Los Gatan January 21, 2026

Page 1


16 of these homes will be reserved for residents with mental disabilities

On Jan. 13, Los Gatos Town Council greenlit Phase 2 of the North 40 mixed-use project, from Grosvenor Americas, which features 450 units of housing, including 77 affordable units—16 of which will be reserved for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The approval, which allows the reshaping of one of the last remaining orchards in this stretch of Silicon Valley into a tech-modernist built environment, was a split 3-2 decision, as, after several hours of discussion during a special meeting, former mayors Mary Badame and Matthew Hudes voted against.

“This was a difficult decision, and one that I take very seriously,” Mayor Rob Moore said in a text interview after the pivotal meeting for the future of the town. “Reasonable people can—and do—disagree about this project. I respect those disagreements, and I do not view tonight’s decision as a reflection of anyone’s commitment to Los Gatos or lack thereof.”

Many locals are worried new developments—or at least poorly planned ones—could hurt their property values, or reduce their quality of living.

But the community is in the midst of an eight-year cycle where it’s required to try to produce at least 1,993 homes, to catch up for the years where

PURPLE ONION CAFE TURNS 20 THIS YEAR

Owners reflect on the journey to becoming a beloved town staple

The Purple Onion Cafe, which will celebrate its 20th year this spring, began as a catering business in Campbell in 2004, before opening in April 2006 in

Los Gatos. Business partners Steve Angelo and Lisa Kilkenny met at a restaurant in 1995 called A Matter of Taste, across the street where Namaste is now. Kilkenny was the pastry chef. Angelo began working there when his cousins scored him a job. The two hit it off and, less than a decade later, began their own business.

The Purple Onion moved into the former home of Cafe Siena, at 26 E. Main St. Once the lease was signed, Angelo and Kilkenny had just four days to get situated. They were concerned the Cafe Siena regulars might change their morning routine. The Cafe Siena customers were

THE BILLLISTER TEAM

THE BILL LISTER TEAM

THE BILLLISTER TEAM

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Call Me To Discuss Your Next Move in 2024

JUSTLISTED

20246 GIST RD. LOS GATOS

ACTIVE

$1,349,000 4 BEDS 2 BATHS +_2,262 Sq. Ft. 2.2 ACRE LOT

• Ideally located in the Los Gatos mountains, minutes from downtown

• Easy access to parks and scenic trails

• Kitchen with dedicated breakfast room

• Kitchen opens to a spacious living room with wood stove and outdoor views

16484 S. KENNEDY DR, LOS GATOS

• Upper level with two bedrooms and a full bath

6 Bedrooms | 6 Full Baths & 2 Half Baths

• Lower level with family room, game room, full bath, two additional bedrooms, laundry, and ample storage

± 6,010 sq. ft Living Space | ± 1 Acre Lot Offered at $7,295,000

• Hardscaped patio ideal for entertaining or relaxing

• Served by award-winning Los Gatos schools

Custom Modern Farmhouse Estate Home

SOLD

2213 HICKS AVE. WILLOW GLEN

$3,288,800

4 BEDS, ALL WITH EN-SUITE BATHS

4.5 BATHS +-2,800 Sq. Ft.

• Located in the heart of Willow Glen

• Newly built, beautifully designed modern home

15148BEL ESCOUDR, SANJOSE

• Spacious lot ideal for entertaining and play

3 Bedrooms | 2 Full Baths

• 4 bedrooms, each with an en-suite bath

± 1,676 sq. ft Living Space | ± 7,841 sq. ft Lot Offered at $1,995,000

• 4.5 bathrooms total

• Designed for comfort and functionality throughout

Bill Lister

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#1Small Team in the Los Gatos Office

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109 BELHAVEN DR. LOS GATOS

$2,988,800 4 BEDS 2.5 BATHS +-2,448 Sq. Ft.

• Gourmet chef’s kitchen with center island, quartz counters, and stainless steel appliances

• Kitchen/family room with gas fireplace and built-in cabinetry

• Formal living and dining rooms with custom built-ins

159ANNE WAY, LOS GATOS

• Separate office with built-in workspace

• Refinished hardwood floors throughout

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103 BELRIDGE  DR. LOS GATOS OFFERED AT $2,850,000

4 BEDS

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• Valley & city light views

• Gourmet kitchen with island, maple cabinets, granite, stainless steel appliances & wine fridge

• Spacious living/ dining with fireplace + separate light-filled office

• Excellent schools: Noddin Elementary, Union Middle, Leigh High

Voted 2023 Best Real Estate Agent of Los Gatos Top Producer on the2011-2023 WSJ List 408.892.9300 | cell BLister@cbnorcal.com www.BillLister.com DRE#01179611 A results oriented approach matched with strong negotiating skills and effective marketing has made Bill Lister a national Real Estate leader. Give him a call today!

VOL.5 NO.21

Dan Pulcrano

Executive Editor & Publisher

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DEATH NOTICES

VOTED BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE IN LOS GATOS

Los Gatos' Destination for: Dancing, Line Dancing, Live Music & Private Parties/Events

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.

WHO WE ARE

Los Gatan is published Wednesdays by Weeklys. Contents copyright ©2026. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form prohibited without written permission.

REAL ESTATE ADVERTISING

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.

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TRUMP BUYS $1M IN NETFLIX, WBD BONDS SANTA CRUZ TERMINATES ITS CONTRACT WITH FLOCK SAFETY

Paramount Skydance still wants to spoil Warner Bros. deal

Staff Report

Donald Trump has picked up at least $1m in Netflix and Warner Bros Discovery bonds.

A disclosure form released by the White House on Friday indicated that Trump made two Netflix purchases and two WBD purchases, each amounting to at least $502,000, the Guardian reported.

Trump purchased the bonds on Dec. 12 and Dec. 16., just over a week after Netflix, which is based in Los Gatos, opted to buy WBD in an $82.7 billion deal, the newspaper reported.

Paramount Skydance is trying to buy WBD, too. Its initial bid was rejected, and it’s now trying to forcibly take over the company.

Netflix announced Tuesday it had upgraded its proposal to an all-cash offer of $27.75 a share.

Company’s system was flawed, searches violated laws, City officials said last year

Staff Report

Santa Cruz has terminated its contract with Flock Safety, the automated li cense plate reader operator that the Town of Los Gatos uses, over data pri vacy concerns.

On Jan. 13, the Santa Cruz City Council voted 6-1 to exit their deal, after it was dis covered the City’s data had been accessed by out-of-state agencies, KQED reported.

“For us, the threat to our civil liberties was greater than any benefit we could get from the flawed product,” said May or Fred Keeley, the NPR member sta tion reported. “We’re not interested, as they continue to develop their product, to be an experiment for a system which appears to have enormously big holes in it that they discover every day and try to patch to fix.”

In November, Good Times Santa Cruz reported that unauthorized law enforce ment agencies were inadvertently allowed to view information from the city’s license plate readers.

According to City officials, on Feb. 11, Flock Safety—the private vendor that provides the cameras and software

ONE TAKEN IN APPARENT ICE ARREST IN WATSONVILLE CAUGHT ON VIDEO

Your

Allied Rapid Response for Santa Cruz County says agents also visited residence

Todd Guild, Pajaronian Editor

At least one person was detained in Watsonville on Sunday morning by armed men who appeared to be U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to community members who posted video on social media.

The video shows an unidentified man being handcuffed by a person wearing a jacket labeled “Police” and “ICE.”

It was not clear Sunday night where the man was taken or whether he was still in custody.

Paulina Moreno, a volunteer with Your Allied Rapid Response for Santa Cruz County, said similar agents also visited at least one other residence, but no one answered.

“We’re reminding people about their constitutional rights not to open the door, to remain silent and not to share

any additional information with law enforcement,” Moreno said.

YARR, which has about 200 members, says its mission is “to use our bodies, tactics and resources to document, resist and prevent actions by ICE or other oppressive forces that would harm our fellow human beings.”

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez, whose district includes portions of Watsonville, said he went to the area where the detention took place—a small alley between Martinelli’s and Catz Paws across from the Henry J. Mello Center on East Beach Street—but the agents had already left.

“Our community does not welcome enforcement actions that intimidate families or target non-violent residents, and if ICE operates here, it should be limited to individuals who pose a real threat to public safety,” Hernandez said. “Everyone, regardless of status, has rights, including the right to remain silent and to request a judge-signed warrant.”

Moreno said volunteers were unable to locate the vehicles.

used by the Santa Cruz Police Department—notified agencies statewide that a flaw in its system architecture inadvertently allowed law enforcement agencies outside California to conduct

broad searches of license-plate data, including data collected in Santa Cruz. The searches violated two laws: the ALPR Privacy Act (SB 34) and the California Values Act (SB 54).

CORRECTIONS

In last week’s story about the local Persian community’s reaction to protests in Iran, Mohammad Rahbar’s name was spelled incorrectly in one instance, as was a traditional dish (called “chelo”). Melody Derakshandeh is planning to rebrand her store as “Melodie” (not “Melody”). We regret the errors.

DETAINED A man was taken away by apparent ICE officers on Sunday in Watsonville.
LAST DAYS A Flock Safety system perched above the Fairmont Avenue and Morrissey Boulevard intersection in Santa Cruz on Monday afternoon
Drew Penner
/ Los Gatan
Alfredo Villanueva

REAL ESTATE

Drop in interest rates makes buying, refinancing attractive

Even a small drop can greatly increase your buying power

There’s good news for folks looking to buy a home or thinking about refinancing: Mortgage interest rates have fallen to their lowest level in a year.

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage dropped to 6.17 percent at the end of October, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Lower interest rates typically mean more buying power for homebuyers and can lower a homeowner’s monthly mortgage payments via refinancing.

“Let’s say you’re house-hunting and you qualified for a mortgage loan for $900,000 at a 7 percent interest rate,” said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist for Redfin.

“If your interest rate goes down to 6.17 percent, it will up your buying power to $1.2 million”—a cool $300,000 increase. “It could put you in a whole different tier.”

More good news: Interest rates are likely to drop further, though only slightly, according to Oscar Wei, deputy chief economist for the California Association of Realtors.

“I believe that between the end of 2025 and the first three months of 2026 we will likely see some decline in the average 30-year fixed (mortgage) rate, to around 5.75 percent,” Wei said. He noted that there may be fluctuations in the next few weeks.

The interest rate drops should be especially helpful in areas where more than half the households with the me-

dian income can’t afford a house at the median price—the so-called “affordability index.”

Only 9 percent of families with median income in Monterey County can afford to buy a house at the median price —the second-lowest percentage in the state.

In Santa Cruz County it’s just 14 percent. In Sonoma and Santa Clara counties, it’s 19 percent; in Alameda County, it’s 21 percent, and it’s 26 percent in San Benito.

“Even 26 percent is not very high,” Wei said. “It should be 50 percent.”

For the lucky folks who have managed to become homeowners despite the challenges of the market, lower interest rates make refinancing potentially more attractive.

“If you purchased a home for $900,000 with a 7.5 percent interest rate in January 2023 with 20 percent down, your monthly payment would be around $5,034,” Fairweather said. Refinancing with a 6.3 percent interest rate would reset the payment to $4,456—a saving of more than $500 a month.

An important note: It takes about two to four years to recoup the fees for refinancing a home, depending on the closing costs and the monthly savings. If a homeowner plans to sell within a year or two, it doesn’t make sense to refi because there’s not enough time to recoup the charges.

“Take a look at your current mortgage rate and your loan amount before refinancing,” Wei advised. In refinancing as well as buying, there is no arbitrary perfect time—only the perfect time for you.

REGIONAL HOME PRICES

Recent Sales

2-Bedroom homes

18755 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, 95006, $530,000, 2 bed, 2 bath, 834 sqft, 0.3-acre lot

34878 Oyster Bay Terrace, Fremont, 94555, $900,888, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,296 sqft, 3,645-sqft lot

8105 Kern Ave., Apt. 33, Gilroy, 95020, $520,000, 2 bed, 1.5 bath, 1,208 sqft, 567-sqft lot

108 Marion Lane, Healdsburg, 95448, $1,200,000, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,354 sqft, 3,386-sqft lot

1075 Powell St., Hollister, 95023,

$615,000, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,050 sqft, 7,000-sqft lot

96 River Drive, Unit 2, King City, 93930,

$429,000, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,130 sqft, 2,307-sqft lot 21683 Summit Rd, Los Gatos, 95033, $780,000, 2 bed, 1 bath, 1,135 sqft, 5,989-sqft lot 14668 Excaliber Ct., Morgan Hill, 95037, $865,000, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,350 sqft, 3,400-sqft lot

6345 Joaquin Murieta Ave. Apt. B, Newark, 94560, $635,000, 2 bed, 1.5 bath, 1,132 sqft, 919-sqft lot

1939 Placer Drive, San Leandro, 94578, $745,000, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,533 sqft, 1,533-sqft lot 111 Bean Creek Road Unit 39, Scotts Valley, 95066, $560,000, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,175 sqft, 1,481-sqft lot

30784 Tidewater Dr., Union City, 94587,

$1,265,000, 2 bed, 1 bath, 888 sqft, 7,030-sqft lot

401 Spruce Circle, Watsonville, 95076, $590,000, 2 bed, 2 bath, 1,038 sqft, 4,574-sqft lot

Karen Spilsbury-Faili

September 4, 1951 – January 6, 2026

With deep sorrow, I share that my lovely and beloved wife, Karen SpilsburyFaili, my companion of 43 years, passed away on January 6. Her love and presence will remain with me always. I will miss her forever. —Firooz Faili

To the residents of Los Gatos, my heartfelt thanks.

I am truly honored to have received your votes, recognizing me with the bronze award in the local realtor category. In a community as special as ours, an honor that comes directly from you is the most meaningful compliment of all.

The trust you place in me is the foundation of my business, and for that, I am deeply grateful. My trusted partner, Granite, and I thank you for your support. It’s my privilege to serve this community, and I look forward to being your dedicated real estate resource for many years to come.

www.shirleyfrantzre.com

IN THE STUDIO WITH SUSAN JAEKEL AND RICK GUIDICE

From architectural renderings to painting NASA’s space settlement

Recently I was invited—OK I invited myself—over to the home studio of husbandand-wife artists Susan Jaekel and Rich Guidice. Their home is of 1920s vintage and located just off Santa Cruz Avenue. They have a shared studio on the remodeled second floor. I was not prepared for the depth of their work and their commitment to artistic excellence.

As Jaekel ushered me up the stairs. “Brandy,” their standard poodle, greeted me and gave me the go-ahead to enter.

These bright, spacious studios are any artist's dream. Natural light filtered onto plenty of large countertop work areas.

Several books were laid out on a counter. Jaekel offered me coffee.

“I grew up with professional artists parents,” she began. “My dad was an art director, and my mom an illustrator. My dad would bring home work for mom, and also bring home manila paper for me to draw on.”

She decided she wanted to be a professional artist.

“My high school art teacher had gone to San Jose State (SJS), and he brought (his students) over to the art department, showing us what a great art department it was—and still is.”

Jaekel added that the classes were taught by working professionals. And after graduation, many of these art majors moved into an office on Church Street, in Los Gatos.

“That Church Street building was full of creative people,” she recalled, explaining Guidice had his studio there. “Guidice, as a successful illustrator, became my mentor. This was around the time he was starting to work on NASA paintings.”

An early start in architectural illustration

Guidice entered the studio holding a recent oil plein air work, and introduced himself. I asked him to start from the beginning. While attending Willow Glen High School, Guidice, at age 16, was noticed by a student teacher for his ability to draw and for his sense of perspective. This student teacher recommended him for a part-time position at an architectural firm. “I did get the job,” Guidice stated. “So, I started working professionally at 16 years old. I worked after school and all summer. Most of the men that I was working with were 10 years older than me. They liked me and took me under their wings. Here, I excelled at handdrawn conceptual renderings—creating architectural illustrations of custom

homes.” Guidice eventually started his own architectural design firm.

Jaekel added, “Rick retired from architectural design in 2019, but continues to support his former clients—and also enjoys painting plein air in nature, for fun. He often does travel sketchbooks as well.”

The dawn of the dot com

Guidice and I continued our talk about “back in the day”—the mid-60s in Los Gatos. The buildings were quaint and artists outnumbered the real estate agents. The unexpected boom—the birth of the dot com revolution—had not yet arrived. The Valley was just a valley that grew good apricots and plums (not so silicon, yet). Los Gatos was a place where artists thrived. Job openings outnumbered the available work force. Personal computers and cell phones were also off in the future.

A fertile valley

Guidice sent me his single-spaced eightpage autobiography with accomplishments and awards going back to when he started. As Guidice freelanced, he worked on many projects for different concerns at the same time.

Here are a few client highlights from his early career: Sunset Magazine, Chevron Magazine, New Homes Magazine, California Today Magazine, S&W Foods, Santa Clara Transit, Simpson Publication, Hewlett Packard, Altos Computer Systems, Ampex, General Electric, Champion Paper Co.

Later on, he worked with Gary Dahl of “Pet Rock” fame on designs for Carrie Nations and other marketing materials. At the time these were called “fern bars.” He had his hand in the designing of Classic Car Wash on Lark Avenue, and the Delta Queen Car Wash.

Guidice’s involvement with the Western Art Directors Club led him to doing a series of illustrations for Siesta RV campers and trailers. “This is what I love to do: cars, and people in an inviting setting,” he said.

NASA

In 1970 Guidice started a 15 year relationship with NASA. “The first assignment was a series of illustrations depicting the projects NASA Ames Research was in charge of,” he said. “My work brought a whole new look. My dream of selling cars through illustration in national magazines was now realized in selling future and current space missions for NASA.” The work that Guidice did at this time is now recognized around the world.

In 2015-16 NUMU held the show “Rick Guidice: The NASA Paintings.” Thanks to the internet, his NASA work went viral. In 1917, Guidice was invited to Paris to show these works. Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk,

being influenced by Gerhard K. O’Neill’s 1976 book, The High Frontier, are fans of his as well. Guidice mentioned that recently he was asked to sign a copy of this book—it went to Bezos.

Pong

Around this time, Atari was just starting out. They had their first office here in Los Gatos. Pong was one of their first video games. Eventually they moved into a new building a short drive from Los Gatos. From Guidice’s autobiography, “the owner director (of Atari) Nolan Bushnell contacted me to design a special exterior entrance to the new space. I was given a tour of the facility. Later when the 2017, 300-page book Art of Atari by Tim Lapetino, came out, I learned that Apple’s co-founders were also working there then.” Please note that both Susan Jaekel and Rich Guidice are included in Art of Atari.

The art of video games

Guidice went on, “Years later I was called upon by Steve Jacobs Design. They were handling the emerging Atari account and asked me to do some Atari game covers. I produced some of the first ATARI video game covers including; Basic Programming, Black Jack, Canyon Bomber, Casino, Memory Match, Night Driver, Space War and Street Racer. The ATARI assignments took place 1976-1982.”

Back to the second floor studio At the far end of their studio, there was a sliding glass door that was open to an outdoor deck. Comfortable chairs were positioned to look out at some of the remaining open space land here off Santa Cruz Avenue. I was sad to know that I had to leave this enchanting area soon. Guidice’s current works: plein air paintings. Plein air is French for “in the open air,” meaning painting outdoors to directly capture the effects of natural light, atmosphere and movement. Some of his most recent paintings were framed and are hanging on what little space is available on the walls of his home studio. I wonder if any of these are for sale?

Susan Jaekel

Jaekel has made quite significant artistic contributions, as well. Sadly, the space allowed here prohibits detailed mention of her career highlights.

Guidice’s two daughters are both graphic artists in Santa Cruz: Leslie with “Energy Energy Design” and Stacy freelancing (as well as collaborating with sister Leslie). Leslie did the Alain Pinel logo and branding.

This article barely touches the surface of all they have added to the wonder of the Silicon Valley. Maybe there will have to be a sequel?

HUSBAND & WIFE Rick Guidice with Susan Jaekel at home in their studios. Guidice holds one of his plein air paintings. To his right, a portrait of their dog Brandy by Jaekel.
Dinah Cotton /

(left).

THE THREE GRACES HAVE ARRIVED AT LG COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY

Unveiling of

Peck’s “Stronger Together” mural went off without a hitch Friday

Dinah Cotton, Contributor

Three classic figures—splendor, joy and good cheer—now reside at the front of Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co., representing the “stronger together” ethos that has been a theme since a devastating car crash shook the building.

The artist behind this temporary mural, which went up last Friday is internationally renowned figurative artist John Peck. Within this mural, he conveys the spirit of Los Gatos and LGCRC. With his capable brushstrokes, he painted “Stronger Together” in just 27 days.

This mural will stand until the cafe side is reopened, following the tragic Thanksgiving solo collision that eventually killed the driver and destroyed much of the building. Restoration of this area may take many months to complete.

“It’s surreal that in the tragedy of that car crash, there would be this opportunity to present classic art,” Peck said at the unveiling. “We do know that it is part of a renaissance. I love the word ‘renaissance,’ because I think we are doing somewhat of a renaissance here.”

At the ceremony, David Lambert, a Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce boardmember, said he thinks that the tragedy showed how the town can come together for a greater good.

“You know,” Lambert said, “I think it’s just such an excellent way to bring art to the people who may otherwise not get inside of a gallery. I love art; it is inclusive.”

This mural project was underwritten by Los Gatos Music & Arts. And it was

made possible by Peck offering to paint it for the cost of supplies—not to mention the generosity of its many supporters.

LGM&A board thanked them all, including David Lambert, Shirley Julian, Lee Hicks and Neal Menschel.

NUMU Speaker Series

For a little over a year, speakers have been invited to speak on a monthly basis at NUMU.

This past Friday, I was invited to speak on the “Newspaper Wars” with Cheryl Huguenor, a tours and visitors services official at the museum.

She spoke about the insults that editors printed to one another, and how opposing papers kept on lowering their price to attract readers.

She said legendary local William Henry Benton Trantham (publisher of the Los Gatos News for 31 years) wrote his “Largest. Best. Cheapest. Read it.” motto under the masthead on the front page, adding publishers “worked early—and late—for small pay, and often on long credit.”

I spoke about the more recent publications, the Los Gatan on Wednesday (locally owned) and the Los Gatos Weekly-Times (owned by an out-of-state corporation). I also highlighted recent name/ownership changes of weekly publications here and in Saratoga.

I asked the attentive audience what they would like to see on the front page.

Gil Mesa said, “I really like all of the local sports reporting and photos.”

Another guest chimed in, “We really like the part about the newspaper wars, could you start one again?”

The February series will be on John Steinbeck, who lived in what is now Monte Sereno, not to be missed.

LIVES

Alina Maria Liniecki

September 21, 1931 – December 31, 2025

“Cutlines:

(Rick and Susan at home)

HUSBAND & WIFE Rick Guidice with Susan Jaekel at home in their studios. Guidice holds one of his plein air paintings. To his right, a portrait of their dog Brandy by Jaekel.

Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan

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Rick Guidice with Gerard K. O'Neill’s 1976 book The High Frontier. His drawing graces the cover of this bestseller and is widely regarded a major popular success.

Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan

DSC_3010.JPG

Susan Jaekel with the Atari game cover and the original she designed.

Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan

DSC_3017.JPG

ARick Guidice with a copy of Tim Lapetino's book "Art of Atari" that he and wife Susan Jaekel are in.

lina Maria Liniecki, née Skupin, age 94, a longtime resident of Los Gatos her beloved home of 46 years before moving to San Carlos, has died on December 31, 2025, leaving behind a life defined by determination, intellect, elegance, and an unwavering devotion to family and work.

Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan

DSC_3000.JPG

Alina was born in Gniezno, Poland, to Pelagia and Jan Skupin and grew up in Poznan with her younger brother, Janusz. Her childhood unfolded amid the hardship and fear of World War II, during the German occupation of Poland. From an early age, Alina was a serious and driven student, shaped by both necessity and ambition.

Rick Guidice with an illustration of a Monaco Grand Prix race car, from 1966. Guidice began his artistic career at age 16.

Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan

She earned her degree in dentistry in 1954 at the Medical Academy in Poznan. While on holiday in Sopot, on Poland’s Baltic coast, she met Alexander (Alex) George Liniecki, whom she married in 1955. Together they settled in Łódž, Poland, where they began their family. Alina and Alex had two daughters, Margaret and Katherine.

(End for Print)

Cutline: (Mural Unveiled)

*no part of this (written or photographed) to be changed, reproduced without the artists written approval. He drew for NASA. and his work is said to have influenced both Bezos and Musk. I will get to that.

In 1964, amid the gray scarcity and political constraints of communist Poland, Alina’s initiative and courage changed the course of her family’s life. After overhearing a casual remark in a Warsaw café about teaching contracts in Ghana, Africa, she pursued the opportunity with resolve. That single act of curiosity and determination led her family to relocate to West Africa, where Alex taught mechanical engineering at the university in Kumasi.

Guidice’s two daughters Leslie Guidice and Stacy Guidice have a graphic design firm, “Energy Energy Design” which is located in Santa Cruz. Leslie started her own business in the 90's and did the Alain Pinel logo and branding. Younger daughter Stacy collaborates with her sister as well as doing her own freelance work. Website is nrgdesign.com

In Ghana, Alina flourished. She was a gracious and generous hostess, renowned for the warmth of her gatherings and the abundance of food. Faculty families from around the world met in their home, drawn by Alina’s belief that hospitality was measured not by formality, but by comfort, conversations lasting late into the night, and shared enjoyment.

Leslie's company is Energy Energy Design, a thriving Graphic Design Firm in Santa Cruz and younger daughter Stacy collaborates with her sister as well as doing her own Freelance work. So hard to make a living in the arts now, as we all know- but you are doing great.

In 1969, the family immigrated to California. Alina immediately set to work rebuilding her professional life, undertaking full-time training to obtain her U.S. and California dentistry licenses while managing the essential demands of family life. In 1970, she earned her dental certificate from the American Dental Association, and in 1972, the State of California Board of Dental Examiners granted her license to practice dentistry. She first worked at the Charles Drew Center in East Palo Alto and later established her own dental practice at the Cupertino Town Center. Dentistry was not merely her profession; it was a source of pride and purpose. She retired in 2004 after decades of service to patients.

Alina, Alex, and their daughters became naturalized United States citizens in 1975, a milestone that represented not only legal status, but the culmination of a long journey of self-determination and toward security.

I had always wanted to continue my career as an illustrator, but the work went away- thank you computers, but I am grateful to finally do my own fine art now of botanicals and pet portraits in pastel; it has been so much fun to do for clients, as well as gifts for friends of their beloved pets.

I am most proud of my illustration work for children's textbooks and trade books, feeling that it's so important to inspire children to read and learn with the enjoyment of art, which always inspired me as a child!

Alina was deeply engaged with innovative technology, aesthetics, and loved modern design. She was an early adopter of Macintosh computers, introducing digital recordkeeping in her dental practice in the late 1980s – long before electronic records were commonplace. She also had a keen eye for fashion and was well known for her distinctive and stylish eyeglasses. Alina loved red: red sweaters, red nails, and even a red Tesla.

Just think if you wanted a conceptual drawing it was hand drawn, not those rigid lines that we see today that those computers spit out. rickguidice5@gmail.com

Alina and Alex shared a love of travel, spending summers exploring the United States, Latin America, Europe, and many other parts of the world. These journeys reflected Alina’s lifelong appreciation for freedom, culture, and learning.

Alina is survived by her daughters, Margaret Laporte and Katherine Gregory; their husbands, Léo Frederic Laporte and Philip Lawrence Gregory; her grandson, Noel Alexander Laporte; and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alex.

A celebration of Alina’s life will be scheduled soon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Kaiser Permanente Hospice – Redwood City, 1718 Broadway St, Redwood City, CA 94063. Donations help support compassionate end-oflife care for patients and families.

Alina’s strength, independence, and love of life remain a guiding presence. She will be deeply missed, and her force is with us.

RENAISSANCE While half of the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company building remains closed, at least it now sports a classical façade, courtesy of John Peck

WEDEMEYER’S LEGACY ENDURES THROUGH FAITHFUL WORK OF COMMUNITY

All-Star Game benefits ALS Network, Coaches Against Cancer

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

Outside of the football season, Mark Krail’s busiest time of the year comes in December and January—the two months leading up to the Charlie Wedemeyer AllStar Football Game.

The veteran Los Gatos High School football coach—along with the rest of the staff that organizes the game—dedicates countless hours behind the scenes to put on an event that honors the Wedemeyer legacy. It gives graduating football players one last opportunity to compete, while fundraising for the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Network and Coaches Against Cancer.

The 51st annual Wedemeyer Game— arguably the most well known and prestigious of the many prep football all star games in the Bay Area—takes place on Jan. 31 at LGHS with a 5pm kickoff time. In an added twist, it serves as the second game of a doubleheader.

That’s because the inaugural girls flag football game—set for a 2pm start—has been added to this year’s event. Given the popularity of flag football—it’s the fastest growing sport in the U.S. and makes its debut as an Olympic sport in the 2028 Los Angeles Games—this addition is a natural fit.

“It’s great for the girls, because they’re fierce competitors,” Krail said. “It’s not the old days of Powder Puff. They're flying around and intensely competitive.”

All of the proceeds from the game will go to Coaches Against Cancer and the ALS Network. Krail formed Coaches Against Cancer—a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization—after his father died of cancer in 2006.

The nonprofit has raised over $900,000 since its inception, with every dollar being donated to The American Cancer Society, The National Brain Tumor Society and the CAC Dream Come True Program. While Krail was quick to point out the positives of other high school football all star games in the Bay Area, he said the Wedemeyer Game stands out for a variety of reasons.

“Noboby makes any money, and we’re not charging the kids (to play),” Krail said. “It’s kind of something that sepa -

SPORTS

rates our game from others. We’ve kind of stood firm that kids can play for free. I think we’ve done it the right way for a long time and there’s a refusal to lower the standards in how we do things.”

To ensure those high standards are met—both on and off the field—Krail and his staff meet with the players and parents two weeks before the game.

“We lay out our expectations for (proper) behavior at practice and in the games,” Krail said. “That this game is bigger than them, and if they show up with an individual attitude, they’re going to be removed. We emphasize sportsmanship. They’re going to fly around and be physical, but they’re going to pick up their opponents as well. We’ve had years where it's gotten away just because of individual selfishness, and that won’t be tolerated.”

Because the game has been around

for half-a-century—it started out as the Santa Clara County All-Star Bowl before being renamed in honor of Wedemeyer— it’s developed a storied tradition. Krail played in the game, and so did his son, Kevin. Krail has also served as a coach on three different occasions.

Stories like that are ubiquitous.

Of course, the game has come to honor the life of Charlie Wedemeyer, the former LGHS coach who was 64 years old when he died in June 2010 after a long battle with ALS. He was survived by his wife, Lucy, their two children, Carri and Kale, and seven grandchildren (which has since expanded to 11 grandchildren since Charlie’s passing).

Lucy, a longtime Los Gatos resident and local real estate agent, continues to play a prominent role in the All-Star Game festivities. At a spry 76 years old,

Lucy is more determined than ever to keep her late husband’s legacy alive. Known for her quick-witted and biting humor, Lucy can exchange verbal jabs with the best of them.

“Knowing my husband is still with me, he’s the one that comes out verbally when I say things where I’m thinking, ‘Oh, that was not me saying that!’” Lucy said. “Charlie was sarcastic but he was serious about using football as a classroom to teach his players life lessons. So, for me to have this opportunity to make a difference and help kids—and the same is true now for these girls—is such a blast. The whole thing is to encourage this younger generation to understand what sacrifice, determination and commitment is. And Charlie was all of those things.”

And then some. When Charlie was

ENDURING LEGACY The 2005 All-Star Football Game featured South coaches Eric Perry, Mark Krail, Charlie Wedemeyer, Kevin Collins and Tim Lugo. Submitted

diagnosed with ALS at age 29, he was given one to three years to live. Instead, he lived 34 years with the disease and in that time led the Wildcats to a 78-18-1 record and seven league championships.

Charlie and Lucy were high school sweethearts at Punahou School in Hawaii and got married while they were in college at Michigan State. They were the subjects of a made-for-TV movie in the 1980s, and Charlie’s memory and impact continues to resonate today because of what transpired after his ALS diagnosis.

Despite losing the ability to walk or speak and being confined to a wheelchair within several years of his diagnosis, Charlie talked to his players through Lucy, using a language of blinks, eyebrow raises and cheek-twitches. Lucy used all these motions and gestures to relay the play from Charlie to his players.

They later traveled the world doing speaking engagements, with Lucy reading Charlie’s lips to share their heartwarming and inspirational story.

This year’s Wedemeyer Game features players from 46 high schools in Santa Clara County that are split up into two teams, North and South. Los Gatos High has four of its players in the game: Bryce Novinsky, Garrett Bertsch, Rowan Merrick and Nathan Vorobeichik. Brennan Pak is Saratoga’s lone representative.

Wildcats coach Jaye Reinman is the North coach in the girls flag football game, where he’ll be joined by LGHS seniors Locklyn Hodges and Heather Hansen. In the two years girls flag football has been contested in the Central Coast Section, the Wildcats have been a top-tier program, winning a league title and advancing to the Open Division championship game last season.

Lucy has been inspired by Los Gatos’ girls flag football squad and watching one of her granddaughters, Makena, play on the team this past season. Lucy continues to be a pillar in the community and attends every LGHS football contest, including away games.

Above all, Lucy appreciates Krail and all of the dedicated volunteers who have come to define what made Charlie Wedemeyer so beloved: a joyful commitment to shepherding teenagers’ lives.

“All of the volunteers—and especially coach Krail—they’re so dedicated and committed to be there for the boys,” Lucy said. “I remember when Charlie first met Mark. He was so impressed with his humbleness, his knowledge of the game; but most of all, that he was always there for the boys. He was definitely wanting to make a difference in these boys’ lives. Charlie was the same way.”

For additional game information and to buy tickets: santaclaraallstar.com.

SPORTS

LOS GATOS HIGH SCHOOL HOF ANNOUNCES 2026 INDUCTEE CLASS

Eight former Wildcats to be fêted on May 2 at La Rinconada

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

The Los Gatos High School Hall of Fame Committee has announced its 2026 inductee class. They include Dan Dolen (Class of 1970), Bill Berk (1990), Ben Winkelman (2000), Brian Brogan (2005), Danny Sullivan (2006), Sarah Safir Smith 2008), Cady Chessin (2013) and Greta Wagner (2014).

The Induction Ceremony will be on May 2 at La Rinconada Country Club. Tickets can be purchased at GoFan.co. The list of accomplishments of the athletes sparks a trip down memory lane. Here is a snapshot of achievements from the latest HOF inductees—as usual, a who’s-who in the storied LGHS sports tradition.

Dan Dolen starred in three sports: baseball, basketball and football. He was a first-team all-leaguer in baseball in his junior and senior seasons, compiling a 6-1 record in both years while helping lead the Wildcats to a pair of league championships. Dolen also was the school’s best basketball player in his junior and senior year, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. He went on to enjoy a three-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bill Berk was a key cog in the football team, winning De Anza Division and Central Coast Section championships in the 1989 season. He caught a team-high

34 passes for 821 yards, and six touchdowns that year, while also serving as the team’s placekicker, converting 23 PATs and a field goal. In baseball, Berk was a three-year starter at shortstop, leading the Wildcats to a 57-21 record during that span. In addition to being outstanding defensively, Berk hit .398 during his junior season, leading the Wildcats to a CCS title game.

Ben Winkelman was a two-way star in football, playing defensive end and tight end. He tied for first on the team in TD receptions and fumble recoveries, while also being among the leaders in tackles and sacks. He played on the opposite side of the line from future NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen, when the team allowed an average of just 7.4 points per game in the regular-season. Winkelman was also a strong basketball player who dominated in the paint.

Brian Brogan is one of the greatest tennis players in LGHS history. He was the No. 1 singles player on three CCS championship-winning teams, earning All-America honors from 2003-2005. Brogan went on to play Division I tennis at Pepperdine and Santa Clara universities.

Danny Sullivan quarterbacked the football team to De Anza Division and CCS titles in the 2005 season. He completed 60% of his passes while throwing for 24 touchdowns to just six interceptions in his senior year. Sullivan, who went on to play at Arizona State, graduated from LGHS holding the second best

all-time mark for passing yards and TDs in a single season.

Sarah Safir Smith had an illustrious swim career, winning four individual league championships while also being a part of seven league championship-winning relay squads. She broke the school record in the 50 free, and was a key cog in the record-breaking 200 free relay and 200 medley relay squads. In water polo, Smith earned all-league honors three times, including an all-CCS selection in her senior season. She went on to play water polo at Santa Clara University.

Cady Chessin was the first girl to wrestle on the boys varsity team and the first to win a varsity match. She was a threetime CCS girls champion, won state titles in her junior and senior seasons and captured a national championship in 2013. Chessin went on to wrestle at Menlo College, earning four-time All-America honors while competing in the Pan American Games and the Olympic Trials.

Greta Wagner won the pole vault in the CIF State Championships during her senior season, a year after finishing as the runner-up. She still holds the school’s girls pole vault record of 13 feet, 2 inches, and has the 13th-best vault in state history. Wagner qualified for the State Championships in four different events her senior year—the 100, 200, 4x100 relay and pole vault—a testament to her tremendous athleticism and versatility. She graduated from LGHS as the school record-holder in the 100- and 200-meter dash.

RULE THE POOL Sarah Safir Smith, pictured here competing at Santa Clara University, is a 2008 LGHS graduate who starred in water polo and swimming.

HUDES HAD LONG LIST OF QUESTIONS ABOUT NORTH 40'S AFFORDABLE UNITS

North 40, from page 1

it discouraged development. So, some residents were hoping to see even more housing on this site, to avoid having to invite affordable and multi-family projects into single-family housing zones.

The homes supply problem got so bad that Sacramento had to step in and pass a bunch of new laws to force places like Los Gatos to allow housing their planners didn’t necessarily want. This has caused headaches for a variety of wealthy communities up and down the coast, like Huntington Beach, Beverly Hills, Redondo Beach and La Cañada Flintridge— among others—which have all tried to push back against the Department of Housing and Community Development in one way or another.

Los Gatos is currently involved in multiple lawsuits, where it is opposing certain key aspects of the State’s push to create places to live for people of all income levels in a variety of highly desirable locales.

Per one of the new rules, Los Gatos had to deal with the North 40 Phase 2 project within five Town meetings—or else it gets approved automatically. Staff confirmed that the special Council meeting was the third. So, while there was a countdown underway, there was still time for more thorough review (though Eden Housing, the affordable housing developer involved in the project, tried to add a sense of urgency by saying they could miss important funding deadlines if the project wasn’t OK’d promptly).

When it came to one of the most powerful tools established by the State of California—the Builder’s Remedy punishment—Los Gatos didn’t take it seriously enough, and is now suffering the consequences.

Because Los Gatos failed to adopt a compliant Housing Element by the deadline, developers that submitted applications afterwards were allowed to request special concessions—and propose bigger projects.

Locked and loaded, Grosvenor pulled the trigger and turned in its North 40 Phase 2 plans.

This put them in a strong position. While they didn’t end up using the Builder’s Remedy, the threat loomed heavy over the hearing. Because—as the Town Attorney confirmed—if Los Gatos denied the current Phase 2 project, Grosvenor could assert their “Builder’s Remedy” rights at that point, and return with a much larger (and more profitable) development.

However, the applicant did end up in-

voking the State’s density bonus law. Because 17% of the project included affordable units for lower income residents, this entitled them to two incentives or concessions. The first request was to eliminate the requirement for commercial on the ground floor of the townhomes and affordable multi-family apartment building.

The second was to be able to build the market rate townhomes first—to cover the around $100 million of upfront costs—before having to build any affordable housing. The Town revealed that it got a second opinion and learned that the developer would be just barely in the black after selling all the townhomes. The affordable housing developer working on the standalone affordable housing building said having the infrastructure in place ahead of time would help with securing funding.

But this was a significant point of concern, as many locals say they were led to believe there’d be more affordable housing constructed as part of Phase 1 than ended up being built. (And Los Gatos received last-minute communication from HCD about the issue, which residents used as fodder for requesting the meeting be put off into the future.)

Vice Mayor Ristow said Phase 1 was hampered by arbitrary height limits (of 45 feet in one section, and 35 in another), which constrained that project and caused the developer to lean toward a

prominent boxy design that many Los Gatos citizens detest.

After everyone else began to run out of steam and seemed to be awaiting a final motion, Councilmember Hudes kept chugging along with additional questions for staff.

At one point he made a motion for a continuance and read a laundry list of reasons why he believes the current project is inadequate. This included his complaint that the Town Attorney had not put every single recent email with the Department of Housing and Community Development in the agenda packet.

This was defeated 3-2, with his frequent voting companion Badame the lone Council member to join him.

Councilmember Rob Rennie, often the swing vote, made it clear he wasn’t interested in being part of any stalling efforts. He said he thought Hudes was looking for excuses to not support Phase 2.

Hudes said the Town was not operating in a transparent manner.

But Councilmember Rob Rennie said he was getting fed up with Hudes’ rhetoric, arguing that continuing the matter so Council could have another kick at the can in closed session would be the real lack-of-transparency example.

Rennie said it’s better that people have the chance to see how the local politics “sausage” is made in full view of the people.

Hudes also argued that the 100-foot building be pushed back further from Los Gatos Boulevard. But Vice Mayor Maria Ristow said residents would probably hate it even more if the high-rise was placed along the highway, or if it took away some of the public open space. Despite the strong opinions, the disagreements were primarily expressed in monotone, and even via lighthearted banter. For example, when Councilmember Badame accidentally voted against the continuance motion—something the mayor knew was totally contrary to her intention—Moore offered her the opportunity to change her vote, which she promptly did, creating a moment of levity.

A couple hours after the decision (with the entitlements finally “in the bag”) Don Capobres, principal with Harmonie Park Development Company—one of the firms behind the North 40 project—took to social media to lash out at Hudes and Badame.

“The 2 no votes should be investigated,” he commented on LinkedIn.

Then, he moved over to Instagram, where he was not at all subtle in his remarks on the Los Gatan’s sit-down interview video with Hudes, who was mayor at the time.

“Do you honestly think you are defending the Town against exposure to future Builder’s Remedy projects by your actions on Council?” he asked. “Total malfeasance.”

DECISION DAY The North 40 Phase 1, pictured on the night Phase 2 was approved.

The North 40 Shell Game: a $250M betrayal

The Los Gatos Town Council’s 3-2 approval of North 40 Phase 2 represents more than a new direction for the town; it puts a definitive price tag on the administrative failures of Mayor Rob Moore, Vice Mayor Maria Ristow and Councilmember Rob Rennie.

This is the same voting bloc that, despite controlling the legislative agenda for the critical years of 2022 and 2023—with Rennie as mayor in 2022 and Ristow as Mayor in 2023—failed to produce a compliant Housing Element by the statutory deadline. In March 2022, the Los Gatos Community Alliance’s attorney sent a formal memo warning the Town of the critical importance of meeting that deadline. Rennie and Ristow did what they do best and ignored solid legal advice.

And so, this trio effectively handed developers the “Builder’s Remedy” weapon. It wasn’t until June 4, 2024, that the Council finally adopted a compliant Housing Element—and during that long year-and-ahalf of exposure, Builder’s Remedy applications piled up, trading our community’s planning autonomy for developer profit.

Let’s correct Rennie’s version that Hudes is trying to stall the project. To secure State certification, the Council voting bloc orchestrated a Housing Element that relied on the North 40 as its cornerstone for affordability. They told residents of the Town we could reasonably expect 365 affordable units and only 108 above-market units on this site. Yet these three Council members peddled those inflated figures to Sacramento—and us—to save their political skin.

Last week, the mask fell. This three-member bloc approved a plan producing a pathetic 77 affordable units while exploding the market-rate count to 373. That is 265 more luxury units than the Town’s own plan promised. At an average sales price of $1.6 million, those extra units gift the developer $424 million in additional gross revenue. Even after netting out the lost affordable units, this pivot hands Grosvenor Americas a windfall of over $250 million more in total revenue than the planned project would have generated.

While Councilmember Rennie rushed

for a decision, eager to bypass scrutiny, Councilmember Matthew Hudes was the adult in the room. He attempted to force the developer to comply with the Town’s own development standards and pushed to move a looming 100-foot building further back from the street to protect the neighborhood's character. The developer said no.

Throughout this insult to residents, the Moore-Ristow-Rennie bloc sat silent, eventually accusing Hudes of "stalling" a decision that will now haunt this town for generations. Shockingly, the developer never submitted a single financial projection to substantiate their claim that any changes to their plan would make the project economically infeasible. Instead, the bloc of three approved a quarter-billion-dollar payday for the developer on trust alone.

In a final act of total surrender, this bloc gutted the safeguards previously recommended by the Planning Commission. While the Commission’s conditions would have required the development of affordable units at the same time as market-rate units, the “bloc of three” stripped this protection away. They modified the conditions

to allow the developer to sell 127 market-rate units before building even a single unit of affordable housing. Based on these gutted terms, it will be years before a single affordable unit is built—if it happens at all. What is guaranteed is that the developer will extract over $200 million in revenue before the first low-income family even has a hope of moving in.

Moore, Ristow, and Rennie claim to care about “housing equity,” but when forced to choose between the public’s will and a developer’s balance sheet, they chose the developer. They are not leaders; they are a rubber stamp for a $250-million developer windfall. If these three won't protect Los Gatos, we must elect individuals who reflect the public’s will, not the developer’s greed. The damage they have done to our community is immense. In November, this voting bloc needs to be busted. Our town’s future is not for sale, even if this Council majority has already named their price.

VanNada Los Gatos Community Alliance

RESTAURANT'S TWO-DECADE RIDE

Purple Onion, from page 1

sad to have lost their regular spot. They knew that they had big shoes to fill.

Both Angelo and Kilkenny credit their resilience to their focus in their business, including continually reinventing their menu. "When Covid came in, I thought we had to do dinners, and it wasn't really doing what we thought it could,” said Angelo, describing how their plans to expand at the time fell through. “And by default, our food lent itself to takeout." The possibility of new dining places opening nearby didn’t bring up any insecurities, since they both felt they had found their niche.

Both Angelo and Kilkenny see the Purple Onion as a dining place that leads with food, followed by coffee.

“It's the only thing I really wanted to do,” Kilkenny said of her path in life.

Looking back, Kilkenny says that what she cherishes most is watching their kids work at the Purple Onion.

Photographs of Angelo's great grandfather's market are framed on the walls inside the cafe. And now, Angelo's son now works here while he attends Los Gatos High School.

Angelo also experienced a major tragedy—when he lost his son Lukas 10 years ago

in a car accident. Lukas was just a freshman at Archbishop Mitty High School.

Then, they faced a business setback, too, when their chef decided to quit four days before Thanksgiving.

"It's a blessing,” he said. “It's made me appreciate things in a much deeper fashion and be more in the moment—and appreciate the relationships I have with people. Putting me back in the kitchen at

“It's made me appreciate things in a much deeper fashion”
Steve Angelo, co-owner
INTERIOR On a busy Saturday morning, Purple Onion owners Steve Angelo and Lisa Kilkenny stand in front of framed photographs from the Kilkenny family’s archives.
EARLY ON Angelo and Kilkenny pictured during their first week in business, in April 2006.

that time was also a blessing, because I had friends that I met through grief."

That sense of purpose drove Angelo more into his work, since he’d taken over the head chef duties. Despite all of the positives that have come out of the business in the last twenty years, Angelo says he would trade it all to have his son back.

Staying alive and thriving

Through the adversities that come with life, Angelo says he’s become more compassionate, and applies that trait towards his business. Angelo says that minor inconveniences, such as the current price of eggs rising due to inflation, is no match for what they've been through.

Angelo says that the Town of Los Gatos is more understanding of entrepreneurship compared to what he’s seen elsewhere in recent years.

The Purple Onion location at Winchester Boulevard and Knowles Avenue is celebrating their 12th anniversary this year.

They attempted to launch a third Purple Onion Cafe on Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen, yet that didn’t work out, considering the launch happened at the start of Covid.

“No one wishes to close a business once they open it,” reflected Kilkenny. Nevertheless, 20 in Los Gatos is quite a badge of success for any business, especially a food and beverage operation, as that is a famously challenging sector.

The front of the house is overseen by Kilkenny, while Angelo is more back-ofthe-house, monitoring the kitchen. How well the two business partners compliment one another can be attested to by the way each person wears their own hat. Angelo's son has shown interest in carrying on the business into the future, though as of now he is satisfied with how business is, especially after Covid acting as a reality check.

What about trying a third Purple Onion location again?

“As the business grows, I wouldn't be against it,” Angelo commented.

He’s also looking at the option of opening a barbeque spot, one day.

After all of these years with the 20 year celebration approaching this spring, Angelo and Kilkenny both say that what they want to tell the town is, “Thank you.”

Having been in business for nearly 20 years, both Kilkenny and Angelo share each of their fondest memories of gratitude: Kilkenny says that, upon reopening from the Covid shutdown, a customer came in and tipped a $100 bill as a token of gratitude. It brought tears to her eyes. Angelo remembers a group of guys who ride their bikes on the weekends. They come into the Purple Onion—and have a neon sign with their business’s name on it—and come in the back to dine on the weekends.

Gestures like these act as reminders of the importance of community, and for the need to recognize important milestones such as two decades of survival for a unique downtown cafe.

Ad(Jump Head)

RESTAURANT'S A

TWO-DECADE RIDE

(Cutlines)

P1 - BATHED IN SUNSHINE Lisa Kilkenny holds the door for a customer. The restaurant she owns with Steve Angelo, the Purple Onion Cafe, is marking two decades in business, this spring.

Faizi Samadani / Los Gatan

(Interior Main)

INTERIOR On a busy Saturday morning, Purple Onion owners Steve Angelo and Lisa Kilkenny stand in front of framed photographs from the Kilkenny family’s archives.

Faizi Samadani / Los Gatan

(Archive Photo) EARLY ON Angelo and Kilkenny pictured during their first week in business, in April 2006.

Courtesy of Purple Onion

PQ - “It's made me appreciate things in a much deeper fashion” —Steve Angelo, co-owner

1. Owner Steve Angelo poses alongside owner Lisa Kilkenny in front of posters inside of the Purple Onion of Angelo’s grandfather's market in Modesto. (these are the brown posters)

2. Owners of the Purple Onion Steve Angelo and Lisa Kilkenny stand in front of their cafe on a busy Saturday afternoon in January.

Let us help you with your next rebranding, product launch, media campaign, digital initiative, website redesign or image refresh.

3. Owners of the Purple Onion Steve Angelo and Lisa Kilkenny stand in front of family portraits from Kilkenny’s side of the family on a busy Saturday morning.

4. Owners of the Purple Onion Steve Angelo and Lisa Kilkenny work a busy counter during the first week of Purple Onion being opened in April of 2006.

(End for Print)

, which isn’t always easy in the food industry

identity + strategy + design

“It's the only thing I really wanted to do,” Kilkenny said.

Name Change

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME. Case No. 25CV482342 . Notice of Petition of Lanette Evonne Vanessa Cariglio. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. To all interested persons: Petitioner: Lanette Evonne Vanessa Cariglio filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. Lanette Evonne Vanessa Cariglio to Proposed name: Alice Lanette Vanessa Cariglio. 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: March 17, 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: December 18, 2025. /s/ Le Jacqueline Duong /s/, Judge of the Superior Court, Filed by /s/ D. Bueno /s/, Deputy Clerk. (Pub LGN: 12/31/2025, 01/07, 01/14, 01/21/2026)

Fictitious Business Name Statements

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME.

FBN721117, filed on 11/07/2025. The following person(s)/registrant(s) has/have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name(s): Tradeline Partners , 108 Smith Creek Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95030. Filed in Santa Clara county on 11/07/2022 under file No. FBN690089. Full Name of Registrant (s): 1. Daniel J Linebarger, 108 Smith Creek Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95030 and Cynthia J Linebarger, 108 Smith Creek Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95030. This business was conducted by: A General Partnership. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Daniel J Linebarger /s/. Dated: November 7, 2025. (Pub LGN: 11/26, 12/03, 12/10, 12/17/2025, REPUB: LGN 01/07, 01/14, 01/21, 01/28/2026)

File Number: FBN721942 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. HALEY LOUYEH , 2910 Hidalgo Ct, San Jose, CA 95125. This business is conducted by: An Individual, HALEH EBRAHIMI LOUYEH, 2910 Hidalgo Ct, San Jose, CA 95125. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/09/2025 and 12/10/2025 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/ Haleh Ebrahimi Louyeh /s/ CEO. (Pub LGN: 12/31/2025, 01/07, 01/14, 01/21/2026)

File Number: FBN722080. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. TDA CONSTRUCTION , 17539 Comanche Trail, Los Gatos, CA 95033. This business is conducted by: An Individual, TEUNIS AARNOUDSE, 17539 Comanche Trail, Los Gatos, CA 95033. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/15/2025 and 12/15/2025 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/ Teunis Aarnoudse /s/. (Pub LGN: 12/31/2025, 01/07, 01/14, 01/21/2026)

File Number: FBN721481 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. ARZ BIO-MEDICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES, PO Box 152, San Martin, CA 95046. This business is conducted by: An Individual, AHMAD ROUHIZADEH, PO Box 152, San Martin, CA 95046. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 11/19/2025 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/ Ahmad Rouhizadeh /s/. (Pub LGN: 12/31/2025, 01/07, 01/14, 01/21/2026)

PUBLIC NOTICES

File Number: FBN721640. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. LAMPROS, ROBERTS & WILSON , 235 West Main St, Los Gatos, CA 95030. This business is conducted by: A General Partnership, WILLIAM WILSON, 235 West Main St, Los Gatos, CA 95030, JERRY ROBERTS, 235 West Main St, Los Gatos, CA 95030, NICK LAMPROS, 235 West Main St, Los Gatos, CA 95030.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 11/01/2025 and 11/25/2025 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/ William Wilson /s/. (Pub LGN: 12/31/2025, 01/07, 01/14, 01/21/2026)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #722177

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: The Liquor Barn, 13305 Sycamore Ave., San Martin, CA, 95046, The Liquor Store LLC. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 12/01/2025.

Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/ Yadwinder Singh. CFO. #BA20242027209. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 12/18/2025. (pub LG 01/07, 01/14, 01/21, 01/28/2026)

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: 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)

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)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: The Alameda Motel, 1050 The Alameda, San Jose, CA, 95126, Hemlata Corporation. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company Registrant began business

under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 08/11/1977. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Hemlata Roy. President. #C0823968. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 11/25/2025. (pub LG 12/03, 12/10, 12/17, 12/24/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #772928

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. Real Estate Mortgage Insurance Services, 2. REMIS, 2150 N First Street, San Jose, CA, 95131, Dannie Le. This business is owned by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 08/02/2024. /s/Dannie Le. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 11/03/2025. (pub LG 12/10, 12/17, 12/24, 12/31/2025)

File Number: FBN722443. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. PL KRAUSE 2. PL KRAUSE COMPANY, 2. 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)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #720550

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Hotshots Carpet Installation, Ryan Moorhead. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Ryan Moorhead. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 10/17/2025. (pub LG 11/12, 11/19, 11/26, 12/03/2025)

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