Los Gatan 1 19 2022

@losgatan

vol . I , no. 20 : january 19-25 , 2022 : losgatan.com

basketball returns P11 : local named in pandora papers p12 : calendar p14 : ny times crossword puzzle p17 Michael Miller

COMMISSION SLAMS PLAN FOR TOWN’S TALLEST BUILDING

Love, grief and rebuilding discussed in ‘Understanding Moonseed’

Project featuring pool, valet, self-driving cars and care units deemed too exclusive

Erik Chalhoub, Managing Editor

Moonseed is a plant native to midwestern North America, a twirling vine that produces grape-like fruit that is toxic to humans. But the Native Americans were able to repurpose the plant for medicinal uses.

How something deadly can transform into a healing property was the inspiration behind Los Gatos resident Mary Pacifico Curtis’ recently released memoir, “Understanding Moonseed.”

When her first husband, Doug, passed away from pan-

Drew Penner, Reporter

Los Gatos Planning Commissioners voted not to support a developer’s proposal to rebuild the Los Gatos Meadows seniors complex at 110 Wood Road as exclusive residences for the most affluent.

At their regularly-scheduled Jan. 13 meeting, they unanimously gave the thumbs-down to a project that could rise higher than the current tallest building in town, a Netflix office.

“It felt to me like it was really a very thin slice of the population that it would be benefitting,” Commissioner Kylie Clark said. “And it’s something that a lot of us will see every single day.”

The Covia Communities project, presented by developer Rockwood Pacific, can still move forward to Council in its current form. The plans, as-is, would result in fewer units than the original facility, but on a similar footprint. ➝ Planning, 6

LOS GATOS AUTHOR MARY PACIFICO CURTIS RELEASES MEMOIR

➝ Moonseed, 8

Subscribe to receive Los Gatan home delivery every week.

JOURNEY OF LIFE Mary Pacifico Curtis of Los Gatos shows a copy of her recently released memoir, “Understanding Moonseed.”

LGSubs.com

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119 LOS 119- -121 121VERDE VERDE8CT, CT, LOSGATOS GATOS 99 f4 Bedrooms| 4| 4Bathrooms 4 Bedrooms | Duplex Bathrooms | Duplex SHELDON ROAD, LOS GATOS Move16891 in 2022 to ± 2,000 sq.sq. ftdoors Living Space | ±| ±8,034 sq. ± 2,000 ft Living Space 8,034 sq.ftftLot Lot ie s on 2 Bedrooms lor | 1 Bathrooms ente Offered at $2,295,000 Offered at $2,295,000 interior. ± 1,370 ft Living SpaceCT, | ± 9,316 ft Lot 119 sq.

-iLos 121 VERDE LOSsq. GATOS Gatosith Duplex located in an upscale quiet f Remodeled Offered at $1,549,000 | 4 Bathrooms | Duplex cul-de-sac.

Both units have master suites di4toBedrooms Remodeled Los Gatos Duplex located in with an attached doors Located just minutes from downtown Los Gatos, ± 2,000 sq. ft Living Space | ± 8,034 sq.100% ftthis Lot completely renewed baths.

Lovely muted upscale quieti cul-de-sac. Both unitsBeautiful have master remodeled baths. ente charming cottage has beautiful views of the valley, Offered at $2,295,000 Waterproof GeoCore® (SPC Composite) vinyl plank suites with attached completely renewed baths. d i ith mountains, andLos Vasona.

This home was remodeled andquiet ®throughout Remodeled Gatos Duplex located in an upscale flooring featuring rich hardwood detailing (SPC Lovely muted 100% Waterproof GeoCore di updated and re have d master in Both 2012.

Chef's kitchen with wood cabinetry, the units. units gorgeous open kitchen/great cul-de-sac.

Both units have suitesrich with attached Composite) vinyl plank flooring featuring Caesarstone tops, glass back-splash, built-in i completely Beautiful remodeled baths. a recessed rtcounter hardwood detailing throughout the units.muted rooms with lighting.

The kitchens feature white renewed baths.

Lovely 100% wine storage, skylight, and glass door cabinetry.

Formal d shaker bathroom.

Indoor traditional Sauna. cabinets, quartz counters, new stainless-steel Waterproof GeoCore® (SPC Composite) vinyl plank Both units have gorgeous open kitchen/great rooms dining Spacious living room with highthroughout wood and rearea. drange, appliances, microwave, flooring featuring rich hardwood detailing ontrolled with recessed lighting.

The kitchens dishwasher, feature whiteand beamed & paneled ceiling, windows with outstanding a refrigerator. rt Double windows and sliders.

Freshly the units.

Both unitspane have gorgeous open kitchen/great shaker cabinets, quartz counters, new stainlessviews, wood burning stove, and loft area thatand can be used bathroom.

Indoor traditional Sauna. painted interior/exterior.

New hardware interior rooms with recessed lighting.

The kitchens feature steel appliances, range, microwave, dishwasher, and white ound asontrolled a sleeping nook. masterpatio bedroom with two doors.

Unit 1Double has Spacious a quartz nice for entertaining. shaker cabinets, counters, new stainless-steel refrigerator. panecovered windows and sliders.

closets. bedroom (no closet).

Full with onderful Unit 2 appliances, hasSecond a huge backyard, suitable for spabath or small range,simicrowave, dishwasher, andpool.

Freshly painted interior/exterior.

New hardwareand granite counter, tile floor and walls, skylight, out of . stat Each unit features attached 1 car garage with new garage refrigerator.

Double pane windows and sliders.

Freshly ound and interior doors.

Unit 1Double has a nice covered patio clawfoot tubinterior/exterior. with shower. pane windows and doors.

Extra parking in driveway.

Alta Vista Elementary, painted New hardware and interior ine ard o onderful si Inside for entertaining.

Unitlaundry 2 has a with huge built-in backyard, suitable French door.

Union Middle, Leigh High School.

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Unit 1 has a. nice covered patio forcabinets. entertaining. out of stat https://beyondre.marketing/15400-Suview-Drive for spa or small pool.

Each unit features attached 1 Freshly painted exterior.

Basement with Large Safeway, Cycle Bar & Downtown Los Gatos.

Unit 2ine hasStarbucks, a huge backyard, suitable forstorage. spa or small pool. ard o carfor garage with new garage doors.

Extrapatio parking inand deck entertaining with views.

Exterior area Minutes away from Highway 85 & 17.

Each unit features attached 1 car garage with new garage driveway. https://beyondre.marketing/15400-Suview-Drive brick walkways.

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Stroll doors.

Extra parking driveway. Alta Elementary, to town & Aquinias Trailhead.

Los Gatos Schools.

Alta Vista Elementary, Union Middle, Leigh High Union Middle, Leigh High School. Close to 24 hour School.

Close to 24 hour Starbucks, Cycle Safeway, Starbucks, CycleSafeway, Bar & Downtown Los Gatos.

Bar & Downtown Minutes Los awayGatos. from Minutes Highwayaway 85 &from 17.

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january 19 -2 5, 20 2 2 : los gatan.com

Bill Lister BILL LISTER

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BILL LISTER T H EBL II L S TLE R LTIE S A M TER S T H I S T E X C E L L E NB T I A GL E NL T SE| L ULNIP A RT A LE LE ER LR LTS B TI HLE LL I LS TI ESR TT E RE DT REE SAU M E A M

2021 #1 Small Team #11 Small Team ER LEELAEL N TI IA UN AA LM L EEL. E Large Team in2021 the Los Gatos Office TECH L STG' T E ETPH AAERM I T ' S S I M PE LX L Y, SE N A LTR LS |I T N N . . DL IRSETSEUR L T S Bill EXCELLENT AGENTS | UNPARALLELED RESULTS Large Team in Lister the 1Los Gatos Office E X C E L L E N T A G E N T S | U N P A R A L L E E D R E S U L TA SME... LISTER I T ' S S I M P L E R E A L L Y, I T ' S A L L I N T H E N Top Producer on the 2020 #1 Large Team BE AIL L L ST HTE NEA MRE with IT'S SIM PLE R Y, I L T ' S AL LL I IN . . . L I S Tstrong ER A results oriented approach matched TopLos Producer onList the 2011-2020 WSJ in the Gatos Office I T ' S S I M P L E R E ATL H L Y, EI T ' L S IA LS L TI N THE N AA ME ... LISTER E R T E M negotiating skills and effective marketing has made Bill Lister A results oriented approach matched with strong 408.892.9300 cellList A results oriented approach matched strong 2011-2020 WSJ A results oriented approach matched withwith strong EXCELLENT AGENTS | UNPARALLELED RESULTS Top Producer on the 2021 #1 Small Team A results Bill Lister a approach national Real Estate leader. negotiating skills and effective marketing has made blister@cbnorcal.com oriented matched with strong negotiating skills and effective marketing has made negotiating skills and effective marketing has made 2011-2020 WSJ List 408.892.9300 cell Office in the Los Gatos I T ' S S I M P L E R E A L L Y, I T ' S A L L I N T H E N A M E . . . L I S T E R www.BillLister.com negotiating skills and effective marketing has made Bill Lister a national Real Estate leader.

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408.892.9300 cell Bill Lister a national Real Estate leader. blister@cbnorcal.com CalBre# 01179611 Top Producer on the Lister aGive national Real blister@cbnorcal.com A Bill results oriented approach matched with strong 408.892.9300 him ahim callEstate today! www.BillLister.com Give a call leader. today!

2011-2020 WSJ List Give him a call today! www.BillLister.com negotiating skills and effective marketing has made 408.892.9300 Give him a 408.892.9300 call today! ©2021 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a CalBre# 01179611 408.892.9300 cell CalBre# 01179611 408.892.9300 Subsidiary of NRT LLC. All rights reserved.

This information was supplied by Seller and/orBill other sources.

Brokera believes this information to be correct but has not verified this information and assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy.

Buyers should investigate these issues to Lister national Real Estate leader. blister@cbnorcal.com 408.892.9300 their own satisfaction. Real Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License # 01908304. www.BillLister.com Give him aReal call today! ©2021 BankerBanker Real Estate LLC. All Reserved.

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WWW. B I L L L I STER. CO M WWW.BILLLIST ER .COM W W W. B I LLLI CO WWW. B I L L L STER. I STER. CO MM WWW.BILLLISTER.COM WWW.BILLLISTER.COM

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Lisa Sgarlato

Transitions Made Easy

16052 Robinwood Lane, Los Gatos $2,400,000 | 16052Robinwood.com 4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3600 Sq Ft | 1.8 Acre Lot Spectacular Monterey Bay views from every angle!

Beautiful flooring, Pella windows & skylights. Formal living room with vaulted cedar ceiling and fireplace with custom mantel. Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, center island, breakfast bar, sub-zero refrigerator, and walk-in pantry. Sunroom dining overlooking the pool and views. Spa-like master suite with fireplace, jacuzzi, walk-in closet, and balcony. Office area, family room, laundry room, amazing storage, central heat & air, high-speed internet, wired for audio and video. eparate 740 sq ft aprartment above 900 sq ft garage. Private knoll top setting on nearly 2 acres with gated entry. Ultimate entertainment home with pool, hot tub and decks featuring stunning canyon and coast views.

Los Gatos schools.

january 19 -2 5, 20 2 2 : los gatan.com

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Numbers 01079009 and 01272467. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.

408.396.7231 lisa.sgarlato@compass.com LisaSgarlato.com DRE 01342694

3

VOL.1 NO.20 Dan Pulcrano Executive Editor and Publisher Lee May General Manager Erik Chalhoub Managing Editor

Blood drives scheduled throughout county

Lori Lieneke Advertising Director

Staff Report

Phaedra Strecher Editorial Production Manager Drew Penner Reporter Emanuel Lee Juan Reyes Sports Writers Judy Peterson Contributor Serenity Polizzi Carrie Bonato Account Executives Marie Hicks Subscriptions

WEEKLYS Stephen Buel Director of Strategic Initiatives Mike Lyon Digital Media Harry Allison Production Director Sonia Chavez Accounts Receivables Warren Giancaterino Information Technology

DEATH NOTICES Death notices with basic information that are submitted to editor@losgatan.com may be published on a space-available basis only.

To place a paid, unedited obituary with a photo, call 707.353.1148 or email LifeTributes@Weeklys.com.

OPINIONS

january 19 -2 5, 20 2 2 : los gatan.com

Commentaries and letters to the editor on our Opinion pages reflect the opinions of the authors.

We welcome letters to the editor and commentaries on all topics of local interest.

4

RED CROSS FACES BLOOD SHORTAGE ‘CRISIS’

Email your submissions to editor@losgatan.com Letters must include the writer’s name and hometown (for publication) and phone number (for verification).

Submissions may be edited, and will be published as space permits. Letters are limited to 250 words, commentaries to 500 words.

CORRECTIONS We strive to avoid errors in news and ads.

Mistakes sometimes occur. To report errors, call or email; corrections will appear in the next edition and online.

WHO WE ARE Los Gatan is published Wednesdays by Weeklys.

Contents copyright ©2022. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form prohibited without written permission.

The American Red Cross is facing its worst blood shortage in more than a decade—a dilemma the organization calls a “national blood crisis”— and is pleading with people to donate blood.

“Dangerously low blood supply levels are posing a concerning risk to patient care and forcing doctors to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available,” says a press release from the American Red Cross.

Donors are urged to make an appointment to donate blood at the scheduled blood drives in advance by visiting https://www.redcrossblood. org/give.html/find-drive.

Red Cross officials are hoping to entice more blood donations by partnering with the NFL during the month of January—which is known as National Blood Donor Month—to offer a Super Bowl LVI prize package.

Anyone who donates blood, platelets or plasma in January will be entered for a chance to win a getaway to the NFL championship game in Los Angeles, says the press release.

Donors will also be entered to win a home theater package and a $500 gift card. Visit RedCrossBlood. org/SuperBowl for more information about the raffle.

Blood and platelet donations are “critically needed” to help prevent further delays in vital medical treatments, says the press release. Donors of all blood types—especially type O—are urged to make appointments to give blood.

In recent weeks, the Red Cross— the nation’s largest supplier of blood—had less than a one-day supply of critical blood types, forcing the organization to limit blood distributions to hospitals. During such times, up to 25% of hospital blood needs are unmet, says the press release.

The Covid-19 pandemic has played a major role in limiting the Red

Cross’s efforts to acquire and maintain blood supplies. Since the pandemic began, the number of people donating blood has declined by about 10%, according to the Red Cross.

Furthermore, pandemic restrictions and health concerns have resulted in staffing shortages and the repeated cancelation of blood drives.

The pandemic has contributed to a 62% drop in blood drives at schools and colleges, says the press release.

“Winter weather across the country and the recent surge of Covid-19 cases are compounding the already-dire situation facing the blood supply,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross. “Please, if you are eligible, make an appointment to give blood or platelets in the days and weeks ahead to ensure no patient is forced to wait for critical care.”

In addition to blood donors, the Red Cross also needs the help of volunteers to support critical blood collections across the country.

Blood drive volunteers play an important role by greeting, registering, answering questions and providing information to blood donors throughout the donation process, says the press release. Blood transportation specialists—another volunteer opportunity—provide a critical link between blood donors and blood recipients by delivering blood to hospitals in communities across the country.

To volunteer to support Red Cross blood collections, visit redcross.org/ volunteertoday.

Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass. With RapidPass, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer.

To complete a RapidPass, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood. org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App. To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors age 18 and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

POLICE BLOTTER JAN. 9

• A vehicle was burglarized on Dardanelli Lane.

• A catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle parked on Blossom Valley Drive.

• A bicycle was stolen from a barn on N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

JAN. 10

• A man was reportedly yelling “Lucifer” and throwing large rocks on the ground at a business on the 15900 block of Los Gatos Boulevard at 4:13am.

• A man walked out of a store on the 15500 block of Union Avenue without paying for two shopping bags of Jagermeister.

JAN. 11

• G rand theft was reported on Los Gatos-Almaden Road.

JAN. 12

• A home on Blossom Valley Drive was burglarized.

JAN. 13

• A patient reportedly “escaped” from a hospital on Los GatosAlmaden Road and broke the front door at 1:37pm.

• A man was reportedly attacked by an unknown suspect on a trail on Jones Road at 6:13pm.

JAN. 14

• A bicyclist suffered minor injuries after they were struck by a vehicle on Shannon Road and Shady View Lane at 8:28am.

JAN. 15

• A man was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance on the 1500 block of More Avenue at 11:34pm.

Information is compiled from public records released by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.

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5

PROJECT MOVES ON TO TOWN COUNCIL

6

Los Gatos Meadows operated from 1971-2019, but was closed due to safety concerns. The facility was found “to pose a significant risk” to residents, with an “elevated risk of fire starting within existing structures.”

Project Planner Sean Mullin reported that environmental impacts could be mitigated, and noted that while the land is in a hilly terrain, it’s technically not in a “hillside” zone, meaning more stringent design guidelines don’t apply.

The developer wants to tear down the old buildings and build a new “full-service” community for seniors with 174 residences.

In order to accomplish this vision, 192 trees would have to go, say planners—including eight large “protected” trees.

The applicant also sought a grading permit, to create retaining walls and to put in a new “ring road” for emergency vehicles.

Its architect designed a ground floor level with eight separate “villas,” rising three-to-five stories.

On the main floor there would be 17 “care units,” a dining room, offices, a fitness center and a swimming pool.

There’d be two levels of indoor parking below, and a communal terrace above.

Commissioners noted it’s been awhile since they’d received a proposal for a planned development and commented that new housing is sorely needed in Los Gatos.

Frank Rockwood, the applicant, said the complex would be bigger overall than the building standing on the property now, due to larger square footage.

“While there are pros and cons in accommodating housing needs in any particular location in town, our project team strongly believes that this location is particularly well-suited for a market rate senior community of the scale presented tonight,” he said. “Our plan includes an on-demand, self-driving vehicle system that will enable our residents and our staff to conveniently get to and from many resources proximate to our community, without the use of their cars.”

Covia held 10 open houses, and concluded the size of the facility is appropriate.

“We have tried to place and balance massing in a manner that, while clearly impacting some of our neighbors in the broader community…balances

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

january 19 -2 5, 20 2 2 : los gatan.com

Planning, from page 1

PROPOSAL Poles rise above the vacant Los Gatos Meadows building, to give

community members a rough idea of what the proposed building might look like.

competing objectives and concerns,” he said. “Please know that we are endeavoring to build and operate an exemplary senior community that will be a resource to the seniors of Los Gatos, as well as—I truly believe, on balance—a beneficial change for our neighbors in the wider community.”

Commissioners keyed in on this particular phrasing, getting the developer to confirm that it hadn’t planned amenities for people who aren’t residents, or guests of residents.

Melanie Hanssen, who would be named Planning Commission chair later that evening, noted Covia had brought the project before the Conceptual Development Advisory Committee voluntarily. She asked Rockwood if there will be any units designated as “affordable” in the proposal.

Rockwood said Covia does have “a rather significant affordable housing division,” but has never offered “below-market units” or “affordable market units” in any of its so-called Continuing Care Retirement Communities.

In fact, the Planning Commission isn’t even allowed to require them to make cheaper units available—provided they stick to this particular housing type—he underlined.

Staff later confirmed it agrees with the developer’s assessment of the legal landscape.

Rockwood said Covia was balancing feedback about the building height with comments about not reducing housing stock any more than necessary or expanding the general perimeter.

Clark pressed him on the affordability question.

“I know it’s not something that anyone can require of you, but it’s definitely been a really big community concern lately, and definitely in the town of Los Gatos, this is something that we’re working on,” she said. “Would you be open to putting any BMR units in this build?”

Rockwood said because CCRCs provide a high level of service to residents by definition, it would be hard to offer this to people who aren’t relatively wealthy.

“Unfortunately, it’s very, very challenging,” he said, noting the nonprofit doesn’t offer a lower tier service-level for residents. “It’s not something that Covia has ever done, and they—quite frankly—don’t think it would work in a CCRC environment.”

Chair Kathryn Janoff explained she recently investigated senior facilities in the area on behalf of her mother, noting there are a variety of business models the company could have pursued.

“The Meadows was sorely missed when it was closed,” she said, adding she was alarmed by the proposed penthouses. “It feels very much like luxury, exclusive housing. And I understand that it’s a senior model, and it does provide care, but it provides that at high expense to the residents of Los Gatos.”

Janoff asked the developer if it might be interested in tweaking things, but a company official said it would rather see the project move on to Council even without commissioners’ blessing.

“Am I hearing you correctly that you would not be willing to take a continuance to respond back to the Planning Commission?” Janoff asked.

“That’s correct,” said Covia rep Laura Worthington-Forbes.

Commissioner Emily Thomas said as a member of the Housing Element group that’s supposed to work toward state-imposed housing goals, she couldn’t support Covia’s proposal, either.

“It’s not the type of housing that we’re looking to develop in Los Gatos,” she said, adding she was disappointed to see how many trees would have to be removed, too. “I really tried to come into this with an open mind, and hoped that I was missing something. The information I received tonight was not making me feel any better about it complying with the General Plan.”

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AUTHOR TO JOIN POETS IN JAN. 20 VIRTUAL READING

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Moonseed, from page 1

8

creatic cancer nearly 15 years ago, Mary said she began thinking deeply about what really matters in life, and what she wanted to do with her life.

Curtis, knowing she was a writer at heart, began pursuing this passion.

When both daughters headed to college, Curtis did the same, earning a master’s of fine arts in creative writing from Goddard College.

“That’s the underlying theme,” Curtis said of her memoir. “The pain in our lives can also be healing in some way.”

A series of deeply personal essays she wrote shortly after Doug’s death were never published. But of the roughly 60 essays she has written since then, many found their way into “Understanding Moonseed.”

“Once when we talked about the future, Doug said cancer would get him, and I replied that heart would get me,” she writes in the memoir. “We couldn’t know, but it was almost as if we did in those early years. We would forget that conversation until a new future appeared: a pain, a moment, a mass, a careening detour from all that

The following is an excerpt from Mary Pacifico Curtis’ memoir, “Understanding Moonseed.”

“They offered me a job.”

Anxiety took hold of me. Move to California?

“What did you say?”

Destiny seemed to help me find a job as a writer/producer in a film production company. A year later I moved to a copy/contact position in a San Francisco-based technologyadvertising agency. Our clients were minicomputer and chip companies— and terminal manufacturers.

At the ripe old age of twenty-four— just two years and two jobs after moving to California—I started my own “company” with an art director in an office that we shared. A couple years into our fledgling business, I decided to make a run for the “big-time,” which meant becoming a full-service agency with consistent clients, not just projects. It took some courage to put my name on the door, but it was the perfect West coast name: Pacifico.

In Silicon Valley, young people started companies, unlike New York

we had created and looked forward to together. Suddenly in a disease-defined time capsule, finite in measure we did not know, a story of love would become one of loss, transformation and survival.”

Curtis is the founder of Pacifico, a Silicon Valley-based public relations and branding firm that counts global technology leaders among its clients.

In “Understanding Moonseed,” Curtis writes that she started Pacifico “at the ripe old age of 24—just two years and two jobs after moving to California.”

“In Silicon Valley, young people started companies, unlike New York where I had expected to become an entrepreneur when older and with credible grey hair,” she writes.

Curtis said that “Understanding Moonseed” follows a chronological path, with an arc that begins with grief and love, and moves through a journey of loss and rebuilding and back to love.

Recalling events that happened earlier in her life was not the only challenge. Curtis said she also needed approval from her two daughters before she published the book, which was eventually granted.

“I aim for the literary standard,” she said. “I also write poetry, which is the most difficult thing you can do.”

Her body of published work includes two books of poetry, “Between Rooms” and “The White Tree Quartet,” along with numerous pickups in literary magazines and anthologies. Her accolades include recognition as a 2012 Joy Harjo Poetry Finalist (Cutthroat Journal), 2019 Poetry Finalist in The Tiferet Journal, non-fiction finalist in The 48th New Millennium Writings contest and a 2021 non-fiction finalist in The Tupelo Quarterly Open.

“I expect another book of poetry to be out next year,” she said. “I have other books in me. I have wanted to do this since I was a little kid. Having wanted it for so long, I feel like I owe myself and my family the very best effort to be successful at it.”

Mary Pacifico Curtis will join three other poets in “Winter Words,” a virtual reading hosted by Los Gatos Town Poet Laureate Jen Siraganian, on Jan. 20 at 5pm. For information, visit losgatosca.libcal.com/event/8686604.

where I had expected to become an entrepreneur when older and with credible grey hair. Although I started Pacifico, Inc. with consumer clients–performing arts, car dealerships, a shopping center, banks, restaurants—I was surrounded by technology, had some experience with it, and I lived with the perfect technology coach.

I hired a few employees and sought out Silicon Valley companies, taking on a semiconductor foundry, and clients that made test devices, capital equipment focused on the semiconductor market, enterprise software and military electronics. As Silicon Valley grew, Pacifico grew its client and revenue base.

Two years after I started Pacifico, Doug fulfilled what I always knew he would do, founding Curtis Electromusic Specialties. He designed signal processing chips for almost all the major synthesizer brands in the world, producing an “analog sound” that was sought by rock ’n roll musicians.

With his chip technology packed onto circuit boards, synthesizers became

sleeker, looking more like keyboards with lights and knobs. Side by side, we entered the Silicon Valley lifestyle, working our separate long hours in a valley of long hours and game-changing innovation.

I found that for every Gordon Moore and Andy Grove of Intel fame, there were hundreds of talented and very detail-oriented engineers and physicists, albeit uncelebrated, who created a new world on the largest scale by focusing their efforts on the smallest scale. Silicon wafers, the real estate on which chips were manufactured, got larger and larger, creating demand for manufacturing systems that could handle these bigger silicon slices. The components etched onto the wafers became smaller with more minute geometries, the densely packed equivalent of shrinking the room sized computer of my high-school career onto a single circuit board and eventually onto a pencil eraser-sized chip.

My clients were founders, innovators, fast trackers, detail geeks, venture capitalists and inventors who sometimes thought their technical

prowess qualified them to do anything—including what I did.

Apple was a fledgling company at the time Pacifico got its start. Software as a tool got pushed from enterprise-only to the small business to the individual. Renegade companies like Atari and Pizza Time Theater moved games from the traditional coffee table board to the restaurant and then the device.

Still fresh is the moment some years later when a colleague said to me, “Our old test-equipment client is migrating to an internet company.” At the time, the internet was the communication vehicle for research types. He went on to say, “They’re going to use the internet for commerce.”

“This could be huge—if it works,” I thought to myself. We quickly reset their corporate identity focus from printed letterhead to the computer screen, and produced a suite of branding materials. The changes wrought by the internet escalated from internal communication to ecommerce, email

UNDERSTANDING MOONSEED The cover of Mary Pacifico Curtis’ memoir.

“Understanding Moonseed” is available on Amazon.

➝ Moonseed, 14

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9

SPORTS

TIMMY MURABITO PLANS ON WINNING CCS TITLE

january 19 -2 5, 20 2 2 : los gatan.com

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

10

When high school wrestlers hit a growth spurt during the season, it usually takes them a while to adjust to competing in heavier weight classes.

For Timmy Murabito, who has gained 10 pounds in the last two months, the sudden weight gain has done little to affect his wrestling. The Los Gatos High sophomore entered the week ranked No. 3 in the Central Coast Section and No. 33 in the state at 120 pounds.

If Murabito has his way, he’ll show the so-called experts they had him under ranked the entire way. Despite being ranked at 120 pounds, Murabito has been competing at 134 pounds the last couple of tournaments and figures to settle in at 132 once the postseason tournaments roll around.

That’s due to the growth spurt he’s experienced in the last two months, which according to him and Wildcats coach Greg Varela has done nothing to slow Murabito’s development into becoming an elite wrestler.

“I still feel strong and pretty good at 130s,” said Murabito, a transfer from Liberty High in Peoria, Arizona, where he finished as runner-up at 113 pounds in last year’s Arizona State Championships. “I’m feeling faster, I’m lifting everyday and I’m not feeling too small out there.”

Murabito went 4-2 in the Reno Tournament of Champions in December, one of the top high school wrestling competitions in the nation.

That result and others throughout his career have given him confidence to win a Central Coast Section title this season and place high at state.

“I plan on winning CCS and placing in state this year,” he said. “(For Reno TOC), I feel like next year I should probably win it. I just need to get bigger for my weight class.”

Murabito is often successful utilizing front headlocks and maintaining a high work rate during matches.

“I’m lanky and I like to keep my

space and hit some quick attacks off,” he said. “(Going forward) I just have to work on everything—all the little details, especially top and bottom position.”

Murabito and teammates Anthony Pavlov-Ramirez and Om Shastri won their respective weight classes in the Apple Cider Tournament at Watsonville High on Jan. 8. On the same day, Daniil Gorshkov finished in seventh place at the prestigious Doc Buchanan Tournament in Clovis, one of the top three tournaments in the nation.

The Santa Clara Valley De Anza Division dual season has begun and things look to be a three horse race between Los Gatos, Palo Alto and Fremont of Sunnyvale.

“I think we’re the toughest teams and the league title will go through one of us,” Varela said. “Based off results I’ve seen from the last month, Fremont is going to be tough as heck, that’s for sure.”

Varela said Murabito has done a nice job of going up two weight classes during the season, noting the degree of difficulty is high.

“He’s definitely figuring it out,” Varela said. “The strength difference, the speed difference. He had success in Reno and won the Apple Cider which was awesome. He’s really hit a growth spurt and I wouldn't be surprised if he’s wrestling at 152 next year.”

Like every other team, Los Gatos has had to deal with Covid issues resulting in postponements of dual matches along with practice cancellations. Varela said he feels for his wrestlers because there are only a few things in their life they can control, and even that has been seized on occasion due to the virus.

“It’s a really stressful time for these kids because this is uncharted territory they’re dealing with,” Varela said.

“I feel bad for them because never in the history of my coaching career have they faced a pandemic and a situation where they may not be able to wrestle not because of anything they’ve done, but because you sat by somebody who tested positive.

“It’s hard to tell these teenagers

Jonathan Natividad

Los Gatos High sophomore having terrific season

COMPETITOR Los Gatos High sophomore Timmy Murabito is ranked No. 2 in the CCS at 132 pounds. Murabito prepped at Liberty High in Peoria, Arizona last year and finished as the runner-up in the state championships.

they’re not in control of anything.

From day one you have control of a few things: how hard you train, your attitude and how much time you put in for school work. Those are the only things you can control at this age.

But now with Covid, it’s so stressful for them because it takes the security away of them being in control of their wrestling. They’re not anymore and I just feel bad for them.”

Murabito is the second youngest of nine—yes, nine—children. One of his older brothers, A.J., got into wrestling and most of the other siblings followed in his footsteps.

“He tried it out, really enjoyed it and

it gave all of us a great opportunity.

So my brother essentially started the whole tradition,” Timmy said. “My whole family started doing it and hopped on the bandwagon.”

Another one of Timmy’s older brothers, Christian, was at Saratoga High when he won a CCS championship at 182 pounds in 2015. Timmy said it was great to have older siblings, but his biggest influence has been his dad, Fred, along with Varela and Los Gatos assistant coach Danny Chaid.

“My dad taught me everything and coach Varela and coach Danny are very wise and inspirational people in my life,” Murabito said.

LOS GATOS GIRLS BASKETBALL MAKES TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO COURT Jonathan Natividad

Wildcats go 15 days between games due to Covid protocols Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

Boys Basketball

PASSING FANCY Wildcats junior Keira Dodd makes a play in the team’s 58-31 win over Leigh on Jan. 17. Los Gatos defeated Saratoga three days earlier in its first return to the court in 15 days after being sidelined due to Covid protocols.

Sophomore Claire Galbo found success by curling to the basket and her teammates hitting her in-stride in the lane for shots from in-close. She finished with 13 points and was by far the most efficient starter in the game, shooting 50 percent (5 for 10) from the field.

She also got her teammates and coaches absolutely stoked when she drew a charging call—the team’s first charge taken of the season, according

to Quilici.

“I was so, so happy with her and the entire bench and everyone on the court, it was like we won the Super Bowl at that moment,” Quilici said.

“It was just so exciting and I love their effort. Maybe they’re out of shape, maybe their shots aren't falling, but at least they’re playing hard.”

The Wildcats were aggressive all game, which paid off in the form of 46 free throw attempts. However, they

Playing immediately after the girls game at Saratoga High, Los Gatos saw its three-game win streak to open league play snapped. The Wildcats misfired on several shots from in close, especially in the decisive third quarter in which they were outscored 11-6 to see a one-point halftime advantage turn into a four-point deficit entering the final quarter.

Freshman Osha Moloney had a team-high 14 points and Max Houghton had 10 for the Wildcats, who dropped to 3-1 in De Anza Division play. Los Gatos also lost an earlier non-league matchup to Saratoga on Dec. 10 in tournament action.

Los Gatos controlled the glass and worked for double-digit offensive rebounds; however, it missed several putback attempts. Despite the loss, things still look bright for the team, which has potent sharpshooters in Moloney and Arya Emarlou and a point guard in Houghton who can break down defenses and get to the basket or make the pass to find a teammate for open shots.

The team’s highlight play came when Nolan Koch made a layup coming off a nifty pass from Houghton, who had taken a dive for a loose ball, gathered it and snapped off a pass while on his back to give Los Gatos its largest lead of the game, 19-15, with 19 seconds left in the second quarter.

january 19 -2 5, 20 2 2 : los gatan.com

It’s not often when Los Gatos High girls basketball coach Sara Quilici’s game plan for her team is simply about effort.

Then again, these were no ordinary circumstances. Playing for the first time in 15 days after 10 of the 12 players on the roster tested positive for Covid, the Wildcats (12-1) looked rusty and fatigued from the long layoff. That was to be expected as the team couldn’t practice in that span, either.

However, they overcame all the adversity to post a 58-40 Santa Clara Valley League De Anza Division victory over Saratoga High on Jan. 14. It was Los Gatos’ first league game after its first three contests were postponed or canceled due to Covid protocols.

“It wasn’t pretty, but it’s always pretty when you win, so we’ll take that,” Quilici said. “Rust is one thing, but effort really trumps all. That was our whole game plan. We don't need to make every shot we take, we don’t need to stop every player on their team, but our effort needs to be better than theirs. That was the simple game plan, was to just outwork them and the game should be ours at the end.”

To that end, freshman post Nicole Steiner definitely brought her proverbial lunch bucket to the game, prepared to put in a good day’s work. Steiner, who has already posted a couple of 20plus rebound games this season, scored a team-high 17 points to lead the way.

“Nicole is always going to be where she should be, but when she finishes well around the rim, we’re a much better team,” Quilici said. “I thought she did well in getting her shots and actually being aggressive when she gets the ball in the low post because she has a tendency to pass first. I thought today she did very well understanding she had an advantage on whoever was guarding her. She didn’t force it at all, but she found an opportunity to take some really good shots.”

only made 17 of them, failing to make Saratoga pay for fouling them. Amid the missed free throws, turnovers and general sloppy play which was largely a result from the long layoff, Los Gatos had plenty to be proud of.

They beat a solid Saratoga team despite no games or practices for twoplus weeks, but most important of all, they were all together again.

“It was the best,” Quilici said. “It was so nice to be together and it felt really good to be back in the flow of league play.”

Casey Brennan and Belle Bramer finished with seven points each, and Ashley Childers and Ella Rabitz had six apiece.

11

LOCAL TECH INVESTOR NAMED IN OFFSHORE TAX HAVEN LEAK

january 19 -2 5, 20 2 2 : los gatan.com

Drew Penner, Reporter

12

I was at the tippy-top of Montara Mountain on a clear day last month near telecommunications equipment—Mavericks to the south, Pacifica to the north—when a call beamed in to my cellphone. It was Roshan Gudapati, the Silicon Valley investor—perhaps best known for co-founding Chiplogic Technologies—calling from India, wondering why I was trying to reach him.

I informed him that his name— along with his residential address in Saratoga—had, days earlier, been made public, as part of the Pandora Papers, the latest data dump by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The group’s Offshore Leaks Database aims to pull the cover back on the shadowy world of global finance. I wanted to know what the deal was behind the company he’d registered in the British Virgin Islands—Greenera Energy, Inc. Gudapati said he’d done nothing wrong, and that there was a perfectly valid explanation. I asked about the woman whose name popped up alongside his as a fellow owner of Greenera—a Russian influencer living in London. Gudapati claimed he’d never heard of her. But, he said, if I was interested—after he returned to Silicon Valley—he’d be willing to explain the particulars about the clean tech startup that had landed him in the database. I told him I’d send a link to his node on the ICIJ’s digital map. Then, I hiked down the mountain.

MURKY FINANCIAL WATERS Matti Kohonen, the executive director of the Financial Transparency Coalition, says the Pandora Papers offer a glimpse into the secretive world of global capital. The organization contends that this sort of information should be freely available to the public.

“The term ‘tax haven’ comes from the era of piracy, where certain sea

ports (either Caribbean or UK south coast, or US east coast) were ‘pirate havens,’” he said. “The term then developed to mean a place to ‘save,’ or ‘shelter,’ from modern authorities—like tax authorities or corruption watchdogs.”

But Kohonen notes if wealth held offshore—like dividend income, or capital gains—is declared to the IRS, it might actually be completely legal.

Plus, these days, American jurisdictions like New Jersey and South Dakota are emerging as significant tax havens themselves, he adds.

Under the prior Paradise Papers leak, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was linked to an arms dealer, and the chief fundraiser of the country’s current prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was separately implicated. Thanks to the earlier-yet Panama Papers release, Icelandic politician Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson resigned from his job as prime minister amid outcry over money sheltered abroad. That leak also included six members of the British House of Lords, several of whom donated money to David Cameron, who was prime minister at the time. Deng Jiagui, the brother-in-law of current General Secretary Xi Jinping, was found to have two shell companies in the British Virgin Islands, although they weren’t active by the time Xi became General Secretary, according to American Public Media’s Marketplace.

The Pandora Papers reveal the real owners of more than 29,000 offshore entities, who hail from more than 200 countries and territories, says Fergus Shiel, the ICIJ's managing editor.

“Shell companies might sound like serried ranks of periwinkle pickers fathoming the mysteries of frail and radiant whelks of the sea, but, in reality, they are one of the most harmful things ever fashioned: a multi-trillion dollar drain on the foundations of good governance by corporations that exist only on paper and are used to disguise business ownership,” he said, explaining why he believes leaks like Pandora are necessary. “We are fortunate that technology allows us to ride huge waves of information.”

According to Shiel, there are many legitimate reasons to have offshore accounts—but plenty of nefarious ones, too.

Contributed

How the Pandora Papers inadvertently illuminated roadblocks to a global green energy reality

GREEN ENERGY Saratoga resident Roshan Gudapati, whose name appeared in the Pandora Papers leak, says the story of Greenera Energy isn’t necessarily what one would think. Shown is the company’s power generation facility in Florina, Greece.

“Creating a world where financial incentives for conflict, wars, human rights abuses and violence are non-existent ought to be a goal for us all,” he said. “Dark money flows are at the heart of countless evils, autocracy and global inequality.”

While the U.S. is looking at cracking down on opaque financial flows in the wake of Pandora, Shiel isn’t exactly counting on it.

“The Biden Administration moves are encouraging, but many obstacles remain,” he said, pointing to the way the internet and cryptocurrency have just made things easier for those who don’t play fair. “Big banks, law firms and other powerful groups often oppose stronger transparency rules and tougher enforcement against offshore abuses.”

For example, he points out, the U.S. refused to join a 2014 agreement supported by more than 100 jurisdictions, including the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg, to require American banks to share information about foreigners’ assets.

“Much more needs to be done to stem dark money flows,” he said.

“One important first step would be mandatory registration of company ownership across the globe in publicly accessible, easily searchable and free databases.”

IN GOOD COMPANY Gudapati joined the array of local residents added to just such a database through previous ICIJ leaks.

There were at least 18 other Los Gatos addresses featured in the so-called “dark money” data dumps. Because the information obtained by the ICIJ is limited, it isn’t necessarily up-todate. Some people may no longer own homes in the Los Gatos area, or their shell companies may have been shuttered. As part of the Paradise Papers release, Bent Torp Jensen of Belvale Drive in Los Gatos was revealed to have been a shareholder in Malta-based Baltic Investment Holdings, Ltd.; another Los Gatan, Michael Lamendola, of the exclusive Arroyo Rinconada Community along Rio Vista, was listed as a director of Seawater Systems, Ltd., also based in Malta; Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, of the Via de Tesoros neighborhood in Los Gatos, was listed as a president of NovaGold Resources (Bermuda), Ltd., which was, perhaps unsurprisingly, based in Bermuda. While president and CEO of Novagold Resources, Inc., Van Nieuwenhuyse helped the company secure “world-class” Arctic mineral deposits, according to Mining News North.

Gudapati’s residence joined at least 32 other Saratoga locations previously published in ICIJ leaks. That included Walter H.J. Timmerman, who is listed as a director and legal representative of Malta-based Eclectic Services Ltd.; Charles Yen-Chia Tzeng, described as an intermediary for the Samoan-registered Alpha Investment Holding, Ltd., with a home along Vallejo Drive; and Jeff Boldt of Heath Street, who

PATENT LAWYER NAMED So far, with the Pandora Papers, Gudapati appears to be the only new Saratoga addition to the Offshore Leaks club. However, there is a fresh entry from Los Gatos—a lawyer named David Richard Stevens. He works at Stevens Law Group in San Jose, which, among other domains, specializes in keeping corporate information confidential.

“Our trade secret experts are able to help create a trade secret program to identify, establish and protect a company’s valuable secrets,” the firm’s website states. “This includes proper company policies, procedures and safeguards to protect their valuable trade secrets, and to also manage which company innovations are kept secret or relinquished in favor of published patent applications or issued patents.”

There was no response to multiple requests for comment from Stevens, who owns his Auzerais Court residence (associated in the Pandora Papers files with Begley Holding, Inc.—listed at one point as being “in penalty”) with his wife Ekaterina Stevens.

But it was a different Ekaterina who created the most mystery surrounding the local Pandora Papers revelations.

THE BEAUTY QUEEN Moscow-born Ekaterina Parfyonova would skyrocket to fame as a child actor with her role in the 1986 film “Higher Than Rainbow.” She was named Russian Miss World at age 17, according to IMDB. She married Washington lawyer Richard Fields and won a £3.3m divorce payout—but held out for more. She moved to London, becoming a noted philanthropist and mining investor.

On the same day Ekaterina Field set up her company Higher Than Rainbow Productions, Ltd., in the British Virgin Islands—March 7, 2017—she also became an owner of Greenera Energy, Inc., according to ICIJ data.

It was one of the things I was most curious about, since Gudapati said her name didn’t ring a bell. But he said he’d look into it.

After Gudapati returned from his overseas travels, he sent me a text at the beginning of January.

“Based on your questions to me

about a Ms. Fields and her association with Greenera, I had contacted our registered agent for clarification as I wasn’t aware of such a person or any relationship with Greenera Energy,” he wrote. “Here is the message I received from the registered agent.

Hope this clarifies things. Regards, Roshan.”

The attachment, sent Jan. 4, was in the form of an image depicting text mimicking a basic typewriter font.

“Please note that according to our records and the BVI Registrar of Companies, there is only one company registered with the name Greenera Energy Incorporated,” was the apparent agent’s reply. “It is not possible for two BVI Companies to be registered here in the BVI with the same company name, perhaps the Company was registered in another jurisdiction.”

Ms. Fields has no association with Greenera whatsoever in its files, the official added.

“Also, our records indicate that Ms. Fields is registered in our database with a BVI Company that was registered by our office, however the company name is not Greenera Energy Incorporated and we are no longer the registered agent/office of the Company.”

The Los Gatan reached out to Ms. Fields for clarification but did not receive a reply.

When I spoke with Gudapati on the phone two days later, he sounded genuinely mystified about the whole situation.

“I really appreciate you alerting me,” he said. “I had not heard of this ‘Pandora Papers’ before talking to you on the phone.”

Gudapati added he would’ve never thought to search his name in the ICIJ database.

“To me it looks like somebody made a mistake somewhere,” he said.

Gudapati said he was happy to go into details—even with a journalist— in the interest of transparency.

“My thinking is very simple,” he said. “If I haven’t done anything wrong and I have nothing to hide, what do I have to lose?”

GREEN ENERGY VISION Gudapati worked for about a decade as a software engineer at Cadence Design Systems. He co-founded Chiplogic with a friend, producing semiconductors and software, developing operations in India and the United States.

“We actually ‘bootstrapped,’” Gudapati remembered fondly. “It was a bit of a struggle, you know? We made a lot of sacrifice.”

In 2000, Analog Devices Inc. announced it would acquire their company via a $100 million stock deal.

“We had a good outcome,” Gudapati said. “Subsequently, I worked for a number of years at Analog Devices.”

He also started investing in other start-ups.

While in the process of building a team to get another software company going, Gudapati was introduced to a professor who suggested he invest in solar (photovoltaic, or PV) power plants in Greece.

“We looked at the tariffs and the licensing, and it sounded like a good thing to do,” he said.

The idea was to begin with small proof-of-concept facilities in Greece, and then expand throughout Europe.

It would be a pretty complicated endeavor, on paper, so they approached Silicon Valley-based Structure Law Group about how to organize the corporation. Together they created Fusive Capital Select Partners in the United States as a way to put money in. And they ended up with two power plant properties in Greece, each set up as separate entities.

A British Virgin Islands shell company was suggested as a way to connect the two parts, and to allow investors around the globe to come on board.

“We were advised on a structure by this corporate lawyer and accounting firm—how we can be in the U.S. and have overseas investors,” he said. “All of that never panned out.”

That’s why the whole Ekaterina thing gets to him. According to Gudapati, they never managed to secure any investors in London.

Nevertheless, they negotiated power-purchase agreements, built a small solar plant in Florina, Greece, and began working on a second, larger, electricity generation site nearby.

“It was a long, long painful process,” Gudapati said, recalling the hoops the team had to jump through. “It all sounds fine and dandy, but in reality, there’s lots of bureaucracy.”

Greenera took an innovative tack, mounting PV panels so they rotated on a column to follow the sun, capturing more of its valuable rays, at the Florina location. And they brought in power lines to the land acquired for the planned facility. But their dreams

of easy success were dashed by the Eurozone Crisis—as Greek authorities started demanding stricter terms. The government said it couldn’t come up with the cash to keep up its end of the bargain, he recalled. At first, they were getting around Euros 0.36 / kwh. Suddenly, that began to drop. Bad timing.

But the expenses continued to roll in—for plant upkeep in Greece, taxes in the U.S., and for the BVI “passthrough” entity, on top of everything else.

“We have to continue to pay the lease on the land, and obviously the corporate expense,” Gudapati said.

It would have cost millions of dollars to realize the second plant.

“The math was not looking good,” he said.

They decided to sell.

A party interested in the under-construction second plant emerged in 2012.

“Just when we were about to sign the deal, basically the Greek government announced even more punitive changes to the PV policy,” he said. “The buyer backed out.”

Gudapati says their licenses remained valuable, and despite taxes costing an arm-and-a-leg, the price of solar panels was dropping dramatically. In the end, they were able to sell the second license in 2018-19 at a loss.

To this day, they still operate the couple-hundred-kilowatt Florina plant, which brings in some revenue each year.

“This one is actually making money,” he said, although he notes it’s not much to sneeze at. “It frankly doesn’t move the needle for me.”

To Gudapati—who would rather focus on the development of the other tech and logistics start-ups he’s involved with—it’s more of a hassle than anything. This past year he considered whether it might be worth simplifying things and shuttering his Caribbean shell company altogether.

“It’s pretty expensive paying for the accountant—and paying the fees at every level,” he said, although that idea is counterbalanced by the thought that it might be easier to sell the remaining power plant business as-is. “Every time we want to wind down, there is a buyer that is interested.”

And so, Gudapati keeps a toehold in the Virgin Islands.

losgatan.com

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was named as the president of Solaris Assurance, Ltd., supposedly located in Bermuda.

13

WINTER MEAL Amber Benson will host a virtual cooking class on Jan. 25 featuring Winter Panzanella Salad.

‘WINTER WORDS: FOUR BAY AREA POETS’ Mary Pacifico Curtis of Los Gatos will join three other poets, William Ward Butler, Alan Chazaro and Janice Lobo Sapigao, in “Winter Words,” a virtual reading hosted by Los Gatos Town Poet Laureate Jen Siraganian, on Jan. 20 at 5pm. → losgatosca.libcal.com/ event/8686604

COOKING CLASS WITH AMBER BENSON

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The Los Gatos Library will be joined by cook, writer and food educator Amber Benson in making dishes highlighting farm-to-table cooking during this virtual class on Jan. 25 from 5-6pm. Benson will be cooking Winter Panzanella Salad (featuring seasonal roasted vegetables) and Chicken Paillard.

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→ losgatosca.libcal.com/ event/8688585

TASTING HOUSE RIBBON CUTTING The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the opening of The Tasting House, 368 Village Lane, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 27 at 5pm. The Tasting House features wines paired with small plates of gourmet foods and cheeses. Their food experts have curated more than 50 premium wines from around the

world all available by the glass. The wine list features more than 400 bottles. → tastinghouse.com

VIRTUAL WINEFEST & AUCTION The second Rotary Club of Los Gatos Virtual WineFest & Auction will be held Jan. 29 from 5-7pm.

Enjoy a night in the comfort of your home nibbling on goodies and tasting four different premium Argentinian wines or non-alcoholic beverages from Rootstock Wine Bar. The virtual event will feature a live musical performance by Lavender Fields. All proceeds benefit Los Gatos Rotary Charities Foundation. This year’s “Raise the Paddle” proceeds will go to Los Gatos House of Hope, Peninsula Food Runners, and West Valley Community Services.

For information and tickets, visit losgatosrotary.org/stories/virtualwinefest-auction

DIEGO FIGUEIREDO GUITAR RECITAL The Los Gatos Community Concert Association will welcome Brazilian-born jazz guitarist Diego Figueiredo in concert at the Los Gatos High School Theater on Jan. 30 from 2:30-4:30pm. Figueiredo fuses jazz, bossa nova and classical into his own style. Admission is $5 for students, $25 seniors and $30 adults. → lgcca.org

Moonseed, from page 8 Liliya Kandrashevich/Shutterstock

CALENDAR

TIMES OF CHANGE IN THE SILICON VALLEY for all, online retailing, and eventually, social media.

Change converged from every corner of my world in the form of new business models based on networked enterprises and wireless connectivity that rippled into specific applications and problems that needed new solutions. I was sustained by a new kind of client call. “I have two million dollars to create this brand. Do you have bandwidth?”

For a brief and fleeting moment, I had the leverage to say yes or no to the client. Hiring was another story; the business had to compete for its people. Convened for an activity called SPAM—something personal about me—the newbies in the company joined with the old timers to exchange stories about themselves. We got to know each other, started liking our differences, started feeling like a team and then the famous bubble burst. Slashed budgets and corporate uncertainty became the new way of life. The robust advertising and public relations agency that I had built spiraled downward.

Gone were the days of multi-million dollar print, radio and television campaigns, calling journalists to pitch a story; man-on-the-street market research, and afternoons on the golf course with prospective or current clients.

Those days went the way of the Merganthaler typesetting machine, photostats, rubylith, art boards, bluelines, color separations, conference reports, calls to action, production artists, airbrushed photos, mag tape, answer prints, cut-and-splice editing shops and distributing materials for publication or broadcast by shipping them to radio/TV stations or publications around the country. All of these things became extinct, obviated into the ether. Photoshop became both a noun and a verb, taking its place in the hall of fame of reusable parts of speech along with Hoover, ketchup, Fedex, and Xerox.

We Photoshopped any image to make wholesale changes to landscapes, backgrounds, facial expressions, and more minor details. With email we could cc and bcc as many people as many times a day as we could stomach. To send materials, we

emailed a wav file for broadcast, a pdf or jpeg file unless the pubs wanted tiff or eps format. The media receiving our stuff were increasingly online anyway, and what we sent got compressed to a banner that winked onscreen. No business was real without a dynamic Web presence.

I lived in the capital of change, Silicon Valley, and experienced firsthand some of the most dramatic change in the history of my own industry.

9/11 hit like a punch to an already depressed economy that reeled from the lesson of funding half-baked wunderkind product ideas that were not worthy of being called companies. In the empty skies that followed 9/11, a terrorist took hold as the game changer and a silence took over for a time. Then, cautious marketers with budgets in tight fists turned to closedloop marketing with its immediate lead generation benefits. A sales force could take over without the traditional human interaction that once warmed up the sale. If the online prospect took one single action, clicking on a specific topic or link on a banner, webinar or web page, that action was recorded, sent to a database. Follow-up email relevant to the action would be sent without human intervention to the action-taker or the person who needs to follow up. It’s fast, cheap and virtual.

Our clients newly counted on us to make their products viral, a term that had meaning beyond the notion of contagion. Viral was code for free.

Just about the only thing that didn’t change was that advertising and public relations are about people and money, because only people form perceptions and only people can spend the money on products and services.

People write the stories about these products and services. People contribute to reputation by talking to one another, carrying on great oral traditions just as Native Americans passed on their wisdom about the animals, the stars and the Way. We tell each other about the deal, the sale, the manufacturing defect, what the latest thing is and who just got it. That’s not a perception. It’s the reality of our biz: eventually people have to meet, look each other in the eye, talk, agree or disagree, and take action.

Shannon O’Connor remains in custody Drew Penner, Reporter

A group of teenagers who say they were victimized by Los Gatos resident Shannon O’Connor, who’s accused of throwing parties for minors and permitting sexual abuse to take place at her home, filed into the Santa Clara County Superior Courtroom alongside parents on Jan. 18.

Judge Johnny C. Gogo was considering a motion to force the defendant, who also goes by the last name Bruga, to remain in custody. During the hearing, six different people stood up to share stories about how, they say, the woman harmed them or their families.

“Shannon Bruga robbed me of my innocence,” one anonymous minor said, fighting through tears as she continued. “She left me with sickening memories that I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life.”

O’Connor is facing 39 criminal charges related to her efforts to separate victims from their parents using Snapchat, provide them with alcohol and allow them to act recklessly on her watch, prosecutors say.

The District Attorney’s Office also says O’Connor encouraged teens to engage in sexual conduct, including non-consensual acts, at her Arroyo Del Rancho Road home, which was reportedly sold last month.

The mother of one underage accuser said she believes O’Connor will violate her bail and put victims in further danger.

“I fear for their safety and emotional wellbeing,” she said. “She will further torment our children.”

The woman said she’s afraid O’Connor could target other families in Los Gatos, too, if released.

“Please, Judge, do not grant bail for Shannon Bruga,” she said, pointing to her fear of what O’Connor might do if she gains access to another cell phone.

Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Wise told reporters the united front shown by victims at the hearing was ‘exceptional.’

“Thank you for your comments,” the judge replied, once the mom finished speaking.

Defense lawyer Brian Madden had requested time to file a written reply to the DA’s push to keep O’Connor locked up, which the judge granted.

Madden declined to speak to reporters.

O’Connor is due back in court Feb. 3, at 9am, for another bail hearing.

After the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Wise told reporters the united front shown by victims at the hearing was “exceptional,” adding the speakers were brave to come forward.

“I’ve actually never seen this many people speak at a bail hearing,” she said, adding the DA’s Office will continue to fight O’Connor’s attempts to make bail. “She is a danger to our society.”

january 19 -2 5, 20 2 2 : los gatan.com

TEARFUL TESTIMONY AT BAIL HEARING FOR WOMAN ACCUSED OF THROWING PARTIES FOR TEENS

She began crying before returning to her seat.

Multiple speakers came all the way from Idaho, where O’Connor had moved prior to her arrest, in order to request the judge not grant bail.

Another anonymous female accuser said they fear O’Connor will flee to Idaho.

“Judge, we’re trying to heal,” the youth said. “We need more time.”

Another mother, of a girl who says O’Connor victimized her, said releasing the defendant would cause their family additional trauma. She implored Judge Gogo to take the gravity of O’Connor’s actions seriously.

“We have already been through so much,” she said. “She is a master manipulator. She will hyper-manipulate any adult or child.”

She added that O’Connor’s behavior cast a long shadow on the Los Gatos High School community, too.

15

REAL ESTATE

HOME OF THE WEEK

Metis Real Estate

SANTA ROSA This Los Gatos home features views from multiple vantage points.

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for five outstanding performances

Whatever the venue,

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VYACHESLAV GRYAZNOV

Steinway Society – The Bay Area will continue to bring you international award-winning pianists while prioritizing the safety of our pianists and audience.

This home in the Santa Rosa neighborhood features a private courtyard entrance lined by oak trees.

Located at 331 Santa Rosa Drive in Los Gatos, the 7,948-square-foot home includes five bedrooms and five bathrooms.

High ceilings welcome bright light into the family room, which was originally designed for an indoor pool. A formal home office and sauna are also inside.

The home features multiple terraced decks, providing valley views.

A pool and spa are part of the large grounds. The three-car garage is equipped with a 240-volt electric vehicle charging station.

The home, built in 1989, is listed at $5.9 million by Metis Real Estate.

For information, visit bit.ly/3ntrqyU

Metis Real Estate

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Live In-Person, Livestream or Home Concert Hall,

KNOLL TOP VIEWS IN LOS GATOS

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INSIDE The living room was originally designed for an indoor pool.

Remember Someone Special Capture the essence of a departed family member with an obituary in the Los Gatan. Your tribute will appear perpetually on our website, and that of our partner, Legacy.com. We can write a tribute that embodies the spirit of the deceased, or publish one you provide.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM IN LOS GATOS Join us as a charter subscriber!

The team that launched the original Los Gatos Weekly has come together once again to give the town the quality of journalism it needs.

News about local people, school sports and vital community issues will fill the pages of thislocal publication –and a live web site.

Los Gatos deserves real reporting.

Call or email for details: Lynda at 707.353.1148 or LifeTributes@Weeklys.com

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