Los Gatan July 23, 2025 by Weeklys

LOCAL MOM’S SAGA SHEDS LIGHT ON HIGH COST OF EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS

Family was surprised by a $30K hospital bill following bike accident with only minor injuries to her son

Drew Penner, Managing Editor

A Los Gatos mother is raising the alarm about Good Samaritan Hospital billings after receiving a nearly $30,000 invoice following her son’s short hospital visit.

Christine Sterpetti, 59, says she and her husband brought her son (who was in 8th grade at the time) to the emergency room to get checked out after he fell off his bike and landed on his tailbone near Union Middle School, Oct. 2, 2023.

“He wasn’t in a wheelchair. He wasn’t having to be assisted into the hospital,” Sterpetti told the newspaper in a telephone interview. “It was just a precautionary visit. It wasn’t like he was scraped-up or anything like that.”

But then, around a year later, a bill for $29,825 was generated and sent to Sterpetti’s husband's insurance company Meritain Health (the son is on the father’s insurance plan).

A medical record obtained by the Los Gatan, dated Nov. 11, 2024, lists $7,914 for “Room and Care,” $4,950 for X-rays, $16,945 for “LVL 5 EMER DEPT,” and $16 for a 200mg ibuprofen tab.

CANCER CAREPOINT OFFERS MOM SUPPORT

Hannah Haworth was a new mom and was looking forward to her daughter’s first

By Dinah Cotton, Contributor

Hannah Haworth, a new mother and an author of 10 books, was looking forward to her daughter’s first birthday.

At age 40 she thought it might also be a good time to have a mammogram.

Her medical insurance plan had been suggesting it for months. Five days after her daughter’s first birthday she went in for her first mammogram. Without any symptoms, and without any family history of cancer, a tumor was diagnosed. Devastating results. This was not on her agenda. She was a writer. She was doing well with

her book series. She has a loving husband. Her daughter, Lynlee, needed her. There was simply no time to “have” cancer.

Reluctant client becomes a thriving client During Haworth’s treatment and recovery, her husband met representatives from Cancer CAREpoint (CCP) at her

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VOL.4 NO.47

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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.

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APPLICATION WINDOW NOW OPEN FOR FREE FIELD TRIPS TO LOCAL PARKS

Program is for select lowincome elementary schools in Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties

Staff Report

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks announced July 16 the application for Kids2Parks, a park-equity program that brings students to California State Parks from low-income elementary schools that are designated as Title 1, will open July 28.

For field trips during the 2025–26 academic year, the application window extends through Friday, Aug. 22, 2024.

Kids2Parks provides transportation funding for second through fourth grade classes at Title 1 elementary schools in Santa Cruz County and select schools in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The full list of eligible schools is available here. Teachers apply online for free and will be notified by early September if their application was approved. Title 1 is a designation by the U.S. Department of Education that primarily indicates a high percentage of students from low-income families.

The program increases the number of students who can visit a state park or beach by reducing barriers to access. Kids2Parks funds field trip transportation costs, including bus rental, driver t,ime and fuel. More than 20,000 students have participated in field trips since the program’s inception a decade ago.

“A day at a state park or beach can truly transform a young student’s world,” said Lauren Kitayama, program coordinator for Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. “We hope these experiences spark a lifelong connection with nature, inspiring students to bring their families back for more.”

Participating parks include Castle Rock State Park, Castro Adobe State Historic Park, Half Moon Bay State Beach, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Natural

Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Seacliff State Beach, The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and Wilder Ranch State Park. Schools are paired with parks based on location.

“Kids2Parks directly enables students to deepen their understanding of the invaluable natural, cultural, and historic resources preserved within our parks,” said Rhiannon Sims, a State Parks interpreter for the Santa Cruz District. “Kids2Parks programs are foundational to our ongoing initiatives to ensure equitable and sustainable access to California State Parks throughout the Santa Cruz District.”

Kids2Parks is funded through grants and donations from generous individuals, businesses, and organizations. It costs an average of $15 to send a student on a Kids2Parks field trip. To make a donation: bit.ly/donatek2p. To sponsor a class, call 831-429-1840.

Application is available here: thatsmypark.org/k2p

About Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Established in 1976, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends) is a vital partner with California State Parks, creatively working to ensure our cherished local parks and beaches are thriving and available to all. Friends’ innovative and collaborative community partnership provides support and investment for education, equity and inclusion, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation and cultural events. Friends currently operates a robust online ParkStore offering nature- and history-themed merchandise for sale to benefit local parks and beaches. Friends also operates ParkStores at Natural Bridges, New Brighton, Santa Cruz Mission, Seacliff and Wilder Ranch.

Learn more at ThatsMyPark.org or via Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

FORMER LOS GATOS PRIEST PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO SEX CRIMES IN SLO

Jesuit who served at Most Holy Trinity in San Jose was arrested in June and now faces 26 charges

Anthony Luo, Intern

After a fourth alleged victim was identified by the San Luis Obispo Attorney General’s Office, 61-year-old Ted Gabrielli, arrested last month in Los Osos by San Luis Obispo detectives, now faces additional charges of child molestation for a total of 26.

And at a July 8 hearing, Gabrielli, who previously worked at two social ministries in Los Gatos, pleaded not guilty to all counts he faces. He is scheduled for a pre-preliminary hearing on July 31, according to court reports.

Although court records show that Judge Michael S. Frye was set to preside over the pre-preliminary hearing, records also indicate that on July 14, a peremptory challenge was filed, which disqualifies the judge assigned to the case. It is unclear if Judge Frye will still preside over the case.

Gabrielli was originally arrested on June 12, the culmination of an investigation conducted by the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office that began after a child abuse report was filed on Aug. 28, 2024, according to the Tribune.

Records from re:SearchCA, an online repository and case management system used by San Luis Obispo County, show that the 26 felony charges filed against Gabrielli include 18 counts of “Oral Copulation Upon Minor Under 14yo by Means of Force/Duress”; two

counts of “Continuous Sexual Abuse Of Child”; three counts of “Lewd Act With Child 14 Or 15/Deft 10 Years Older;” one count of “Lewd Act With Child Under 14 With Force.” He also faces one felony enhancement of “Felony Sex Offense Specified Circumstances Victim Under 14 Years of Age.”

The alleged offenses vary in location, taking place in San Luis Obispo County, Los Angeles County, Santa Clara County and El Dorado County.

Aside from working in Los Gatos as Provincial Assistant for Social Ministries and then Provincial Assistant for International Ministries, the Tribune reported that Gabrielli worked for the Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose, Dolores Mission church in Los Angeles, on the Loyola High School of Los Angeles Board of Directors and at Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Diego.

In a June 17 news release, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office explained that the three original victims were members of the same family, who befriended Gabrielli while he was working as a Catholic priest. Gabrielli allegedly took the three boys to his parents’ residence in Los Osos and sexually assaulted them, which continued for around eight years. The charges relating to these three alleged victims took place between 1991 and 1994.

According to an amended criminal complaint filed by San Luis Obispo District Attorney Dan Dow, the fourth alleged victim in the case came forward on June 26; the additional charges related to them occurred the most recently, between 2005 and 2009.

In a statement to news station KSBY, Ilan Funke-Bilu, Gabrielli’s attorney, noted that the defendant is “a wonderful, wonderful man and he’s not gonna be bitter,” and that Gabrielli’s not guilty pleas “speaks volumes of our position.”

Gabrielli is currently being held in custody in the San Luis Obispo County jail with no bail, according to an email from the San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s Office.

CORRECTIONS

The July 16 article about two businesses moving online misstated Andrea Blackwell’s description of why downtown shops banded together to fight retail theft. She was referring to Proposition 47 (2014), which reclassified some felonies as misdemeanors, and did not mean that police aren’t interested in tracking petty crime.

Also on July 16, Anithra Shradha Narayanan’s name was misspelled in an article about an Indian dance fundraiser. She had initially worked with the Sankara Eye Foundation. Dhiya Padmanabhan’s grandmother had cataract surgery in India.

We regret the errors.

FIELD TRIP HIKE Trails like this beckon visitors to local parks.

Santa Clara County

CHEZ PHILIPPE’S BASTILLE DAY MENU FEATURED SPECIAL DISH

Husband and wife team up to serve local lovers of French cuisine their favorite classic specialties in a relaxing downtown setting

Faizi Samadani , Contributor

Restaurateur Philippe Leroy has a track record of opening French restaurants all over the world, from Palo Alto to Japan, but Los Gatos has brought in a unique traffic that he says he has yet to experience in his history of his culinary craft.

Husband and wife—or, chef and marketing manager—Philippe and Deena Leroy live in Los Gatos and own one of the most popular and central restaurants in the heart of downtown.

And although Chez Philippe normally is closed on Mondays, on July 14, it was open to celebrate Bastille Day with a special dish called a cassoulet. They added live jazz, which customers can normally expect every Thursday from 5:30pm-8pm.

June 28 marked the three-year anniversary of opening Chez Philippe in downtown Los Gatos. “At the time, we were both in the life transition and I had left the corporate world so we both decided to open this place. We wanted something that defined us both, with real French food,” Deena says.

“We wanted to go back to basics that were simple and hardy, as I grew up in Paris, and went to the cooking school in Paris called Ferrandi,” says Philippe, as he laughs and says that The New York Times quoted the school he studied at as the “Harvard School of Cooking.”

The LeRoys opened and owned many French restaurants over the years—one in

MONTEREY JAZZ REGIONAL ALL STARS

FEATURE TEEN TALENT AT PARK PLAZA

Young stars display their talent tonight at Jazz on the Plazz at 6:30pm with band and vocal groups performing jazz classics

Dinah Cotton, contributor

Here’s something not to be missed: an evening of traditional jazz with a youthful spin as music students across Monterey County audition in Los Gatos for the honor of being accepted as an All-Star.

Stu Reynolds leads the instrumental Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Band, with co-direction by Rob Klevan, and Janice Perl also direct the vocalists.

The Regional All-Star Vocal Ensemble was established in 2007. This group showcases talented vocalists who perfect their jazz skills and perform at venues nationwide.

held in 1958 and has been continuously active for 67 years. This is the 68th year and is scheduled for September 26-28. It is the longest continuously running jazz festival in the world. During the pandemic it was viewed online.

In Monterey, jazz is active and happening year round. It is committed to celebrating America’s creativity and cultural heritage. It was a natural for the Monterey Jazz regional bands to grow out of this rich history of promoting America’s music, jazz. And it seems natural for those who live in this area to enjoy and support it.

Jazz on the Plazz

Japan and La Bohème in Palo Alto, which Philippe eventually sold.

Philippe says he was always the man behind the menu.

“Really, what you see on the menu is always what I had done, which was done traditionally in France when I left there over 40 years ago,” Philippe says, explaining he always wanted a traditional approach.

“The one thing that grounds us both is that we love each other and we treat this thing as our baby,” Deena says. Philippe says their circumstance is extremely rare and they both know their strengths and they both know their weaknesses: Deena is on the marketing and business side, and Philippe is on the creative side.

Philippe says that their connection to French people in the area is strong, and partially due to the nature of France itself. They’ve had elderly people come in who recall how they got married or engaged in France. Once, he says, there was a Vietnamese man who came in and began crying once he ate crème caramel because he said it reminded him of his grandmother.

These are the moments that help Philippe keep going, when he makes food and knows it can make his customers feel happy: “Tonight we have a date that is in France.”

“We wanted to make this place like you walk in our house,” his wife said. “We wanted people to come and feel like they can relax and like they can be transported into somewhere else, considering that all these people work so hard. Los Gatos has been so welcoming to us, and they treat us like we’re their little secret.”

“For me this place is not like a business. It’s a passion and thrives off of giving,” Philippe says.

Reynolds directs the Regional AllStar Band, which was founded in 1989. They feature exceptional command of their instruments and are enhancing their musicianship performing at notable jazz venues. Participants in these ensembles allow these students to earn Certificates of Excellence in Professional Musicianship.

The students in the groups are currently enrolled in a music ensemble from middle schools and high schools. The All-Star ensemble members will have the benefit of working with some of the country’s best jazz educators.

Just Jazz

These ensembles add so much inspiration and youthful enthusiasm to the Jazz on the Plazz summer series that you may be amazed at the level of professionalism brought onstage by these students.

The Monterey Jazz Festival was first

Los Gatos Music and Arts has invited this inspiring group of young people to Jazz on the Plazz, they do not disappoint. The Los Gatos Music & Arts mission is to “nurture the arts through dynamic and inclusive programming, which includes concerts, festivals, workshops, masterclasses and youth education” (from its brochure). This year LGM&A hosted over 50 students for their week-long Jazz Intensive Summer Camp.

This is the twenty-third year of Jazz on the Plazz.

This summer is unseasonably cool, so if you plan to attend please bring a sweater or a jacket.

Tickets may be purchased at this event for entrance to the Hospitality Lounge. This area is located in a corner of the park and offers local wines, beers and snacks—very convenient if there is no time to prepare a picnic basket.

Areas on the grassy part of the plaza are free and may be staked out after 3pm. Blankets or mats are not allowed within the plaza. Bikes must be parked off-site. Restaurants offer meals and snacks to go.

LOVE LOS GATOS Philippe and Deena Leroy take a breather at their French restaurant.

Monterey Jazz Regional All-Star Middle School Jazz Combo will play at Jazz at the Plazz.

Faizi Samadani

Photo courtesy of Monterey Jazz

TESLA OPENS BIG SERVICE CENTER AT LOS GATOS BOULEVARD SITE

Elon Musk’s activities for Trump Administration spark protests at the former Moore GMC showroom, which sold for $26.5 million

Emma Solomon, Contributor

The new Tesla showroom and service center’s opening on Los Gatos Boulevard has been clouded by controversy surrounding Elon Musk—a former advisor to President Donald Trump.

The property, formerly the site of the old Moore GMC showroom, was purchased by Sand Hill Property Company for $26.5 million. Plans also feature a Whole Foods market. Although Tesla is up and running, the grocery store will not be opening its doors until later this year.

According to Tesla’s webpage, the new site includes a service, delivery and collision center. Additionally, EV charging stations are also present around the dealership.

Los Gatos provides an ideal location for a new opening, says Councilmember Maria Ristow, who noted the importance of greenlighting development projects that will draw business to the town.

Despite the demand, shortly following the opening, some residents began #TeslaTakedown protests every Saturday morning to oppose Musk’s actions in Washington, D.C., with DOGE. Protests have expanded to weekdays as well, with a group of around 10 people protesting into the evening this past Wednesday.

“People here aren’t against electric cars,” said J.P. Chand, “Musk took yours

and my tax dollars for rebates and used that money to buy a president.”

Chand is a San Jose resident who has frequented Tesla-related protests across the South Bay. Groups have also been organizing at other locations, such as dealerships and showrooms in Sunnyvale, San Jose and Santa Clara.

Supporters of the demonstration’s cause honked their horns in approval during Chand’s interview with the Los Gatan.

“A lot of people buy these cars not realizing that they are financing the destruction of the American way of life,” Chand said.

Although the two publicly traded blows on social media, Musk headed the de facto Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump earlier this year. DOGE was responsible for the proposed firing of over 100,000 government employees.

“People need to be aware of how we effectively have an oligarchy,” said Bob Somers. “Elon Musk has to be held accountable for the mess he has made.”

Somers was packing up an inflatable tube man with ‘Elon Sucks’ written down the side as he spoke to the Los Gatan.

Although police were present at the site of the protest and within the dealership, Somers commented that they have not posed any issues during the demonstrations.

Police have reported a series of vandalism incidents seemingly occurring as a response to the new opening. On July 2 and 15, the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Media Bulletin reported two incidents tied to the dealership. Both involved subjects spray painting the property out of protest.

Despite the ardent opposition to the opening from some community members, others have welcomed the new location. Some users of NextDoor have proposed counterprotests in support of Tesla—citing increased jobs and tax revenue as reasons for public backing.

Representatives from Tesla did not comment on the dealership opening as of press time.

TESLA PROTEST Elon Musk’s Washington D.C. actions spurred local protestors.

QUAKES ROOKIE BEAU LEROUX FINDS MEANING OFF THE FIELD

Former SJSU standout grows in faith, soccer acumen

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

Beau Leroux used to find his ultimate meaning and identity through the lens of his achievements on the soccer field.

That all changed after the first-year San Jose Earthquakes midfielder suffered the first serious injury of his athletic career during his junior season at San Jose State University in the fall of 2023. For the time

since he started playing the sport, Leroux would be relegated to the sidelines via injury, leaving him perturbed and empty.

“I’ve always had visions of going pro, but even more that year with it being so close,” Leroux said. “That injury, I felt the stress of the world coming upon me. It was confusing at the time.”

The saving grace, Leroux said, came in what happened afterward.

“The injury led me towards my Christian faith,” he said. “It led me into a relationship with God.”

Finding true purpose

Leroux has always had existential questions since his parents got divorced when he was 5 years old.

“The toughest thing I’ve wrestled with throughout my life is my parents’ divorce,” he said. “I never understood it growing up. I was really young and it damaged me in the sense I’ve never seen my parents together. I feel like growing up, I never knew what love was, and it was always hard for me to understand that.”

The most difficult aspect of his parents’ divorce was having a father who was never in the picture. Since the separation, Leroux has had zero contact with his father.

“Growing up without a father is an awful thing in this world,” Leroux said. “If I had my father around more in my youth, I think things would’ve made more sense. I would’ve had more security as well. But that’s where God comes in as the ultimate (heavenly) father. He’s always there for you.”

PLAYMAKER Entering this week’s action, Earthquakes rookie Beau Leroux ranks fourth on the team in minutes played, is tied for third with four goals, and has an 86% accurate pass number.

John Todd

Though his earthly, biological father failed him, Leroux said he has found peace and comfort in a heavenly father who is always with him.

“Another reason why I believe in God is I’ve messed up so many times in my life, and I understand I can’t save myself (from my transgressions),” Leroux said. “It’s only through Jesus Christ who died and bled on the cross and all of humanity that has made this possible.”

Leroux, who considers himself to be a new believer in the Christian faith, attends weekly bible study sessions led by Earthquakes’ team co-chaplain Shea Salinas.

“Beau has been such an impressive man for being so young,” said Salinas, who also serves as the Earthquakes’ club ambassador and head of youth soccer partnerships. “For being so young, Beau has a sense of maturity but also humility with the willingness to learn and grow. Another thing that has impressed me a lot is his willingness to serve and be a leader. Our Quakes Foundation does clinics throughout the Bay Area, some of which are in low-income areas where kids are exposed to a dangerous lifestyle. Hopefully, a sport can help them out. We want to provide those soccer options for these kids.”

Salinas said Leroux has displayed servant leadership, a biblical concept from the life of Jesus, who said in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Furthermore, Leroux has done it with heartfelt joy and gratitude.

“I asked Beau if he could help with some of the clinics, and he’s done every one of them,” Salinas said. “He doesn’t just come for the sake of coming. He engages, he plays soccer with the kids, he’s laughing and goofing off with them. He has a willingness to serve.”

Identity in Christ

For pro athletes, the pressure to perform and continually be productive can be stifling. The motto “here today, gone tomorrow” is a rather apt one in the pro sports arena, where a couple of subpar games can result in a spot on the bench.

So how does Leroux—a 6-foot, 165-pound 21-year-old—stay grounded and not allow what he does on the field affect how he views himself? Once again, it comes from his newfound faith.

“In terms of my identity, at the end of the day I belong—both body and spirit—to God,” Leroux said. “And that will never change. His love for me will never change. Everything I have in this world has been given to me. Just as God has given, he can also take away. I’m not one to think highly of myself. I know God can take all this away in an instant. So, I’m super grateful for anything I have and the trials I’ve been through. I know God’s word remains and he’s the same forever, so that keeps me secure in who I am.”

Excelling on the pitch

Entering this week’s action, Leroux was one of just two Quakes’ players—Ousseni Bouda being the other—who have played in all 24 matches, starting 20 of them. He ranks fourth on the team in minutes played, is tied for third with four goals, and has an 86% accurate pass number.

Leroux has been grateful with how his season has unfolded.

“I’ve always known I could contribute to this team, but I didn’t expect for things to go like this, to do this well,” he said. “So yes, it’s definitely been a pleasant surprise.”

A 2021 Santa Teresa High School graduate, Leroux went on to play three seasons at SJSU before the Quakes selected him with the 42nd overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. Last year, Leroux had a starring role on San Jose’s MLS NEXT Pro team, The Town FC, scoring five goals and starting all but one of the team’s 24 matches. That set him up nicely for his rookie season with the first-team club this year.

Leroux’s transition to the pro ranks has been fairly smooth, aided by a deep desire to continually improve. As a new believer, Leroux wrestles with questions in regards to the Christian faith daily, deepening his view of God.

“I knew there was a God when I was

younger, but I never had a relationship with him until the last two years,” he said. “I didn’t know that relationship could get deeper. But now I’m really wanting to get to know him, know his word and build a deeper relationship.”

Don’t get Leroux wrong: though he finds great satisfaction and joy in being a pro athlete, it no longer defines who he is. That’s why in the midst of strug -

gles—personally or professionally—Leroux has a source of strength he can always rely on.

“When I’m facing difficulties, I would say remembering God’s word and what he says brings me calmness and security in any situation,” Leroux said. “I think I have more of a voice now, and if I can help bring others to Jesus, that’s my purpose.”

IMPACT San Jose native Beau Leroux has started 20 of 24 matches for the Earthquakes, who entered this week’s play at 7-9-8 (29 points), ninth place in the Western Conference.

CELEBRATE Beau Leroux celebrates a goal.

‘Ebb & Flow’ Reception Brings Together Artists, Curators and Community Members To Celebrate New Exhibits at NUMU

Featuring a collaborative piece by Chieko Shimizu Fujioka, Moeko Machida and Margaret Luo, the museum’s newest exhibition is open to the public until Jan. 4, 2026

Anthony Luo, Intern

New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) last week unveiled “Ebb & Flow,” its newest exhibition, featuring three artists— Cheiko Shimizu Fujioka, Moekoa Machida and Margaret Luo—who worked with museum curators to create four distinct artworks, including one collaborative piece titled “Interwoven Elements.”

Located just by the entrance to the museum at the Mike & Alyce Parsons Reception, the artworks of “Ebb & Flow” are held together on a backdrop with connective elements drawn by graphic designer Qiuwen Li and a synopsis of the exhibition written by curator Allison Railo.

Guests from around Los Gatos and Saratoga were treated to an opening reception with food and drinks, during which Fujioka and Luo spoke about the exhibition and collaborative process.

Machida, who currently lives in Switzerland, made a video appearance to share appreciation for the museum and her collaborators.

Saratoga resident Judy Goldman, who has seen many of Luo’s works in the past, attended the reception with her husband. “I wanted to come support a local museum and appreciate how the museum has opened its doors to emerging artists,” she said.

According to a July 10 press release, the exhibition “explores the artistic process of three individual artists who found a connection through their shared Asian cultures and ‘creational philosophy’ of their art practices.”

“Interwoven Elements,” which features contributions from all three artists, was the first artwork they completed, taking almost an entire year to finish.

According to Luo and Fujioka, this was their second attempt at a collaborative piece; all three of the artists decided to restart after being unsatisfied with their first try.

After the completion of “Interwoven Elements,” each artist also created a piece for the exhibition reflecting their individual styles. Railo, who worked with the artists throughout their collaboration with the museum, says that this exhibition is a rare example of artists working alongside the museum through the entire creative process rather than submitting finished works of art.

Luo, a self-taught Chinese-American artist who left her job as a policy researcher in 2022 to pursue art full-time, contributed an oil painting titled “Great Waves of the Moon.” Inspired by coastal scenes from the Bay Area and her childhood, Luo says she has always tried to emulate the calmness of ocean waves through her paintings.

“As someone who is very stressed out all the time, I felt like water really spoke to me…if you paint something serene, you feel serene,” Luo told the Los Gatan during the reception.

Fujioka, a Japanese artist specializing in an abstract form she calls “glass mosaic,” contributed a mosaic titled “After Dark.” During her remarks at the reception, she noted that the piece is meant to capture the idea of finding hope in darkness.

Glass mosaic art starts with an acrylic

RECEPTION Artists Chieko Shimizu Fujioka and Margaret Luo stand beside museum curator Allison Railo.

COLLABORATION Fujioka, Luo and Machida worked together to create this piece, titled “Interwoven Elements.”

painting on a wooden base specially carved out for each piece, after which the artist smashes a glass sheet and arranges the broken shards like puzzle pieces on top of the painting, using grout to cover the finished product and hold everything together.

Fujioka told guests that, for her, this process of breaking-and-reshaping symbolizes hope; in particular, the broken glass coming together to form a strong product represents human resilience.

Finally, Machida, a Japanese artist who specializes in using materials like mineral pigments and gold leaf, contributed “Form of Life.”

Raised by biologist parents, Machida’s work explores “the preciousness of life, drawing viewers into a realm of existence that persists beyond the boundaries of this world,” according to her website. Luo described “Form of Life” as exploring “life cycles, death and vitality.”

Each artwork in the collection is labeled by a Kanji character on top of its English name—a choice, the artists explained, made to bridge their Chinese and Japanese heritages, as Kanji characters are often borrowed from Mandarin but have unique meanings in Japanese. For instance, “Interwoven Elements” is labeled “交,” the character for “exchange.”

To accompany their work, the artists also created a display, located in the middle of the exhibit, showcasing their artistic processes and the different techniques each of them use with a pile of glass shards, an oil paint palette and samples of mineral pigments.

The display also includes 15 Polaroid photographs, also labelled with Kanji characters, which the artists took as an exercise to find visual inspiration for the collection.

Although all three artists had previously known each other through the San Jose arts community, they all found this year-long collaboration to be uniquely challenging and transformative in its own ways.

For Fujioka in particular, that meant letting go of previously held rules in how she approaches the artistic process and exploring different forms of expression, a perspective which she hopes to carry past this exhibition and into future collections.

Regardless, all of the artists expressed their appreciation for the museum and for each other in their remarks.

“The work came out in an unexpected way,” Machida said in her video message. “I couldn’t be happier with what we created together.”

Fujioka and Luo will be hosting a free artists’ tour at the museum on Aug. 3 and a workshop on their collaborative process on Oct. 4. “Ebb & Flow” is open to the public until Jan. 4, 2026.

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SUPPORT EASES CANCER ANXIETY

CAREpoint, from page 1

hospital. He suggested that she take a look at what they do.

A reluctant Haworth said, “There were flyers at the hospital about this group that was coming to talk about cancer. Great, that is not for me. But there was something in me thinking, ‘OK, I’m gonna try one meeting.’”

The rest, as they say, is history. CCP has become an important part of Haworth’s courageous ongoing cancer recovery journey. She had one surgery, then another surgery, chemo, radiation and was looking at a year in bed. CCP became her source for learning and healing. She joined the CCP community in earnest. Others in similar situations were there as well.

Anxiety to Confidence

Haworth’s anxiety began to give way with personalized support from CCP. This support helped her feel more confident and empowered. CCP’s resources and services helped her navigate how to survive and thrive while living with cancer. Seven years after her original diagnosis, Haworth continues with CCP. She also will be the guest speaker at this year’s annual fundraising Garden Party event. She has published eight books since her diagnosis.

The CCP Annual Fundraising Garden Party will be held at the Nestldown venue in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Aug. 24.

What began as a simple gathering has blossomed into one of Silicon Valley’s premier summer events. This Garden Party now welcomes over 350 guests and raises more than $1 million. These funds help CCP to support the Bay Area’s only community-based nonprofit that offers personalized, one-on-one cancer support services. General tickets are $300.

Personalized, one-on-one support

Pam Klaus, Cancer CAREpoint’s executive director, pointed out that this year marks the 13th year of the CARE program (its initials stand for Counseling, Assistance, Resources and Education).

“We invite you to join us for an unforgettable evening—honoring the journey, the generosity, and the community that makes healing possible.”

At this year’s annual Garden Party, Haworth will be the keynote speaker at the sponsor reception. This event is being held at Nestldown, a little over six miles away, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. “We are very grateful to Nestldown in offering their venue for our major fundraiser and to Haworth for speaking at it,” Klaus said.

According to the group’s literature, “CCP is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of Bay Area residents impacted by cancer by providing compassionate, personalized support services and programs tailored to meet individual cancer survivor needs.

“Over the past 13 years, CCP has offered individual help, comfort, and resources to those who live with cancer and their caregivers.”

Provided for adults, these programs and services are available at no cost to patients and their families. As one example of the myriad services available, the wig vault has more than 500 wigs and headcoverings. Wigs are even taken out to the hospitals.

CCP does not receive any federal or state funding, instead relying on grants and donations to keep serving the community. It is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located at 2512 Samaritan Court, Suite A, San Jose. For more information, call 408-402-6611, visit CancerCAREpoint.org or email info@cancercarepoint.com.

ACTIVE TEEN Sterpetti says her son is always getting injured, and says this is the first time their hospital bill has been so astronomical.

HEFTY HOSPITAL BILLS FOR NO FRILLS

Good Sam, from page 1

“Obviously the insurance company is like, we’re not paying $30,000 for this,” she said, adding that after behind-thescenes negotiations between the insurance company and the hospital, she was on the hook for $1,944.41. “I flipped out.”

The thing is, Sterpetti has had plenty of experience taking her son to various health care institutions over the years.

“He broke his arm skateboarding when he was four,” she said, noting they were in Italy at the time, so they were able to take him to a publicly funded site. “I think it cost us like seven euros.”

She remembers her son went to Good Sam for a broken wrist once, but says the bill wasn’t too bad that time.

After he had a nasty encounter with a thornback ray while out in the ocean they took him to a private clinic in Los Gatos.

“My kid has had a few broken bones, just being active,” she said, adding when she was told her son had been in some kind of biking incident, she thought, Here we go again

. The Los Gatan spoke with her son, who agreed to share his photo but preferred not to give his name.

He said in the scheme of things, the bike accident was so minor he barely remembers it.

According to his mother, she and her husband sat with their son in a waiting area much of the time, and not in a private—or even semi-private—room.

“At the end of the day all they did was give him ibuprofen,” she said, adding she thinks they may have given him Tylenol, too, although that’s not listed on the bill. “They did not give us the X-rays.”

So, she says she was astounded to see Good Samaritan was charging for high-level emergency care.

“That’s when I’m questioning them about, ‘What are all these charges?’” she said. “I said, ‘He never got a semi-private room. He sat in a waiting room like everyone else.’”

And she asked about the Level 5 designation.

“He wasn’t in an ambulance,” she said. “He came in walking. This was outrageous.”

According to Sterpetti, the hospital offered to do an investigation and to put their bill on hold while that’s underway, but then never got back to them.

THE MOM Christine Sterpetti and her son.

Dinah Cotton

GRATEFUL CLIENT Cancer CAREPoint director Pam Klaus (left) with cancer survivor and author Hannah Haworth.

Sterpetti says she’s the one who called, on May 13 this year, to get the results of the review.

The hospital told her that the semiprivate room had been taken off of the bill and that they’d drop the care designation down to a Level 3, she claims.

This would bring the new total down from around $30,000 to $10,629, she said.

However, in the meantime, Good Sam sent their case to collections.

A hospital statement dated Jan. 2, 2025, also obtained by the Los Gatan , confirms her son spent less than a day in the hospital.

And it shows $6,251.59 was already paid—which Sterpetti says was covered by her insurance company.

It also demanded $1,944.41 by Jan. 22.

Since then, Sterpetti has been dealing with a collections agency called Medicredit.

“They tell me, yes you need to pay this bill,” she said, adding when she tried to call the hospital for an explanation she got the cold shoulder. “I keep getting looped back into Medicredit.”

Sterpetti says the collections agency offered her 40% off. She says she paid $1,361.09 on July 10, because she felt pressured to take a bad deal in order to avoid financial repercussions.

Now she’s questioning the math behind that transaction.

And Sterpetti says, in retrospect, she thinks it’s unfair, because it was apparently based on the amount she originally owed.

“What happens if I don’t pay that?” she wonders. “As a patient, you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”

Plus, she says, there’s a weird thing happening where, because the hospital took so long to make their initial claim, there were technical issues with getting the lower rate approved—something told to her by Accolade, a middleman that works with their insurance company.

“They told me that the hospital did try and resubmit the new lower amount claim, but that it was rejected because it was past the one-year mark that hospitals are given to submit claims,” Sterpetti said. “According to our insurance company, based on the $10,626, our portion would have been much less.”

Her next step is to go down to the hospital in-person to demand answers.

“I am so frustrated and angry,” she said. “Everyone in our community needs to know what Good Sam is capable of doing.”

The Los Gatan asked Good Samaritan hospital about the case and about its billing practices, but the hospital declined to comment.

“As always, Good Samaritan Hospital is focused on providing the highest-quality care to every patient,” a spokesperson said. “As part of this commitment, we also protect their confidentiality under the HIPAA privacy rule. In this case, we are committed to upholding that policy.”

Efforts to get a comment about the situation from Accolade and Meritain Health were not successful by deadline.

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POLICE BLOTTER

ELECTRIC BIKE MISCHIEF, VANDALISM, NEW MAKEUP HEIST, (JULY 13-JULY 19)

SUNDAY, JULY 13

• A possible child sex abuse imagery crime was reported at 8:22pm on Carlton Avenue. A friend of the reporting person said they’d found pornographic images on a tablet belonging to a 13-year-old girl. The images featured a man in bed with a younger girl, possibly unclothed, police reported.

• Two suspicious persons reports were filed in the evening, one at 8:41pm and the other at 9:50pm.

MONDAY, JULY 14

• At 3:38pm, a traffic hazard occurred at the intersection of Los Gatos Boulevard and Garden Lane. A male subject wearing an orange shirt was pushing a shopping cart into an active traffic lane. The police were unable to locate the subject upon arrival.

• A municipal code violation was reported at 5:52pm on Wheeler Avenue. An unknown subject shot a BB gun at the reporting person’s window last week.

TUESDAY, JULY 15

• Two instances of vandalism occurred throughout the day.

• In the morning, at 10:31am, contractors caused damage at Mobileframe on Blossom Hill Road. Over the weekend, contractors at the property ripped the gate off the reporting person’s fence and dug up parts of the complex’s back area. The reporting person is the property manager.

• Later in the day, at 4:09pm, another instance of vandalism occurred at the Tesla Service & Charging Center on Los Gatos Boulevard. The incident occurred on Saturday, where a subject used spray paint to mark the street and blacktop on the

two juvenile men were reported jumping from roof to roof at Van Meter Elementary School. Later in the evening, at 6:17pm, another incident involving electric bikes was reported on Blossom Hill Road and Los Gatos Boulevard.

FRIDAY, JULY 18

• At 3:47pm, an incident of grand theft occurred at Palapa Lounge Beachwear on West Main Street. Approximately $985 worth of swimwear was stolen.

• Later that day, at 6:04pm, a battery was reported at Vasona Creek Healthcare on Los Gatos Boulevard. An alleged abuse occurred between two patients, when one patient with dementia grabbed the arm of another patient.

SATURDAY, JULY 19

• Three noise disturbances were reported throughout the day.

• The first, reported at 10:01am, involved a horn repeatedly sounding every five minutes at Balzer Field on Miles Avenue. The second involved a loud tree grinding on Bancroft Avenue at 7:09pm. The last disturbance, reported at 10:22pm, was a loud party that occurred between Cypress Way and Johnson Avenue.

property. The subject was wearing a blue shirt featuring Elon Musk.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16

• At 10pm, a juvenile disturbance was reported at Pizza My Heart on North Santa Cruz Avenue. In the back of the restaurant, a group was throwing water balloons at people in the surrounding area.

THURSDAY, JULY 17

• For the second week in a row, grand theft was reported at Sephora on University Avenue. The incident was reported at 10:24am.

• Three juvenile disturbances were reported later in the day.

• The first, occurring on the North Creek Trail at 12:20pm, involved two juveniles on electric bikes who spat on the reporting person. At 5:48pm,

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

You can join the Los GatosMonte Sereno Police Department for an evening of fun for all ages at the National Night Out event. 5-7pm, Aug. 5 in Town Plaza Park. It will feature cornhole games, a dunk tank, mini motorcycle rides for kids, ice cream decorating station, coffee and more.

You’ll be able to visit with the Santa Clara County Fire Department, LGMSPD, CERT and DART teams and the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Foundation. For more info: call 408-354-6853.

READY TO SERVE Police patrol vehicle for Los Gatos and Monte Sereno.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Name Change

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME. Case No. 25CV468746. Notice of Petition of Rita Alisha Lippi. Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. To all interested persons: Petitioner: Rita Alisha Lippi filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: a. Rita Alisha Lippi, b. (aka) Rita Alisha-Lippi Keller to Proposed name: Alisha Lippi Keller. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing: Date: September 23, 2025, Time: 8:45 AM, Room: Probate . The address of the court is: 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113, Downtown Superior Court. A copy of this Order To Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los Gatan 107 Dakota Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Date: June 26, 2025. /s/ Le Jacqueline Duong /s/, Judge of the Superior Court, Filed by /s/ D. Bueno /s/, Deputy Clerk. (Pub LGN: 07/02, 07/09, 07/16, 07/23/2025)

Fictitious Business Name Statements

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #715815

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Mi Tierra Mercado Y Taqueria, 1130 E Santa Clara St., Suite C, San Jose, CA, 95116, Socias De Mi Tierra. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Above entity was formed in the state of California. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 01/01/2025. /s/Connie Alvarez. Director. #B20250063798. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 04/29/2025. (pub LG 06/11, 06/18, 06/25, 07/02/2025)

File Number: FBN717134. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 13 WYNX STUDIO, 125 E Sunnyoaks Ave, Suite #212, Campbell, CA 95008. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, KIKO INVESTMENT INC, Suite #212, 125 E Sunnyoaks Ave, Campbell, CA 95008. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 06/10/25 and 06/13/2025 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. Kiko Investments Inc, Article/Reg #6477952, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California. /s/ Yara Shouman /s/ Owner. (Pub LGN: 07/02, 07/09, 07/16, 07/23/2025)

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: FBN717564. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. ZEN, 2. ZEN KITCHEN, 3. ZEN GARDEN, 4. ZEN ENTERTAINMENT, 930 Visconti Pl, Santa Clara, CA 95050. This business is conducted by: A General Partnership, KENYA JAIMIE ARIDOMI, 853 Markham Terrace, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 and KEISHIRO ARITA, 930 Visconti Pl, Santa Clara, CA 95050 and AKITO YATSUGI, 6333 Erlanger St, San Diego, CA 92122. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 06/30/2025 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/ Kenya Jaimie Aridomi /s/. (Pub LGN: 07/23, 07/30, 08/06, 08/13/2025)

BLIVES

Barbara Marilyn Snyder

May 23, 1936 – May 16, 2025

arbara Marilyn Snyder passed away on May 16, 2025 in Los Gatos. Born in Berkeley on May 23, 1936, she attended Holy Names grade school and ultimately graduated from Los Gatos High School class of ‘54 (Barbara Libbey).

The Libbey family being early residents of the Los Gatos area and owning acreage where the Swim & Racquet Club is now located. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband James Snyder. Together they lived in the same home for almost sixty years raising six children, sixteen grandchildren, and twenty-five great grandchildren.

Barbara was a frequent volunteer with LGPD, LG History Club, as well as LG Presbyterian Church after a career in Real Estate.

She most recently resided at the Terraces before her passing. She was interred on July 7, 2025 at LG Memorial Park followed by a celebration of life with her family and many friends.