CONGRESSIONAL MEDICAID CUTS IMPERIL COUNTY HEALTHCARE BUDGET
About 30% of the county’s 2025-26 funding came from nowcompromised programs
Vicente Vera
Coupled with the financial burden of the county’s recent $150 million Regional Medical Center purchase, county leaders are desperate to find ways of addressing federal funding gaps.
More than 100 medical worker positions were deleted in the FY25-26 budget, but these cuts are separate and distinct from the federal funding cuts to Medicaid that the county is anticipating under H.R. 1, aka the Big Beautiful Bill, which passed on July 4.
County Executive James Williams confirmed that the Valley Healthcare system is projecting a larger budget deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal year as healthcare funding cuts take hold. About 30% of Santa Clara County’s $13.7 billion 2025-26 budget funding came from now-compromised programs like Medicare and Medicaid—distributed by the state as Medi-Cal.
“There’s a lot the state can do—they certainly should not be exacerbating the federal impacts,” Williams said. “The most recent budget adopted by the state layers its own medical cuts on top of federal cuts, and that is very concerning. The state needs to take care of its public hospital systems.”
Medicaid, 14
25 YEARS OF LAVENDER AND HORSES
Take a detour of Highway 17 to explore Los Gatos Farms
Faizi Samadani, Contributor Motorists who navigate the curves of Highway 17 will pass by a handmade sign, right before reaching Summit Road in Los Gatos, that offers lavender
for sale. Those who stop will find that for just $10 or $20, they can even get out of their cars and cut their own stalks to get the full olfactory experience. But there’s much more than fresh-cut lavender to be found here. Since she purchased the property in 2000, Toni Kent has been the owner of Los Gatos Farms. Over 25 years, she has
tended to the lavender bushes and offered stables for horse owners and space for children’s camps. It’s a sanctuary for members of the mountain community but also a piece of land that overlooks the vastness of the redwood mountains that surround Los Gatos.
➝ Los Gatos Farms, 8
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The Sweetheart of Swing
Heidi Evelyn’s vintage sounds take over Jazz on the Plazz
Dinah Cotton, Contributor
Think back to the Jazz Age, when your grandparents—or more likely your great-grandparents—were cutting a rug to swing bands. This will provide some idea of what to expect when Heidi Evelyn’s 14-piece jazz orchestra takes the stage July 30 at Jazz in the Plazz.
This enchanting songstress and bandleader captures the essence of vintage jazz from the Roaring ’20s through the ’40s. Evelyn embraces the air with her smooth melodic voice, exploring the entertaining, rich and varied legacy of vintage jazz.
Together Evelyn and her band perform authentic vintage jazz and swing music, recalling the days of Flappers dancing the Charleston, Depression-era tunes, Prohibition naughtiness and the mournful wails of early blues fusion. Evelyn dynamically infuses the music with a danceable, contemporary flair.
This music is derived from a time when life was simpler, and its syncopation and swing became known around the world as uniquely American. Jazz, America's gift to the world. Cool jazz telling tales of the times. Jazz, the music that helped break down racial barriers—and continues to build bridges at home and around the world.
Ain’t Misbehaving
Evelyn’s cool delivery of classic lyrics like “If you want my love you gotta do more than that” and “Please don’t talk about me when I am gone” is enchanting, creating a richly entertaining repertoire of vintage jazz with entrancing solos by the individual artists.
Evelyn is recognized here in the Bay Area as a prominent expert in vintage jazz. She leads multiple bands through solid performances, authentically researched and expertly performed. Her musicians are exceptional, with an impressive command of their instruments and a thorough knowledge of early jazz. That expertise draws a dedicated crowd that dances to the band’s tight swing arrangements, further adding to the audience’ enjoyment.
Evelyn and company play 6:30–8:30pm at the Los Gatos Town Plaza. For more on the band, visit heidievelynjazz.com.
For information on the Wednesday concert series, which runs through Aug. 20, visit jazzontheplazz.com. On Aug. 6, Jazz Mafia will perform at 6:30pm. This electrifying group of San Francisco musicians will play a bit of this and a dash of that, propelled by a strong brass section with trombone, trumpet, saxophone and, most important, a tuba. This is a mafi a that will make you an offer you won’t want to refuse.
MUSIC IN THE PARK RETURNS TO CIVIC CENTER LAWN
Every Sunday through Aug. 24, the shows go on at 5pm
Emma Solomon, Contributor
A time-loved tradition by many Los Gatans, Music in the Park kicked off its 37th iteration two weeks ago. Every Sunday through Aug. 24, town residents will be treated to free musical performances in front of the Civic Center Lawn.
According to its website, “The Town is honored to continue to provide the opportunity for the community to enjoy a fun mix of musical genres in a family-friendly atmosphere.”
A wide variety of local sponsors are responsible for the six-date event, including the Alarm Company and Castoro Cellars, both of which set up booths offering food, drink and promotions during the events.
The first artist of the summer, Taylor Rae, found commercial success with “Mad Twenties”—an album released in 2021 that spent 30 weeks on the Americana radio charts. Now, she is touring “The Void,” which she released this past April.
Rae’s tour extends into the fall, with dates spanning across the United States.
This past Sunday, attendees gathered to see Eyes Like Lanterns, an “indie Americana act” from Santa Cruz. Fresh off of a series of Northern California stops, including the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Eyes like Lanterns concluded their summer tour in front of hundreds of attendees.
Like most Music in the Park performers, Eyes Like Lanterns has local ties to the town of Los Gatos—namely, the Bywater, a Creole and Cajun restaurant on North Santa Cruz Avenue.
“We filmed a video down the street
at the Bywater,” said frontman Joshua Cremer. “It was really cool. We got the whole crew in on it.”
The song in question, “Ghost I Know,” was one of many that Cremer played alongside bandmates Jesse Williams, Geo Lobato and Billy Reese. In addition to performing with the group, Cremer played a series of covers on his own, including songs from Zac Bryan and Gregory Alan Isakov. His most lively cover—Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” which featured the whole band—prompted reactions from many listeners.
“You guys look beautiful tonight,” Cremer exclaimed. “Give it up for these dancers up here.”
The band’s excitement was likely spurred by audience involvement, with many attendees dancing in front of the stage during the song and cheering the band on as they played for nearly two hours.
Other concertgoers relaxed in lawn chairs and enjoyed picnics alongside family members, friends and furry pals. In addition to the laid-back setups on the grass, a drink area was set up across from the main stage, where refreshments were available for purchase near the sponsor tents. Artist merchandise was also available for purchase, with Eyes Like Lanterns selling records and T-shirts.
Next Sunday, Aug. 3, Music in the Park will feature the Southern sound of Wolf Jett. Originating from Tennessee, the group of five came together in Boulder Creek and is embarking on a West Coast tour prior to the release of their upcoming album, “Letting Go.”
Information about the series can be found on losgatosca.gov/mip.
SONGBIRD How about some hot jazz on a cool evening? Heidi Evelyn and her 14-piece Dance Orchestra perform at Jazz on the Plazz this Wednesday. Next week: the Jazz Mafia.
WATCHING EYES LIKE LANTERNS Music in the Park concerts run 5–7pm on the Civic Center Lawn.
WRITER TELLS OF ITALIAN UNCLE’S LOS GATOS EXPLOITS
The original Vedova home on Villa Avenue was demolished in 2011
Lisa Traylor Scott, Contributor
One of my earliest memories is from the early 1970s when I visited my elderly Italian aunt, whom we called Zia Elisa, at the nursing home across from Van Meter School on Los Gatos Boulevard. She was near death, and my grandmother insisted I pay a last visit to the woman my family spoke of with such reverence.
It was not until recently, when I came across a postcard of her and her husband standing outside of their Villa Avenue home, that I realized that my Zia was married to one of the most prominent citizens in 1920s Los Gatos: cement contractor Giovanni Della Vedova.
John Vedova was born in 1877 in the village of Castelnuovo, Italy, located in the northeast of Italy. In 1907, he and his wife, Elizabetta Contardo Della Vedova, boarded the ship La Savoie in Le Havre, France, eager to cross the Atlantic and establish a new life in America. In New York City, the arriving passenger list noted that Mr. Vedova was 5'7" with auburn hair and eyes, and he had a total of $156 in his possession. The couple eventually made their way to San Francisco before settling in Los Gatos in 1911; my grandmother said that the family settled here because the hills surrounding the town reminded them of northern Italy. Here, Vedova quickly became one of the foremost cement contractors in town.
Eager to become an American, Vedova petitioned to be a naturalized citizen in 1916. According to his Petition of Naturalization, Vedova vowed that he was “not a polygamist, was “attached” to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and that he renounced allegiance to Victor Emmanuel III, the King of Italy.”
The History of Santa Clara County (1922) describes Vedova as a “loyal citizen of his adopted country and one who favors and aids all progressive movements.”
Active in the community, Vedova was involved in at least two fraternal benefit societies. He was a member of “Woodsmen of the World,” which, among other philanthropic endeavors, raised money to support America’s war effort in World War I and provided financial assistance to the families of soldiers. He was also an officer in Los Gatos Grove Number 206 of the United Ancient Order of Druids along with many other Italian men in town. The order’s motto was and still is “united to assist.”
In 1920, Vedova built a home for his family at 56 Villa Ave. While the Vedovas had no children of their own, they adopted a niece and nephew whose fathers were killed in World War I. That same year, Mr. Vedova sent a ticket to my grandfather, Adamo Contardo, for passage to the United States and the opportunity to escape post-war Italy. The Contardos eventually built a home at 466 N. Santa Cruz Ave., and my grandfather established himself as one of the most sought-after stone masons in town. During his career, John Vedova was
the cement for a big pour. I remember how my grandmother spoke with pride as to how the two women helped their husbands in their work and, as a result, contributed to the development of the town of Los Gatos.
In 1923, the Vedovas built a home on Bachman Avenue and, as his business thrived, Vedova became one of the more prominent citizens in the community. As was common at that time, leading citizens were frequently included in the social column of the town newspaper, and John Vedova was a regular topic. In September 1927, the Los Gatos Star reported that Vedova sported a “well-fitting fine new swimming tank to the John Spring estate [on] Overlook Road.”
But sometime in the winter of 1927, John Vedova became gravely ill. On May 10, 1928, the Los Gatos Star reported that Vedova, after suffering an unknown illness for several months, had, contrary to rumor, not sold his business and was ready to return to work. But in October of that year, it reported that his nephew, August Vedova, was taking over the business following the death of his uncle. It was renamed “Vedova and Forasiepi” and specialized in cement floors, artistic rock work, swimming pools and decorative fishponds.
awarded numerous cement projects in the town of Los Gatos, and he regularly employed a dozen men or more to work on his crews. In June of 1917, he was the low bidder at $167.67 for curbs, gutters and crosswalks throughout the town. Later that summer, he was awarded a $148.95 contract for installing a five-foot cement walk in front of the town hall. In 1924, he completed an $18,000 contract with the city of Los Gatos for additional concrete work.
In addition to public projects, Vedova did concrete work on many of the fine homes in the Los Gatos Hills. On occasion, his wife Elizabetta and my grandmother Albina would help to mix
Giovanni Della Vedova’s life was cut short at the age of 51, but his legacy in Los Gatos is lasting. Soon after my visit to the nursing home in 1973, my Zia Elisa passed, having outlived her husband by 45 years; she never left her beloved Los Gatos. The contents of the Vedova home were distributed, and I was allowed to select a small item to remember her by. I chose a teapot that is still displayed in my china cabinet.
The original Vedova home on Villa Avenue was demolished in 2011 when the new library was constructed, and there is a memorial to John Vedova at that site.
Years ago, I remember seeing the occasional “Vedova” stamped on an old sidewalk in town. Perhaps somewhere one still exists. If it does, I’d love to see it.
HOME BASE John Vedova, who became one of the foremost cement contractors in town, built a house at 56 Villa Ave. in 1920 and adopted a niece and nephew whose fathers were killed in World War I.
PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY As John’s business thrived, the Vedovas became prominent citizens in Los Gatos.
ADU PLAN
GALLERIES HELP EASE PROCESS FOR CITIES, BUILDERS
Los Gatos included in online clearinghouse for accessory unit planning
Staff Report
The Santa Clara County Planning Collaborative recently launched online galleries sharing pre-approved design plans for accessory dwelling units in local cities, including Los Gatos.
The launch includes an online design and planning tool, making it easier for homeowners to add ADUs to their properties, according to a press release from Santa Clara County ADU. The galleries and online tool enable users to browse a variety of ADU plans, connect with designers and save time on their projects.
By making it easier for homeowners, the galleries and online tool (found at aduscc. org) also aim to help local governments to meet state housing laws that require all cities to implement a process for pre-approved ADU plans and post those plans online.
“By providing homeowners with easy access to pre-approved designs and clear information about the process to get the units built, we’re removing barriers to production of this important housing type, which is needed to create more housing options in our communities. This tool will help us meet our overall housing goals as a region,” said Christian Murdock, community development director for the city of Mountain View.
The online ADU plans include designs that meet local guidelines in the cities of Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Campbell, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto, says the press release.
Santa Clara County ADU is a program of the multijurisdictional Santa Clara County Planning Collaborative, a partnership formed in 2019 by the Cities Association of Santa Clara County. The online ADU gallery tool was developed by Community Planning Collaborative.
The Santa Clara County ADU gallery tool also easily allows users to add pre-approved plans to the site. Users can filter the gallery for their respective city to easily find and compare designs, floorplans, estimated costs and more information, according to Santa Clara County ADU.
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HOUSING HELP Pictured is an example of a pre-approved plan for accessory dwelling units in the City of Gilroy’s design gallery. Courtesy of City of Gilroy for mht: MHadu
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HOUSING HELP Pictured is an example of a pre-approved plan for accessory dwelling units in the City of Morgan Hill’s design gallery. Courtesy of City of Morgan Hill
identity + strategy + design
photo GilroyADU
HOME BASE John Vedova, who became one of the foremost cement contractors in town, built a house at 56 Villa Ave. in 1920 and adopted a niece and nephew whose fathers were killed in World War I.
PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY As John’s business thrived, the Vedovas became prominent citizens in Los Gatos.
Horses, Herbs and Fresh Mountain
Los Gatos Farms, from page 1
The “U-Cut Lavender” acts as the initial attraction to passersby, Kent says, and she uses a plain and hand-written sign because she wants people to get a feel for the rawness of her farm.
Kent initially began offering her land in 2000 as a place to board horses and take riding lessons. Shortly after that came horse summer camps, while she was working in the mortgage business. In 2008, during the recession, she left that business because she saw she was making more money at the farm.
In 2003 she was cultivating 1,200 plants; now, there are 70 plants left, with the “U-Cut” business active on the weekends in July and August. The lavender can be used to make oil and medicinal teas.
Horse Sense
Working on this story was not the first time I had visited Los Gatos Farms. When I first graduated college in 2015, I ended up there for a brief time while I was working odd jobs around town. In a little over my head at the time, I would wake up at 5am each morning to be at the farm no later than 6am, spending most of my day shoveling manure from the stalls for the horses. Though it was a brief stint, I still remember the smell of the stalls, and the experience was one that shaped me.
Kent says she keeps a quote on her wall that serves as a reminder to herself: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks a lot like work.” She cites this quote because she says that maintaining the farm over the years has been very hard but it has also been very rewarding—and she is thankful for this life experience.
Kim Wasson has been coming to the farms for six years. Though she lost one of her horses—her beloved Jenn—she still boards two horses there. A resident of Redwood Estates, Wasson says, “it’s all about the horse and the connection to the horse. It is exercise, it is therapy, it is my social life. I think you don’t know that you miss it.”
Wasson has written a book, “The Socially Intelligent Project Manager,” published at the start of the pandemic, that she describes as mapping things through metaphors of horses. It is not just for project managers, she says, but also for anyone who wants to see how nature is
mirrored inside of everyone, and how it can act as an internal compass.
According to Kent, everything that you learn in working with a horse can be applied to humans. She explains that her love for the land she oversees provides constant life lessons.
A Labor of Love
When first entering the road off of Highway 17, I pass by a children’s summer camp where participants learn about archery, blacksmithing and survival skills. The summer camps, which enroll children from 5 to 13 years old, occupy an additional 20 acres of land attached to Kent’s acreage and are owned and run by a couple named Ben and Claire.
These overlapping lands both serve as destination points for connection: spaces for adults seeking to interact with horses and for children exploring their relationship to nature.
“Our claim to fame is our kids’ summer camps,” Kent says. “I always wanted a place for horses and kids, as it’s what I didn’t get to experience as a kid.”
Her land totaled 20 acres when she made the initial purchase and now it has grown to 30 acres. In terms of its future, Kent wants to preserve it as a place for animals and children.
Kent says she’s a horse girl and farmer at heart, and her mission is to show that people will find her when the time is right without any advertising other than her handmade sign off of Highway 17, which she says she keeps it that way by design. And visitors must be prepared to embrace the experience with confidence: “Like, I could do that—I understand this, and I could be with a horse. If they have that feeling, look at all that wakes up inside of them.”
Kent also says that if a duck bites someone on the farm, it’s a lesson to the human and not the animal—an opportunity to learn boundaries and a display of hierarchy from nature.
As she looks back on the last 25 years of running Los Gatos Farms, Kent says that she wants people who come there to leave feeling like they can do more. Visiting a place like Los Gatos Farms can be a reminder for anyone who wants to understand where we come from and how important it is to connect to nature.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks a lot like work.
Toni Kent
NATURAL HIGH For 25
Los Gatos Farms owner Toni Kent has cultivated her land off Summit Road.
ROWAN MERRICK READY FOR BREAKOUT FOOTBALL SEASON
Wildcats’ lineman puts in the hours to succeed
Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor
Even though football players are used to injuries—from minor ones to those of the catastrophic variety—nothing could prepare Los Gatos High School senior Rowan Merrick for what he experienced in the days leading up to last year’s league game against Sacred Heart Prep.
During a practice two days before the game, Merrick went shoulder to shoulder with a teammate, resulting in an AC joint injury, or shoulder separation.
“I heard cracks and my arm went limp,” said Merrick, a left tackle. “I heard cracks going down my shoulder and it was something I’ve never felt before. It definitely was a shock. It wasn’t a stinger, and it felt like my shoulder was hanging off (the joint).”
Merrick missed the next five games but was able to return for the Central Coast Section Division I championship game, where the Wildcats lost to St.
Francis, 27-7. The injury and the title game loss have been a driving force for Merrick and his teammates, who begin strength and conditioning training at 7:15am during the spring and summer.
“That CCS game loss, I hate that feeling,” Merrick said. “Losing is not my favorite thing, so I’ve been working hard everyday since then. I’m trying to get better and trying to get my teammates better because the goal is to win CCS.”
Merrick said a cohesive football team is akin to a band of brothers because strong bonds are forged through countless hours spent together on and off the field. The student-athletes motivate each other to get to the next level.
“Everyone is working toward something,” Merrick said. “It’s not just about yourself. Football is a team sport and you’re doing this for your brothers. When you’re doing this for someone else besides yourself, it helps you make the sacrifices and work hard even when you don’t feel like it.”
BOUNCEBACK After his 2024 season was limited due to injury, Wildcats lineman Rowan Merrick is ready for a breakout senior season.
Faizi Samadani
Natividad
47 YEARS OF GREAT RACING
Thanks to Rotary and local sponsors, a four-mile run for charity continues
Dinah Cotton, Contributor
The 2025 Los Gatos Great Race won’t get off the starting block until Aug. 30, but this Saturday is the deadline for early-bird pricing on registration. Already, sponsors are lined up for this very well-supported community event. That support is coming from local hospitals, health practitioners, banks and businesses that have come together to help and sponsor this race. And we have our Rotary Club of Los Gatos, which has carried on this tradition for almost half a century. This race has been held almost every year since it began 47 years ago—though it was paused during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A ‘Dammit Run’
The Great Race was originally called the Dammit Run when it began back in the ’70s. The Dammit Run was started by
Willie Harmatz, a former track and field coach at Los Gatos High School. Today our Great Race is now a USA Track & Field–sanctioned run and assisted by the Rotary. It’s also been called the Criss Cross Race. After years of holding the race on Highway 9, the event lost its police backing and eventually moved to Oak Meadow Park and Vasona Lake County Park area, with the start and finish lines at Gateway Pavilion—a much safer area.
The Great Race is Our Race
“This race has been a cornerstone of our community for nearly half a century,” said Paul Johnson, Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent and current Rotary Club of Los Gatos president. “This year we are focusing on bringing in more families to run. We encourage kids to be part of this healthy and fun way to raise funds for causes that matter.”
At 8am on the event day, younger racers start with the 1-Mile Fun Run. Walkers are also welcome to walk the
course through the scenic paths of the two parks. The trail will pass through familiar areas of the parks as well as some lesser known. Get off that beaten path and encourage the whole family to enjoy the great outdoors in a healthy activity. The starting gun for the adult 4 Mile Great Race event will go off at 8:30am. This sanctioned four-mile race involves pretty complicated logistics. This race is fast and dedicated runners from all over compete in it.
Get your Happy Pace On
For the serious runners, credits may be earned to qualify to try out for the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles. There will be an aid station and many monitors ensuring all participants stay safe and on the course. This event promises to be a fast, fun and beautiful race.
If you participate, pre-registering is best; you will be provided with a bib that has an electronic tracking device in it. This will record the time it takes you to complete the race. Register online prior to Aug. 1 at LGGreatRace.com. Visit this link for a race map and view the official USA Track & Field Measurement Certificate here.
About our Rotary Club
Chartered in 1924, the Rotary Club of Los Gatos is a dynamic group of professional and community leaders committed to “service above self.” This is done through volunteerism and fundraising. The mission of the Los Gatos Rotary Charities Foundation is to provide high-impact support focused on youth and those in need—locally and globally— through enduring partnerships.
Rotarian Friends of the Great Race are Richard Bobis, Linda Levenson, Marlon Smith, Doug and Marjorie Brent, and Dan Snyder. Bring the entire family and join in with the Rotary Club of Los Gatos for the 47th Annual Great Race. A great race for great causes and support of our local community.
Merrick focusing on speed
Football, from page 9
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Merrick has played nearly every position on both the offensive and defensive line, though his favorite position is left tackle.
“But I’ll play wherever the coaches put me,” he said.
During the off-season, Merrick has been focusing on his speed and getting more explosive off the line.
“I’ve definitely improved a lot in my 40 (yard dash) time,” he said. “I feel a lot faster and I can move a lot better than last year. I’ve been doing speed training for years now, and it all adds up over time. This year, I definitely feel like it’s all coming together.”
Merrick credits the Los Gatos coaching staff for building a competitive environment that allows players to thrive and continually improve.
“The coaches have taught me so much over the years,” he said.
Merrick also credited his cousin, Cole Merrick, for inspiring him to start playing football. Cole is a 2020 LGHS graduate and played the center position.
“I wanted to play football because with me going to Los Gatos, I wanted to be like him,” Rowan said. “But I never played Pop Warner and going into it, I basically knew two positions: quarterback and receiver. It was definitely a shock at first because I didn’t know how much went into playing the sport at a high level. The most football experience I had prior to Los Gatos was playing three flags up in (middle) school. I had to learn fast so I would ask Cole every question I could. He was very helpful.”
Rowan chose jersey no. 63 because Cole wore the same number during his playing days. Merrick works at the Summit Store on weekends year-round, which makes things particularly challenging during football season. However, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s hard going in for that Saturday shift at 12 (noon) after a Friday night game,” he said. “But it really goes toward helping me with my discipline toward football. After a tough game you’re really sore, and just getting up and getting into work is a tough thing. But working at Summit has been an amazing experience because I’ve met a lot of new people and it’s something I look forward to.”
GREAT EXPECTATIONS Adult runners come from all over to compete in this USA Track & Field–certified event. All proceeds go to support Rotary’s charitable endeavors.
JOIN THE PACK What started out as a "Dammit Run" the "Great Racer" is held annually in Oak Meadow-Vasona Park area. The USA Track & Field-sanctioned four-mile race involves some pretty complicated logistics.
HOW IT ALL STARTED At the 2024 race, former Los Gatos High School track and field coach Willie Harmatz—credited with starting the race—said, “We used to call this the Dammit Run. It was from Saratoga to Los Gatos.”
At
POLICE BLOTTER
PETTY THEFT, PARKING VIOLATORS, TESLA THIEVES (JULY 20-26)
SUNDAY, JULY 20
• A municipal code violation was reported at 6:28pm at Cornerstone Title Company, with three male subjects smoking marijuana and verbally harassing people walking and driving by the business. The subjects vacated prior to the police’s arrival.
• Two juvenile disturbances were reported in the evening, one of which is an ongoing occurrence on San Benito Avenue.
MONDAY, JULY 21
• At 7:32pm, an incident of petty theft was reported at CVS Pharmacy on Pollard Road. The suspect took multiple skin care items and ran out of the front door before he could be apprehended.
TUESDAY, JULY 22
• Two incidents of suspicious vehicles and four incidents of suspicious persons were reported on Tuesday.
• Both of the vehicle reports occurred in the morning. The first, at 9:28am, involved two vehicles parked in a driveway on Pine Avenue where the resident was out of town. At 9:42am, on National Avenue, two vehicles were stopped to exchange a substance.
• The four reports of suspicious persons were scattered throughout the remainder of the day. At 11:26am, a subject was reported to be heavily intoxicated on a resident’s lawn at the intersection of Monterey Avenue and Andrews Street. Another report included a male subject seemingly impersonating a PG&E representative at 1:59pm.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23
• At 12:28pm, a penal code violation was reported at a business on University Avenue. A former employee was reported to be blackmailing the business via multiple phone calls and text messages.
• Three juvenile disturbances were reported in the evening, all of which concerned electric bikes.
FOR LEASE Roving reporter Faizi Samadani captured this shot on July 10 of formerly lively local pub C.B. Hannegan's, which closed in 2017 and has been vacant since.
THURSDAY, JULY 24
• At 10am, a business on North Santa Cruz Avenue reported a health and safety concern after finding a white powdery substance in the lobby. Additionally, the reporting person found a backpack containing a pipe, needles and other narcotics.
• Later in the day, at 6:32pm, an incident of battery occurred at the Safeway on Union Avenue. After an alleged road-rage related altercation, a male followed the reporting person’s mother into Safeway and pushed her into her vehicle.
FRIDAY, JULY 25
• A stolen vehicle was reported at 10:13am at Apple on North Santa Cruz Avenue. The reporting person parked a red Tesla in front of the store and left for around 30 minutes before finding the vehicle gone.
• An incident involving a white Tesla occurred a little later at 10:34am. The vehicle was illegally parked in a handicapped charging space without a placard, rendering a disabled person unable to park a car in the Whole Foods parking lot on Los Gatos Boulevard.
• The latter was one of four parking violations recorded by the police department.
SATURDAY, JULY 26
• A health and safety-related incident was reported at 4:09pm on Cherrystone Drive. A subject located across the street from the reporting address appeared to be smoking methamphetamines out of a pipe. It is unclear whether or not the subject resided where she was smoking.
• These reports are compiled from publicly available information released by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.
• Join the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department for an evening of fun for all ages at the National Night Out event, taking place 5-7pm on 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.
• Attendees will also 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 information, call 408-354-6853.
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Racism: innate or taught? GUEST VIEW
Priya Pasumarthy
It can be assumed that many of us have faced racism to various degrees at various points in our lives. Some might come on the employment front. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, 41% of Black workers faced discrimination in hiring, pay and promotion due to their race, compared to 8% of white workers. Or it could be found on the housing front. In a 2024 Zillow survey, 69% of Black respondents and 64% of Hispanic and Latino respondents reported experiencing some forms of housing discrimination. Incidences of discrimination still prevail, covertly and overtly. This highly sensitive topic might stir up emotions or might unravel memories due to bad experiences incurred. In fact, one of the questions that we keep going back to, and trying to examine, is whether racism is innate or taught. Why does racism still continue to prevail in our society, covertly and overtly? The intent here is to answer these questions analytically, and hopefully not cause any discomfort to readers, while also calling for introspection. One needs perspective to consider interactions with fellow beings and to become an exemplar of how we want to be treated by others across all settings.
There are various types of racism, which one might be conscious of or not aware of, which may be intentional or unintentional. Discrimination can be based on skin, power, class, socio-economic status, languages, gender, religions practiced, roots of origin and various attributes—all of which get carried from person to person, to a community and then to the larger society with time. This further compels us to ask ”why?”
Upon introspection it becomes clear that the attributes of racism are built into us, or in other words it is a very human instinct that was in play even before human beings identified it. It is a part of evolution. The predatory or the dominating nature—of the powerful over the weak, rich over the poor, higher status over the lower status, higher caste over the lower caste, abled over the disabled, etc.—is natural. It is passed on from generations to generations, continuing to manifest from innate to taught, learned when not checked on time. If and when the conditions of dualism crop up, the tendency to dominate upticks and eventually the weaker side would get dominated.
However, human beings are also endowed with humane values and reason,
BIG
QUESTION Priya Pasumarthy ponders why racism still continues to prevail in
our society, covertly and overtly.
which distinguishes them from animals. Human beings can let humane values lead over the predatory/dominative nature in their interactions with their fellow beings. This could ameliorate the bad experiences (hatred, prejudices, indignity, etc.) or oppression of various types.
To recap, racism is an outcome of both innate human tendencies and learned behaviors, amplified and perpetuated by societal structures, attitudes and cultural factors. There are a number of types of racism due to skin, culture, socio-economic status, countries of origin, faith practiced, gender biased, languages and other aspects which continue to prevail in our societies. Upon introspection it is clear that the instinct to dominate is built in us as a part of evolution.
At the same time human beings are endowed with humane values and a discriminative mindset that distinguishes us from animals. Unfortunately, the dreadful experiences of racism from our previous generations have left a lasting impact that gets carried even today, that cannot be undone, but hopefully exercising introspection during our interactions with our fellow beings could ameliorate oppressive and other negative experiences from now on.
We get shaped through our own experiences and the community we live in. Each one of us gets impacted through our words and deeds. We as people did do our part today so that our next generations don’t have to carry and face that brunt of it. This responsibility falls on each one of us to be a better version of ourselves and build a better society, for a better tomorrow collectively.
Priya Pasumarthy is an educator and the author of ‘Our Little Promise’ (2022), ‘Halloween at Luke’s’ (2019), and many articles published by various media outlets.
Rips in Safety Net
Medicaid, from page 1
Medicare is a federal health insurance program benefiting people older than 65 along with younger people with disabilities, while Medicaid provides benefits to low-income adults and children.
Medicaid is the single largest source of federal revenue for the County of Santa Clara, representing about $1.9 billion in funding. About 70% of the county’s public healthcare system is funded by Medicare and Medicaid.
Coupled with the financial burden of the county’s recent $150 million Regional Medical Center purchase, county leaders are desperate to find ways of addressing federal funding gaps.
Board of Supervisors President Otto Lee described the Big Beautiful Bill as a “reverse Robin Hood.”
“With the expansion of our health and hospital system after the acquisition of Regional Medical Center, we’re now serving more residents who are targeted by these cuts,” Lee told Metro Silicon Valley. “Medicaid cuts will impact our entire system of care and will be felt by everyone in our community—not just our Medicaid patients.”
Getting Ahead of the Ball
To offset the upcoming funding losses, county leaders recommended in the 2025-26 budget the elimination of 119.5 full-time Valley Healthcare jobs.
County supervisors also replaced $59.6 million in federal funding for supportive housing, public health and behavioral health services with local sources of funding to “prevent the federal administration from dictating cuts to those essential services.”
Supervisor Susan Ellenberg says the county is not in a place to make a statement on the potential impact of federal cuts on existing services.
“The loss of coverage does not mean we won’t provide care,” she said. “So we will not turn anyone away from an emergency room or urgent care, but we’re also aware that we will see far fewer reim -
bursements, either from the state or the federal government. We will have to reallocate money from our own finite budget to provide that care.”
Supervisor Betty Duong said she is worried the already anticipated $1 billion in federal cuts is just the tip of the iceberg, and the county will struggle to budget its way out of consistent blows to federal funding for local healthcare.
The county will lose federal healthcare cost reimbursements from 450,000 previously insured residents seeking treatment at facilities in Gilroy, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, San Jose and Sunnyvale as a result of the Big Beautiful Bill.
“We cannot shut down a billion dollars worth of services elsewhere in the county organization to backfill this—we’re not able to do that without causing irreparable harm for generations to come for our most vulnerable residents who rely on the county for a swath of services,” Duong said. “This is an existential crisis here at the County of Santa Clara and for all counties across the country.”
Darcie Green, CEO of the healthcare-focused nonprofit Latinas Contra Cancer, has lobbied county leaders throughout the year to call for more proactive identifications of alternative funding sources.
She says her organization along with local healthcare advocates are hosting a town hall Aug. 1 to discuss the upcoming impact.
“As a service provider and community-based organization, we know these federal and state cuts will hit hardest where people are already struggling to access care. We’re already seeing fear and confusion. People are unsure if they’ll still qualify, worried about new premiums, or facing impossible choices between paying for food, housing, or care,” Green said. “Now is the time for the community to rally around our public healthcare system, to demand bold solutions from Sacramento, and to ensure that those most impacted are leading the way.”
This is an existential crisis here at the County of Santa Clara and for all counties across the country.
Supervisor Betty Duong
GUEST VIEW
When grown men cry
Jeffrey Blum, Contributor
I cried at the end of “How to Train Your Dragon.” I’m talking lump-in-the-throat, dragon-soars-into-the-sunset crying. I was moved. And I don’t regret it.
That wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last.
I cried when I watched “Casablanca.” What kind of person sends Ingrid Bergman away like that and still walks off with his dignity intact? I cried then, too. Hollywood heartbreak, wartime sacrifice, emotional sleight-of-hand—it got me.
But that’s not all.
I cried when I proposed to my fiancée. She cried first. Then I cried because she cried. Then she cried more because I cried. Somewhere in the middle of this teary back-and-forth, I think I asked the question.
I’ve cried when each of my daughters got into the colleges and graduate schools of their choice. I cried again when my older daughter got married. A dignified, well-timed sniffle at first—then a full parental deluge when she walked down the aisle hand in hand with me. You try not to cry when your child, the baby you once buckled into a car seat, is standing next to you wearing white lace. I cried when each of my parents died. That’s the kind of crying that doesn’t follow a neat, linear path. It sneaks up on you. It arrives at stoplights, in the produce section, while reading old letters from them I find from time to time. It shows up at 3am, demanding your attention when the rest of the world is silent. That kind of crying is a language of its own. Proof of life, and loss, and love. And I absolutely bawled my eyes out at Yad Vashem—the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. There are no words that can fully prepare you for the unbearable weight of that place. The names, the photos, the shoes, the silence. In that space, tears felt like the only proper form of speech. It was grief, reverence and moral reckoning all rolled into one.
Come September, when I say my vows at my wedding, I know I’ll cry then too. I won’t fight it. Why would I? There are few moments in life that deserve everything you’ve got, voice shaking, hands trembling, heart open. I plan to meet that moment with no emotional restraint whatsoever. Still, I’m aware there’s a lingering social script, especially for men. We’re trained, subtly and not-so-subtly, to contain ourselves. To compose, not collapse. To “man up,” as if manhood were something that required constant suppression of emotion.
Crying doesn’t mean something’s wrong. Sometimes it means everything is gloriously right. Or impossibly beautiful. Or heartbreakingly human. It’s what happens when the feelings we carry around— grief, joy, fear, awe—suddenly outrun the container we’ve tried to keep them in.
Tears are not failure. They’re not weak. They’re simply the soul leaking out a little, because the moment is too full for silence.
I’ve cried over animated dragons, old black-and-white romances and wedding speeches. I’ve cried because someone said “yes,” and because someone said goodbye. I’ve cried for people I’ve lost and people I’ve loved. And every time, I’ve felt more human afterward.
So let’s normalize crying. Not just in the darkened corners of hospital rooms or the far ends of funerals. Let’s normalize crying in theaters and living rooms and airports and, yes, at weddings. Let’s cry when we’re proud. Let’s cry when we’re moved. Let’s cry when a kid graduates, or a dog is loyal, or a hero finally comes home.
Let’s cry because life is full, and sometimes it needs to spill over.
And let’s not be shy about it.
There is a kind of grace in crying; a moment when the self is stripped of artifice. You’re not performing. You’re not posturing. You’re just feeling. And that, in its own quiet way, is brave.
So if you happen to see me in a theater, tissues in hand, wiping my eyes while a dragon flies into the sunset or Humphrey Bogart sacrifices love for liberty—just know that I’m not embarrassed. I’m living fully. And if you’re crying too, you’re in good company.
Come September, I’ll stand in front of my fiancée and say words I never thought I’d say again. I’ll cry, and she will too. And it will be perfect.
Because sometimes the best way to say, “I love you,” or “This matters,” or “Thank you for this life,” is to let the tears speak for you.
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)
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)
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
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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: 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)
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