SUPERIOR COURT DECISION MAY HELP GIVE LOS GATOS A CITYSTYLE SKYLINE
Developers and housing activists claim victory in vesting rights case
Drew Penner, Editor
The Town of Los Gatos received a major reality-check on Thursday, when a judge made it clear that its more restrictive interpretation of a residential development rule doesn’t quite stand up to what’s required under California law.
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Helen E. Williams entertained the arguments from Arya Properties, LLC and Los Gatos Boulevard Properties, LLC—as well as pro-housing nonprofits—during an afternoon hearing on Oct. 15. At issue was how long a developer has until the rights it receives based on when it submits a project (known as “vesting rights”) expire. And this lawsuit result is another outgrowth of the fact that Los Gatos was unable to get a proper Housing Element approved by the strict deadline.
The Town was trying to say that the developers in question have a 180-day period, plus an additional 90-day stretch to complete a development application.
The developers contended that the “vesting” remains in place as long as they re-submit an application within 90 days after being told the prior version was incomplete, “—no matter how long the overall process takes, how little change is made in the plans, or how many notices
Housing, 4
CAL STRENGTH ALUM TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD AT THE SUPER BOWL
Owner Dave Spitz will cheer both sides this year
Faizi Samadani, Contributor
Owner of Cal Strength Dave Spitz has the unique honor of having coached a player from both teams playing in Super Bowl LX. The biggest sporting event of the year takes place here in Santa Clara County where the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will face off in hopes of hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy. Last year, 127 million viewers watched, making the event an American hallmark. Spitz shared what it's like to be in the unique position of witnessing two players he's personally worked with getting ready to go head-to-head.
Spitz coached each of these athletes through his pre-draft program. Jake Bobo (#19) is a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks who trained in Los Gatos three years ago at Cal Strength.
“He's one of the best blocking receivers in the game, and caught a nice touchdown pass in
➝ Cal Strength, 10
THE BILLLISTER TEAM
BILL LISTER TEAM
THE BILLLISTER TEAM
109 BELHAVEN DR., LOS GATOS LISTED PRICE: $2,988,800 SOLD: $3,375,000 4 BEDS | 2.5 BATHS 2 CAR GARAGE | +- 2,448 SQ. FT. SOLD FOR OVER ASKING WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS
Beautiful updated Belwood Home!
• Gourmet chef’s kitchen with a center island, stained wood cabinets, quartz counters, stainless steel appliances, refrigerator, new dishwasher, microwave, gas cooktop/range, wine refrigerator, pantry & breakfast nook.
• Kitchen/family room combination with a gas fireplace & built-in cabinetry
• Formal living & dining rooms with custom built-ins
• Separate office with built-in cabinets & workspace
• New tile floor in 1/2 bath
• Refinished hardwood floors on both levels
• Hall bath with double sinks, vanity, tiled & stone surfaces, shower over tub
• Primary suite with large bath, separate jetted tub, spacious shower, double vanity, large walk-in closet with built-ins and new carpeting.
• Inside laundry
• All bedrooms with built-in closet organizers.
• Freshly painted interior/exterior. Huge flat lot with pavers, outdoor kitchen, pergola, fireplace, grass area & mature landscaping and lighting. Storage shed.
• New garage door & opener. Freshly painted walls, ceiling, and floor
• Double pane windows & doors
• Owned solar
• Central forced air heating & air-Conditioning. Whole house fan and two new skylights
• Extra parking area for oversized vehicles. Home belongs to the Belwood Home Pool Association. Close to BelGatos Park & Santa Rosa Trail.
• Noddin Elementary, Union Middle, Blue Ribbon Award Winning Leigh High School
VOL.5 NO.23
Dan Pulcrano
Executive Editor & Publisher
EDITORIAL
editor@losgatan.com
Drew Penner
Managing Editor
Emanuel Lee
Sports Editor
Siran Babayan, Faizi Samadani, Dinah Cotton, Jeffrey P. Blum
Contributors
ADVERTISING
advertising@losgatan.com
Kate Kauffman
Senior Account Executive
Tiffany Birch Account Executive
PRODUCTION
Cindy Couling
Director of Creative Services
Deb Fischer
Creative Services Production Manager
Zk Bradley
Editorial Production Manager
Haley Tweedell
Assistant Editorial Production Manager
Saoirse Alesandro
Editorial Production Designer
Jen Meyer, Jackie Mujica, Elena Razgonov, Rowdy Tompkins, Graphic Designers
WEEKLYS
Mike Lyon
Digital Media
Sonia Chavez Accounts Receivables
Warren Giancaterino Information Technology
LEGAL ADS
legals@losgatan.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS
subscriptions@losgatan.com
DEATH NOTICES
Death notices with basic information that are submitted to editor@losgatan.com may be published on a space-available basis only. To place a paid, unedited obituary with a photo, call 707.353.1148 or email LifeTributes@Weeklys.com.
OPINIONS
Commentaries and letters to the editor on our Opinion pages reflect the opinions of the authors.
We welcome letters to the editor and commentaries on all topics of local interest. Email your submissions to editor@losgatan.com
Letters must include the writer’s name and hometown (for publication) and phone number (for verification). Submissions may be edited, and will be published as space permits. Letters are limited to 250 words, commentaries to 500 words.
CORRECTIONS
We strive to avoid errors in news and ads. Mistakes sometimes occur. To report errors, call or email; corrections will appear in the next edition and online.
seen on NBC and San Jose Spotlight Former owner of Chef Li Restaurant Valentine’s Day & Chinese New Year are right around the corner — come see us!
All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, familial status or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Publisher will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertising are available on an equal opportunity basis. Premium & Exotic Orchids for all occasions New Location Grand Opening! Discover an overwhelming variety of rare and beautiful orchids. We Deliver to Your Door Store Hours Mon–Sat: 11 AM – 5 PM Sun: 11 AM – 3 PM Showroom: 408-377-1168 Mobile: 408-828-2333 www.ericorchids.com 3681 Union Ave., San Jose (Next to Beck Shoes)
COURT REBUFFS
LG IN BUILDER’S REMEDY LAWSUIT
Housing, from page 1
of incompletion the Town provides— allowing successive and unending 90day periods after each incompleteness determination.”
The Government of California, through the Department of Housing and Community Development, had already made it clear to Los Gatos the 90-day deadline restarts with each resubmittal.
But Los Gatos was hoping the court would side with them. It didn’t.
“And there is no evidence before the court on this motion of the parade of horribles offered by the Town in the form of developers dragging their feet while infinitely maintaining vesting of their projects or unreasonably extending the process of reaching completeness determinations by manipulation and gaming,” Judge Williams said.
The Town acknowledged the decision in a press release sent out Friday. Town Attorney Gabrielle Whelan said because the decision is an order not a final judgment, it is not yet appealable.
“We respect the court’s role in interpreting state law and appreciate the clarity provided by this order,” Mayor Rob Moore said in the release. “The Town brought this action to seek judicial guidance on a complex and evolving area of housing law so that we can process applications fairly while maintaining local control. We will carefully review the decision with our legal counsel and continue to fulfill our responsibilities to the community to provide affordable housing and implement the Housing Element.”
Travis Brooks, of Miller Starr Regalia, a lawyer for the developers, said the decision “adds to the chorus of authority” on the issue, as it’s in line with what happened in two other cases in Southern California.
“The court reached the right decision,” he said. “I’m not surprised.”
Brooks added that the “parade of horribles” language used by the judge really highlighted the weakness of Los Gatos’ position.
“I think that accurately reflects how divorced from reality that argument was,” he said.
There are dozens of similar housing projects across the State (aka ones that were filed while that municipality didn’t have a legitimate Housing Element in place, which are using the “Builder’s Remedy” tool) that are stuck in limbo at the moment.
PLANS
The judge’s order is a victory for those who want to see the housing crisis dealt with, according to Brooks.
“I am very happy about this decision,” he said, adding he doesn’t fault Los Gatos legal team, as he says the Town was clearly being responsive to its voters.
“They were doing their jobs.”
The Town says it will continue processing the SB 330 applications that are in the works.
Whelan said it’s unclear what the ultimate impact of this decision could be.
“That is difficult to say, because this is a trial court order rather than an appellate court decision,” she said.
There are serious problems with ALPR systems
Santa Cruz recently demonstrated why automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems deserve far more scrutiny than they often receive. On January 13, the Santa Cruz City Council voted 6–1 to terminate its contract with Flock Safety after discovering that license plate data collected locally had been accessed by out-ofstate law enforcement agencies.
According to city officials and reporting by KQED, the access resulted from a flaw in Flock’s system architecture that allowed agencies outside California to conduct broad searches of ALPR data. Those searches violated both the California ALPR Privacy Act (SB 34) and the California Values Act (SB 54).
This concern is not unique to Santa Cruz. In Kalamazoo, Michigan, residents and local organizers have raised similar alarms about Flock cameras capturing residents’ movements and the potential for access by outside agencies, including ICE. Despite claims of crime-fighting benefits, questions about data control and misuse remain unresolved.
Mayor Fred Keeley explained why Santa Cruz walked away: the threat to civil liberties outweighed any benefit from a system requiring constant fixes to address newly discovered vulnerabilities. Santa Cruz acted because the risks were real and documented. Other cities using the same vendor should take notice before assuming these systems are secure or lawful. Lori Chaykin via email
Clapping-back after Dan Snyder’s comment on North 40
The decision was not whether to do the so-called “long term planning” vs “minimalism”—if you were paying attention. The “long term planning” that Maria Ristow and Rob Rennie approved, and Rob Moore agreed with, had no deadline and no penalties.
It is the Council that runs the Town, and a majority of Council can run the Council. These three Council members missed the end-of-January 2023 deadline by 1.5 years, allowing nearly 20 Builder’s Remedy’s to eventually be filed. Currently about half of those are still in the queue, with the largest yet to be finalized. Most of these are 6-13 stories tall.
All of the Bay Area cities that we could poll chose to finish the Housing Element first. Presumably, they recognized that there was a deadline with penalties that could be massive. Our three Council people chose to ignore that and focused on the “long term planning” which had no penalties. Two of those people are running again for office this November.
Jak VanNada Los Gatos Community Alliance *Letters are edited for length and clarity
WITNESS SAYS SHE THINKS SHANNON O’CONNOR MAY HAVE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER
Court hears Los Gatos woman had video of girl’s private social media feed
Drew Penner, Editor
On Thursday morning, the People called Jane Doe 8 in the ongoing trial of Shannon O’Connor, the Los Gatos mom accused of being reckless with the lives of youth by giving them alcohol and encouraging them to have sex while at her house, and at parties she organized.
As she prepared to discuss the events that played out about five years earlier, the 21-year-old witness said she was nervous. Based on her self-assured tone, you never would’ve guessed.
“We’re here to talk about your experience,” Deputy District Attorney Joanna Lee said, bringing it to the attention of the court that the witness was granted immunity from prosecution.
O’Connor is answering for 63 offenses, including multiple counts of child endangerment and furnishing alcohol for a minor.
Jane Doe 8 said she first was introduced to O’Connor on a Facetime call, where the defendant was in the background. It wasn’t long before they were texting or speaking every day, she added.
O’Connor said she thought girls with blonde hair are particularly attractive, she recalled, echoing memories shared by other witnesses during the trial.
“She called me ‘pretty’ or ‘beautiful,’” she said. “She asked me if I was conservative or Christian.”
She added that O’Connor would often make disparaging comments about other teen girls, “—how they were all b****** and how I was the best girl.”
She recounted a story about O’Connor telling her to block Jane Doe 4.
“I didn’t do it, because I don’t judge people off what someone else says,” the witness stated, of how she responded to the demand from the defendant about the other girl. “I didn’t even know her.”
It was more than annoyance, and more like, “I hate her,” the witness remarked.
And, Jane Doe 8 said in response to a question from the prosecution, O’Connor complained that another girl had stopped talking to her.
“It was like a best friend breakup,” the witness said, describing O’Connor’s reaction to that teen’s actions as like a kid having a “tantrum.”
“I don’t think people stood up to her very often,” the witness said.
Jane Doe 8 said she didn’t appreciate the full extent of how abnormal O’Connor’s behavior was until later.
“Now that I’m old,” she began, stopping herself as Elizabeth C. Peterson, the relatively young, blonde judge, couldn’t help but smile at this, “—older…” the witness quickly added.
While her own mother would send her long paragraphs in carefully typed diction, O’Connor used familiar abbreviations, she explained.
“She knew all the teenage lingo,” the witness said.
This reflection brought a murmur of pleasant laughter from the courtroom as it made people think about how inept older folks can be when it comes to new technology. But it also underscored how odd it was that O’Connor followed these children on social media, including on Snapchat.
“I thought it was weird,” said the witness, who said she didn’t have Snapchat, at first.
She continued testifying the next morning, noting that—after O’Connor was arrested—when she met Jane Doe 4, it turned out she was a pretty great person.
“We were there for each other,” she said.
Jane Doe 8 said she definitely feels for her younger self.
“If I could go back in time, I would definitely give myself a hug,” she said.
Jane Doe 8 said she’s “glad” for what she went through, “so that I can educate others” about “red flags” that people like O’Connor raise.
After the mid-morning break, the prosecution showed one of Jane Doe 8’s TikToks, filmed after she’d downloaded Snapchat, along with related imagery.
“That was my private story on Snapchat,” she said about one of these. “I screen-recorded that TikTok and I posted it on my Snapchat.”
The prosecution asked why O’Connor would have this video in her possession.
“Someone logged into my Snapchat and took a video of that,” she said, noting she’d previously received a message saying someone far away from her home had signed in to her account. “Now I clearly do know what they did.”
Lee displayed a “Just logged in!” message from May 9, 2021, with part of the Snapchat logo visible. It reports an iPhone 12 Pro had just been granted access, which was weird, Jane Doe 8 said, because everyone in her family had iPhone 11 Maxes at the time.
Out of all the evidence, the screen-recording of her private account is the only thing she hadn’t been confronted with before, she added.
“Seeing that makes me super angry,” she said, stating that when someone else logs in to Snapchat, you get logged off. “It just makes me feel more weirded out…I did not send that video to Ms. O’Connor.”
Lee sought to clarify the witness’s comment about being “glad” about how O’Connor had treated her—emphasizing instead the part about wanting to help younger girls stay safe.
“I wish that I could see the signs that I saw beforehand,” Jane Doe 8 said. “She texted me way too much and was just, like, inappropriate with some things that she would ask me.”
Looking back, Jane Doe 8 says she believes O’Connor groomed her.
“She took advantage of me and forced me to feel a type of way, and do certain things,” she said. “She took advantage of me as a minor.”
She was referring, for one, to losing her virginity to her boyfriend at O’Connor’s house.
“Do you really feel like it was consensual?” Lee asked.
“I felt like I had to do it at a certain point,” she answered. “I didn’t say no.”
“But, you felt pressure?” Lee followed-up.
“Yeah, I did,” she said.
Jane Doe 8 testified that she thinks she may have been sexually assaulted the prior night, when she was so drunk she “passed out” at O’Connor’s house. The witness said she went to bed wearing underwear but woke up without them on. She also felt physically different than normal in some key ways, she added.
This occurred within two months of being in contact with Ms. O’Connor, the witness said, adding that the defendant had purchased inappropriate gifts for her, like expensive lingerie.
Earlier in the week, the witness’s mom testified that O’Connor bought plenty of presents for Jane Doe 8, including smoothies, flowers and a Tiffany necklace that cost more than $150.
Defense lawyer Stephen Prekoski focused on comparing Jane Doe 8’s grand jury testimony, in October 2023, with what she’d said up to that point at the trial.
The witness said that O’Connor was aware the sleeping arrangements had deviated from the initial girls in one room, boys in another, plan, during her visit to the O’Connor’s spacious Los Gatos house.
Why not sleep in the room designated for the girls? the defense asked.
“I probably would have if I wasn’t blackout drunk,” she said, her otherwise controlled voice rising to strike a more defiant note.
Questioning about what the defense termed “the throw-up event” prompted quite a fiery exchange.
The defense asked about her level of intoxication that day—and why she seems to have told the Grand Jury something different than what she was now saying, in one specific instance.
“I had some senses still available to me,” Jane Doe 8 said. “I did tell the truth, and the truth is not hard to remember.”
They had a bit of back-and-forth about the meaning of the phrase “blackout drunk.”
She’d been on her way to the bathroom when she tripped and fell, because her bottoms were around her ankles, she said.
The Grand Jury transcript showed her testifying, “I pulled my pants down.”
“Yes, but that’s wrong,” she said.
“And you swore to tell the truth just like today?” the defense shot back. “You didn’t testify truthfully?”
“I misspoke,” the witness said. “That doesn’t mean that I wasn’t trying to tell the truth.”
Jane Doe 8 added she doubts the veracity of the transcription.
“I don’t know why I would say that,” she said. “I think I misspoke, because I never, ever thought that I pulled my pants down.”
She can’t forget her boyfriend standing over her, mocking her, instead of helping her while she choked, she said.
“I noticed that in this entire testimony (about that night) that my client was never mentioned,” the defense lawyer said.
“I did see your client in the window,” she said, stating O’Connor’s face was in silhouette. “She was laughing.”
“If you were sexually assaulted in that overnight” O’Connor had nothing to do with it, suggested the defense.
He referenced positive TikTok videos she’d shared the following day, and asked why she posted those if she thought she’d been sexually assaulted by her boyfriend.
“Did you think he raped you the night before?” he asked.
“It might not have necessarily been him,” she retorted.
He asked Jane Doe 8 if she thinks it’s possible another boy violated her.
“I’m suggesting it might have been Shannon,” she said.
‘I KNOW A PLACE’
NUMU’s throwback exhibit takes us into a unique mindset
Siran Babayan, Contributor
In 1965, Los Gatos obstetrician Dr. Ethel Dana and a group of locals conceived of the Museums of Los Gatos, believing every town should have a museum that conserves its art and history. Two years later, the Los Gatos Museum Association non-profit was formed and the museum opened in the old, refurbished adobe firehouse on Taft Avenue and Main Street, housing both an art museum and history museum in the 1854 Forbes Mills Flour Annex. In 2015, the museum was rebranded New Museum Los Gatos and relocated to a 6,000 square-foot space in Los Gatos Civic Center Plaza, next to the Los Gatos Library.
NUMU celebrates its 60th anniversary and revisits its inaugural year with a new exhibit, “I Know a Place,” which runs January 23 through May 24. The collection’s nearly 20 art works, photographs, maps, clothing, momentos and other objects are taken from residents who both lived and worked in the area in the 1960s.
“These are people who were living in Los Gatos in the ‘60s and had things to share from their families, their personal experience of the ‘60s, their business life and their work as artists at the time,” says exhibit curator Allison Railo.
Last year, museum staff hosted two “I Know a Place: Roadshow” events where they asked community members to donate personal items to be included in the show, which is inspired by singer Petula Clark’s 1965 hit song, “I Know a Place.”
“It felt like a good way of saying, ‘Hey, I know a place. It’s Los Gatos,’” says Railo. “It’s something catchy and it’s a call back to the music of that time.”
The exhibit is organized in the Mike & Alyce Parsons Reception gallery, named after the philanthropists and long-time museum donors. Mike served on the museum’s board of directors and as board president in 2012, and together with his wife they established the Mike and Alyce Parsons Art Endowment.
“We have our title wall with a map that puts you in that location and time,” says Railo. “We have a section for fashion, a section for the artist community, and what brought people to Los Gatos in those days. It’s sprinkled with these images of Los Gatos, and talks a lot about the transition from the farming economy in Los Gatos to the population boom and transition into Silicon Valley.”
The display features Alyce’s prom dress and Pendleton wool sweater and plaid skirt, as well as renderings of costumes from a 1969 production of Twelfth Night held at the Old Town Theater. A
mixed-media sculpture of Neptune by local artist Tony Cristallo, culled from the museum’s permanent collection, is also on view.
Another highlight is hand-drawn illustrations by Rick Guidice that were used as advertisements for restaurants in Campbell and San Francisco. Born in San Jose and living in Los Gatos, Guidice was the subject of a NUMU exhibit in 2015 that explored his 15-year relationship with NASA, especially his paintings of space missions for the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View in the 1970s.
Railo hopes the exhibit will appeal to both viewers who’ve lived in Los Gatos for a long time and can reminisce about the region in the context of the 1960s and people who are new here.
“Anybody who comes in and doesn't know much about the town will be able to learn more about its history,” says Railo. “They’ll be able to learn about its changes and what it was like in the ‘60s compared to now. There's an interesting arc of development and growth here.”
“I Know a Place” runs Jan. 23-May 24. Tickets are $10. New Museum Los Gatos, 106 E. Main St.
numulosgatos.org.
COLORFUL COLLAGE Over his career, Rick Guidice, who created this piece, has worked with Sunset Magazine, Hewlett Packard, Gary Dahl and NASA, among others.
OLDSCHOOL BLING These items of jewelry are part of a top loaned by Alyce Parsons.
Professional Proper ty Management Ser vices
Atlantis Properties was founded in 2000 by Louis Melo.
Atlantis Properties manages residential and commercial properties with the goal of providing high quality services to meet their clients’ real estate objectives. Louis Melo built the company on the principles of professionalism, good ethics and excellent customer service. The company has a very good reputation, with current clients being the number one source of new business referrals. Their clients count on their expertise in the rental housing industry in providing quality housing services to their tenants while maintaining their investment objectives. Before starting Atlantis Properties, Louis
Welcoming Dr. Matt Miller to El Camino Health
Dr. Matt Miller, orthopedic surgeon, is now practicing full-time at El Camino Health Medical Network.
Board-certified and fellowship-trained in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Miller provides advanced expertise in hip and knee replacement, complex revision procedures, and state-of-the-art robotic-assisted care—offering patients leading-edge solutions for lasting mobility.
Through the use of advanced robotic, computer-assisted and mixedreality technologies, he elevates the standard of orthopedic surgery by improving precision, accelerating recovery and achieving durable patient outcomes, reinforcing El Camino Health’s excellence in orthopedic care.
www.atlantisproperties.net
DRE-01498174
Rufus after 16 years of being our team member, has crossed the Rainbow bridge.
SWEATING IT OUT AS YOUNG FOOTBALL PLAYERS FOLLOW THEIR DREAM
the NFC Championship game,” Spitz said.
Austin Hooper (#81 on the New England Patriots), has been working with Spitz since he was just 12 years old.
“I prepared Hooper for just high school at De La Salle—and then on to Stanford,” Spitz said. “He ended up getting drafted in the third round to the Atlanta Falcons and became the highest paid tight end at one point, with his second contract in Cleveland."
This will be Hooper’s second time playing in the Super Bowl. Spitz says that he looks forward to potentially celebrating a Patriots victory with Hooper and his family after the game this Sunday.
Spitz says he tends not to root for teams when he has players on both sides, commenting that he's the guy who wears a nondescript black shirt to the game.
“I hope they both have a great game,” he said. “And at the end of the day, one of them is going to be incredibly elated, and one of them is going to be devastated. That's always a little bit of a difficult path to reconcile. But you have to play the game, and there are winners and losers in sports. And that's the way it goes.”
Spitz has kept up with Bobo and Hooper over the years, and even went out to Foxborough this year to see Hooper play—and then celebrated his birthday with him.
Last year, Spitz went to a Seattle game and got to spend time with Bobo.
“Once you're part of our ecosystem and part of our family, you don't get to leave,” he said, explaining, at Cal Strength, their mission is to be in it for the long-haul— they're going to connect the dots on the player’s journey and be there along the way for whatever role the players would like them to play.
Fresh crop of NFL hopefuls
A group of 10 athletes have been training at Cal Strength for the first two months of the year in preparation for the NFL combine, which starts on Feb. 23.
“The group I have this year are already professionals and have already been paid to play football, considering the advent of NIL (name, image, likeness rights)," he said.
Spitz said he doesn't think he's had a collection of trainees as locked-in and mature from top to bottom as this year's group. One of Spitz's players in this year's group attended Monte Vista High School in Danville, where Spitz also attended (Class of '95).
This year’s group:
• Dezhaun Stribling, Oklahoma State
• Taniela Latu, San Jose State
• Isiah Revis, San Jose State
• Carsen Ryan, BYU
• Jack Endries, UC Berkeley
• John Carlos Miller II, Texas Tech
• Geno VanDeMark, Alabama Crimson Tide
• Jackson Canaan, San Jose State
• Germie Bernard, University of Alabama
• Chase Roberts, BYU
Many college football players transfer schools to further their football dream— sometimes as many as three times—with the intention of getting more playing time. This year's crop is no exception, though only the universities they graduated from will be published. The athletes are housed at the Toll House with just one day off per week.
Germie Bernard says that spending time in Los Gatos reminds him of Alabama, where everyone is family oriented. Spitz highlights that the NFL is not the destination, but the start of these athletes’ journeys. Several of this year's group have completed, or are pursuing, a Master’s degree. Isiah Revis is currently in a Master’s program at SJSU. He says he was inspired by a class he took during his undergraduate days, where he did community service at a homeless shelter that assists immigrant children. He says he could feel the power of the impact he had on those kids.
One of Spitz's athletes from last year's group, Terrance Ferguson, was drafted to the LA Rams after placing as the fastest tight end in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Ferguson joined Colby Parkinson at the Rams, who also trained with Spitz at Cal Strength.
Spitz says that his business has been booming and that he's grateful to the town of Los Gatos for embracing him and his team. This year's group is very driven, he adds. Some already hold philanthropic goals for once their dreams have been actualized in the NFL. “I want to help underprivileged young people get out of the situations that they're not supposed to be in and create some change systematically,” one player commented. Another said he hopes to become a D2 football coach so he can make a bigger impact on a community, rather than coaching at the D1 level in the G5 FCS (Football Championship Subdivision).
Taniela Latu says that one of Spitz's best qualities is that, as a coach and mentor, he finds something new that they can work on each day. That way, they don't become complacent with their techniques. Jack Endries says he's known Spitz since he was a sophomore in high school, and that, during Covid, Spitz took both high schools in his area under his wing, even coordinating a travel league to Los Angeles—driving a bus of about 50 kids down to play.
Homecoming
Spitz says it's particularly exciting to have the Super Bowl here this year, because during the week prior to the event, there are a lot of appearances that players get to make. “I get to have a homecoming of sorts for a lot of the players who we've worked with over the last 16-plus years preparing for the NFL draft," he said.
Spitz said many of the players he's coached have gone on to have very successful careers in the NFL. “The NFL is not a destination, it's the start of a new journey,” he said. Spitz is planning to attend this year's Super Bowl as he received tickets from Hooper, and will be joining them at their after party in anticipation of a celebration. The last time the Seahawks and Patriots played each other at the Super Bowl was 11 years ago, when the Patriots beat the Seahawks, in—as Spitz puts it—“dramatic fashion.”
The last time the Super Bowl took place
at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara County was a decade ago. President Donald Trump has publicly announced he will not be attending this year's festivities. Though artists keep their performances heavily discrete until showday, some anticipate that featured musical artist Bad Bunny will attempt to draw people together in hopes of creating one unifying moment. What is certain is that Spitz has the opportunity to be somewhat of a unifying leader, considering he has allegiances to both sides. So, while the rivalry of sports can cause things to heat up, given the unique position that Spitz is in, he can help to turn heated emotions into a more positive direction—at least when it comes to his two former students. Of course, with competition comes tunnel vision, so, hearing the wise perspective of a trusted coach and business owner can provide an important reminder for the loser that winning isn’t everything. Spitz has a profound sense of pride due to witnessing what these young men have accomplished. He says he’s humbled to have been part of their journey. “It's a lot of fun; that's the best way I can describe it,” he said. “If you are in the right profession, it's really hard to distinguish the work from just the pure enjoyment of what you do everyday. For me, I consider myself very fortunate, because everyday, I come to work and have the opportunity to interact and help be a positive mentor for these young men.”
TO THE LIMIT Players have been tuning-up their bodies at the Cal Strength training camp over the past few weeks, in advance of the NFL Combine. They’re hoping to one day play in the Super Bowl, which is a real possibility, considering two former students are playing in this year’s contest.
Cal Strength, from page 1
LOS GATOS GEARS UP FOR THE SUPER BOWL
Halftime performer, Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, has already been making news
Faizi Samadani, Contributor
The headliner for this year's Super Bowl Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium is Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny. As of 2023, Apple Music became the sponsor of the important cultural spectacle, and for the first time in Super Bowl history, a Spanish-language artist will be headlining. The timing of this major sports event and halftime show appears to be a statement about one of the most fearful times in modern American history.
Make sure to take photos
On Sunday, at the 68th annual Grammy Awards, Bad Bunny took home the biggest award of the night in the Album of the Year category, for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.” The album translates quite literally to “I should have taken more photos.” Much of what's happening in the political climate of the United States right now is being documented on people's cell phones.
On Jan. 24, nurse Alex Pretti was shot dead by a federal agent in Minneapolis, Minn. Pretti's death was captured by civilians from every angle possible. They showed a federal law enforcement official removing his gun before he was shot. On Feb. 2, Pretti's death was officially declared a homicide.
Now people are wondering whether or not Bad Bunny will make an intentionally controversial statement at this year's halftime show. Art has always been political, just as politics has always been a lens on humanity. During Bad Bunny's recent Grammy acceptance speech for the Best Música Urbana Album award, he said, “We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans. And we are Americans...Hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love."
The last time that the Super Bowl came to Santa Clara County was in 2016, with the 50th anniversary of the sports event. The halftime show, which featured Bruno Mars, Beyoncé and Coldplay, drew criticism from some who deemed it as “anti-police.” Responding to the selection of Bad Bunny—with Green Day slated to rock the crowd ahead of the game—President Trump stated, “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.” Most recently, Bad Bunny generated $450 million for Puerto Rico's economy with his recent tour, even though he lowered his ticket prices for locals in his home territory.
Bad Bunny decided to not bring his
tour to America because he was concerned with how ICE has been targeting a wide swath of immigrants, scooping up even people who are legal citizens at times. After he was announced as this year's halftime show headliner, many news reporters made ignorant statements showing they were unaware that Puerto Rico has been part of the United States since 1898, 127 years ago.
No vacancy?
The Los Gatos Hotel is booked at almost full capacity for this coming weekend. An official with the hotel told the newspaper they had just one vacancy, citing that they believe it’s due to the Super Bowl coming to the area. A Toll House Hotel official said their busy season doesn't hit until Spring, and their current bookings are at more than 60% for this weekend— but they expect to continue to fill those throughout the week.
Meanwhile, Los Gatos High School Students organized a school-wide walkout on Jan. 30, to protest ICE. It lasted two hours long and captured the at -
tention of concerned parents. Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District Superintendent Heath Rocha sent out an email on Feb. 1, affirming that the students held the right to protest through Senate Bill 955.
(The Super Bowl host committee says there’s no ICE operation “planned” for the Super Bowl, the New York Times reported. However, a federal security presence is still expected.)
“We called into the attendance office to request Senate Bill 955,” said LGHS junior Louisa Horwath, adding students are allowed to protest without repercussions. Her partner in coordinating this protest is Nova Jayaraj, another junior at LGHS.
Horwath says this was a group effort that gathered over 300 students to participate, saying that makes her extremely proud.
Spanish teacher at LGHS Danielle Stinson uses Bad Bunny songs to help students learn the language more fluently by practicing translation, students say.
Valentine's Day is around the corner
Whether you are attached or have love to celebrate in a non-romantic way, the
Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its third annual Sweetheart Stroll (which will be followed by the “Get Fresh Valentine's Week,” Feb. 7-14).
From 12-5pm, the Stroll invites all to come and take a walk to explore the town by experiencing pop-ups and special events put on by businesses and restaurants.
To enter, pick up a Sweetheart Stroll passport and event map at the Chamber's table in the breezeway next to Automobuild. This event will also be a great time for participants to download the free Los Gatos Perks Pass, which gives access to businesses that will be participating throughout Valentine's Week.
Guests who collect four stickers on their Sweetheart Stroll passport can enter to win prizes worth hundreds of dollars.
“The Sweetheart Stroll brings together everything people love about Los Gatos: a walkable downtown, local businesses, and a little Valentine’s magic,” said Jennifer Lin, CEO of the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a joyful way to spend the afternoon, support local, and continue celebrating all week long.”
Faizi
Samadani / Los Gatan
STUDENT ORGANIZERS Los Gatos High School juniors Nova Jayaraj and Louisa Horwath coordinated an anti-ICE protest that took place the day after Bad Bunny spoke out against the federal force at the Grammys.
ANTI-RACISM GROUP HOLDS VIGIL FOR PEOPLE KILLED BY FEDS
Planning Commissioner decries media coverage of protests
Dinah Cotton, Contributor
Last Saturday morning, during the Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition vigil on the Civic Center Lawn, two easels displayed the names of those “Who We Have Lost.”
It was a respectful and peaceful gathering of 50-60 adults, mostly Los Gatans. A vigil is defined as a period of keeping awake during the time when one is usually asleep, especially for the purpose of keeping watch or praying.
By those who we have lost, the group was acknowledging those known to have died in federal custody or shot and killed by federal agents in violent immigration enforcement operations.
Those gathered went silent for 20 minutes. As cars drove by, an occasional honk, maybe a shout out echoed through the crowd. Long-stemmed white and orange roses were handed out.
“Will we grow numb to this violence and accept this as the new normal?”
asked LGARC President Jeff Suzuki in his email prior to this event. “No. We
know what we have witnessed. We will not forget what we saw.”
Suzuki added, “We stand for the safety of everyone detained.”
The LGARC is calling for “swift justice” for those who are responsible for the deaths.
“In 2021 I met Jeff when we were both appointed to the Planning Commission,”
Emily Thomas, a current Los Gatos Planning Commissioner, stated at the event.
“I find it unacceptable the way that these protests have been reported on, or the lack of coverage of the protests in Minneapolis. These have been some of the largest in American history.”
The Daily Beast reported that five people died while in ICE custody—or were shot to death on the streets during relevant federal activities—during the first 15 days of 2026.
In 2025, this federal agency reported 30 deaths of people in its custody.
A recent estimate from the Department of Homeland Security reports tens of thousands of detainees in the immigration detention system.
The internal DHS data also reports that the ICE’s detainee population has
reached about 73,000 nationwide. That’s a record high for the agency, according to a CBS news report.
The Guardian reported last February that senior ice officials Russell Hott and Peter Berg were reassigned over the “slow rate of deportations and arrests.”
The Washington Post reported that Trump officials have now directed senior ICE officials to increase arrests to meet daily quotas. Each field office has been instructed to make 75 arrests per day.
Reports to the American Civil Liberties Union told of detainees enduring physical and sexual abuse, medical ne -
glect and intimidation to self-deport while in custody. Detainees describe being kept in inhumane conditions.
“Individuals with serious conditions report going days or weeks without prescribed medication or having medical requests ignored until someone collapses,” the organization stated in a Dec. 8 blog post about dozens of accounts of abuse at the immigration detention site at the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas
Four more vigils are planned for February: on Saturdays, from 10-11am, on the Civic Center lawn, in front of the Los Gatos Library.
SENDING A MESSAGE Local residents took to the Civic Center Lawn on Saturday to raise awareness about the people who’ve died at the hands of federal agents.
SPEAKING TO AUTHORITY A police officer assures Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition President Jeffrey Suzuki that protesters’ First Amendment rights will be respected.
Photos by Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan
STUDENTS PROTEST ICE BY MARCHING THROUGH TOWN
More than 300 participants took part in the demonstration
Nova Jayaraj, Los Gatos High School student
On Feb. 2, my fellow student Louisa and I organized a large student-led protest against ICE that brought together over 300 participants from our school and community.
The protest involved a coordinated walk through town—and days of thorough planning and collaboration.
We organized student marshals in safety vests to guide participants, planned and
communicated a clear route in advance, and arranged student speeches that addressed immigration, student voices, and the importance of being heard in decisions that shape our future.
Everything—from logistics to messaging— was student-run and carefully organized.
This protest was a powerful example of young people engaging in civic action and standing up for issues that directly affect our communities.
We believe it represents the growing role of students in shaping conversations about justice, policy and the future we want to live in.
DITCHING CLASS TO PROTEST Ishaan Allen, a senior at LGHS, took this photo of the student activists.
STREET STATEMENT Los Gatos High School Students cross Main Street during the Monday action.
WHERE EVERY GENERATION CAN FIND THEIR PLACE UNDER THE SUN
Why our teens are leading the charge for a new community center
Jeffrey P. Blum, Contributor
In the classic Bruce Springsteen song, Rosalita “(Come Out Tonight),” the protagonist pleads with his sweetheart to escape the confines of her daddy’s high expectations. He complains that “your papa says he knows that I don’t have any money.” Rosalita’s dad thinks the protagonist is a loser. It’s a tale of adolescent rebellion and the search for a place to belong, a place where you aren’t judged by your bank account or your reputation but simply welcomed.
In Los Gatos, teenagers aren't exactly getting into trouble in the cinematic sense, but they are facing a modern version of that same Springsteen restlessness. They are looking for a place to sit down that isn't a library floor or a crowded sidewalk.
Doing the Due Diligence
The Community Center Project Team understands that to build a space for the future, you must consult the people who will inherit it. Alongside two general community feedback sessions and substantial additional outreach, the team contacted Los Gatos High School to gauge student interest. The result? The formation of the High School Community Center Teen Club.
This group has been boots-on-theground advocates, ensuring their peers have a seat at the table. Their outreach has been exhaustive:
• Surveys: Identifying the specific "wants and needs" of the local student body.
• Expert consultation: Meeting with Mary Lonhart, a fellow Rotarian and middle school principal, to seek input and spread awareness.
• Parental input: Hosting a meeting to ensure the adults are on board with the vision.
• Middle school mentorship: Reaching out to the Fisher Middle School student leadership group to ensure the next generation is included.
A common vision across generations
The Teen Club’s desires align closely with those of the wider community. While Springsteen’s protagonist might be doing dumb things and hanging out in the street, Los Gatos teens are asking for something far more constructive. Through their research, the students identified several key features that serve both their needs and the town's broader goals. They advocated for a large, welcoming lobby, a place where people of all ages can socialize safely, creating an intergen-
erational hub. They highlighted the need for a large-capacity room that could host teen events and dances, while simultaneously serving the town’s need for a venue for town halls and performances.
The teens also pushed for smaller multi-purpose rooms, envisioning spaces for quiet study or club meetings that could double as flexible areas for community classes and non-profits. Finally, they emphasized the importance of outdoor space.
The after-school vacuum
While the library is a treasure, it has become the default "hangout" by necessity, not necessarily by design. Local schools remain unavailable after hours due to a lack of supervisory staff and liability concerns. Years ago, the "Venue,” a standalone teen center behind the high school, served this purpose. But since its clo -
sure, a void has remained. Without a designated spot, teens find themselves in that awkward Springsteen-esque limbo: too old for playgrounds, too young for bars, and lacking a place to find inexpensive food options or participate in non-school-related activities.
"The night is bustin' open, these two lanes will take us anywhere..." Springsteen sang. But in Los Gatos, our teens shouldn't have to leave town to find a place to belong.
The power of “intergenerational”
One of the most significant takeaways from the project team’s research, including tours of successful centers, is that standalone facilities are a thing of the past. Building an intergenerational center, rather than a "teen center," creates a stronger social fabric. When teens, se-
niors, and young families share a roof, the loser stigma often fades. The "papa" who doesn't like the boyfriend might find himself playing chess across from a teenager, realizing they have more in common than they thought. It bridges the gap between those who have the big money and those who are just starting out.
Join the movement
The Community Center Project is about providing a safe, supervised and vibrant heart for Los Gatos. We are moving past the days of teens doing dumb things out of boredom. We are building a space where they can be leaders, creators and community members.
As the song goes, “Rosalita, jump a little higher... daddy’s gone, goodbye.” It’s time for Los Gatos to jump a little higher, too. Let’s build a space where every generation can find their place under the sun.
Shutterstock user Ben Houdijk
IN THE NETHERLANDS Bruce Springsteen pictured at a May 25, 2023 concert in Amsterdam. Columnist Jeffrey P. Blum says teenagers are facing a modern version of the restlessness the classic rock artist famously described.
REAL ESTATE
A modest home price bump predicted for 2026
Also, more homes expected to come on the market
By Janis Mara
Home prices are expected to increase modestly this year over 2025, which one expert described as “the year of the curve ball.”
The median home price is predicted to rise 3.6%, not exactly a home run for home owners but better than the flat 2025 median, according to Jordan Levine, chief economist of the California Association of Realtors.
To get an idea of the relative impact of a 3.6% price increase, the median price of a Santa Clara County home is currently $1,600,000. That would go up to $1,657,800. The median home price in both Santa Cruz and Alameda counties is $1,100,000. A 3.6% increase would raise that to $1,139,600.
“We will eke out modest growth in 2026,” the economist said.
Home prices didn’t increase in 2025 due to factors including a home insurance crisis sparked by the Southern California wildfires, stock market volatility, trade issues and interest rates, he said.
Levine expects the number of homes on the market to increase 10% in 2026—which could mean a wider selection and more pricing options for buyers.
“For would-be buyers who sat out the competitive market during the past couple of years, that means more opportunities as inventory increases moderately and lending conditions become more favorable,” Levine said.
Santa Clara County currently has one and a half months of inventory. If no other homes came on the market, it would take about a month and a half to sell all the homes for sale. Alameda County has two months’ worth and Santa Cruz County has 3.7 months’ worth.
Interest rates are expected to drop, which typically means more buying power for homebuyers. Rates fell to 6.17% in October and are expected to go down further, to 6%, in 2026.
Debbie Calixto, sales manager at online mortgage lender loanDepot, agreed with Levine’s assessment of inventory and home prices in 2026.
She too expects inventory to increase, with 10% quite possible. "We expect moderate price growth in 2026—likely below 4% on average in California," Calixto said.
Redfin Senior Economist Asad Khan concurred with Levine’s “curveball” opinion of real estate in 2025, and then some.
“This year, the U.S. housing market has been described as ‘a nightmare,’ ‘very unusual’ and ‘alarming,’ Khan noted in a September report. “We are cautiously optimistic normalcy may not be as far off as many might fear.”
Levine noted that several challenges remain: the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and its trading partners, the home insurance crisis and a potential stock market bubble.
Nevertheless, “As economic uncertainty begins to clear up in the next 12 months and mortgage rates start declining more consistently in the upcoming quarters, housing sentiment will see improvement in 2026,” Levine said.
RECENT SALES AND PRICES
Los Gatos
The typical Los Gatos home is valued at $2,447,772, according to the Zillow Home Value Index as of December 31. Median home prices in Santa Clara County are up to $1.5 million, more than 2% over last January, according to Redfin. Homes are selling briskly—more than half go to contract within two weeks of listing. Sales volume has dropped by more than 25%, with 124 home sales pending as of January 25.
arry and David met in the mid 60’s at San Jose State College. They became close friends and eventually purchased an old wonderful house in Los Gatos. They later parted ways and left Los Gatos. A few years later they moved back to Los Gatos together after David started a small shop in downtown Los Gatos called Los Gatos National Porch. Larry and David ultimately purchased another old house which they sold to start a business together. Thus, was born the Los Gatos Porch (they temporarily lived in the attic of the new shop while establishing the business) and then became life partners and business partners. They did very well in the community and ultimately became a fixture in Los Gatos while giving much love and service back in return. The term “Larry and David” was thus born. Larry began his lifelong giving and service to the town and his many friends and clients. He was always there for any cause that he felt could benefit from the natural generosity that he possessed. Larry lent his thoughtful and often pointed insight to most town issues, even at the expense of making some enemies. But his actions were never for his own gains but always for the idea of doing the right thing for the town. He had a very principled view and believed in treating others justly and fair. Larry was devoted to the arts and culture in our community. He was totally committed to keeping the Los Gatos legacy of being an artistic town alive.
Larry’s Spanish heritage was very important to him. It came from his mother who was born in Spain but moved to the U.S. with her parents. He was extremely close with his abuela and abuelo (grandparents). He talked to his abuelo into funding a trip to Spain in his early college years where he met his whole Spanish family. A classic early 60’s college boy spending the entire summer in Europe on grandpa!
He is survived by his partner, David Stonesifer; a few relatives, including brother, Frank Arzie and his wife Judy; nieces, and an aunt. He is also survived by his caring companion, Sam Martinez and Charlie, their wonderful Jack Russell Terrier.
The Celebration of Larry’s Life will occur on February 12, 2026 at La Estancia in Los Gatos beginning at 11:00 am. Promptly at noon the service will begin followed by refreshments and more sharing of memories.
Capture the essence of a departed family member with an obituary in the pages of our papers. Your tribute will appear perpetually on our website, and that of our partner, Legacy.com. We can write a tribute that embodies the spirit of the deceased, or we can publish one you provide us.
Call or email for details: Lynda at 707.353.1148 or LifeTributes@Weeklys.com losgatan.com/submit-obituary
POLICE BLOTTER
$40,000 IN LOGS REPORTED STOLEN FROM EATON LANE
Prepared by Anika Kapasi
JAN. 25
• A burglary was reported at Moore Clinical Aesthetics on Los Gatos Boulevard at 10:40am.
• A caller reported a man with shopping carts blocking the road on Los Gatos-Almaden Road and Howes Drive at 12:08pm.
JAN. 26
• Someone stole a pro-Donald Trump banner that said “Never Surrender” off the caller’s property on Tait Avenue.
• A driver ran through two stop signs and failed to yield to pedestrians at the intersection of East Main and Jackson streets at 6:55p.m.
• A caller reported a suspicious white male with a trench coat following them on Bachman Avenue and University Avenue at 11:14p.m.
• Someone stole 10-15 20-feet logs, worth approximately $40,000 on Eaton Lane. This was this was reported on Jan. 30, but occurred on Jan. 26
JAN. 27
• A caller reported dogs barking continuously for about 10 minutes on Longridge Road at 9:39am.
• A McDonald’s worker reported that his supervisor threw a tray at him, nearly hitting him in the face, and then struck his shoulder because he was “doing everything incorrectly” at 1:07p.m. The report was made at the Police Operations Bureau via a Spanish language translator.
• A six-vehicle accident at the intersection of Blossom Hill Road and Camino Del Cerro occurred at 3:04pm.
• An officer stopped a suspicious vehicle near Winchester Boulevard and Highway 85, resulting in a citeand-release arrest at 3:25pm.
• A homeless man was reported intoxicated and harassing customers at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company. He was arrested for an outstanding warrant at 3:40pm.
• A vehicle struck a pedestrian, resulting in serious injuries, near Blacy’s Vault of Los Gatos on University Avenue at 5:20pm.
• A caller reported paperwork and keys stolen from a locked apartment at Towne Terrace at 6:26pm.
• A caller reported a man urinating in the street and drinking alcohol after parking in the middle of the roadway on Cale Estoria at 8:26pm.
JAN. 28
• A caller was hit by a vehicle and sustained minor injuries at Starbucks on North Santa Cruz Avenue at 10:46am.
• An officer recovered a vehicle that was previously reported stolen at Muni Lot 4 at 12:03pm.
• A caller reported three vehicles stolen at the Tesla Service and Charging Center at 1:04pm.
• A caller reported a woman yelling at her husband about their home “being someone else’s old house” on Santa Rosa Drive at 8:33pm.
JAN. 29
• Officers arrested a suspect attempting to break into the caller’s property on Calle Marguerita at 12:57am.
• Officers assisted with a vehicle collision where no injuries were reported on Union Avenue at 9:48am.
• A caller reported a driver cutting them off on Los Gatos-Saratoga Road and Los Gatos Boulevard at 2:04pm.
• Jewelry and funds from resident of the Terrace of Los Gatos’s bank account were reported missing. The reporting party also reported someone tried to take out a loan in their name.
• A man was reportedly urinating behind the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce office on Elm Street at 8:04pm.
JAN. 30
• A vehicle was reported stolen on Pinehurst Avenue.
• A vehicle was broken into through the rear driver-side window on Westhill Drive, but it was unclear if anything was taken.
• A homeless man was reported looking into vehicles in the Safeway parking lot on Pollard Avenue, and officers arrested him on an outstanding warrant at 11:58am.
• A man was reportedly nearly hit by a car after pushing his shopping cart into the road on Los Gatos-Saratoga Road and University Avenue at 12:29pm.
• A caller reported that their gardner drove over their plants and sprinklers on Highland Avenue at 12:41pm.
• A caller reported a lost wallet at Safeway on North Santa Cruz Avenue at 1:56pm.
• A vehicle was keyed at Aventino Apartments on Winchester Circle at 3:19pm.
• A caller reported a break-in on Bacigalupi Drive after finding the rear sliding-glass door broken, spotting an unknown suspect with a flashlight and a black SUV leaving the area at 8:14pm.
• A caller reported returning home to a broken glass window, possibly caused by someone throwing lemons on Bachman Avenue at 8:58p.m.
JAN. 31
• A caller reported someone in a gardening truck attempting to enter a vehicle and then their own vehicle on Camino Del Sol at 9:10pm.
• A driver was reported tailgating the caller, passed them and moved into oncoming traffic on Los Gatos-Almaden Road and National Avenue at 3:37pm.
• A woman reportedly took a book and some gift items and then refused to return them at Barnes and Noble on North Santa Cruz Avenue at 4:21pm.
• Juveniles reportedly did a “burnout” on electric bikes in the Safeway elevators, causing smoke and damage at North Santa Cruz Avenue at 4:36p.m.
• A vehicle collision was reported, resulting in zero injuries and a cite-
and-release arrest at Knowles and Capri drives at 6:01pm.
• Officers arrested a person who slapped someone after being told to leave Carry Nations on North Santa Cruz Avenue at 9:43p.m.
These reports are compiled from publicly available information released by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.
CORRECTIONS
The article about a planned mountain biking trail in last week’s edition contained a number of errors and omissions:
• The tentative date for the start of construction is 2028.
• The last trail that was opened for mountain bikers in the Lexington Reservoir Basin was the Aquinas and Serenity Trails around 25 years ago.
• The $650,000 for the pilot project came from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s General Fund and was not a grant.
• Santa Clara County owns and manages Alma Bridge Road; Midpen has been partnering with them.
• The Beatty Ranch was acquired by Midpen 18 years ago.
• Ryan McCauley, a spokesperson for Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, was incorrectly identified.
• Most of the newt counts data was gathered by community scientists through the Newt Patrol effort. The scientific study I referenced on our call was conducted by H.T. Harvey & Associates, a Los Gatos-based wildlife ecology group and was funded by Midpen and Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST).
• Midpen is a regional land management agency that oversees 70,000 acres from Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz County with more than 250 miles of trails, with 25 preserves open to the public.
A SAN JOSE MAN WAS KILLED IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH ON HIGHWAY 9
The 31-year-old was driving along the part of the road that’s south of SR 35
Staff Report
A 31-year-old San Jose man was killed in a motorcycle crash in the Santa Cruz Mountains yesterday, authorities said.
On Thursday, around 5:54 p.m., police responded to a crash on Highway 9, south of State Route 35, according to the CHP.
The man was driving a 2017 Suzuki GSX-R600 motorcycle at an unknown speed southbound on State Route 9 south of State Route 35, according to police.
The driver lost control of the Suzuki, for reasons under investigation, and it collided with a portion of the asphalt road.
After the initial crash, the vehicle kept on moving south, leaving the roadway.
The motorcycle crashed into a tree, and the driver came to rest down an embankment. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel. The death was determined to have been caused by the crash itself, though the cause of the crash is not yet known.
It is unclear if alcohol and/or drugs were factors in the incident.
Lieutenant Grant Boles, the acting commander of the CHP Santa Cruz Area office, is reminding everyone “that it is important for motorcyclists to minimize their risks by riding responsibly.”
That includes “always wearing a helmet and other protective gear” and “and “never riding after consuming alcohol or drugs, while fatigued,” he added.
Sheriff’s Office launches language translation pilot ahead of Super Bowl
With Super Bowl LX set to bring thousands of visitors from around the world to the Bay Area, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is currently rolling out a new language translation platform to help deputies communicate more effectively with residents and guests.
The agency has partnered with Pocketalk to launch a one-year pilot project aimed at breaking down language barriers and improving public safety, the agency said.
“Deputies will have this technology as an available optional tool this month, just in time for the influx of visitors expected for the big game,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.
“Clear communication is critical to public safety, especially during large-scale events,” said Sheriff Robert Jonsen.
Ad
Let us help you with your next rebranding, product launch, media campaign, digital initiative, website redesign or image refresh.
identity + strategy + design
*Prepared by Anika Kapasi
(Los Gatos Police Operations Center3)
LOS GATOS BOULEVARD The Los Gatos Police Operations Center pictured on Jan. 26.
Credit: Drew Penner / Los Gatan
LOS GATOS BOULEVARD The Los Gatos Police Operations Center pictured on Jan. 26.
Name Changes
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME. Case No. 26CV484106. Notice of Petition of Veronica Flores De Diaz. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. To all interested persons: Petitioner: Veronica Flores De Diaz filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. Veronica Flores De Diaz to Proposed name: Veronica Diaz. 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: April 14, 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, 107 Dakota Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Date: January 13, 2026. /s/ Le Jacqueline Duong /s/, Judge of the Superior Court. Filed January 13, 2026 by /s/ TB T. Belloncle /s/, Deputy Clerk. (Pub LGN: 01/28, 02/04, 02/11, 02/18/2026)
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME. Case No. 26CV484975. Notice of Petition of JOHN AND GINA FIEDLER. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. To all interested persons: Petitioner: JOHN AND GINA FIEDLER filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. AUDREY ANN FIEDLER to Proposed name: FINN FELIX FIEDLER. 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: April 28, 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, 107 Dakota Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Date: January 26, 2026. /s/ Charles F. Adams /s/, Judge of the Superior Court. Filed January 26, 2026 by /s/ TB T. Belloncle /s/, Deputy Clerk. (Pub LGN: 02/04, 02/11, 02/18, 02/25/2026)
Fictitious Business Name Statements
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #722599
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: MLB Consulting Specialist, 4876 Poston Drive, San Jose, CA, 95136, Manuel L. Barrios. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Manuel Barrios. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 01/07/2026. (pub LG 01/14, 01/21, 01/28, 02/04/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #721762
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: San Jose Contract Enforcement Group, 1177 Branham Lane #1029, San Jose, CA, 95118, Xtreme Junk Pros LLC. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 12/02/2025. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Ernest Daniel Estrada. Managing Member. #B20250394713. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 12/02/2025. (pub LG 01/14, 01/21, 01/28, 02/04/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #722684
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Pace Physical Therapy, 3880 S. Bascom Ave Ste106, San Jose, CA, 95124, Epic Physical Therapy And Wellness PC. 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/Aparajitha Gottapu. CEO. #B20250323214. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 01/09/2026. (pub LG 01/21, 01/28, 02/04, 02/11/2026)
PUBLIC NOTICES
File Number: FBN722434. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. RECOR COMMERCIAL
CALIFORNIA , 481 N Santa Cruz Ave #162, Los Gatos, CA 95033. This business is conducted by: An Individual, STEVEN DOUGLAS MAXSON, 481 N Santa Cruz Ave #162, Los Gatos, CA 95030. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 12/29/2025 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/ Steven Douglas Maxson /s/. (Pub LGN: 01/14, 01/21, 01/28, 02/04/2026)
File Number: FBN722546. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. BARNETT TAX SERVICES
500 E. Calaveras Blvd., Suite #214, Milpitas, CA 95035. This business is conducted by: An Individual, LORI KANAWYER BARNETT, 500 E. Calaveras Blvd., #214, Milpitas, CA 95035. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/18/2025 and 01/05/2026 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/ Lori Kanawyer Barnett /s/. (Pub LGN: 01/14, 01/21, 01/28, 02/04/2026)
File Number: FBN722443. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. PL KRAUSE 2. PL KRAUSE COMPANY, 3. PL KRAUSE CO, 50 Cody Lane, Los Altos, CA 94022. This business is conducted by: An Individual, PETE KRAUSE, 50 Cody Lane, Los Altos, CA 94022. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 12/29/2025 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. /s/ Pete Krause /s/. (Pub LGN: 01/21, 01/28, 02/04, 02/11/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #722744
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Monterey Square, 16795 Monterey Rd., Morgan Hill, CA, 95037, Marian Nazzal Petros, Jiries J. Nazzal, Neimeh J Nazzal, Issa J. Nazzal, Basima I Nazzal. This business is being conducted by a General Partnership. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein n 01/13/2026. /s/Marian Nazzal Petros. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 01/13/2026. (pub LG 01/21, 01/28, 02/04, 02/11/2026)
File Number: FBN722779. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. MOXXIE , 544 Lochridge Drive, San Jose, CA 95133. This business is conducted by: An Individual, FELIX MARCELINO, 544 Lochridge Drive, San Jose, CA 95133. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/14/2026 and 01/15/2026 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/ Felix Marcelino /s/. (Pub LGN: 01/28, 02/04, 02/11, 02/18/2026)
File Number: FBN722852 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. APPLIED MEDIA , 39 Ashler Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, COVEN LLC, 39 Ashler Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/13/2026 and 01/20/2026 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. Coven LLC, Article/Reg # B20250435986, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Andrew Coven /s/ Managing Member. (Pub LGN: 01/28, 02/04, 02/11, 02/18/2026)
File Number: FBN722557. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. GEEK OUT TRAVEL , 13209 Quito Road, Saratoga, CA 95070. This business is conducted by: An Individual, APRIL ELIZABETH TARBUSKOVICH, 13209 Quito Road, Saratoga, CA 95070. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 01/06/2026 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/ April Elizabeth Tarbuskovich /s/. (Pub LGN: 01/28, 02/04, 02/11, 02/18/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #722927
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Richard Smith & Associates, Inc., 1500 E Hamilton Ave., #212, Campbell, CA, 95008. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. 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/Denise Wilson. CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 01/21/2026. (pub LG 01/28, 02/04, 02/11, 02/18/2026)
File Number: FBN722568 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. Pacific Assets Solutions 21510 Oak Court, Los Gatos, CA 95033. This business is conducted by: An Individual, Marat Svetlichnyi, 21510 Oak Court, Los Gatos, CA 95033. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/01/2026 and 01/06/2026 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/ Marat Svetlichnyi /s/. (Pub LGN: 01/28, 02/04, 02/11, 02/18/2026)
File Number: FBN723070. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. EASTERLY SANTA CLARA 3927 Rivermark Plaza, Santa Clara, CA 95054. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, CISHI RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, 3927 Rivermark Plaza, Santa Clara, CA 95054. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 11/01/2017 and 01/26/2026 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. CISHI RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT, Article/Reg # 4021316, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Xing Wang /s/ Owner. (Pub LGN: 02/04, 02/11, 02/18, 02/25/2026)
File Number: FBN722992 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. PLU2O DISPENSARY, 170 Barack Obama Blvd, San Jose, CA 95110. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, GREEN KITE INC, 1415 Oakland Blvd Suite 215, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. The registrant
commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 01/22/2026 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. Green Kite INC, Article/Reg # C6343308, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Mohammad Mahmoud /s/ Chief Financial Officer. (Pub LGN: 02/04, 02/11, 02/18, 02/25/2026)
File Number: FBN722917. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. G-FORCE MARKETING , 142 Lottie Lane, Campbell, CA 95008. This business is conducted by: An Individual, GINA MARIE JACKMAN, 142 Lottie Lane, Campbell, CA 95008. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/07/2026 and 01/21/2026 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/ Gina Jackman /s/. (Pub LGN: 02/04, 02/11, 02/18, 02/25/2026)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #722523 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Cherry Zone Four Seasons Fruit, 6265 Pacheo Pass Hwy, Gilroy, CA, 95020, Melanie Tellez Sanchez. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 10/20/2025. /s/Melanie Tellez Sanchez. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 01/05/2026. (pub LG 02/04, 02/11, 02/18, 02/25/2026)
