Los Gatan April 24 2024

26-YEAR-OLD LOS GATAN PROVES NHL NET WORTH

Devin Cooley helps Sharks finish-out dismal regular season

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

For San Jose Sharks’ new est netminder, Los Gatos’ own Devin Cooley, dipping into the philosophical well of existen tial nihilism is how he’s able to stare-down—and halt—rub ber pucks being launched at him like missiles.

“As a goalie, the game is so mental, so everyone has to figure out what works for them and keeps them in the present moment,” he told the Los Gatan in a telephone interview. “A little bit of nihilism goes a long way.”

Now playing on hockey’s biggest stage, telling himself Nothing matters or We’re all going to die, has allowed him to stay grounded as the blades of some of the most-talented and highest-paid athletes create and react to plays in front of his eyes.

“I want my emotions to stay exactly the same,” he said. “I don’t want to get too high or too low.”

Of course, the off-ice Cooley knows life is a valuable thing

MAN HELD TO ANSWER FOR ‘TERRORIST THREATS’

Mercado accused of scaring animal hospital owner, employees

Drew Penner, Editor

A 45-year-old man accused of menacing Los Gatos Dog & Cat Hospital employees

and threatening to commit a school shooting must face a single criminal count—plus an enhancement—Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Leila Sayar ruled on April 19.

At the conclusion of Jose Mercado’s preliminary hearing, she said there’s enough ev-

idence to suggest he engaged in making terrorist threats and must stand trial.

“It does appear (Count 1) has been committed,” she said. “The defendant is held to answer.”

The Frandle family, who run the animal hospital, say

WEEKEND STROLL The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce held the 2024 Spring Wine Walk on Saturday, which brought people of all ages out onto downtown streets. To see more photos from the event, turn to P6.

16TH DISTRICT RECOUNT EXPLODES INTO CONTROVERSY

Double-check effort is expected to wrap this week

Barry Holtzclaw, Reporter

Any thoughts that a “machine recount” of more than 190,000 ballots cast in two counties for the 16th Congressional District would be a mundane exercise were dashed over the weekend.

The process has devolved into controversy involving political action committees, campaign surrogates, the Federal Election Commission, members of Congress and the counting of previously discarded ballots.

In the March 5 primary election for California’s 16th Congressional District, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo received 38,489 votes, while Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian and State Assemblymember Evan Low each received 30,249 votes.

Election officials in both counties said they might complete their recounts as early as this evening.

The battle lines being drawn during the recount—a moderate Silicon Valley/real estate candidate against a progressive, labor-supported candidate—are likely to carry forward into the General Election campaign.

Pressure on the man who requested the recounts in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, Jonathan Padilla, to disclose the source or sources of an estimated $110,000 in recount fees accelerated with the filing Friday of a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission that electoral pacesetter Liccardo was the real source of Padilla’s recount bid and was illegally using campaign funds.

Election officials revealed that the daily recount fees are being paid by a new independent expenditure committee, Count the Vote, which lists James Sutton of Rutan & Tucker, LLP as its treasurer. Another attorney from the Southern California law firm, Matthew Alvarez, is listed as treasurer for Neighbors for Results, a separate PAC supporting Liccardo.

Politicians—including Simitian and current officeholder Anna Eshoo, Congressman Ro Khanna and even Liccardo—joined Low’s call for “transparency” by Padilla, demanding he reveal how he’s paying the expensive recount bills.

In a statement released over the weekend, Eshoo—who endorsed Simitian—said “The voters deserve to know who and how much, and should not have to wait for a mid-July report.

“Voters know that our campaign finance structure is strained at the seams by undisclosed donors and dark money and we don’t want it here,” she said in a statement. “Those who are funding the recount initially said they were requesting it on behalf of a candidate they never spoke to, and that candidate has publicly renounced the effort,” she said, without mentioning Low as the “candidate.”

“Clearly, we need to know what’s going on,” pleaded the congresswoman, whose retirement announcement in November ignited the current campaign.

Padilla, former finance director for a Liccardo mayoral campaign, held firm in declining to give financing details, countering that his call for a recount represented his own desire for a transparent recount of the March 5 primary votes for the coveted Silicon Valley congressional seat. Padilla, a Democratic National Foundation delegate, founded a tech startup and is a prominent cryptocurrency player.

The FEC complaint raises the issue of whether campaign funds were used to finance a recount.

The man who filed the SEC complaint—also using Rutan & Tucker, which says its lawyers are “among the

best and most effective attorneys in California”—may have transparency issues of his own.

Max Zarzana, who filed the complaint against Liccardo, is president of an influential San Jose public employee union that has butted heads with Liccardo for years.

The political action committee of the Santa Clara County Government Attorneys Association most recently gave $150,000 to the unsuccessful 2022 mayoral campaign of Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez.

That money was donated through a PAC sponsored by perhaps San Jose’s most powerful public employee union, the San Jose Police Officers Association.

The lawyers’ PAC, which reported nearly $147,000 in the bank in January, also donated $10,000 in the 2022 mayor campaign to a PAC sponsored by the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, where Chavez’ director position solidified her organized labor support.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s victory over Chavez was buoyed by Liccardo’s endorsement and a hefty fundraising effort through his own PAC that gathered Silicon Valley and real estate contributions. And Liccardo’s initial upset win over labor-supported Dave Cortese in 2012 benefited from support from then-incumbent Chuck Reed, who had defeated Chavez in her first mayoral bid in 2006.

Neither of the advocates for a recount—Padilla and his Count the Vote PAC or the Liccardo campaign—have offered any insight on the benefits of a two-person versus three-candidate race for the 16th District.

"The problem with dark money is that the public has no way of knowing who is really behind the recount and why. Whose interests are being served?” Simitian said in a statement to San Jose Inside on Monday. “There’s no way to know who is behind this effort or what their motives are.”

While Liccardo’s 8,200-vote margin means he is a shoo-in for the top spot on the ballot, the recount could break the unprecedented tie between Simitian and Low.

Meanwhile, the campaign continues. All three candidates attended an invitation-only “Progress Seminar” in San Mateo on Sunday.

The co-chairs of the event included Rosanne Foust, president and CEO of the San Mateo County Economic Development Association, Julie Lind, executive secretary-treasurer of the San Mateo Labor Council, Mike Callagy, a San Mateo County executive and Jamillah Moore, vice president of student affairs at San Francisco State University.

Attendees included federal, state and local elected officials, along with 300 invited individuals from businesses, labor and non-profits across San Mateo County.

NORTHLAND The San Mateo County municipal building that hosts its Board of Supervisors pictured earlier this year.

Drew Penner / Los Gatan

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QUESTION & ANSWER RESEARCHERS PROBE LABOR STANDARDS FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES

UC Berkeley teams up with the Santa Clara County to evaluate working conditions

Drew Penner, Editor

Earlier this month, a representative for a UC Berkeley research project set up a booth in Town Plaza Park in hopes of connecting with locals in a key sector of the Los Gatos economy—food service. In partnership with the County of Santa Clara, contractor Ming Liu, of the Step Forward Foundation solicited responses on behalf of Sadie Costello, the associate director of the Northern California Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, which is based at Cal.

GRAPE-BASED

Armitage Wines, Belle Glos, Daou Vineyards, Faust Wines, Flowers Vineyards & Winery, Quilt Wines, Ridge Vineyards and Rootstock Wine Bar were just a few of the companies that participated in this year's Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce Spring Wine Walk on Saturday.

We caught up with Costello afterwards over email for a deeper look at what the researchers hope to discover.

What exactly is covered by the term ‘retail food worker’?

For this project we are focusing on workers in fast food and sit-down restaurants.

How did this collaboration between the County’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement and Berkeley’s Labor Occupational Health Program come about?

UC Berkeley and LOHP work together on other projects. We were approached by Santa Clara County's Office of Labor Standards Enforcement and were invited to submit a competitive proposal for this project.

What are you hoping to accomplish by surveying the people who are involved in helping to distribute food through retail channels?

Our goal is to understand more about working conditions in the fast food and restaurant industries.

To what extent is this just part of routine data

collection, or is this the sort of research that could fill in certain gaps in our understanding of market trends and human rights practices?

This is a research project that aims to fill gaps in our understanding of working conditions in the retail food industry. Very little is known about the experience of workers in this industry, because research has often not focused on the experiences of this important working population.

What do you believe the value of this effort might be, and when can we expect the survey results to be released?

We hope that the results of this study will help improve working conditions for fast food and restaurant workers. We expect to finish our report in Fall 2024.

Photos by Arnold Breit / Breit Ideas Photography

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HOPE STEPPING BACK FROM DAY-TO-DAY CAFÉ OPERATIONS

New owner of Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co. pledges not to alter vibe

Drew Penner, Reporter

A message in a window along Main Street has been turning heads in recent days, as locals wondered whether it spells change for Los Gatos’ quaint downtown.

The sign announced an opening for a general manager position at Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co., and shared an update about the company’s jazz-loving hippie-themed-party-throwing founder Teri Hope.

“Fantastic opportunity to manage our business,” it reads. “Don’t worry Teri is not leaving, but she is going part-time.”

Over the past couple years, Town planners have sought to revitalize the downtown core by easing some restrictions on corporate ownership to help fill vacant shops and spur the economy in the wake of the pandemic.

So, we decided to contact Hope directly to get the low-down on what’s happening with the business she started back in 1982.

Turns out, she’s sold off a majority stake in her company to the London-based man who founded Caffè Nero, which has more than a thousand coffee houses around the world.

But she says there’s more of a local connection than you might think.

“I sold part of the company to my friend Gerry Ford,” she said, referring to the man who launched the Caffè Nero brand back in 1997. “He was actually born and raised in the Los Gatos area.”

And while he runs Caffè Nero, LGCRC was not sold to that company, but to Ford personally. He’s since also purchased Centonove, the Italian restaurant next door.

Building the Business

Back in the 1980s, Hope helped Dan Pulcrano, who would go on to launch the Los Gatan, organize and promote a downtown business association.

Over the years Hope grew LGCRC to a small chain with locations in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Palo Alto. She was edged out of the Palo Alto Shopping Center after 18 years, she recalled, as Starbucks expanded—even though

she had one of best-performing stores in the mall.

“They just wouldn’t renew my lease,” she said, adding having a good landlord in Los Gatos was key to her longevity here—though she acknowledges Town Hall played a part, too.

“I would say that, yes, a lot of the small shops in the downtown historic neighborhood of Los Gatos had some protection from the corporate chains for a number of years.”

The new Council has been attempting to encourage larger entities to set up shop in town, without completely opening the floodgates to corporate influence.

“That somewhat of a gentle protection has gone away,” Hope reflected. “Some people deny that it ever existed. From my perspective I think that the Town government has been cautious and careful over the course of time to not allow our downtown to turn so heavily commercial that it doesn’t have this quaint neighborly vibe.”

Retirement Planning

Hope, who is now 72, says she was looking for the right option for transitioning to retirement, and says she picked a buyer on her terms.

“It was important to me…to find someone who shared my passion for coffee and the place that Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company holds for the community,” she said, noting Ford attended Stanford University. “He wants to sustain it in its style. He doesn’t want to rebrand it or turn it into something else.”

She says the terms—and dollar amount—of the deal are covered by a privacy agreement.

“He paid what I consider a premium for the opportunity to purchase the company,” she said, of her arrangement with Ford.

Hope says Starbucks once offered her several million dollars for just the Los Gatos, and says Pete’s Coffee also expressed interest in snapping up the café.

She says Ford never tried to pitch her on selling to Caffè Nero, de-

spite its recent expansion into the United States.

The transfer of ownership actually occurred back on July 12, 2019, said Hope, who only recently decided it was time to step back from the dayto-day grind.

Adrian Rivera-Aguilar, a 27-yearold barista, says he isn’t thrilled his boss won’t be around the store quite as much anymore.

“It’s sad, because she’s awesome,” he said. “That’s the thing. She’s just a wonderful, kindhearted person… She cares about the people who work here. And while she’s doing that, she’s still trying to make it a really good experience for the customers.”

But Hope says she’s agreed to remain somewhat involved with LGCRC.

And now, the hunt is on for the right person to fill her shoes.

“We would like to recruit someone local,” Hope said. “We’re not doing a national search, because we want someone who is grounded in the community.”

THE SIGN TO FOUNDER The hunt is on for the right person to fill Hope’s shoes

Drew Penner / Los Gatan

ICE DREAM

Sharks, from page 1

and there are things worth getting frustrated over.

“But in the moment, if I start thinking about all those things, it’s just going to be a distraction,” he said. “I’m not going to be on top of my game.”

Cooley needed his mindset trick after spending the final six weeks of the regular-season in goal for a Sharks team that ended-up dead last in the NHL in points (47) and wins (19), and worst in goal differential (-150).

Highs and Lows

Cooley finished 2-3-1 with a 4.98 goals against average and a .870 save percentage.

While those numbers are certainly nothing to scream about, it was the team’s porous defense—and not the goaltending—that was most responsible for the league-worst 331 goals the Sharks allowed this season.

Although Cooley got pulled in his final two starts against Edmonton and Calgary, it didn’t take the luster off his professional breakthrough. Cooley made history as the first Junior Sharks alum to start for the big club.

“I’m living the dream,” the 26-yearold Los Gatos native said. “It’s been pretty amazing. I’ve definitely had a ton of setbacks in my career—probably more than most—so I’m making sure to enjoy the time now. Every day you spend in the NHL is a blessing.”

Cooley began the season with the Rochester Americans, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Buffalo Sabers. Leading up to the March 8 trade deadline, Cooley knew there was a possibility he’d be sent elsewhere.

“Obviously, it wasn’t an ideal situation for me there,” Cooley said, referring to the possibility of actually playing during games. “I was kind of hoping to maybe get a new opportunity somewhere else, but wasn’t sure if it was going to happen.”

He had no idea that San Jose was in the mix.

“Basically, I went through the whole deadline glued to my phone,” he said, recalling the arrival of the 3pm transaction cut-off. “Three o’clock hit, 3:10, 3:30. I told my girlfriend, ‘Hey, it looks like we’re sticking around.’ Then I got a call from Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams telling me they just traded me to San Jose.”

“‘Holy, what?’” he thought. “I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked, because it happened so late after the deadline.”

Right away he called his parents.

“My mom started crying,” he said. “My dad was stoked.”

On March 17, nine days after being traded, Cooley made his NHL debut in Chicago.

His second game was at home against the Blackhawks, March 23.

Not surprisingly, Cooley struggled in both starts but rebounded with superb back-to-back efforts, saving 34 of 36 shots by the St. Louis Blues April 6 to pick up his first win.

Five days later, Cooley was even better, stopping 49 of 50 shots in a 3-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. Cooley’s

49 saves represented the sixth most saves in a game in franchise history. Cooley credits his improved play to that existential nihilistic mindset, as well as tweaks he made following conversations with team goalie coach Thomas Speer and starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.

After experiencing such major emotional highs and lows in his first

PIONEER Los Gatos native Devin Cooley made history this season, becoming the first player in the Junior Sharks club to start for San Jose’s NHL team.

two starts, Cooley knew he needed to get back to his let go, nothing matters mentality.

“This is something I really started to experiment with more recently to tell myself certain phrases during games, and I really like it so far,” he said. “During a game, you don’t have time to ‘think as a goalie.’ If I start thinking about things, it’s just going to be a distraction…Some goalies are different. If they make a great save, they like to go nuts and pump up the crowd. They like to feel superhuman.

And when things aren’t going well, some guys are breaking sticks.”

These sorts of emotional reactions don’t really help, he finds.

“Nothing positive came out of it,” he said. “In most cases I ended up playing worse.”

Plus, Cooley says he likes learning about the mind, how it works and how to control it.

“I really enjoy learning about philosophy, the meaning of life and all that kind of stuff,” he said.

Road Trip

Cooley was traded to the Sharks just before they embarked on one of their longest road trips of the season, a five-game slate on the East Coast. Once the team returned home for an extended period of practices and games, Cooley had moments when things felt surreal.

He was reminded of when he used to play for the Junior Sharks.

“I was making the same exact drive

from my dad’s house in Los Gatos to the arena,” he said.

Cooley’s introduction to hockey was anything but ordinary.

His older brother was in Boy Scouts and their mom, Hernia, was a Scout leader for a field trip to an ice rink.

“I was four or five at the time, and my mom put me on skates,” he said.

“It was natural for me. I was thinking to myself, ‘This is super easy and I didn’t understand why other kids couldn’t stand or were hitting the wall.’ They had no idea if there was a hockey program in the area and had never even heard of hockey in the area. But they looked into it and enrolled me in a program sponsored through the San Jose Sharks.”

An unrestricted free agent, Cooley proved in his six starts he can be a legitimate NHL goaltender.

Whether Cooley re-signs with the Sharks or another team, one thing is certain: he’s as motivated as ever to improve on his craft.

“What keeps me going is, I just love the process and the grind,” he said. “I love the work and love going to the rink every single day. I just love everything about the sport.”

For someone so intrigued by nihilism, he sure seems to find a lot of meaning in the sport.

“I’m just obsessed with it,” he said. “Even when things aren’t going well and you don’t know what the future holds, I’m still going to give everything I possibly can. And, at the end of the day if things don’t work out, I did the best I possibly could. I wasn’t just going to quit. I want to really be all-in 100% and apply myself every single day—and have fun, even when things aren’t going well.”

After all, he notes, that’s when it’s the hardest to be dedicated and keepup that crazy work ethic.

“It’s really easy to work hard when things are going well,” he said. “It’s really hard when you’re doing everything right and putting in all the work and you’re getting lit up in games. But I found when you keep with it and keep grinding, eventually something will work out. Worst case scenario, if it doesn’t work out, at least I can be proud of the work and effort I put in.”

Jonathan Natividad / Los Gatan

SPRING INTO GREEN: LOS GATOS’ ANSWER TO EARTH DAY

Striving to be less trashy by recycling organics, preserving waterways

Dinah Cotton, Contributor Earth Day, which has now been around for decades, marks the anniversary of the birth of the environmental movement. Los Gatos’ annual “Spring into Green” event was held Sunday in Park Plaza, a day before—and in honor of—that important day. But then again, isn't every day that we’re here on this planet technically an “Earth day”?

It made me wonder, what are we doing right now—today—and in general, to live sustainability? Are we aware of the impact of our actions? Are we seeking better solutions for environmental problems? On Earth Day, we pause, reflect and learn more about decreasing our individual contribution to waste.

As Edward Humes, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author

states “Americans live in the most wasteful civilization in history. This goes way beyond what we roll to the curb each week. It’s rooted in what we eat and drink, and how we cook. It’s the main thing you pay for in your utility bills and at the gas pump.” He goes on to state, “Waste is so deeply embedded in our economy, products and daily lives that it’s hard to see clearly or to see at all.”

We are drowning in trash, and this is affecting every human around the world. At “Spring into Green,” the many kiosks had very knowledgeable staff to provide helpful information about actions we can take. Their message was that sustainability is not just something to consider during Earth Day. It’s more about what you do every day.

Used motor oil, for example, has to be properly disposed of: WWW.HHW. ORG. I learned it’s important to get rid of unused or expired medicine through the proper channels: www.med-proj-

ect.org. South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition https://sbcleancreeks.com/, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space https://www.openspace.org/, and West Valley Collection & Recycling www.westvalleyrecycles.com also had interesting booths.

Guess what? We can now access on-call bulk item collection up to three times a year. The mysterious “organics kitchen pail” was explained in great detail, though the instructions were pretty simple: empty the small bucket into your larger bin daily. Silicon Valley Clean Energy www.svcleangery.org outlined their many rebate programs, as well as how to save on charging an electric car. The Town of Los Gatos had a desk with information on ADU Standards, and Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) rules. Good to know the basics.

A June, 12, 2019 post from the World Wide Fund for Nature highlighted a new study that found people could be ingesting approximately five grams

of plastic every week—the equivalent weight of a credit card.

The analysis suggests people are consuming about 2,000 tiny pieces of plastic every week, or 250 grams a year.

And if that did not get your attention, according to the official Earth Day website: “Scientists believe that microplastics in our bodies may be responsible for everything from cancer to autism to Alzheimer’s to birth defects to falling fertility rates.”

Begin to educate yourself and do your best to recycle each day. Strive to be less trashy, and pay attention to the waste you make. When enough of us collectively work to save the planet, it makes a difference. We have resources to help us all do what we can all of the time—and every day. Hold the makers of plastic accountable and recycle what you can.

If we don’t take action now, you might be hearing a new question down at the ice cream shop in a few years’ time: “What’s your favorite flavor of credit card?”

PEDESTRIAN A portion of Main Street, at Santa Cruz Avenue was closed-off for Spring into Green.

Ad QUESTION OF THE WEEK

‘What

does Earth Day mean to you?’

Dinah Cotton, Contributor

On almost the most beautiful spring day, so far, Spring into Green, was celebrated at Park Plaza this past Sunday.

In addition to the smiles and sharing of information about what we can do to save our planet from further degradation by the human race, we decided to ask attendees how they think about the annual day dedicated to all things “green.”

Michael KimStevens, 38 Assistant principal, Graham Middle School

Asked at Farmers’ Market

“Sad reminder that we do not do enough to preserve the one home that we have.”

Christine Soper, 43 Solid waste industry outreach coordinator

Asked at West Valley Collection & Recycling’s booth

“Opportunity to provide outreach and education, and to promote waste reduction.”

Melissa Martins, 21 Intern at San Jose State University

Asked at Santa Clara County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program

“Keeping household hazardous wastes out of our water systems.”

Justin Zagunis, 34 Director of decarbonization programs and policy, Silicon Valley Clean Energy

"This day reminds me of why I got into this field: to help save the planet."

Joshua Lopez, 34 Events coordinator / social media, South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition

"A great time to remember that we only have one earth and that we should take care of it."

Leslie Madarang, 25 Marketing specialist, Silicon Valley Clean Energy

“Being mindful about habits and behaviors to help save the planet.”

Brooke Schwartz, 18 Associated Students of West Valley College senator

“The United States of America needs to work more to be more sustainable.”

Susan Campbell, 41 Farmers’ Market marketing

“For me it is a moment to reflect (on) how our daily actions affect our environment and planet as a whole. Little things can make a difference, we are all connected.”

It was encouraging to see so many programs present that take solutions into consideration that will help us help to protect our planet. What steps are you taking?

Jessilyn Shanek, 25

Asked at Jewish Community Center booth

“A day to say thank you and give back.”

APRIL 14

• One or more people broke into coin laundry boxes on Teakwood Court after 11:30pm.

• An unknown suspect broke the glass door to a pool house on Lancaster Road, around 12:38am though it didn’t appear they managed to enter the premises.

• A little before 12:45am, a reporting party heard a loud boom at the Riviera Terrace Apartments on Riviera Drive. The caller stated that their neighbor “moves furniture in the middle of (the) night.”

• A black Mazda and a gray Honda Accord collided around 2:25pm at North Santa Cruz and Bachman avenues. No injuries were reported.

APRIL 15

• A subject “tipped over trash can and threw rock at window” at 7-Eleven on N. Santa Cruz Avenue around 6:17am, “causing it to break.”

HEARING

Terrorist, from page 1

they’ve been living in fear since Mercado, whom they’d befriended (even letting him live with them rent-free for years), began sending frightening text messages targeting them and leaving “horrific” voicemails at the business.

In a letter submitted to the court earlier this year, Kyle Frandle said the “sustained fear” and “terror” caused by Mercado had made it hard to sleep at night.

“From December 6, 2022 to April 15. 2023, Mr. Mercado left over 30 threatening and harassing voicemails at my business Los Gatos Dog and Cat Hospital,” he wrote. “His threats detailed his plans to kill, bomb and dismember my wife and I, as well the

POLICE BLOTTER

• At 10:35am, three people “just stole lots of merchandise,” a caller stated, adding the subject went behind the counter and emptied the shelves. “They also stole cosmetic and other items.”

• A package was stolen from a front door around 12:30pm on South Kennedy Road.

APRIL 16

• After a group of four people reportedly went into Whole Foods on Los Gatos Boulevard, one left with $500 worth of vitamins, a caller reported.

• At 4:33am, a caller reported “there is a car with its lights on” in the Pine Wood Court area, but was unable to provide a description of the vehicle.

• At 7:39am, vandalism was reported at Moore Buick Pontiac GMC on Los Gatos Boulevard. A “rock was thrown through showroom window.”

APRIL 17

• A black Mercedes was issued a parking citation for blocking a fire hydrant on Towne Terrace.

• A man, apparently in his 50s, with gray hair, orange capri pants and a crop-top shirt was reported for moving “back and forth yelling obscenities at people,” on North Santa Cruz Avenue at 10:23am.

• An Apache safety box with IDs, phone and personal items was stolen from Safeway at N. Santa Cruz Avenue. The theft was reported at 3:45pm.

APRIL 18

• Around 5:40pm at Los Gatos Boulevard and Lark Avenue, a reporting party said they were “cut off” by a white BMW sedan, causing them to honk their horn. The caller said the BMW driver break-checked them, before the “driver got out of her

(vehicle,) banged on (caller’s) window and tried to open” their door. Police were unable to locate the suspect.

• Just before 6pm, loud amplified music was reported near Loma Brewery. “Disposition: Unfounded.”

• At 6:29pm, a man with a black jacket was seen digging into trash cans.

• A the back window of a Jeep Wrangler was reportedly smashed between 6 and 8pm in the Old Town parking garage. The caller said a laptop and bag were stolen.

APRIL 19

• A Tesla and a silver Ford Expedition collided at Los Gatos Boulevard and Gateway Drive around 8:59am.

• Mailbox theft was reported on Pleasant Street at 1:25pm, although it was unclear when this occurred.

➝ Terrorist, 16

COURTHOUSE The Santa Cruz County Superior Court building, where Mercado's preliminary hearing took place pictured Monday.

Drew Penner / Los Gatan

➝ Blotter, 10

CRIMES REPORTED

• At 4:13pm, a man garbed in “flannel around his waist” was weaving in and out of traffic at Lark Avenue and northbound Highway 17. He was last seen going towards the carwash.

• Just before 6pm, OnStar advised police “their client has a dog locked in the car and no way to unlock.” Los Gatos police rendered “courtesy service” to a 2013 red Cadillac parked at Starbucks at Blossom Hill Road.

• A little after 8pm, five minors reportedly kicked a front door along Tait Avenue and ran away.

APRIL 20

• In a 7:33am report, a caller reported that their upstairs neighbors “are jumping up and down, walking, loudly, and dragging something across the floor.” The noise problems have been ongoing, the reporting party stated. The tenants are being evicted, “but have until May 18 to vacate the residence. In the meantime, they continue to make lots of noise.”

• At 5:06pm grand theft was reported at CVS Pharmacy on Pollard road, with a $2,000 loss reported as happening two hours earlier.

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Blotter, from page 14 identity

• At 6:18pm a possibly intoxicated man in a gray shirt and dark pants was reported for being verbally aggressive at Starbucks on North Santa Cruz Avenue. The manager wanted him arrested for trespassing, but he was gone by the time when police arrived.

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LIVES

July 2, 1969 – April 6, 2024

Born to Chuck and Carol Kappen in the Summer of Love, July of 1969, Los Gatos native Reed Vaughan Vincent Kappen radiated love at every turn of his amazing life that was cut short after a long battle with cancer on April 6, 2024.

Reed was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1987 where he was a league champion multiple times and competed at the CCS levels of Cross Country, Wrestling and Track & Field. He even participated in the Junior Olympics in the Pole Vault as well as represented the Junior American National Team in Soccer. He graduated with a BA in Art and Computer Graphics from San Diego State University in 1993 where he also competed for the Aztecs in the Pole Vault.

Music, friends and family were his true life’s passions. He sang, played the guitar, bass and drums in numerous bands. He also wrote and recorded hundreds of songs and played for thousands during his lifetime musical career.

He owned his own painting and entertainment companies, but through it all he always found time to give back to his community. He coached Wrestling and Track & Field for years and led the Santa Clara Track & Field Team to a CCS Championship season in 2004

He also enjoyed spending quality time with the love of his life Cyndi and they enjoyed concerts, music festivals and traveling.

Reed was always there for his family and friends. At the drop of a hat he would constantly place the needs of others above himself and step up to support whoever was in need. He was a special man and left the world a much better place. Preceded by his mother Carol, Reed leaves behind his wife Cyndi, his father Chuck, his brothers Grant and Kent, numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. He will be missed immensely!

A vigil is planned at Saint Mary’s Church in Los Gatos, CA on April 25, 2024 at 7pm. A funeral service, also at St. Mary’s Church, will be held on April 26, 2024 at 11am. His interment will be held at Madronia Cemetery in Saratoga, followed by a tribute and celebration of his life at the Swiss Park in Newark, CA If desired, donations may be made to JW House, Santa Clara as they were such a help to Reed.

SUSPECT MUST WEAR GPS TRACKER

Terrorist, from page 14

doctors and staff of the hospital, and the animals in our care.”

On April 26, 2023, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell and Assistant District Attorney Stephen Drottar filed an official Complaint against Mercado.

“On or about February 10, 2023… JOSE MERCADO did willfully and unlawfully threaten to commit a crime which would result in death and great bodily injury to Brandt, Kyle and Kathy Jo Frandle, with the specific intent that the statement be taken as a threat,” it states. “It…was so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate and specific as to convey to Brandt, Kyle and Kathy Jo Frandle a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution.”

During cross-examination on Friday, Hannah Taylor—Mercado’s public defender—sought to poke holes in testimony from Santa Cruz Police Department officer Alejandro Perez. She pressed Perez on Mercado’s claims that he has ties to an armed group in El Salvador and to “cursed” animals around the world.

Perez confirmed that, while he understood Mercado had been living in El Salvador, he didn’t have any proof of a link with a military or paramilitary group there.

In her letter to the court, Kathy Frandle said a woman they both know showed her text messages Mercado had sent containing death threats towards her family, including a picture of a rifle and ammunition.

And as a retired elementary school principal, she said a voicemail he left at their Los Gatos business mentioning “bombs and bullets in schools,” was particularly concerning.

“Threats to schools are not something to dismiss or take lightly, and I hope the court will do everything in its power to hold Mr. Mercado accountable,” she wrote.

Mercado left the country after being hit with a restraining order that was supposed to strip him of firearms—but before he submitted proof he’d relinquished any guns or ammunition.

'Threats to schools are not something to dismiss'

Kathy Frandle

He was arrested at the Oakland airport upon returning to the United States and bond was set at $25,000 on May 2, 2023.

On Feb. 14, he pleaded not guilty to communicating terrorist threats and denied the felony enhancement.

During the preliminary hearing Friday, Mercado sat quietly to the right of his public defender in a black button up shirt with dark hair shaved short. He wore a blue surgical mask and followed the proceedings with the assistance of Spanish language interpreter Magda Lucia Florez.

Taylor said the content of the messages her client sent were “so divorced from reality” that they should be seen as “rantings—that’s what they are.”

Plus, she said, some of the communication in question wasn’t sent directly, but rather communicated by a third party.

“He did not contact the Frandles,” she said. “He made no efforts to that fact.”

In her closing remarks, Assistant District Attorney Pamela Dunlap disagreed.

“He threatened them,” she said, arguing that the indirect messages were clearly meant to be passed on. “She tells them exactly what (Mercado) said.”

Sayar set the next court date for May 3, but suggested there may be mental health issues to consider.

Mercado is currently out on supervised release, with a GPS tracker, under conditions including taking medication, complying with search terms, and not possessing firearms, ammunition, or any other weapons, such as bombs or knives.

Reed Vaughan Vincent Kappen

Administer Estate

Amended: NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Harriet Allie aka Harriet Carol Carlson Allie.

Case No. 24PR196392.

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of (specify all names by which the decedent was known): Harriet Allie aka Harriet Carol Carlson Allie.

Amended: A Petition for Probate has been filed by Ali Allie in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. Amended: The petition for probate requests that: Ali Allie be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

x The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

x The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: May 9, 2024. Time: 9:00 AM. Dept: 2. Address of the court: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 191 N. First Street, San Jose, California, 95113.

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by

the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: Barbara Small. PO Box 1621, Los Altos, CA 94023. (650) 383-8471. (Pub LGN 4/10, 4/17, 4/24)

Fictitious Business Name Statements

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #704478

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Sina’s Antiques And Fine Arts, 155 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Suite G, Los Gatos, CA, 95030, Siamak Ahghari. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 05/16/2014. /s/Siamak Ahghari. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 03/26/2024. (pub LG 04/03, 04/10, 04/17, 04/24/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #704572

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Vicair, 668 Azule Ave., San Jose, CA, 95123, Cahci. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 04/01/2024. s/Victor Cahci. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 03/28/2024. (pub LG 04/03, 04/10, 04/17, 04/24/2024)

PUBLIC NOTICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #703601

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Croatian Catholic Church Assumption of Mary, 1. Assumption of Mary Croatian Church, 2. Assumption of Mary Croatian Catholic Church, 3. Hrvatska Zupa, 901 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, CA, 95126, Croatian Franciscan Fathers. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 02/28/2024. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Fr. Marko Domazet-Loso. President. #559973. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/28/2024. (pub LG 04/03, 04/10, 04/17, 04/24/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

#703731

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: EGR Landscape, 2152 Interbay Dr., San Jose, CA, 95122, Enrique Garcia. This business is being conducted by a Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 03/01/2024. /s/Enrique Garcia. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 03/04/2024. (pub Metro 04/17, 04/24, 05/01, 05/08/2024)

File Number: FBN704545

The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: That Social Security Gal, 18300 Montevina Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033. This business is conducted by: An Individual, Wendy Lynn Barnett, 18300 Montevina Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 03/27/2024

is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Wendy Lynn Barnett /s/. (Pub LGN: 4/03, 4/10, 4/17, 04/24/2024)

File Number: FBN704353.

The following person (persons) is (are) doing

business as: wiBuilder, 1690 Story Road, #146, San Jose, CA 95122. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, World Intelligence Helper, Inc., 1690 Story Road, #146, San Jose, CA 95122. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 03/22/2024 and 03/22/2024 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. World Intelligence Helper, Inc. Article/Reg # 3577527, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California /s/ Vinncente Truong /s/ Manager. (Pub LGN: 4/03, 4/10, 4/17, 04/24/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT #704628

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. Fork N’ fingers, 4788 Hamilton Ave., San Jose, CA, 95130, Barbeku 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/Alec Ku. Managing Member. #2023584114662. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 03/29/2024. (pub LG 04/10, 04/17, 04/24, 05/01/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT #704547

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. Finch Electro-Mechanical Technical Services, 2. Femtsco, 2320 Falling Water Ct., Santa Clara, CA, 95054, Michael L Finch. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 12/01/2020. s/Michael L Finch. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 03/27/2024. (pub LG 04/10, 04/17, 04/24, 05/01/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

#704666

File Number: FBN703765

The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: Beach Day Services, 950 E Evelyn Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. This business is conducted by: An Individual, Hesther Doblack, 950 E Evelyn Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 02/28/2024 and 03/04/2024 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Ronald Nguyen /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. /s/ Hesther Doblack /s/. (Pub LGN: 04/10, 04/17, 04/24, 05/01/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

#704105

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Covarrubias Creations, 906 Washington St., San Jose, CA, 95112, Josue Covarrubias. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 02/08/2024. /s/Josue Covarrubias. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 03/15/2024. (pub LG 04/10, 04/17, 04/24, 05/01/2024)

File Number: FBN704308

The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: S3 Design Group, 307 Piercy Rd., San Jose, CA 95138. This business is conducted by: A Corporation, SV3 Construction, 307 Piercy Rd, San Jose, CA 95138.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/01/2024 and

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Morgan Hill Dental Studio, 17020 Condit Rd., #80, Morgan Hill, CA, 95037, Bhawna Gupta DDS Dental Group. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 04/01/2024. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Bhawna Gupta. CEO. #5994177. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 04/02/2024. (pub LG 04/10, 04/17, 04/24, 05/01/2024)

03/20/2024 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Corinne Vasquez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. SV3 Construction, Article/ Reg # C4634316, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California. /s/ Nickolas Sosa /s/ CEO. (Pub LGN: 04/10, 04/17, 04/24, 05/01/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #704882

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Papeleria Card Co, 2 Pierce Avenue, San Jose, CA, 95110, Humberto Martinez. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Humberto Martinez. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 04/08/2024. (pub LG 04/17, 04/24, 05/01, 05/08/2024)

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME #704937

The following person(s) / registrant(s) has / have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name(s): Mark Butler Photography, 1311 Happy Valley Ave., San Jose, CA, 95129, Mark Butler. Filed in the Santa Clara County on 04/14/2021. under file No. 674162. This business was conducted by: A Individual. Filed on 4/09/2024. /s/ Mark W. Butler (pub dates: (04/17, 04/24, 05/01, 05/08/2024)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #704992

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: 1. Hay Kay Services, 929 Story Rd., San Jose, CA, 95122, Hay Kay LLC. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 04/10/2024. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Hien A Cao. Manager #202461614429. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 04/10/2024. (pub LG 04/17, 04/24, 05/01, 05/08/2024)