Los Gatan June 12 2024

$78M BUDGET APPROVED BY LOS GATOS TOWN COUNCIL

Revitalization money redirected to tackle more pressing issues

Drew Penner, Editor

Last week, Council voted to approve a budget with $78 million in spending and $76 million in revenue for the coming year.

To make up the difference, Los Gatos is relying on more than a million of one-time General Fund Reserve dollars.

But while the community fervor around the Housing Element approval, which unfolded minutes earlier at the June 4 meeting, was so intense Mayor Mary Badame had to continually chastise attendees for clapping, not a single member of the audience commented on the budget during the public hearing.

Badame made the motion to approve the 2024/25 Operating Budget and five-year Capital Improvement Program; Councilmember Rob Moore seconded.

Vice Mayor Matthew Hudes asked about the Finance Commission’s discussion about estimating salary costs that have yet to be approved.

He wondered if, in the future, perhaps the budget should be decided after contract negotiations

➝ Budget, 6

SMASH, NOT SMASHED The “dry” Grad Night festivities at Los Gatos High School on Friday night featured a series of activities and games, such as 9 Square, which were organized into six different destinations, from the Amazon to Casablanca. Seniors had to get their passport stamped at each to be eligible for a grand prize. Turn to P16 for more Grad Night coverage.

ROWING CLUB HAS BEST NATIONALS OUTING EVER

After surgery, GiGi Musolf fought her way to top of podium alongside teammates

Drew Penner, Editor

As Los Gatos Rowing Club Director Jamie Velez exited the plane from Florida and raced to

catch his connection in Nashville to Oakland, he was ecstatic.

There’d been high hopes for the 59 athletes and their 14 boats at the USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Fla., and the Los Gatos contingent delivered better results, this time, than ever before.

“We had our most successful

year in our history,” Velez told the Los Gatan over the phone.

“We won three national championships in three separate events.”

The event, hosted at Nathan Benderson Park, was the largest ever, with 854 entries from 224 clubs across the country.

➝ Rowing, 8

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MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING WIFE APPEARS IN COURT

Yeager plans to demand preliminary hearing

Drew Penner, Editor

John Maxey Yeager, the man accused of killing his wife, Yingying “Dawn” Yu, and disposing of her body in the Santa Cruz Mountains, was on the Santa Clara County Superior Court docket for a plea hearing today.

Unlike others in the packed Department 34 dock, he appeared in relatively good spirits.

However, he did not profess his innocence or guilt—or say anything at all.

His lawyer, Leah Gillis, spoke on his behalf, telling Judge Cynthia A. Sevely she planned to seek a protective order modification, to allow a dependency court process to flow smoothly.

She agreed with Deputy District Attorney O’Bryan Kenney that Aug. 30 at 9am would work for her client’s next criminal case appearance.

The court heard that Yeager plans to

demand a preliminary hearing at that time, despite police having said the accused originally confessed to the murder.

The protective order modification will proceed in another courtroom in the meantime.

Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department officials said Yeager was caught on security camera footage arguing with Yu on New Year’s Eve.

Days later, after she didn’t return to work, Yeager was hauled in by police for an interview in which he admitted to strangling his wife with a rope, according to a statement from Detective Michael Birley filed with the court.

The coroner’s report confirmed she died by asphyxiation.

On the day Yeager was charged with first-degree murder, felony false imprisonment, six aggravating circumstance allegations and an enhancement for use of a deadly weapon, his ex-wife, Sunyi Chang—with whom he had joint custody of two boys—filed for a protective order.

NEW SCHOOLS TAX SQUEAKS PAST THRESHOLD

Measure to increase the rate by $79 for average parcel succeeds by 8 votes

Bay City News Service

Voters in the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District narrowly approved the district’s first parcel tax in more than a dozen years by a narrow eight-vote margin, according to the election offices in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties.

Measure A will add a $79 tax per parcel on top of renewing an existing $49 tax to fund educational programs at Los Gatos High School and Saratoga High School. It was voted on by residents in the two counties via mailin balloting that ended May 7.

“I am absolutely thrilled that the public supported our district to retain and attract highly qualified teachers and educators, as well as maintain our innovative programs,” Superintendent Bill W. Sanderson said. “The majority of our budget is spent on our workforce which made this increase a high priority to be

able to continue to deliver the excellent programs and classes in our district.”

The certified results released last week reported 7,804 votes in favor of the new tax, with 3,890 votes against—7,196 yes votes in Santa Clara County and 608 yes votes in Santa Cruz County, compared to 3,424 no votes in Santa Clara County and 466 in Santa Cruz County—for an overall margin of 66.74%, just eight votes above the two-thirds threshold required for the parcel tax to pass.

Proponents of the increase in the tax said in a ballot argument for Measure A that the existing $49 tax hadn’t been increased in more than a dozen years and is the lowest among all Silicon Valley districts that rely on parcel tax funding.

Opponents, including the Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association, argued that the tax was excessive because enrollment had declined in the district in the past five years while the percentage of its students who fell below state standards had increased during that same period.

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters certified the election results last week, according to a June 6 press release from the Registrar’s Office.

Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District is part of both Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. Santa Clara County’s part of the district included 10,630 ballots, or about one third of voters registered in the county.

The certification was part of the completion of the official counting process. Voters had until June 6 to fix any issues with their ballot return envelopes.

“Every vote counts and is important,” Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey said. “It is especially important for voters to make their voices heard on matters that have a direct impact on their communities.”

As of today, there were no requests for a recount, which would have to be funded by the requestor.

Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc.; with files from Drew Penner

CORRECTION

In last week’s article titled “Pandemic-era startups flourish in Los Gatos,” Veza CEO Tarun Thakur's name was misspelled in multiple instances. We regret the errors.

CLARIFICATION

To become a park ranger with Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, a fouryear degree is not necessary. New recruits must have the equivalent of an associate degree or 60 units and a year of customer service experience. Park and public safety experience is desired but not required. We regret any confusion caused by last week’s article, “What does it take to be a park ranger?”

Drew Penner / Los Gatan

COURTHOUSE Hall of Justice in San Jose, pictured on Friday.

BUDGET INCLUDES NEW MONEY FOR MUSEUM, RENT ASSISTANCE, NUTRITION

Budget, from page 1

are concluded, and if it might not make more sense to use a range of costs, instead of a specific amount.

“Are those two possible solutions?” he asked.

Town Manager Laurel Prevetti thanked him for “thinking creatively of how we can address the uncertainties. We are currently in negotiation with two of our bargaining units. We typically start negotiations early. It is unpredictable in terms of when they finish. Prevetti explained the town is “very for-

tunate to have positive labor relations.”

“I don’t think the Council needs to be too worried,” Prevetti said. “The process allows for adjustments.”

The budget features a $1 million transfer from the Education Realignment General Fund Risk Reserve to the General Fund Pension/OPEB Reserve.

On May 21, Council directed staff to find a way to add a two-day-a-week position focused on boosting senior services, though no money has been identified to pay for the employee yet.

Council was also asked to make several revenue and expenditure adjustments to recognize things that have changed since February’s midyear review.

And staff requested more money to cover costs related to workers compensation-type leaves.

Crucially, the 2023/24 fiscal plan assumed a 4.6% employment vacancy savings.

“Based on the most recent estimates, certain individual Departments/Programs that are fully staffed will not realize the 4.6% budgeted salary savings,” staff said in a report. “Staff is requesting that Council approve salary and expenditure budget adjustments up to the amount of the projected 4.6% salary savings factor for individual Programs as needed based on year-end actual expenditures.”

The budget includes $33,000 in extra money this year for the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce, $100,000 in additional one-time funds for community grants, $25,000 for nutrition support, a $100,000 cash injection for the New Museum Los Gatos History Project and $25,000 in rental assistance on a one-time basis, among other items.

Much of the new spending was made possible by Los Gatos’ swift action to save its dining establishments during the pandemic.

The community has long been a hub for diners, drawing in foodies from across Silicon Valley—and around the Bay Area.

During the pandemic, Los Gatos became a model town, as it promoted an ambitious parklet program which allowed restaurants to stay open with attractive outdoor dining areas, while other communities saw shoddy patios and barely transformed parking lots proliferate.

The Town rolled-out its “semi-permanent parklet” initiative, with a partially funded comprehensive downtown revitalization effort floating somewhere in the distance; however, the program was so successful no one is talking about another urban-design overhaul anymore.

That’s what allowed Council to withdraw hundreds of thousands of dollars to put toward a series of other priorities, such as covering rent during a one-off emergency for a limited number of residents.

Councilmember Maria Ristow said the budget is a plan that can be adjusted, as necessary.

“And like any plan,” she said, “you know, sometimes it has to pivot.”

Unlike the Housing Element, which was adopted by a split 3-2 vote, the budget—even with its increases to social services and the arts— passed unanimously.

UNANIMOUS Council voted unanimously, June 4, to approve

Drew Penner / Los Gatan

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LOS GATOS BOATS CLINCH 3 USROWING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Rowing, from page 1

The 4,000 or so athletes compete in 41 different boat classes.

And Luke Slattery, “The Boys in the Boat” actor, was even there signing autographs.

Los Gatos won three out of four events, in quadruple sculls action on the men’s and women’s side—and placed second in the women’s youth quadruple sculls, USRowing officials said.

In a blog post, an organization spokesperson recounted how Los Gatos’ men’s youth quadruple sculls “battled down the course with Whitemarsh Boat Club to win the event by 1.78 seconds. Los Gatos and Whitemarsh were even at the halfway mark before Los Gatos moved ahead to finish in a time of 6:13.10. Whitemarsh finished second in a 6:14.88, with Texas Rowing Center taking third in a 6:17.46.”

The post notes how, in women’s youth quadruple sculls, “Redwood Scullers dominated the course from start to finish, crossing the line in 7:04.91 over two seconds ahead of silver medalists, Los Gatos. Oregon Rowing Unlimited took bronze.”

Velez said the excellent performances came out of several years of rebuilding after the coronavirus pandemic hit.

During the lockdown era, rowers weren’t allowed to be in a boat with anyone else, so the local club shifted its focus away from having athletes row with two hands on a single oar, towards dual-oar rowing.

“Everyone was kind of by their selves,” Velez recalled.

But by Sunday, the memory of the pandemic era had largely faded, as LGRC’s men’s youth quad, men’s youth JV (2V) quad and women’s youth 2V quad (which Velez coaches) stroked to the top spot on the podium.

Los Gatos rowers also took bronze in the men’s U17 quad and silver in the women’s U15 quad with a coxswain.

“To be competitive across the US and be competitive even in the southwest region is really hard,” Velez said. “We knew, going into the regatta, we had an opportunity to perform really well.”

That doesn’t mean it was easy, Velez stresses.

“There was a lot of close racing,” he said, explaining some races were won by less than a second. “Our athletes just performed exceptionally well.”

SWEET VICTORY Alexandra Buchowski, Gianna Musolf, Scarlett Coke and Frieda Cramer of the winning youth 2V quad team.

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Left to right:

DOUG SOUVIGNIER, M.D.

KRISTIN WELTER, M.D.

NANCY TIBBS, M.D.

AS COPTER DEPARTS, FOREST HEALTH SHOWCASE PROVES ITS POINT

AI-powered sensors designed to help firefighters protect watershed

Dinah Cotton, Contributor

There wasn’t a specific address, just a crossroads.

A good 20 minutes out of town, the intersection of Sears and Wright Station roads is definitely somewhere in the middle of nowhere. The hills were looking dry and not so green, even after the rain of recent months.

Signage reads: “TRESPASSING LOITERING FORBIDDEN BY LAW SAN JOSE WATER COMPANY” and “NO TRESPASSING TAMPERING WITH THIS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM IS A FEDERAL CRIME.” This gate was propped open. Onward.

Messaging introduced the Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaboration Forest Health Project, in partnership with Cal Fire, Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, San Jose Water, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Santa Clara County Parks, California Climate Investments, ASCENT and Forestry and Fuels ARC Resource Management.

All these organizations, and more, are collaborating to reduce wildfire risks and protect our watershed. And on Friday, the Los Gatan got a glimpse of the high-tech way they’re doing it, as part of a public tour.

Anna Eshoo, of California’s 16th Congressional District, sent a representative, as did state Senator Dave Cortese. PG&E told organizers it was otherwise occupied.

A watershed is the area that collects rain, snow and other runoff into a single body of water. During a forest fire, great harm can be done to it—and (if we rely on it for what comes out of our taps) to our drinking supply. Lake Elsman is a critical H2O resource, supplying about 100,000 people. On Friday, it had water flowing over the spillway. The plan was to walk up to it, around 11am, to see the new helicopter and meet its crew.

Cal Fire has the largest firefighting force in the nation and the largest civil aerial firefighting fleet in the world. The state’s firefighting force has been replacing its existing helicopter fleet of Super Huey helicopters with 12 Sikorsky S70i Blackhawks. This Los Gatos-based copter is equipped with

night vision, meaning it can be operated around the clock.

Cal Fire considers the 650,000 acres of Santa Cruz Mountains watershed surrounding the Alma base as “high value,” and it has continued to foster partnerships to reduce the risk of wildfire, including with Santa Clara County FireSafe Council.

“Everyone has some skin in this game,” said Seth Schalet, CEO of the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council.

“If you want to reduce wildfires, everyone’s got to get involved.”

He went on to explain how “artificial intelligence” is being used to detect fires here.

The water officials, firefighters and volunteers have turned to N5 Sensors’ N5SHIELD™ array. “It has been in use here for about six months—San Jose Water now has 15,” he said, adding it can source its own solar power, run off batteries or get power from the grid.

The N5SHIELD uses multimodal sensors and AI processing to provide accurate real-time alerts when a fire

ignites, attendees heard. The idea is to have technology help first responders analyze weather conditions and assist with figuring out how to manage firefighting resources in the initial minutes of a fire.

San Jose Water Environmental Planning and Natural Resources Manager Jared Lewis says the sensor network is an important component of the corporation’s overall wildfire mitigation strategy. “Early detection of wildfire on SJW watershed lands is critical to ensuring clean and reliable water supply for Santa Clara County residents,” he said. “Through our partnership with the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, we are excited to spearhead the first phase of this network covering ~6,000 acres of watershed land with N5Shield. Over time, through collaboration with future partners, we anticipate covering over 100,000 acres with a network of sensor solutions.”

In addition to adopting new strategies to pinpoint fires at their inception,

there are other tactics being used prior to wildfires starting that may slow down a fire, so it doesn’t become extremely dangerous. This involves removing nonnative plants, dead trees, underbrush and leaf litter. Prescribed burns, of the sort Cal Fire is conducting this week next to the Henry Cowell Redwood State Park campsites, are another tool.

The Los Gatos Creek Watershed Collaboration has brought together many players for firefighting and land stewardship to work toward the goal of creating a healthy forest. And when there is a wildfire, they want to be ready to contain it as swiftly as humanly possible—or quicker, with the help of AI.

Other groups, including a representative of clothing-optional resort Lupin Lodge, which served as a staging ground during a previous wildfire, spoke of their organizational duties and commitment to work

Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan

TURQUOISE WATERS Sarah Johnston, a member of the Aldercroft Heights Firewise community, was one of several speakers who talked about the importance of wildfire mitigation measures in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

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GUEST VIEW

A NOVEL APPROACH TO HOMELESSNESS IN LOS GATOS

Transformative meditation could be worth a try

Jeffrey P. Blum, Contributor

Homelessness is a complex issue plaguing communities across the globe, and Los Gatos is no exception. While Los Gatos boasts prosperity and scenic beauty, it also faces individuals and families struggling with housing insecurity. Transformative Mediation (TM) can be applied to bridge the divide between stakeholders – unhoused individuals, service providers, local government, and residents – to develop a more holistic approach to homelessness in Los Gatos. Estimates suggest there are around 58 people experiencing homelessness in Los Gatos. This information comes from the 2022 Point-in-Time Count conducted by Santa Clara County.

TRANSFORMATIVE MEDIATION: FOSTERING

DIALOGUE

• Focus on Relationship Building: Transformative mediation is frequently applied when the parties have ongoing relationships with one another. For example, I applied it in divorce cases where the parties have young children or they will continue to co-own property following their divorce, and they will thus continue to interact with one another. TM prioritizes mending fences and fostering better communication between the parties. While reaching an agreement is desirable, it's secondary to the parties gaining a newfound respect and understanding for each other's perspectives. This allows them to navigate future disagreements more constructively.

• Empowerment: Transformative mediation empowers both sides by giving them more control over the process. The mediator acts as a facilitator, helping them express themselves clearly and navigate the conversation. This empowers them to find their own solutions.

• Recognition: A core aspect of transformative mediation is recognition. The mediator ensures that

each party feels heard and understood by the other. This validation helps address underlying feelings of resentment or frustration that might be fueling the conflict. By recognizing each other's needs and concerns.

Here's how TM can be applied in the context of homelessness in Los Gatos:

• Understanding the Needs of the Unhoused: TM can facilitate discussions between unhoused individuals and service providers. Unhoused voices are often unheard, leading to programs that miss the mark. Through TM, service providers can gain a deeper understanding of the specific needs and challenges faced by the unhoused population, informing the development of more effective support systems.

• Addressing Community Concerns: Residents of Los Gatos may have concerns about safety, sanitation, or property values due to homelessness. TM can create a space for dialogue between residents and the unhoused community. Residents can voice their concerns in a safe and respectful manner, while those experiencing homelessness can explain their circumstances and dispel stereotypes. No doubt, many unhoused individuals harbor suspicion of and great resistance to those who claim to have their best interests at heart. However, if they can be brought into the process, this approach can foster empathy and pave the way for collaborative solutions, such as resident-led initiatives to support local shelters or community gardens managed by the unhoused.

• Fostering Collaboration Between Stakeholders: TM can bring together local government, service providers, and residents to brainstorm comprehensive solutions. TM can help the Stakeholders identify gaps in current programs and policies. Stakeholders can work together to create a more streamlined system of

support, optimizing resource allocation and program effectiveness.

• Community-Based Solutions: TM can foster the creation of resident-led initiatives like donation drives, mentorship programs, or volunteer opportunities to support homeless shelters and service providers.

• Policy Advocacy: Participants can collaborate on advocating for policies that address the root causes of homelessness.

THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF LISTENING

A key aspect of TM is the emphasis on active listening. This means truly hearing another person's perspective, not just waiting for your turn to speak. In the context of homelessness, this can be transformative. Many people experiencing homelessness have faced societal rejection and stigma. TM creates a space where they are finally heard, fostering a sense of dignity and respect.

For residents and service providers, active listening can be equally transformative. By listening to the stories of those experiencing homelessness, residents may develop a deeper understanding of the root causes of the issue and shed preconceived notions.

NEXT STEPS FOR LOS GATOS

PHASE 1: BUILDING THE FOUNDATION

1. Convening Stakeholders

2. Recruitment and Training

3. Groundwork and Education

PHASE 2: FACILITATED DIALOGUE

1. Dialogue Sessions

2. Identifying Common Ground

3. Brainstorming Solutions

PHASE 3: ACTION PLANNING AND FOLLOW-UP

1. Develop Action Plans

2. Establish Follow-Up Mechanisms

3. Transparency and Communication

Homelessness requires a community-wide response built on understanding and collaboration. By embracing TM, Los Gatos can move beyond traditional approaches and create a more just and equitable future for all its residents.

HIGH-TECH SENSORS

➝ Forest Health, from page 10

together. After that, our group of around 25 people headed out for the walking tour.

We were led by Irene Armstrong and Tara Wallichs, of the FireSafe Council, to a burn scar area. Stephen Harrington, a project manager with the organization, pointed to trees bearing scorch marks. “A lot of that was from the fuel load,” he said. “This is what we are trying to avoid. This was from the 1985 Lexington Fire, a 13,000-acre fire that burned 42 homes, and was caused again by stray fireworks…The last one we had that affected the watershed was the Loma fire in 2016—that burned 4,478 acres.” Harrington described how containment lines used in previous fires, including Lexington, were also used to fight the Loma Fire. “A lot of these strategic field breaks that we are trying to enhance are not just picked out on the map,” he said. “There are reasons why we do that. Again, all of these fires were man-made. None of them were natural ignitions.” But, he says, natural forest fires—which happen every 5-25 years— aren’t necessarily a bad thing. “What

OVERVIEW Map of the Los Gatos Creek Watershed.

LIVES

Sarah Nielsen King

March 15, 1934 – May 15, 2024

Sarah grew up in Los Gatos, CA, the daughter of Hans Elle Nielsen of Denmark and Sadie Elizabeth Starkie Nielsen of New York. Hans owned and operated a creamery, Eatmore Ice Cream, located on N. Santa Cruz Ave., and Sarah retained her love of that food until the very end of her life.

Her love for travel began at a young age when she visited relatives in Denmark, England, and Ireland. She attended Whittier College so that she could take her Junior year abroad in Switzerland. She entertained hopes of working for the UN and once met Madeleine Albright. She enjoyed traveling and visited many countries in Europe, South America, North America, Asia, and North Africa.

A graduate of Los Gatos High School (1950) and Whittier College (1954), Sarah possessed a keen intellect and an insatiable curiosity about the world. She was pursuing a Masters Degree in Political Science at Stanford University when her husband, Richard, was drafted and deployed to Germany. But leaving school to live overseas did not end her education; she was a lifelong learner and read copiously about the many things that interested her, including history, anthropology, natural history, astronomy, philosophy, art, the environment, social justice, psychology, archeology, etc. She also enjoyed reading classical and modern literature.

After raising a family, Sarah entered the workforce. She stayed with the first company that hired her, Tandem Computers, even when that company became Compaq. She started as an executive secretary and retired as a technical editor of computer installation and maintenance manuals.

A most generous person by nature, Sarah enjoyed supporting the people and organizations who are doing good works in her community and in the world. She was a lifelong supporter of public radio and public TV. She was a member of the MIM and the Heard Museum here in Phoenix. She was for many years a docent at the Haggin Museum in Stockton, CA. She donated to organizations that support environmental restoration and justice, civil and human rights, animal welfare, and community well-being. It was important to her to help make the world a safer, healthier, happier place. She never stopped working to make a better future for all of us. Sarah was a very loving person who possessed a generous heart and a kind soul. She was always gracious and gentle. She was loved by all who knew her. Sarah is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Lisa King, daughter and son-in-law, Liz King Salz and Max Salz, grandson Taylor King, and granddaughters Kaelyn King and Jamie Berdiner. Sarah’s remains will be composted, then used for environmental restoration on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.

FOLLOWING TUMOR REMOVAL, MUSOLF DIALED IN TRAINING REGIMEN

Rowing, from page 8

Ultimately, Los Gatos racked up a total of six medals, with 12 boats placing in the Top 8.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Velez said. “They just did an amazing job.”

FROM SURGERY TO VICTORY

There is perhaps nothing more emblematic of Los Gatos Rowing Club’s impressive improvement—from the silver tier to champions—than the journey of one of its Women’s Youth 2V Quad rowers.

A year ago, Gianna “GiGi” Musolf was on the sidelines with back problems.

But she hung out with the team, watching Julia Kiplinger, Brynna Ruf, Annika Sivi and Sara Drabkin take second in the youth quad.

She’d originally caught the rowing bug at summer camp, after 8th grade.

“She really liked the team aspect,” recalled her dad, Ben. “She certainly fell in love with the team in general.”

But in 2023, as LGRC sent eight boats to Sarasota, she was not among them.

Eventually, she went to see a physical therapist recommended by her coach, which led to the removal of a tumor in October.

“They literally had to cut her open and remove her rib,” Ben said, noting his daughter even had a lung deflate. “It was the worst experience of my life.”

But those feelings of helplessness morphed into a steady—if incremental—evolution.

“It’s slow,” Ben said. “When she finally realized she was out of pain, it clicked.”

Next up: early mornings; 10-mile hikes; fine-tuning her nutrition program.

As the days turned into months, the wattage on the “erg” rowing machine steadily improved.

And it all culminated on Sunday, as GiGi, now 17, got in a boat alongside Alexandra Buchowski, Scarlett Coke and Frieda Cramer, to compete against seven other crews— including their archnemesis: the Redwood Scullers, from the Port of Redwood City.

Los Gatos quickly took the lead, but it wasn’t long before the team from up the peninsula began to give them a run for their money.

The girls were perhaps just a deck

ahead, coming into the final stretch, with the Hockaday School threatening in third.

“Redwood Scullers and Hockaday are out for blood,” one of the announcers commented.

Back in California, it was around 6am.

Ben was still in bed, watching with his wife Jennifer.

“I’m banging on the bed,” he said. “She starts screaming. We both start crying.”

“This finish is going to be tight,” the other announcer crescendos. “It’s going to be close.”

“That was an absolute nail-biter,” the first announcer states, as one boat after another completes the race.

When the ripples dissipated, it was

clear Los Gatos had barely edged out their Silicon Valley rivals.

“They won by .47—47 hundredths of a second,” Ben said. “That’s a blink of an eye.”

Now GiGi, who’s going into her senior year at Saint Francis High School next year, will have a few days to rest up before heading off to Africa for a month.

BEAMING Dillon Yoo, Nolan Hamm, Carl Lewis and James Tiglao were crowned national champions in the Men’s Youth 2V Quad contest.

➝ Forest Health, from page 12

Ad FIGHTING FIRE

we are doing is breaking up the continuity of the watershed to mimic what a low-intensity fire would do in this watershed, without using the fire,” he said. Translation: hazardous fuel reduction.

Steve Auten, a forester with ARC forestry, spoke next about how to select areas of the watershed to focus on defending. He said this can include monitoring prevailing winds and figuring out how to deploy firefighting equipment during emergencies.

After our time in the burn scar, we all headed up to Lake Elsman to see the helicopter. We had heard it circling overhead and were looking forward to meeting the three-person crew. However, we’d already been warned that these folks were on active duty, meaning on call should fire break out somewhere. Eventually, we learned it had, indeed, departed to battle a fire in Contra Costa County.

Sign up online for reverse 911 alerts here: sccfiresafe.org/resources/reverse-911

NAIL-BITER The youth 2V quad team beat its rivals by 47 hundredths of a second.

Credit: Courtesy of USRowing

(Men’s Youth Quad - P14 photo)

BEAMING Dillon Yoo, Nolan Hamm, Carl Lewis and James Tiglao were crowned national champions in the Men’s Youth 2V Quad contest.

JUMP HEAD: LOS GATOS BOATS

CLINCH 3 USROWING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

TURQUOISE

who talked about the importance of wildfire mitigation measures in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Credit: Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan

(Tara Wallich and Irene Armstrong)

GREETINGS Tara Wallichs and Irene Armstrong, of the

Credit: Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan

(Los Gatos Creek Watershed Map)

OVERVIEW Map of the Los Gatos Creek Watershed.

Source: Horizon Water and Environment 2015

JUMP HEAD2 (p14): FOLLOWING identity + strategy + design

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

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GREETINGS Tara Wallichs and Irene Armstrong, of the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, at the welcome tent.

SCARRED Attendees walk beneath redwood trees that survived wildfire.

SCARRED ATTENDEES WALK BENEA(SARAH JOHNSON)

WATERS Sarah Johnston, a member of the Aldercroft Heights Firewise community, was one of several speakers

Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, at the welcome tent.

GRAD NIGHT TAKES SENIORS ON ROUND-THE-WORLD VOYAGE

93% of Class of 2024 purchased tickets

Drew Penner, Editor

For weeks, students in their final year of high school have been wondering about a big mystery.

But on Friday, the theme of the drugs-and-alcohol-free “Grad Night” was finally revealed.

Seniors were ushered into a wonderland based on the concept of “Take Flight,” where they could party all night in a safe environment while “flying” to six different locales—Austin, Texas; the moon; the Amazon; Casablanca, Morocco; Monte Carlo, Monaco; and Hawaii.

“It was amazing,” said Varily Isaacs, one of the event chairs, commenting on the ideal weather conditions. “It was just a perfect night.”

The evening had kicked off with an uplifting graduation ceremony, broadcast on local access channel KCAT.

“There was definitely a theme of gratitude, of thanking the people around you,” said Isaacs, who watched her son Hayden graduate.

READY TO LAUNCH It took about 1,200 volunteers to make the Grad Night a reality. This year’s theme was “Take Flight,” which was a carefully-guarded secret until Friday.

One of the most touching moments was when the parents of Iril Asting,

Jonathan Natividad / Los Gatan

TRIO Multiple “selfie zones” were set-up across the venue. Jonathan Natividad / Los Gatan

LUNAR Students came upon the Glow Zone, including this table hockey game, after touching down on “the moon.”

STRIKE A POSE This duo goes back-to-back and heel-to-heel.

who was recently killed in a vehicular collision overseas, accepted a diploma on her behalf, she added.

The fragility of life highlighted during the event emphasized the importance of the “dry” all-night rager set for the proceeding hours.

This year, 493 students out of 530 seniors (93%) purchased tickets for Grad Night.

They were welcomed at a checkin counter by teachers dressed up as flight attendants and pilots.

Each student received a passport, which they had to get stamped at each far-flung point if they wanted to have a chance to win the grand prize.

In total, it took approximately 1,200 volunteers to make the immersive spectacle a reality.

“Pulling off Grad Night for your high school seniors, it’s a privilege,” Isaacs said. “It does take a village.”

Mentalist David Stryker astounded with his magician-level antics.

There were four registered nures and two doctors among the volunteers, in case medical assistance was needed.

As always, the teacher band serenaded revelers as dawn broke, bursting into a rendition of “Here Comes the Sun,” by the Beatles.

“From sibling to sibling, they pass on this moment,” Isaacs said.

AdFictitious Business Name Statements

File Number: FBN705838. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: OOKA , 313 Llano De Los Robles Ave Unit 3, San Jose, CA 95136. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, Avantrading LLC, 5201 Great American Pkwy Ste 320, Santa Clara, CA 95054. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 05/07/2024 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. Avantrading LLC, Article/Reg # 202358110401, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California. /s/ Yi Tian /s/ CEO. (Pub LGN: 05/22, 05/29, 06/05, 06/12/2024)

File Number: FBN706003. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: Nematique , 172 Bersano Lane, Los Gatos, CA 95030230. This business is conducted by: A General Partnership, Madhu Jain, 172 Bersano Lane, Los Gatos, CA 95030230 and Neelu Jain, 1344 Greenwood Road, Pleasanton, Cali 94566-. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 04/01/2024 and 05/14/2024 is the file date.

P16 (main photo)

Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Madhu Jain /s/. (Pub LGN: 05/22, 05/29, 06/05, 06/12/2024)

PUBLIC NOTICES

under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 05/01/2024. /s/Matthew John Rohr. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/10/2024. (pub LG 05/29, 06/05, 06/12, 06/19/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #706282

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Samantha Lykins Esthetics, 14760 Elton Court, San Jose, CA, 95124, Samantha Anne Lykins. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 05/22/2024. /s/Samantha Anne Lykins. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/23/2024. (pub LG 05/29, 06/05, 06/12, 06/19/2024)

Liability Company, #202460512987 California. Golden Ticket Promotions, LLC, 858 Civic Center Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95050. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A and 05/29/2024 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez, Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, 1st Floor, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Moises Rodriguez, Managing Member, Golden Ticket Promotions, LLC. (Pub LGN 6/5, 6/12, 6/19, 6/26)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #706490

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Realty World Santa Clara Valley, 1101 So Winchester Blvd., Suite A-109, Re Asset Mgmt. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 04/19/2024. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Robert M Zuvela. President. #6151568. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/31/2024. (pub Metro 06/12, 06/19, 06/26, 07/03/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #705490

READY TO LAUNCH It took about 1,200 volunteers to make the Grad Night a reality. This year’s theme was “Take Flight,” which was a carefullyguarded secret until Friday.

File Number: FBN706014. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: Moore Preowned , 644 University Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95032. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, Moorevalue Corp, 644 University Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95032. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 06/22/2024 and 05/14/2024 is the file date.

File Number: FBN705998 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: Bloom Plaza Animal Hospital , 5647 Snell Avenue, San Jose, CA 95123. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, PetVet Care Centers (California), Inc., One Gorham Island Road, Suite 300, Westport, CT 06880. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 03/15/2019 and 05/14/2024 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. PetVet Care Centers (California), Inc, Article/Reg # 3819003, Above Entity was Formed in the State of Delaware. /s/ Adeline Park /s/ Vice President. (Pub LGN: 05/29, 06/05, 06/12, 06/19/2024)

Jonathan Natividad / Los Gatan (Bottom left)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #705973

WHEE! Three racers lift their hands on the giant slide.

Jonathan Natividad / Los Gatan (Bottom right)

Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Mike Louie /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. Moorevalue Corp, Article/Reg # 528993, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ John Y Moore /s/ President. (Pub LGN: 05/22, 05/29, 06/05, 06/12/2024)

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: FRM Construction, 4292 Albany Dr., Apt# O-158, San Jose, CA, 95129, Grank R. Meisse. This business is being conducted by a n Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Frank R. Meisse. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 04/25/2024. (pub Metro 06/05, 06/12, 06/19, 06/26/2024)

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME #705480

LUNAR Students came upon the Glow Zone, including this table hockey game, after touching down on “the moon.”

Jonathan Natividad / Los Gatan P17 (Top photo) S

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Emperial Security Services, 1 Vista Montana Apt 3432, San Jose, CA, 95134, Ernest Ogbonnaya. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 05/01/2024. s/Ernest Ogbonnaya. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/13/2024. (pub LG 05/29, 06/05, 06/12, 06/19/2024)

STRIKE A POSE This duo goes back-to-back and heel-to-heel.

The following person(s) / registrant(s) has / have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name(s): Carlos Villez, 1016 S. 8th St., San Jose, CA, 95112, Martha Chavoya Villanueva. Filed in the Santa Clara County on 11/07/2022. under file No. 690099. This business was conducted by: A Individual. Filed on 4/25/2024. /s/Mark W. Butler (pub dates: (06/05, 06/12, 06/19, 06/26/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #705183

Jonathan Natividad / Los Gatan (Lower photo)

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: IVO Auto Service, 1105 E William St., San Jose, CA, 95116, Olivia Ponce, Vanessa Campuzano Ponce. This business is being conducted by a A General Partnership. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/ Vanessa Campuzano Ponce. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 04/16/2024. (pub LG 05/22, 05/29, 06/05, 06/12/2024)

TRIO Multiple “selfie zones” were set-up across the venue.

File Number: FBN706190. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: ECOSYNAPSE , 16185 Los Gatos Boulevard, Suite 205, Los Gatos, CA 95032. This business is conducted by: An Individual, Amanda Hendricks, 167 Villa Ave. Apt #10, Los Gatos, CA 95030. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 12/11/2019 and 05/21/2024 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/ Amanda Hendricks /s/. (Pub LGN: 05/29, 06/05, 06/12, 06/19/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #706203

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #706116

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: J And K Rentals, 15971 Quail Road, Los Gatos, CA, 95032, Donald C Wimberly. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 08/10/1992. /s/Donald C Wimberly. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/17/2024. (pub LG 05/29, 06/05, 06/12, 06/19/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #706223

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Redmond Auto Services, 1331 Redmond Ave., San Jose, CA, 95120, Ben Talebi. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 09/18/2014. /s/ben Talebi. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/22/2024. (pub Metro 05/29, 06/05, 06/12, 06/19/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #705655

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Corvette Clinic, 1850 W. San Carlos St., San Jose, CA, 95128, Matthew John Rohr. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Pre-Owned Cars N Trucks, 6901 Monterey Rd STE B, Gilroy, CA, 95020, Ioniq Car Company Corp. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 10/06/2023. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/ Fahmy A Sarkis. Secretary. #5915181. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/21/2024. (pub Metro 06/05, 06/12, 06/19, 06/26/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #705476

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: One Mortgage Central, 2221 Oakland Road Suite 268A, San Jose, CA, 95131, Silicon City Inc. 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/Timothy Chau. President. #3725482. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 04/25/2024. (pub Metro 06/05, 06/12, 06/19, 06/26/2024)

File Number: FBN706388 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: Shiny Tickets 858 Civic Center Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95050. County: Santa Clara. This business is conducted by: A Limited

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME. FBN706541, filed on 06/03/2024.

The following person(s)/registrant(s) has/have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name(s): Moore GMC, 15500 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95032. Filed in Santa Clara county on 12/22/2022 under file No. FBN691044. Full Name of Registrant (s): Moorevalue Corporation, 15500 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos, CA 95032. This business was conducted by: A Corporation. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Elaine Fader /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ John Y Moore /s/ President. Dated: June 3, 2024. (PUB LGN: 06/12, 06/19, 06/26, 07/03/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #706309

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Cartwright Concrete Coatings, 1721 Rogers Ave Suite P, San Jose, CA, 95112, Cartwright Painters LLC. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. 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/ Brandon Cartwright. Owner. #202252316451. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 05/24/2024. (pub Metro 06/12, 06/19, 06/26, 07/03/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #706737

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Ginkgo, 1026 E Evelyn Ave., Sunnyvale, CA, 94086, MDYS LLC. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 03/25/2021. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Yusong Dong. Managing Member. #202201910122. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 06/07/2024. (pub Metro 06/12, 06/19, 06/26, 07/03/2024)

WHEE! Three racers lift their hands on the giant slide.

SATURDAY