on April 3 at 5:20pm.

• Juveniles were reported sitting on the roof at Walnut Grove on Walker Street, and one threw a water bottle off the roof at 6:03pm.

APRIL 4

• A caller was concerned that a person who said he worked for Verizon was casing houses on Owen Reed and Longmeadow Drive at 6:45pm.

• Multiple vehicles were reported speeding and failing to stop at stop signs at Wedgewood Avenue and La Rinconada Drive at 5:34pm.

These reports are compiled from publicly available information released by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department. Prepared by Anika Kapasi

Jeffrey P. Blum , Contributor

After decades spent as a divorce attorney, I’ve realized that most people view the end of a marriage like a disaster movie: there should be a massive explosion, a dramatic betrayal, or a 1989 Loma Prieta-magnitude earthquake leveling everything. But in my experience, the collapse of a union is much more mundane.

The truth is more like the Highway 17 commute: a series of frustrating stalls, a lack of forward motion and a feeling that despite the high cost of entry, the system is breaking down. Eventually, you’re sitting in gridlock near the Summit.

Marriage is a complex municipality. And like Los Gatos, it requires civic duty.

1. The infrastructure of effort

Early marriage is like a grand opening on North Santa Cruz Avenue. The paint is fresh, the “Open” sign is neon-bright and the vibes are immaculate. You assume the town will always look this good. But any resident of the 95030-95032 knows that the charm of a historic town is an expensive, never-ending endeavor maintained by constant work.

Eventually, the “potholes” appear. In local government terms, if you ignore a cracked pipe under Main Street, you end up with a sinkhole. In marriage, we call this “preventative maintenance.” It’s the Tuesday night check-ins, the active listening when your spouse complains about the neighbor’s encroaching hedge and the willingness to clear the debris after a squabble.

When the “emotional grid” fails, it’s usually because nobody bothered to pay the utility bill of basic attention. Neglect doesn't make a sound until the floorboards give way.

2. The “better zip code” delusion

In the world of urban planning, when the downtown core gets congested and the infrastructure feels dated, developers want to build something “clean” and “new.”

In a struggling marriage, the temptation is the same. You look at your partner, with their predictable habits, their “aging” conversational infrastructure and their accumulated baggage, and you imagine that a new person would be a “better zip code.” You think the grass is greener in a new development.

The reality check: New builds eventually become old builds. The “spark” of a new

relationship is the absence of a shared history of chores and tax returns. If you haven't learned how to fix a leaky faucet, you are going to bring your wrench-less habits to a more expensive house. In Los Gatos, we value heritage for a reason: depth and character beat a “new build.”

3.

The currency of respect

For a community to function, there must be a baseline of trust between the citizens and the town leadership. When that respect deteriorates, you hit a state of emotional inflation.

In an economy with runaway inflation, money loses its value. In a marriage without respect, words lose their value. Apologies are worth pennies. Promises are devalued. You start questioning each other’s intentions, taxing every interaction with suspicion. Soon, nobody is “buying” what the other is selling. You can live in a town with a few unpaved roads and some quirky zoning laws. But you cannot live in a “police state” of constant criticism and contempt. Once the currency of respect is gone, the economy of marriage collapses.

4. The “quality of life” migration

Modern life has made us hyper-aware that time is a limited resource. This creates a “migration pattern” within marriages. People leave because they feel the environment has become stagnant. They look for a better “quality of life.”

For a marriage to endure, it must feel like a dynamic, evolving environment that supports your growth rather than stifling it. If the marriage feels like a restrictive zoning board that won't let you add a deck or change your career “paint color,” the urge to move becomes overwhelming.

5. From consumer to steward

The biggest reason marriages fail? People act like tourists instead of residents. A tourist visits Los Gatos, complains about the lack of parking, grumbles about the price of coffee at Peet’s and leaves when the weather gets bad. A resident, however, joins the committee, votes on the measures and plants the trees they might never sit under. The most enduring unions I’ve seen in my practice are built by stewards. They realize that a marriage, like a historic Victorian in Los Gatos, is an ongoing project of repair, with seemingly endless renovations and occasional seismic retrofitting. The beauty of the “Civic Union” is in the shared pride of two people who decided that this patch of earth was worth defending.

LIVES

Sandra Jean Haywood

July 2, 1942 – March 14, 2025

Sandra Jean Haywood departed peacefully on March 14, 2025 at 82 years young. She grew up in Albany, CA where her love for learning and talent in the arts, figure skating, reading and the medical field began. As early as grade school, her artistic talent was regionally recognized with awards for her civic poster entries. Following high school, she was selected to attend an inaugural program at UCSF in dental assisting and soon found work as a dental assistant, eventually becoming office manager. With optimism, style and grace, she worked full-time while raising two young daughters, a cat, and still made time to sew them beloved matching dresses, Halloween costumes, Easter hats - some with birds nests, making every holiday a celebrated and cherished memory.

In 1974 Sandy remarried and they moved from Niles, CA to Los Gatos. She taught several dental assisting classes before discovering a long and rewarding career as a medical office manager for a succession of well respected reconstructive surgeons in town. She loved greeting patients and ensuring that their experience and the office ran smoothly. Sandy also loved ski-bus Wednesdays when a chartered bus filled with Good Sam doctors, nurses, spouses, staff and an occasional lucky child headed for the slopes pre-dawn, skied all day, and on the evening ride home shared stories and good cheer over homemade hors d’oeuvres. In later years, these trips morphed into flights to the Canadian Rockies to ski and ice skate which she enjoyed with her colleagues as well. While at home, ice skating and a lot of Jazzercise kept her going. Curiosity for learning new things spanned her lifetime. Her artistic talent and eye for design were apparent in everything she endeavored from classes in photography to china painting, ceramics to stained glass, to her bespoke interior decor. She had great appreciation for the performing arts, subscribing to Old Town’s CAT and San Jose Rep for decades, then opera. Via television she caught every figure skating event, and later in life and quite out of the blue, she became a devoted Golden State Warriors fan, rarely missing a game. She loved museums, KQED shows and fully reveled in her diverse and extensive music and book collections. She found beauty in antique and restored car shows and this led to the SFBA Mercedes Benz Club rally era. Eventually she and a fellow club friend joined forces and, ditching their husbands in jest, jumped in together and won 1st Place at the Carmel Valley Rally in 1985. She served as editor and beyond for the SFBA MB Club for several years and in 1987 was recognized nationally by the MB Club of America as Member of the Year for her outstanding achievement

and contribution. Soon after that era she discovered a much deeper passion in volunteering for Los Medicos Voladores -The Flying Doctors. Via small plane, she traveled to remote communities in Baja California and Sonora, Mexico, serving as a dental assistant or in any role needed. Sandy’s love for the people, culture and art of Mexico grew ever more. Eventually Sandy was writing the LMV newsletter, managing membership, and serving on the board. She completed Private Pilot Ground School and nursing and foreign travel nursing coursework on nights and weekends for good measure, all the while still working full-time for the aforementioned reconstructive surgeons. In her retirement years, she served on the board and landscape committee of the Villas of Los Gatos, her beloved home for many years.

Sandy loved to travel to the mountains whether it was in the Lake Tahoe region where her eldest daughter lived or National Parks including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, parks in Canada too. She appreciated their beauty and their importance in this world. Via boat, she ventured out to Channel Islands National Park to visit and assist her youngest daughter in the field where she was monitoring an endemic deer mouse population. Sandy’s medical skills made her a natural.

Sandy moved to Napa in the last years of her life to be closer to her daughters Heidi and Holly. She greeted everyone with joy and her beautiful smile. A day never passed when she didn’t express appreciation for those in her life. She rarely missed an opportunity to brighten someone’s day with a sincere compliment and just enough humor. Her bright spirit touched and enriched the lives of so many, words cannot express how much she is missed.

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SPORTS

POWERHOUSE SOFTBALL SQUAD

Softball, from page 1

That’s why Frey has thoroughly enjoyed coaching this year's squad.

“This team just keeps fighting,” he said. “Everybody does something to help. I don’t think there’s been a game where they haven’t all played. I use all 11 girls and they all do something to help the team win.”

Second baseman Olivia Sickels, shortstop Grace Tucker and ace pitcher/first baseman Ava Norquist are some of the Central Coast Section’s premier players at their respective positions.

“The middle infield with Grace and Olivia are the heartbeat of the team,” Frey said. “They’re both senior captains and leaders. Ava Norquist obviously is a big part of the mix as well. She’s the two-time defending Most Valuable Player of the league. She’s having another great year.”

Tucker, a Dominican University-commit, leads the team in runs scored, hits,

RBIs and home runs. In the Wilcox game, Sickels and Tucker both hit home runs, the latter a line-drive blast to left field that couldn’t have taken longer than two seconds to leave the stadium. Tucker went 4-for-5 with three RBIs. Two days prior in a 13-2 victory over Milpitas, Norquist blasted two home runs.

A key offensive player, Norquist’s greatest contribution comes in the circle. The junior right-hander is 7-1 with a 2.03 ERA, with 53 strikeouts over 48 ⅓ innings pitched. A Siena University-commit, Norquist is holding opponents to a .178 batting average. Danica DeSantis has also been a difference-maker, giving Frey a reliable No. 2 pitcher who doubles as an offensive threat.

DeSantis is 3-0 with a 2.75 ERA, having pitched 40 ⅔ innings. DeSantis’ ability to eat up innings has allowed Frey to preserve Norquist’s arm over a long season. In the week leading up to spring break, the Wildcats played six games in a span of seven days.

“We’re hanging in there, but we don’t have any margin for injury,” Frey said. “If we get players hurt, we’ll have to bring some girls up from JV. We have some capable players, but right now my catcher (Haley Betti) is the only catcher I have. My other catcher is Olivia, but she’s the best second baseman I’ve ever seen, so I don’t really want to throw her behind the plate.”

Hitting No. 6 in the lineup, Betti had four hits—all singles—while having another solid defensive performance behind the plate. Sophomore Alyshia LaPlante contributed hitting No. 8 in the lineup, reaching base three times. Tessa Lilienstein had two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. The outfield usually consists of Kylynne Cook in left, Cate Zeman in center and Lilienstein in right field. When Norquist is pitching, Kendall Feichtmeir plays first base. When Norquist is playing first base, Feichtmeir moves to the outfield. Frey is high on Feichtmeir and Lilienstein and their offensive potential.

“I’m pretty sure both of them will hit home runs before the season is over,” he said. “We’ve got five different girls who have hit home runs this year, so at any one time, one swing will put us back in the game. That’s the good thing about this team.”

The Wildcats have started the season strong, with quality wins over Soquel and Branham. They’ve won the De Anza Division championship in three of the last four years and are favored to capture the title again this season.

“We’re on a roll,” Frey said. “If we keep playing the way we’ve been playing, we’ll end up in the Open (Division) playoffs. We played Mitty earlier and lost 7-1, so I don’t know if we’ve closed the gap against them and St. Francis. Those two plus Valley Christian are really tough.”

EARTHQUAKE

Quake, from page 4

plywood accommodations they’d selected. “It shook a ton.”

He recalled how they awakened to serious creaking noises.

“It felt like the house was gonna fall down,” he said, confirming that was his first time living through an earthquake— and sounding not too shaken-up by the ordeal. “It is what it is.”

Dave Valentine, 73, a Ben Lomond resident, said his dog Lulu woke him up in the middle of the earthquake.

“It bothered her while it was going on,” he said, adding he had multiple pets that were “pretty aggravated.”

After the shaking stopped, Valentine went around straightening picture frames.

Lulu quickly got over the commotion, curling up on the bed and sleeping soundly.

Valentine’s friend Cyndi Jarvis, 76, who lives up the road—a little closer to the epicenter—was watching an MS Now news program when the ground began to tremble.

“It was frightening to me,” she said, explaining she’d lived through multiple larger earthquakes before, including in 1989.

Asher Schwarzbach, an 18-year-old probationary firefighter at the Ben Lomond Fire Protection District, said there was an overnight gas leak and a non-injury crash overnight that weren’t related to the quake.

But, he continued, “We had a non-emergency rescue related to the earthquake.”

Connor Scarborough, a 20-year-old BLFD firefighter, had just gotten back from a morning call.

“That was in Brookdale,” he said, describing how the homeowner had gone outside and couldn’t get back in because the entrance had become stuck. “They just couldn’t get into their house.”

Jim Phillips, who lives just north of Boulder Creek, estimated the undulation of the Earth continued for about 30-45 seconds.

“It was a hell of a shake,” he said, noting the power went off briefly.

He says it started off at one level of movement, “—then, it was, like, really violent shaking.”

Afterwards, he looked around to assess the damage. There were no broken glasses or anything like that. But—

“I found a stack of magazines that had been knocked over,” he said.

The Boulder Creek Fire Protection District said it did not receive any calls related to the earthquake.

Light-to-moderate shaking was felt throughout the Silicon Valley, with movements experienced past Fairfield, to the northeast, and Soledad, to the southeast, the USGS reported.

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Name Change

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME. Case No. 26CV486299. Notice of Petition of Brian Henry Kaplan. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. To all interested persons: Petitioner: Brian Henry Kaplan filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. Brian Henry Kaplan to Proposed name: Brian Kip Henry.

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing: Date: May 19, 2026, Time: 8:45 AM, Room: Probate. The address of the court is: 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113, Downtown Superior Court. A copy of this Order To Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los Gatan, 380 S 1ST Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Date: February 13, 2026. /s/ Charles F. Adams /s/, Judge of the Superior Court. Filed February 13, 2026 by /s/ AS A.Syrel /s/, Deputy Clerk. (Pub LGN: 04/01, 04/08, 04/15, 04/22/2026)

Fictitious Business Name Statements

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME.

FBN724502 , filed on 03/05/2026. The following person(s)/registrant(s) has/have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name(s): ILLUME GROWTH , 100 Lawton Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035. Filed in Santa Clara county on 01/07/2025 under file No. FBN712503. Full Name of Registrant (s): 1. ROXANNE V CARDENAS, 100 Lawton Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035, 2. JOCELYN C FIRESTINE, 100 Lawton Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035. This business was conducted by: A General Partnership. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Jocelyn Firestine /s/ Owner. Dated: March 5, 2026. (Pub LGN: 03/18, 03/25, 04/01, 04/08/2026)

File Number: FBN724462 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. EARTHY RUBY HOLISTIC AND ACUPUNCTURE CENTER , 20640 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, EARTHY RUBY INC, 20640 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 03/01/2022 and 03/04/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Patty Camarena /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. EARTHY RUBY INC, Article/ Reg # 4791050, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ SHI QIAO /s/ CEO. (Pub LGN: 03/18, 03/25, 04/01, 04/08/2026)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #724393

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: New Home Senior Placement Assistance, 155 East Campbell Ave., Suite 110, Gary Cornelia, Frederic Paredes. This business is being conducted by a General Partnership. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 09/25/2015. /s/Frederic Paredes. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 03/03/2026. (pub Metro 03/18, 03/25, 04/01, 04/08/2026)

File Number: FBN724442 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. MAXSEEN DIGITAL SERVICES, 5918 Porto Alegre Drive, San Jose CA 95120. This business is conducted by: An Individual, MURAT YALCIN, 5918 Porto Alegre Drive, San Jose CA 95120. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/10/2026 and 03/04/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Elaine Fader /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Murat Yalcin /s/. (Pub LGN: 03/18, 03/25, 04/01, 04/08/2026)

File Number: FBN724443. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. BAY AREA MICROGREENS 5918 Porto Alegre Dr, San Jose CA 95120. This business is conducted by: An Individual, MURAT YALCIN, 5918 Porto Alegre Dr, San Jose CA 95120. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 03/04/2026 is

PUBLIC NOTICES

the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Elaine Fader /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Murat Yalcin /s/. (Pub LGN: 03/18, 03/25, 04/01, 04/08/2026)

File Number: FBN724444. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. HOLISTIC HYPNOHEALING 5918 Porto Alegre Drive, San Jose CA 95120. This business is conducted by: An Individual, MERVE YALCIN, 5918 Porto Alegre Drive, San Jose CA 95120. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/04/2026 and 03/04/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Elaine Fader /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Merve Yalcin /s/. (Pub LGN: 03/18, 03/25, 04/01, 04/08/2026)

File Number: FBN724605. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. CHARMYPOP, PO Box 320935, Los Gatos, CA 95032. This business is conducted by: An Individual, JI YOUNG SEO, PO Box 320935, Los Gatos, CA 95032. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 03/10/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ JI YOUNG SEO /s/. (Pub LGN: 03/18, 03/25, 04/01, 04/08/2026)

File Number: FBN724613. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. ADVANCED THERAPY PROGRAMS PHYSICAL THERAPY, 14843 Holden Way, San Jose, CA 95124. This business is conducted by: An Individual, NANCY P PEDROTTI BLOCK, 14843 Holden Way, San Jose, CA 95124. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 07/25/2016 and 03/10/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Patty Camarena /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Nancy P Block /s/. (Pub LGN: 03/18, 03/25, 04/01, 04/08/2026)

File Number: FBN724632 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. RENT A SCREEN , 300 E Gish Rd, San Jose, CA 95112. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, NICOLA LEASING LLC, 300 E Gish Rd, San Jose, CA 95112. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 03/01/2026 and 03/10/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Mike Louie /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. Nicola Leasing LLC, Article/Reg # 202357315665, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Art Amirkhas /s/ Managing Member. (Pub LGN: 03/18, 03/25, 04/01, 04/08/2026)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #724551

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. Cruz Collaborative Construction, 2. Cruz Collaborative. 2150 N First St., 4th Floor, San Jose, CA, San Jose, CA, 95131, Cruz Collaborative Construction LLC. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 01/01/2026. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Jonathan Molina Cruz. CEO. #202118910422. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 03/06/2026. (pub LG 03/25, 04/01, 04/08, 04/15/2026)

File Number: FBN724617. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. FOOTHILL REPAIR PRO LLC, 4388 El Camino Real Unit 128, Los Altos, CA 94022. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, FOOTHILL REPAIR PRO LLC, 4388 El Camino Real Unit 128, Los Altos, CA 94022. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 03/10/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Patty Camarena /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. FOOTHILL REPAIR PRO LLC, Article/Reg # B20260015971, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Peter Christianson /s/ Owner. (Pub LGN: 03/25, 04/01, 04/08, 04/15/2026)

File Number: FBN724757. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. FLOWRA , 205 Milbrae Ln, Los Gatan, CA 95032. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, THE CREATIVE AND WELLNESS STUDIO LLC, 1401 21st Street Ste R, Sacramento, CA 95811. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 03/13/2026 and 03/13/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Patty Camarena /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. THE CREATIVE AND WELLNESS STUDIO LLC, Article/Reg # 202461014023, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Sophie Leclerc /s/ Member. (Pub LGN: 03/25, 04/01, 04/08, 04/15/2026)

File Number: FBN724093. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. RAVENWOOD VENTURES INC., 2. C&C GLASS, 1060 Lincoln Ave Ste 20 1160, San Jose, CA 95125. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, RAVENWOOD VENTURES INC, 1060 Lincoln Ave Ste 20 1160, San Jose, CA 95125. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 02/23/2026 and 02/24/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. RAVENWOOD VENTURES INC, Article/Reg # B20250371496, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California. /s/ Joaquin Vela /s/ President. (Pub LGN: 03/25, 04/01, 04/08, 04/15/2026)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #724695

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: March Design, 569 Clyde Avenue, Unit 520, Mountain View, CA, 94043, Mike Ma Architects, APC. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Mike Ma. President. #B20250424102. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 03/12/2026. (pub LG 03/25, 04/01, 04/08, 04/15/2026)

File Number: FBN724745. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. KEEP MOVING FOR PARKINSON’S, 21559 Santa Ana Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95033. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, KEEP MOVING FOR PARKINSON’S LLC, 21559 Santa Ana Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95033. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 03/13/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. KEEP MOVING FOR PARKINSON’S LLC, Article/Reg # B20260111470, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Jennifer Larsen /s/ Manager (Pub LGN: 03/25, 04/01, 04/08, 04/15/2026)

File Number: FBN724725. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. LAVENDER DUCKY, 170 N 11th St, San Jose, CA 95112. This business is conducted by: An Individual, KRISTINE ELISE CONLEY, 170 N 11th St, San Jose, CA 95112. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 03/14/2026 and 03/12/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Kristine E Conley /s/ (Pub LGN: 03/25, 04/01, 04/08, 04/15/2026)

File Number: FBN724806. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. AJ RENTALS, 107 S Mary Ave #91, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. This business is conducted by: An Individual, Ai Jia Zhang, 107 S Mary Ave #91, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 03/16/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Ai Jia Zhang /s/. (Pub LGN: 03/25, 04/01, 04/08, 04/15/2026)

File Number: FBN724384. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1.YONA SKIN CLINIC, 14537 S Bascom Ave, Campbell, CA 95008. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, YONA SKIN CLINIC, 14537 S Bascom Ave, Campbell, CA 95008. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 02/17/2026 and 03/03/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. YONA SKIN CLINIC, Article/Reg # B20260082547, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Eun Sung Huh /s/ CFO. (Pub LGN: 03/25, 04/01, 04/08, 04/15/2026)

File Number: FBN724792 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. Gioia Company, 2. Gioia Italian Art and Products , 323 Sharks Way, San Jose, CA 95110. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, Little Italy San Jose Foundation, 438 Northwood Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 3/1/26 and 03/16/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Elaine Fader /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. Little Italy San Jose Foundation, Article/ Reg # 3307761, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California. /s/ Joshua DeVincenzi Melander /s/ President. (Pub LGN: 04/01, 04/08, 04/15, 04/22/2026)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #725131 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: KPK, 844 Strickbroth Drive, Milpitas, CA, 95035, Karissa Kashyap Inc. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Above

entity was formed in the state of California. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein 04/16/2024. /s/Karissa Kashyap. Owner. #6205518. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 12/12/2024. (pub LG 04/01, 04/08, 04/15, 04/22/2026)

File Number: FBN725036. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1.SHEPHERD SECURITY ADVISORS, 1795 White Oaks Rd, Campbell, CA 95008. This business is conducted by: An Individual, JOSUE MORA, 1795 White Oaks Rd, Campbell, CA 95008. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 03/13/2026 and 03/23/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Josue Mora /s/. (Pub LGN: 04/01, 04/08, 04/15, 04/22/2026)

File Number: FBN724906. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. Select Injury Center, 2248 Park Blvd., Palo Alto, CA 94306. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, Select Chiropractic Inc., 2248 Park Blvd., Palo Alto, CA 94306. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 03/17/2026 and 03/18/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Elaine Fader /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. Select Chiropractic, Inc. Article/Reg # B20260035749, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California. /s/ Vitaly Mozeson /s/ CEO. (Pub LGN: 04/08, 04/15, 04/22, 04/29/2026)

File Number: FBN725282 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. Flowers On The Go by Judy 15751 Loma Vista Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95032. This business is conducted by: An Individual, Judy Gadbois, 15751 Loma Vista Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95032. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 03/29/2026 and 03/30/2026 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Patty Camarena /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Judy Gadbois /s/. (Pub LGN: 04/08, 04/15, 04/22, 04/29/2026)

Two Easy Steps To Keeping Your Business Name

Use your mobile phone or scanner and this QR code to upload the document and publish your statement in a newspaper of general circulation 1 2

File Fictitious Business Name paperwork with the clerk of the county

Note: If you filed your fictitious business name more than five years ago, you must file a renewal and re-publish to remain compliant.

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