Youth shape their futures by starting businesses, juggling jobs and interning
Caleb Marks, Contributor
Once finals end and college students are freed from attending class and studying, often, another challenge awaits: the summer job. Here’s how a few local postsecondary pupils are making it work. Starting a business from scratch is never easy. Getting started, spreading the word and building connections can be a tough slog. For Carter Williams, a 2024 Leigh High School graduate attending Chapman University, and Grant Ryder, who completed classes at the same school the prior year and now attends Santa Barbara City College, that challenge has grown into a summer business
What started as a way to help people in their neighborhood put up Christmas lights in late 2021 has evolved into a service for things like yard work, garage organization and furniture assembly. Promoting their services through platforms like Nextdoor, Williams and Ryder have built up a solid reputation amongst clients.
However, Williams admits the road hasn’t always been smooth, as he offers a piece of advice to those looking to start their own business. “Never be afraid to put yourself out there. The worst they can say is no. And trying costs nothing,” he said. “Even if no one responds at first, that first connection can make it all worth it.”
➝ Student Jobs, 12
LOCAL PILOT SOARS TO VICTORY IN WORLD FLIGHT EVENT
Song becomes first American to win global hang gliding championship
Staff Report
Californian Peter Song made history last month as the first American to win a world championship hang gliding event since the sport took off over 50 years ago.
Song competed against top pilots from around the globe in the World Hang Gliding Class 1 Sport Championship in June. And when it was owner, he was crowned the sport-class hang gliding world champion after only his sixth hang gliding competition. The 2025 hang gliding world championship series concluded in Spain with the second and final competition.
Song’s historic win in Italy is unprecedented not only because it represents the first-ever world championship victory for the US, but because of Song’s status as a relative newcomer to the sport. Song represents a growing generation of younger hang glider pilots in a sport where most pilots are age 55 and above.
FISHEYE IN THE SKY Song in flight in Italy during a training run. Originally from Los Gatos, he made his mark recently as the first American to win a world championship hang gliding event in the history of the sport.
Courtesy of Peter Song
THE BILLLISTER TEAM
THE BILL LISTER TEAM
THE BILLLISTER TEAM
Call Me To Discuss Your Next Move in
16484
6
101 SHELL DR., #211, WATSONVILLE
$689,000
1 BEDROOM | 1 BATHROOM +- 842 Sq. Ft . LIVING SPACE
Jeffrey P. Blum, Dinah Cotton, Alan Feinberg, Caleb Marks, Emma Solomon Contributors
ADVERTISING
advertising@losgatan.com
Kate Kauffman
Senior Account Executive
Tiffany Birch Account Executive
PRODUCTION
Cindy Couling Director of Creative Services
Deb Fischer Creative Services Production Manager
Zk Bradley Editorial Production Manager
Haley Tweedell
Assistant Editorial Production Manager
Saoirse Alesandro
Editorial Production Designer
Jen Meyer, Jackie Mujica, Elena Razgonov, Rowdy Tompkins, Graphic Designers
WEEKLYS
Mike Lyon
Digital Media
Sonia Chavez Accounts Receivables
Warren Giancaterino Information Technology
LEGAL ADS
legals@losgatan.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@losgatan.com
DEATH NOTICES
Death notices with basic information that are submitted to editor@losgatan.com may be published on a space-available basis only. To place a paid, unedited obituary with a photo, call 707.353.1148 or email LifeTributes@Weeklys.com.
OPINIONS
Commentaries and letters to the editor on our Opinion pages reflect the opinions of the authors. We welcome letters to the editor and commentaries on all topics of local interest. Email your submissions to editor@losgatan.com
Letters must include the writer’s name and hometown (for publication) and phone number (for verification). Submissions may be edited, and will be published as space permits. Letters are limited to 250 words, commentaries to 500 words.
CORRECTIONS
We strive to avoid errors in news and ads. Mistakes sometimes occur. To report errors, call or email; corrections will appear in the next edition and online.
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.
MICRO NEEDLING SPECIAL
$270 (usually $600)
SKIN BENEFITS
• Look and feel younger naturally
• Improves appearance of fine lines & wrinkles
• Reduces uneven skin tone & large pores
• Repairs sun damage & Hyperpigmentation
• Helps increase skin’s collagen production
Way of Wellness Healthcare
mobile: 408.807.2283
Call Dr. Shasta Ericson for free consult wowholisticcare.com
PUBLIC RECORDS DELAYS CONTINUE AT LGMSPD
Sgt. Katherine Mann leaving after 27 years with local force
Anthony Luo, Intern
After more than a month of delays, the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department this week set a new date for the release of public records about its Flock Safety Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras.
The Los Gatan filed an initial request to the agency under the California Public Records Act on June 14, but the department failed to meet a 10-calendar-day deadline to respond after losing track of it.
Given that the Town overhauled its public records system July 1, the Los Gatan refiled the records request under the new system, July 3. The department responded to this updated request on July 11, stating it anticipated handing over the documents by July 25.
LGSUHSD ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE
The District is also rolling out some accessibility changes
Staff Report
On Monday, the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District announced a new schedule and format for its Board of Trustees meetings, beginning this year. Regularly scheduled meetings will now take place on Thursdays, about every three weeks.
And the Closed Session portion will be moved from the beginning to the end of the meeting (pending board approval).
According to District officials, this update is designed to increase transparency and make it easier for students, families and staff to participate.
“Our goal is to make board meetings more accessible, respectful of people’s time, and aligned with our values of openness and inclusion,” said Superintendent Heath Rocha in a release. “By starting meetings with Open Session, we’re hoping for less confusion, and ensuring that those who want to speak or listen to key discussions don’t have to wait into the evening.”
The first meeting of the 2025-2026 school year will take place this Thursday, Aug. 7.
This meeting will still follow the traditional time format, with the opening session beginning at 5pm, immediately transitioning to closed session, and then returning to open session at 6:30pm to complete the remainder of the agenda.
A recommendation from staff to change the start time, moving Closed Session to the end of the meeting, will be on the agenda for approval.
In addition, the District will be providing an after-meeting summary to the community, an update that was previously provided as part of the District’s monthly newsletter.
“We want our community to feel informed and connected to the decisions being made,” said spokesperson Tanya De La Cruz in the release. “Providing timely, clear board meeting summaries helps ensure that our community has easy access to what matters most.”
But on July 25, LGMSPD extended the deadline to Aug. 8, in order to “complete its legal review and any necessary redactions.”
According to the latest bi-annual Police Services Report from Jan. 8, “Auditing ability of camera usage ensures compliance with strict access policies,” and “only authorized law enforcement personnel can access Flock data, and such access is logged and monitored to ensure compliance with policies.”
On the other hand, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office produced their Flock records on June 24, 10 days after the same request was submitted by the Los Gatan to that agency. These include 18 months-worth of data from “network audits,” which track searches of cameras by members of area agencies, and “organization audits,” internal searches by Sheriff’s Office personnel.
Meanwhile, LGMSPD Sgt. Katherine Mann, who manages the department’s social media presence and other communications, is retiring after 27 years with the force.
After joining as an intern in 1998, she became a secretary in the detective bureau before being sworn in as an officer in 2001.
Since then, she worked as a detective from 2007-2011 and 2016-2019 and made sergeant in 2021.
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work in this great community,” Mann wrote in a Facebook post announcing her departure. “I have shared in your joy and happiness and been there to comfort some of you on your worst days. I hope I did it well.”
On Tuesday, Council was set to consider the purchase of two new police vehicles with CHP Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program dollars derived from illicit cannabis operations.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Kudos to history writer
I enjoyed reading Lisa Traylor Scott’s chronicle of her family in last week’s issue of the Los Gatan as well as the companion piece she wrote last year. As an amateur historian, I’m forever curious about the people whose mostly untold stories reveal how our town was shaped in its formative years. Thanks to Ms. Scott for sharing her family’s fascinating history!
“We're hoping for less confusion.”
Heath Rocha, Superintendent
Her ancestor’s many accomplishments might be more widely known if there was a description of the giant mosaic in Pageant Park with “J.D. VEDOVA” prominently displayed in large block letters. Strangely, it was placed there with no information about who he was or what impact he had on the town. There’s an adjacent plaque about
the Pageant Grounds, but no mention of Vedova. As a result, visitors are left to wonder about the meaning of this mysterious slab of concrete and tile. What a missed opportunity!
It seems doubtful that the Town has the resources to install a descriptive plaque. I’ve reached out to Ms. Scott (who now lives in Atlanta) to see if anyone in her family has any thoughts and will do my best to find a solution.
Alan Feinberg
Discover LOST Gatos
Editor—you can read Alan Feinberg’s latest history article on P10.
*Letters are edited for length and clarity.
EDUCATORS (left to right) Superintendent Heath Rocha, Board Vice President Katherine Tseng, Board Trustee Shawn Mortensen, Board Trustee Dr. Misty Davies, Board Clerk Theresa Bond, and Board President Steve Chen will hold regularly scheduled Board Meetings on Thursdays during the 2025-2026 school year.
MEET THE DOCTORS TAKING OVER THE COMMUNITY RADIOLOGY CLINIC IN LOS GATOS
As Good Samaritan exits local imaging business, an opportunity for a Monterey team
Drew Penner, Editor
The frequent flow of planes dropping low over Central Coast shrubbery toward a Monterey Regional Airport runway, over brown mid-rise office-outpost rectangles that house the Pacific Cancer Care, recalls the constant stream of Silicon Valley air traffic descending into the San Jose Mineta International Airport, in view of the hospital campuses on Los Gatos’ periphery.
And as one of those corporate health systems (Good Samaritan Hospital) relinquishes control of its community radiology clinic along tree-lined Los Gatan streets, we decided to get to know the team at Pacific Cancer, which is stepping into the void—in partnership with the OneOncology network.
“A lot of community practices have either gone out of business or had to
join larger organizations,” said Dr. Zach Koontz, Pacific Cancer Care’s president, speaking about why they teamed up with the management service group. “The margins are pretty narrow…It’s hard to make that work for a small practice.”
The money involved in diagnosing and treating people with various sorts of cancer can be mind-boggling. Drugs can range from $50 a dose to around $20,000. And smaller clinics face hurdles when it comes to penciling things out, compared to the big guys.
For example, Koontz explains, for a drug that costs $100, Pacific Cancer Care can charge, say, $108 to $110; a large hospital system can get the same drug for $100, but they can charge $312 or so.
“The crux of it is that small practices just haven’t been able to survive on their own,” said Koontz, on how they’re trying to buck the trend. “We’re trying to keep the care closer to home for patients.”
That’s important, he says, given just how intense the procedures can be.
“A lot of radiation treatments are every day for three weeks, four weeks, five weeks,
EXPANDING Dr. Zach Koontz, president of Pacific Cancer Care, says they want to ensure Los Gatans can get quality oncology treatments close to home.
six weeks,” Koontz said. “Most oncologists see an average of 80 patients a week.”
Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported that global oncology spending was set to about double by 2028.
It also noted that drug wholesaler McKesson bought US Oncology Network for $2.16 billion in 2010, while
JUST 3 MORE ‘JAZZ ON THE PLAZZ’ WEDNESDAY EVENINGS REMAIN
The Jazz Mafia, Clairdee and Tony Lindsay set to perform
Dinah Cotton, Contributor
Tonight, it’s the Jazz Mafia. Next week (Aug. 13), Clairdee. And the week after, the big grand finale—Tony Lindsay and the Soul Soldiers.
That’s the line-up that remains on this year’s Jazz on the Plazz calendar.
The weekly Wednesday-evening series, produced by Los Gatos Music & Arts, has been, once again, delighting Los Gatans and visitors with jazz musicians-singers, lovely weather and outdoor dancing.
And on Saturday, Sept. 20, the organization’s annual sit down dinner-fundraiser GALA will feature the cool jazz sound of the Brubeck Brothers Quartet.
LGM&A, a nonprofit, supports South Bay music education through various programs.
The Jazz Mafia of Music
Normally the word “mafia” isn’t associated with music. But in the case of tonight’s headliner, elevating eclectic jazz is the goal. So, come by and kiss the godfather’s ring. Treat your ears and listen to this unique group. The unexpected kaleidoscope of sounds may just surprise and delight you. The Jazz Mafia has released recordings such as “Family Business,” “Gluttony” and “Slings & Arrows.” The
group might just blow your socks off with their exciting sound from San Francisco.
Clairdee
On Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 6:30pm, the velvety contralto voice of Clairdee will caress your ears with her expressive silky voice. Jazz Times once described her musical approach this way: “in sassy, solidly assured, crowd-pleasing form, a whole lot of interpretive brilliance.”
The Bay Area treasure, aka Clairdee Feinstein, has a sophisticated delivery with her adherence to jazz traditions in an elegant fashion. She draws inspiration from Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRea, blending all of this into her own style of enchantment.
Her style is truly her own. Here you will feel the very essence of jazz. A genuine feel for the music and the interpretation of words. You can see that in tunes such as “I’m Confessin’ (that I love you),” “There’s a Boat Leaving Soon for New York,” and many others that draw you in and leave you wanting more.
In addition to having an exceptional voice, Clairdee is an educator. In doing so, she conveys the traditional feeling of America’s music: jazz. Her repertoire includes performing at well-known jazz venues, including the Monterey Jazz Festival and Dizzy’s Club in NYC.
Clairdee is a recipient of the Bay Area Jazz & Blues Artist Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tony Lindsay & The Soul Soldiers
Aug. 20, the grand finale of Jazz on the Plazz will conclude this summer’s series. Tony Lindsay with his soldiers of jazz will close out the plaza evenings of jazz for another season.
Tony Lindsay was the lead vocalist for Santana for 25 years. If you hear him live, you will understand why. His voice clearly conveys the soul's meaning of the joy of singing. This translates into a super enjoyable evening. Lindsay is also a prolific songwriter, he penned“Don’t Be Late For Love,” “Look What We’d Have If You Were Mine,” and “Just Because”.
Lindsay also has a solo CD titled “Something Beautiful.” Previously he released “Different Moods,” “The Message Is Love” and “Memories.” For some, Lindsay & the Soul Soldiers will be their favourite of the entire Jazz on the Plazz series.
Los Gatos Music & Arts GALA Sept. 20
Say goodbye to the lazy days of summer and indulge yourself at this early fall GALA. Get out your fancy semi formal clothes for an entertaining evening. This event will be held at the spacious Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center.
If you have sat on the lawn, danced under the redwoods, or sat at a reserved seat, you have already supported
Los Gatos Music & Arts. Reserve a table, bring your neighbors or just bring your sweet self.
And yes, as a special treat, the Brubeck Brothers will be the entertainers at this year’s GALA. Get out those “high heel sneakers,” dust off that dinner jacket and decide which gown to put on.
This year’s LGM&A fundraising GALA will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Addison-Penzak Community Center, 14855 Oka Rd., Los Gatos, 95032. Tickets are $275 per person. Doors open at 5:30pm. jazzontheplazz.com
Drew Penner / Los Gatan
VOCAL MASTRY Tony Lindsay will close this year’s Jazz on the Plazz schedule.
Los Gatos Music and Arts
SONG BECOMES FIRST AMERICAN TO WIN WORLD HANG GLIDING CROWN
Glider, from page 1
Born in Los Gatos, Song took several hang gliding lessons in 2019, learning to run the triangle-shaped fabric-and-aluminum glider off hillsides and mountaintops. He soon was soaring for hours in the unpowered aircraft. Song, who currently lives in Los Angeles, returned to the sport in 2021 and entered his first competition in 2022. “That sense of freedom from your first mountain flight is hard to ignore for too long,” he recalled. Hang gliding competitions involve pilots racing through the sky to complete 20 to 100-mile-plus courses defined by GPS locations, relying on updrafts to keep their unpowered gliders aloft. Pilots strive to finish each day’s course quickly for maximum points, yet many land before finishing at all. Pilots must balance racing strategy with the ability to interpret invisible air currents, all while prioritizing safety.
Once seen as a deadly extreme sport, hang gliding has made significant improvements in equipment, training, and safety since the sport began in the 1960s. Modern pilots use professionally manufactured and certified gliders and gear, with instruction in the United States overseen by the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. The sport, one of the most affordable forms of aviation, gives nearly anyone the opportunity to fly like a bird.
Following the sport class world championship in Italy in June, the open-class world championship finished last week in Àger, Spain with Czech pilot Petr Benes taking first place. Hang gliding competitions are divided into three classes–Class 1 Open, Class 1 Sport, and Class 5–based on hang glider type and performance. The world championships take place every two years.
LAUNCHING Los Gatos-born Song takes flight for the second “task” of the event. The competition ran from June 1-14, with pilots racing on six of those days.
Courtesy of Peter Song
Courtesy of Peter Song
POLICE BLOTTER
SUNDAY, JULY 27
• At 7:06 pm, a penal code violation was reported at El Camino Hospital on Pollard Road. A doctor entered the patient’s room for examination and forcibly held her hands and kissed her on the face. A patient of the hospital reported the incident to an intensive care unit nurse.
MONDAY, JULY 28
• Two incidents related to suspicious activity were called in on Monday.
• The first, called in at 6:47am, involved a subject jumping over a fence on Clearview Drive and promptly vacating the premises once motion lights turned on. The subject was carrying a backpack and appeared to be wearing reflective clothing.
• Later in the day, at 11:38pm, a suspicious vehicle was reported on Wedgewood Avenue. A white truck was parked on the road and its occupants were taping the surrounding area. The vehicle left the area after the reporting person confronted them.
TUESDAY, JULY 29
• At 11:32am, indecent exposure was reported at Vasona Park on Garden Hill Drive. The reporting person witnessed a male subject exposing himself to people on the park’s train. The subject was male and wearing a straw hat.
• At 2:07pm, a municipal code violation was called in at Live Oak Manor Park on Carlton Avenue. A man was smoking alongside the reporting person’s fence and left cigarette butts and liquor bottles behind near the property. Although reported on Tuesday, the reporting person alleged that the incident is a daily occurrence.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
• An incident of battery occurred at 2:02am at El Camino Hospital on Pollard Road. The report detailed a patient aggressively hitting a member of the hospital staff. The suspect was unable to be located upon police arrival.
Santa Cruz Avenue at 9:09 am. An unknown suspect stole over $280-worth of canned meat and alcohol from the store.
• At 10:44pm, a burglary occurred at a residence on Camino Del Sol. Broken glass was found inside and the home was rummaged through. It is unknown if anything was taken at this time.
FRIDAY, AUG. 1
• Five parking violations and two municipal code violations occurred throughout the day.
• In the evening, at 9pm, a juvenile disturbance was reported at the Pizza My Heart on North Santa Cruz Avenue. 15 juveniles were consuming alcohol outside of the restaurant’s bathroom.
SATURDAY, AUG. 2
• At 5:13pm, an incident of juvenile disturbance was reported at a residence located on Atwood Court. The reporting person arrived home to an open front door. Upon checking the residence’s Ring Security Camera, three male juveniles were at the door and threw a “kids at play” sign inside of the home. The three individuals are likely students of Fisher Middle School and were recognized by the reporting person.
• Later in the day, at 8:52pm, a stolen vehicle was reported on Blossom Hill Road and Leigh Avenue. The vehicle in question, a 2019 black Toyota Camry, was missing from where it was parked nearby for an undisclosed event.
These reports are compiled from publicly available information released by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.
*Prepared by Emma Solomon
BAY AREA PARENT
THURSDAY, JULY 31
• An incident of petty theft occurred at the Safeway on North
DISCOVER LOST GATOS
Looking back on our town’s theatrical past
A lost tradition of live shows under the stars in Los Gatos
Alan Feinberg, Contributor
There’s no shortage of live entertainment for us to take in this time of year, from Jazz-on-the-Plazz and Music in the Park to Chamber of Commerce street festivals.
Los Gatos has a long history of outdoor summer entertainment. On June 21, 1919, the festivities began with a band concert in front of the Hotel Lyndon followed by a flag raising by the Boy Scouts. There was a parade to Glen Ridge Ave. to watch an “Automobile Hill Climbing Contest.” A tennis tournament and baseball game were held at the high school, and there were picnics in Bunker Hill Park. The finale was the “Pageant of Fulfillment — A Symbolical and Historical Representation in Pageant-Play Form, in Four Movements, With Incidental Music.”
The live evening performance was held at the new Pageant Grounds, a large nat-
ural amphitheater behind the original Town Hall on East Main St. It was the perfect site for elaborately staged theatrical productions. The main stage was on the concrete foundation of the old Los Gatos Cooperative Winery, which burned down in 1888. At 90’ x 65’, it was large enough to accommodate a galloping horse! The San Jose Mercury made special note of the orchestra pit in front of the stage and described the acoustics as “remarkable.”
Pageants were community-wide, all volunteer events. Los Gatos residents wrote scripts, acted and danced on the stage, built sets, sang in the chorus, and played in the orchestra. Noted author Ruth Comfort Mitchell served as one of the directors.
The audience was seated under the stars on a gently sloping hill which is now occupied by the Civic Center. Benches made from rough wooden planks were supported by prune boxes, but uncomfortable seating did nothing to diminish the atmosphere of excitement.
On a summer evening in 1924, 3,000 people gathered to watch an original production called “El Gato de los Gatos.”
The play was set on a rancho near Los Gatos in the year 1830. According to the program: “The author and the company endeavor to recreate the atmosphere and color of those romantic, idle, easy days — the Golden Age of California.”
As word spread, people including the Governor and other dignitaries traveled long distances to Los Gatos just to attend a pageant. The performances became so popular that a movement was started to plan a permanent outdoor theater with bowl-style seating.
Pageants ran for twelve consecutive years, from 1919 to 1930, and then intermittently until 1947 when interest waned. The tradition was revived once, with a special Centennial Pageant in 1987 on the 100th anniversary of the town’s incorporation.
In 2013, as part of the new Los Gatos Library project, the remaining Pageant Grounds were rescued from obscurity
and reconstructed for public use as Pageant Park. The landscaped park is easily accessible via a short pathway between the library and Civic Center. It features several picnic tables and benches surrounding a small lawn. You can still see remnants of a stone waterfall which was powered by a fire hydrant on Cleveland Ave. behind and above the former stage. Pageant Park is a hidden gem. Grab a book from the library or the Friends bookstore and enjoy the tranquility of this relaxing municipal park.
Alan Feinberg is a local historian and founder of the LOST Gatos Project www. lostgatos.com. Since 2015, his mission has been to generate enthusiasm among Los Gatos residents for remembering and preserving our town’s unique character and historic treasures before they’re lost forever. For more Los Gatos history, download the free mobile app Discover LOST Gatos by Alan Feinberg, Peggy Conaway and Sandy Decker and take a self-guided walking tour through our historic downtown.
LOCAL TALENT Los Gatos residents Patty Hostetter and Carl Gertridge star in the 1924 pageant “El Gato de Los Gatos.”
Los Gatos Library and Museum History Project
SUNRUN SENDS A RECORD AMOUNT OF ENERGY TO CALIFORNIA’S GRID
Publicly traded green energy firm worked with PG&E to deliver 360 megawatts
Staff Report
An analysis by The Brattle Group found that Sunrun’s fleet of home batteries across California was the largest contributor to a historic distributed power plant dispatch event that delivered an average of 535 megawatts to the grid—enough to power more than half of the city of San Francisco.
Multiple distributed power plant aggregators, of which Sunrun is the largest, discharged home batteries in coordination with the California Energy Commission, the California Independent System Operator and local utilities during a scheduled test. The event occurred between 7 and 9pm on Tuesday, July 29. The goal was to prepare for future green energy deliveries during heat waves in August and September.
According to the Brattle Group, output from more than 100,000 residential batteries resulted in “a visible reduction in net load” across the statewide grid when quality output is most critical.
“Performance was consistent across the event, without major fluctuations or any attrition,” said Ryan Hledik, principal at The Brattle Group. “Events like these demonstrate to system operators that residential batteries provide dependable, planning-grade performance at scale.”
Sunrun’s home batteries supplied more than two-thirds of the total energy dispatched during the event—averaging more than 360 megawatts over the two hours. Company officials say they could repeat this, if necessary, every day. Sunrun’s batteries acted in the same way as a traditional power plant and “decisively knocked down” the state’s evening peak demand for electricity, they added.
“This customer-led solution is a winwin for households and the grid,” said Sunrun CEO Mary Powell. “Distributed home batteries are a powerful and flexible resource that reliably delivers power to the grid at a moment's notice, benefiting all households by preventing blackouts, alleviating peak demand and reducing extreme price spikes."
This is the second time this summer that Sunrun’s fleet of home batteries helped reduce California’s peak energy demand. On June 24, Sunrun’s statewide distributed power plant dispatched 325 megawatts of peak power from 7 to 9pm.
Cutline:
ENERGY LOADING As the shift to green energy continues, companies and regulators have been working together to alleviate bottlenecks in electricity deliveries.
Credit: Shutterstock
(End for Print)
Participating Sunrun customers are compensated up to $150 (per battery) per dispatching season, and Sunrun is paid for contributing to the grid in this way, too.
Let us help you with your next rebranding, product launch, media campaign, digital initiative, website redesign or image refresh.
See The Brattle Group’s full analysis here.
“Residential batteries—and other sources of distributed flexibility—can serve CAISO’s net peak, reduce the need to invest in new generation capacity, and relieve strain on the system associated with the evening load ramp,” Hledik said.
About Sunrun
identity + strategy + design
Sunrun Inc. (Nasdaq: RUN) revolutionized the solar industry in 2007 by removing financial barriers and democratizing access to locally-generated, renewable energy. Today, Sunrun is the nation’s leading provider of clean energy as a subscription service, offering residential solar and storage with no upfront costs. Sunrun’s innovative products and solutions can connect homes to the cleanest energy on earth, providing them with energy security, predictability, and peace of mind. Sunrun also manages energy services that benefit communities, utilities, and the electric grid while enhancing customer value. Discover more at www.sunrun.com.
Media Contact Wyatt Semanek Director, Corporate Communications press@sunrun.com
STUDENTS EXPAND THEIR HORIZONS WITH SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
With plenty of experience gained in recent years, the duo decided to keep their business running this summer—and perhaps even through 2026.
While not exploring entrepreneurship, Adam Kelch, a 2024 Los Gatos High School graduate and current Foothill Community College student, certainly means business. Kelch is working his own way through college and has triple the motivation to prove it. This summer he has three jobs: helping at a farmers market, coaching kids’ tennis and bussing tables at Tomato Thyme, a restaurant in San Jose. He knows his packed schedule will offer him rewards down the line, but, right now, he’s facing the shortterm pain of his schedule crunch.
“I got burnt out fairly quickly once the
summer started,” Kelch shared. “It’s easy to lose motivation when you have so many things going on at once. I just try to find time in between jobs to rest and get some food in me. It’s very difficult work to do, but I know that it’ll be worth it in the end.”
Through his evening shifts at Tomato Thyme, Kelch has also gained a new appreciation for full-time restaurant workers. “It really changed my perspective,” he said. “I give lots of credit to people who are working full time. Customers who are rude or inconsiderate don’t know how difficult it really is. I wish more people understood that working in a restaurant is never easy, and it’s normal to make mistakes.”
Once he completes his second year at Foothill, Kelch plans to transfer to a university to pursue a degree in computer science.
PUBLIC SAFETY Maya Castro, a San Jose State University student of forensic crime scene investigation, has been interning at the Los GatosMonte Sereno Police Department office at the Los
the treatment. There’s plenty more options than frontline medication.”
At a time when some students are losing jobs to AI, Chawla is grateful for the hands-on experience that is helping her navigate the social and scientific side of mental health care. Heading back to school in August, she will continue studying political science and Native American studies, with an eye toward a future career in corporate law.
In a similar manner, Aanya Sharma, a 2024 Los Gatos High School graduate and rising sophomore at UC Riverside, is gaining valuable experience through her finance internship at Capital Advisors. As a business administration major with a concentration in finance, Sharma has found that this internship is helping pave her career path.
“I love it,” she said. “Heading into this internship, I knew that I wanted to do something in this field. This has only reassured me that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
For some, summer means gaining career experience through internships.
Gauri Chawla, a 2024 graduate of Cupertino High School and rising sophomore at the University of Michigan, is spending her break interning at Lume Labs, a public benefits company working to make evidence-based mental health treatments more accessible.
Chawla’s work with Lume Labs has given her a better insight into the difficulties of mental healthcare and the importance of other treatment options beyond medication. “The work we’re doing here can hopefully present more options to people who are struggling with mental health,” she said. “It’s easy to get discouraged when trying to seek out treatment due to cost factors and the reactions to
While learning about financial reports and client relations, Sharma has taken on new leadership challenges. By running meetings, for example, she has learned to strengthen her communications abilities. “I’ve learned a lot about the finance industry and what skills need to come along with it,” she explained. “This has really helped my communication and leadership skills grow.”
As Sharma looks toward the future, she says she’s confident in her career plans. Whether starting a business, juggling jobs or interning, local college students are using the summer to learn, grow and shape their futures. Each path is different, but all are driven by the motivation to succeed. As they return to campus, they carry not just summer work memories with them, but the beginnings of meaningful careers—and the stories to prove it.
Student Jobs, from page 1
TOILING AWAY ON BREAK Local students have been keeping busy this summer while back in town from their postsecondary adventures.
Gatos Civic Center.
PACIFIC CANCER
PCC, from page 6
Cencora (previously known as AmerisourceBergen), another drug distributor, and TPG Inc. purchased OneOncology for $2.1 billion in 2023.
According to Grand View Research, the global medical imaging market hit $41.6 billion in 2024, and is projected to grow by just under 5% through 2030.
“The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, surging demand for early disease diagnosis and detection tools, growing geriatric population, rising investments by key players, product innovations and technological advancements such as integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical imaging, development of pointof-care medical imaging equipment are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period,” reads the report.
Or, as Koontz puts it, “Cancer diagnoses are increasing, and that is largely a function of the aging population…Also, patients with cancer are living longer, which is a good thing.”
He says they’re investing in new devices for the Los Gatos site.
“The radiation unit kind of needs to be taken to the next generation of technology,” he said, adding they’re building a team that’s quite familiar with the needs of the South Bay town they’ll serve. “We’re happy to have local people serve their local community.”
Anthem Blue Shield Blue Cross and Medicare are on the list of insurance providers they’ll accept, he adds.
“If you are seen in a community practice, generally the cost of care is much more equitable,” he said.
But it’s not all about dollars and cents. These are real human lives. And the doctors are truly on the front lines fighting an enemy we don’t yet fully understand.
“I see younger patients, but they’re the minority,” he said. “I just lost a 40-yearold yesterday.”
And so, the most effective doctors know there’s more to cancer care than the latest AI innovation or digital scanning technique. You have to have a personal touch.
“You’re at least going to be able to comfort the people you do see,” Koontz said. “There are certain things (that happen) at big hospital systems that can’t be done in a community practice. We won’t do bone marrow transplants or heart transplants. Or, there are some really technical radiation therapies that are hard to do…for things like that we do send patients further away…but…most patients can get really high-level care and don’t have to travel a long distance.”
For Koontz, who once worked at Stanford Health, opening a clinic in Los Gatos is a bit of a homecoming.
“I used to live right on the border of Los Gatos and Campbell,” he said, noting he was just off the Los Gatos Creek Trail by Winchester Boulevard and West Hacienda Avenue. “It was great.”
Ad
EXPANDING Dr. Zach Koontz,
Jump Head: Students expand their horizons with summer opportunities
PUBLIC SAFETY Maya Castro, a San Jose State University student of forensic crime scene investigation, has been interning at the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department office at the Los Gatos Civic Center.
Local
and
Cutline:
A LITTLE LOCAL HUMOR, INSPIRED BY A LITERARY MASTER
In the style of Twain: spy squirrels, 47-story tower, predictive parking
Jeffrey P. Blum, C ontributor
It’s time, once again, for a humorous column, dear reader. In that vein, I welcome Mark Twain to the conversation. Ron Chernow’s recently published biography of the famous author serves as the backdrop.
According to Chernow, before he was America’s most celebrated humorist, Mark Twain was a cash-strapped newspaper reporter in the American West with a gift for exaggeration. I was unaware that Twain lavishly indulged in fake news to amuse, provoke and occasionally poke a stick at local egos and bureaucratic absurdity.
Twain fabricated a sensational story about a fully petrified man discovered near the Carson River. The article, complete with fake scientific analysis and dramatic eyewitness accounts, caused miners, scientists and ministers to debate the implications of a man turned to stone. Days later, Twain admitted he made it all up.
He reported on a haunted boarding house in San Francisco where a ghost, allegedly angry about overdue rent, banged on doors and groaned down hallways. Townsfolk armed themselves with Bibles and pistols, before realizing it was all smoke, mirrors and Mark Twain’s imagination.
To Twain, fake news exaggerated the already ridiculous, exposed the vain and celebrated the weird. He referred to this brand of prose as “stretchers.”
In the spirit put forth by Twain, I now present the following “stretchers” for our Town of Los Gatos. Bear in mind, I’m not Mark Twain, so excuse me if my stretchers come across as clunky.
Town Council approves squirrel spy program
After a series of acorn-related incidents in Oak Meadow Park, the Town Council has voted unanimously to launch “Operation Acorn Watch,” a pilot project that trains local squirrels to function as aerial surveillance operatives. “They’re indigenous, agile, and require no pensions,” explained Mayor Matthew Hudes, whose prepared remarks were briefly interrupted by a squirrel descending from the rafters.
Builder’s Remedy invoked to construct 47-story mixed-use tower in Library Parking Lot; Mountain Lion declares eminent domain
Citing the Town’s “brief moment of Housing Element introspection,” a developer has invoked the State’s Builder’s Remedy
law to propose a 47-story mixed-use tower in the Los Gatos Library parking lot, complete with three affordable units, a rooftop drone port and an underground valet service for e-bikes. Whiskers, a mountain lion claiming to be a Los Gatos resident, filed a competing claim of eminent domain, asserting ancestral territorial rights and proposing a conservation-based alternative with low-impact treehomes and a 2:1 squirrel-to-human occupancy ratio. Town staff is currently reviewing both applications using a Ouija system and a dartboard labeled “HCD.” Town Council proposes civility ordinance; ACLU seeks declaratory relief In a step toward municipal harmony—or possibly prior restraint—the Los Gatos Town Council has introduced a draft Code of Conduct policy requiring Council members, board members and commissioners to “speak graciously, dissent respectfully and maintain a tone commensurate with
civic serenity.” The policy defines “discourteous conduct” as including (but not limited to) sighing audibly, quoting the Brown Act with malice, or using the phrase “with all due respect” to mean the opposite. Legal observers, including this writer, warn that the proposed language may be subject to strict scrutiny under established First Amendment jurisprudence. In response, the Town Attorney’s Office is working on a “Constitutional Compatibility Addendum,” while the American Civil Liberties Union is reportedly preparing a petition for declaratory relief and injunctive humor.
Downtown parking crisis tackled with predictive parking pilot (telepathy not included)
In an attempt to tame downtown parking woes, Los Gatos is launching a predictive parking pilot that harnesses the power of smart meters and license plate readers to
track real-time space availability. Using this data, the system moves drivers toward open spots before they begin circling the block like hopeful souls chasing a phantom vacancy. “It’s not telepathy,” said the transportation coordinator, “but it’s as close as we can get without hiring a team of psychics.” The accompanying mobile app promises to save marriages by preventing the “Where do you want to park?” debate. Testers praised the program’s accuracy, aside from the occasional false alarm caused by food delivery drivers who treat curb space like a five-minute lease. Mark Twain once said, “Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as you please.” At a time when fact and fiction routinely share space, it seems fitting to honor Twain with a few wellplaced stretchers of our own.
If the squirrels really are keeping tabs on us, we may as well give them something worth watching.
FROZEN IN TIME A statue of Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) is a popular attraction for passersby in downtown Bozeman, Mont.
Drew Penner
/ Los Gatan
Fictitious Business Name Statements
File Number: FBN717474. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: HCG CONSULTING , 4808 Pine Forest Place, San Jose, CA 95118. This business is conducted by: An Individual, HOLLY C GERANEN, 4808 Pine Forest Place, San Jose, CA 95118. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 06/26/2025 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Holly C Geranen /s/. (Pub LGN: 07/16, 07/23, 07/30, 08/06/2025)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #717711
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Denari Threads, 4279 Redwood Retreat Rd., Gilroy, CA, 95020, Freshly Picked Farms 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/Benny Denice. Manager. #202565218491. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 07/07/2025. (pub LG 07/16, 07/23, 07/30, 08/06/2025)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #717316
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Pics Del Ozz, 1725 Tampa Way., San Jose, CA, 95122, Osbaldo Navarrete. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 06/23/2025. /s/ Osbaldo Navarrete. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 06/23/2025. (pub LG 07/23, 07/30, 08/06, 08/13/2025)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #718008
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Precision Paint Supply, 1660 Monterey Hwy., San Jose, CA, 95112, ATC Colors, 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/Dong Yi. CEO. #C4272280. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 07/17/2025. (pub LG 07/23, 07/30, 08/06, 08/13/2025)
File Number: FBN718075. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: DAD’S MOUSTACHE , 1275 Lincoln Ave Ste 4A, San Jose, CA 95125300. This business is conducted by: An Individual, MELVIN PETRALIA, 1275 Lincoln Ave Ste 4A, San Jose, CA 95125300. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 07/21/2025 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Nina Khamphilath /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Melvin Petralia /s/. (Pub LGN: 07/30, 08/06, 08/13, 08/20/2025)
File Number: FBN717950. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: HAPPY TOTS, 1050 Kiely Blvd #2451, Santa Clara, CA 95051. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, TRANSPARENT LADY LLC, 4546 El Camino Real B10 #734, Los Altos, CA 94022. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 07/15/2025 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. Transparent Lady LLC, Article/Reg # B20250008182, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Barisere R Konne /s/ CEO. (Pub LGN: 07/30, 08/06, 08/13, 08/20/2025)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #718007
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Ramon’s Commercial Tire INC., 1815 Stone Ave., CA, 95125. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 01/01/2025. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Ramon Mora. CEO. #51336961. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 07/17/2025. (pub LG 07/30, 08/06, 08/13, 08/20/2025)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #718213
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Eileen Arts, 7052 Santa Teresa BLV., #1055, San Jose, CA, 95139, Eileen Yee Lim Wong Cervera. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Eileen Yee Lim Wong Cervera. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 07/24/2025. (pub LG 07/30, 08/06, 08/13, 08/20/2025)
File Number: FBN718027. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: PROFESSIONAL STUCCO PLASTERING , 2729 Chromite Dr Apt A, San Clara, CA 95051. This business is conducted by: An Individual, SALVADOR GUADALUPE ROMERO MANCILLA, 2729
Chromite Dr Apt A, San Clara, CA 95051. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 04/30/2025 and 07/17/2025 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Salvador Guadalupe Romero Mancilla /s/. (Pub LGN: 07/30, 08/06, 08/13, 08/20/2025)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #718241
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Mama’s Lien’s Kitchen, 5823 Marshwell Way, San Jose, CA, 95138, Kim Long Truong Nguyen. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Kim Long Truong Nguyen. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 07/24/2025. (pub Metro 08/06, 08/13, 08/20, 08/27/2025)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #717886
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: I Grow Learning Academy LLC, 1063 Fewtrell Drive, Campbell, CA, 95008. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 10/15/2020. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Svetlana Umansky. Manager. #B202050181778. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 07/11/2025. (pub LG 08/06, 08/13, 08/20, 08/27/2025)
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #718321
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Davis Duc Nguyen Transportation, 1350 Oakland Rd., Spc #171, San Jose, CA, 95112, Duc The Nguyen. This business is being conducted by a Individual. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Duc The Nguyen. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 07/25/2025. (pub LG 08/06, 08/13, 08/20, 08/27/2025)