Los Gatan 3-22-2023

EL CAMINO HEALTH IS FIRST TO ADOPT ULTRASOUND TECH FOR SEPSIS CARE

Drew Penner, Reporter

El Camino Health has become the first organization in the world to adopt a new technology created by Canadian company Flosonics Medical to boost care for patients suffering from sepsis and similar conditions.

The new addition to their tool kit is the FloPatch, a piece of ultrasound equipment that live-monitors blood flow and is meant to assist with managing IV therapy.

“Our nurses have seen firsthand how effective FloPatch is in monitoring the effectiveness of treatment in deteriorating patients,” said Cheryl Reinking, chief nursing officer at El Camino Health, in a release, adding, “especially those with sepsis and low blood pressure.”

The FDA-approved device provides a simple way to measure changes in how the heart is performing, hospital officials said, explaining it works by checking on blood flow in the carotid arteries, which are the pathways to the brain, neck and face.

“Timing is crucial when caring for patients with sepsis,” Reinking said. “We are proud to be the first hospital in the world to adopt this advanced technology, and have been working ➝ Health, 4

ST. PATRICK’S DAY EVENT REVIVAL DRAWS HUNDREDS FOR FESTIVE STREET PARTY

Drew Penner, Reporter

As the St. Patrick’s Day party unfolded around him at Town Plaza Park, March 17, Scott Travis, 7, of Saratoga was certainly having a blast.

He even let the Los Gatan in on his secret technique for the bean bag toss.

“I grab it—pretty much the back of it,” he explained, then, “Three swings; you try to land it—at least on the board.”

Although he admitted it hadn’t been the easiest match.

“They have two players,” Travis said. “One of them was really good.”

He shouldn’t be too embarrassed, though. After all, the other team included—along with a little girl—former San Jose ➝ St. Patrick's Day, 6

elite local teams p10 : student art p10 : upcoming events p15 : ny times crossword puzzle p17

PARTY TIME Revelers gathered in Town Plaza Park on March 17 to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with live music, food, games and dancing.

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

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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.

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Commentaries and letters to the editor on our Opinion pages reflect the opinions of the authors. We welcome letters to the editor and commentaries on all topics of local interest.

Email your submissions to editor@losgatan.com

Letters must include the writer’s name and hometown (for publication) and phone number (for verification).

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

CORRECTIONS

We strive to avoid errors in news and ads. Mistakes sometimes occur. To report errors, call or email; corrections will appear in the next edition and online.

WHO WE ARE

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Contents copyright ©2023. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form prohibited without written permission.

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All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, familial status or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Publisher will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertising are available on an equal opportunity basis.

CORONER CLASSIFIES LOS GATOS WOMAN’S DEATH AS A ‘HOMICIDE’

Cobb was found in February with her husband who died by suicide

Drew

Penner, Reporter

The death of 46-year-old Jennifer Cobb—who was found with her 50-yearold husband in a Los Gatos home, Feb. 15—has been classified as a “homicide” by the Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Her partner, Cornelius Bangma, died by suicide, the coroner determined.

Both died just before 9am that day, according to the coroner.

When asked about the initial autopsy results, the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department declined to go into any more detail about their investigation, although Det. Sgt. Bill Hoyt said there is no risk to the public at this time.

“This is a highly sensitive case and we are respecting the wishes of the families by not delving into this matter any further than with what we had released previously,” said spokesperson Katherine Mann.

In February, the LGMSPD told the media the bodies were found during a wellness check.

Los Gatos resident Carol Tinsley said Bangma and Cobb were members of the high-end gym she goes to, The Club at Los Gatos, and says she wishes the police would tell the public more about the homicide.

“Why wouldn’t the community be advised about this?” she said, adding she wonders if authorities are trying to “bury” negative information. “I don’t like the fact that they would choose not to make a statement about something like that.”

Bangma, who went by “Cor,” took frequent trips with Cobb to places like San Diego, Big Sur, Newport Beach and Hawaii.

He appeared enamored with Cobb, even calling her “the most beautiful girl in the world” in a Facebook post in celebration of his 50th birthday—a harborside image featuring big smiles, seafood and wine.

NEW TECH El Camino Health has adopted the FloPatch, a piece of ultrasound equipment that live-monitors blood flow and is meant to assist with managing IV therapy.

EL CAMINO HEALTH USES ‘FLOPATCH’

Health, from page 1

with Fogarty Innovation and Flosonics Medical for the past year piloting FloPatch. Our nurses immediately loved it, and helped decide where in the hospital the technology would be the best fit.”

One recent study showed that up to half of patients may avoid potentially dangerous fluid overloading in the emergency department when the FloPatch is used.

“We’re thrilled to partner with El

Incorrect information appeared in the March 15, 2023 edition of the Los Gatan in an article titled “ACLU threatens legal action against Town.” It was “a couple” of months after Karen Delaney received an email from former Town Councilmember Steve Leonardis before she spoke in front of the Policy Committee, not “four days” as was stated. We regret the error.

Camino Health to launch this pioneering ultrasound technology,” said Dr. Jon-Emile Kenny, chief medical officer at Flosonics Medical.

“FloPatch is more than an innovative ultrasound system, it is a new paradigm linking physiology and resuscitation medicine.”

Flosonics was first introduced to El Camino Health by Fogarty Innovation, a non-profit medical technology accelerator located on the hospital’s Mountain View campus.

It participated in FI’s Company Accelerator Program, a six-month mentoring program.

The Flosonics team worked directly with clinicians at El Camino Health to get a better understanding of the patient journey and determine the best clinical use for their groundbreaking technology.

“Through this process, the Flosonics team focused on the unmet clinical need of more efficiently managing fluids in critically ill patients, bringing forward a product that streamlines a clinician’s workflow and will ultimately help patients around the world,” an El Camino Health spokesperson said.

Flosonics Medical is a Canadian medical device company founded in 2015 that’s focused on research and development of innovative ultrasound technology.

Courtesy of El Camino Health

CORRECTION

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PARTY IN DOWNTOWN LOS GATOS

St. Patrick's Day, from page 1

Sharks draftee Alex Hult.

Travis’s mom, Sarah, said they’ve been coming to St. Patrick’s Day events in Los Gatos for years.

“We were C.B. Hannegan’s people,” she said, referring to the Bachman Avenue Irish pub that closed in 2017. “They used to do a big St. Patrick’s Day party every year.”

Cristin Laccabue, 57, of Los Gatos had already been enjoying the event for a few hours by the time the Los Gatan caught up with her.

“It was a little quiet in the beginning,” she said. “I was ready for the band to get going—and a little more shenanigans.”

She said the food from Montebello Market was really tasty.

“Shepherd's pie and corned beef were the two favorites for me,” she said from her perch next to her sister and two good friends.

Orla MacLean, 61, was in her element.

She grew up in Dublin, after all. That makes her what’s called a “Jackeen,” she explained.

“Used to describe someone from Dublin, typically used by muck savages from Cork with their grating, whining accents,” is how Niall Byrne, an urbandictionary.com user described the “derogatory” term in 2008.

Though she was wearing green Friday, MacLean said back in Ireland she never would’ve worn the color for the celebration.

To prove her point, she whipped out a cellphone and brought up a photo her niece took earlier in the day, during the parade in Wicklow (an hour’s drive south of Dublin) in “lashing rain,” reminiscent of Los Gatos’ 2022 Christmas parade.

“There’s a nice wet Irish day,” she said. “Do you see anyone wearing green?”

While green appeared absent, there was plenty of yellow—thanks to all the raincoats.

Saratoga resident Fiona Rodrigues, who is Scotch-Irish, said the best part about the Los Gatos event was the sense of togetherness.

“People come out and participate in the town that they live in,” she said. “They support the community.”

Ginny Murray, another Saratoga resident, said she and her husband

Brad had found the event randomly.

“We didn’t know it was going to be happening,” she said. “We were just so happy we were downtown.”

Brad said he gives the production a thumb’s up.

The event featured the Cocktail Monkeys, Electric X and the Johnny Neri Band, who dished out rocking, funky tunes.

Pam Davis, one of the organizers, was impressed with the turnout, which she estimated at more than 700 people.

“We’re trying to bring the St. Patrick’s Day party to Los Gatos,” she said. “People just want to get together. I love seeing the town come together.”

Jim Foley, one of three partners behind Montebello, said it was about bringing a beloved tradition back to life.

“We just wanted to revive it in a new way,” he said, calling the result, “awesome.”

The 2023 edition was meant to echo the earlier parties thrown by his friends who operated C.B. Hannegan’s.

“This is like a throwback of all the guys who used to come to St. Paddy’s,” he said.

One of those was Matt Ober, who assisted with C.B. Hannegan’s St. Paddy’s party setup.

“Everybody wants this back,” he said. “Thanks to Chris Benson and John Hannegan for paving the way.”

Tooraj Rajabioun, 39, had just arrived with his wife Katie and their 6-year-old son Kian and already they’d disappeared into the throng of revelers.

“They were over there dancing,” he said. “I think they went to get something to eat.”

Rajabioun said it was thrilling to be out at the Town Plaza Park taking in the Irish tradition, since they recently moved downtown from where they were living, near Pollard Road, so they could enjoy events like this.

“Being able to walk and get to a place where people dance, this is very unique in the South Bay,” he said.

For Usha Parbhoo, a Los Gatos resident who previously lived in the Midwest, the event carried a deeper meaning.

“I always celebrate St. Patrick’s Day—without fail,” she said. “It’s so

DO YOUR HOMEWORK

Dear Mr. Penner, I give you a C- for your latest journalistic effort in the Los Gatan. You should validate your information before releasing your stories for publication. Your article titled “ACLU threatens legal action against town” is devoid of factual information about the Town of Los Gatos’ actual policies and procedures. Your story omits easily sourced facts perhaps because you received your information from only one garbage can.

I am frequently impressed by the competency of student writers at Los Gatos High School on behalf of their publication, “The El Gato News.” Mr. Penner, you can achieve more credibility by following their example and “doing your homework” before publishing future writings. Please, no more lazy journalism.

Steven Leonardis Monte Sereno

festive and I’m Indian. And I love festivities.”

She recalled how it had been quite the transition to move from South Africa to Ohio. Being invited to take part in Irish traditions helped make things easier.

“When I was young and moved to America, all the Irish people in Ohio made me a part of their celebration, and I'm very sentimental about bringing it forward,” she said. “People incorporated me into so many things.”

AFTERNOON OF FUN Orla MacLean (center) joins family members in the downtown festivities.

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

SHOE DESIGNER HOPES TO INSPIRE WOMEN

Drew Penner, Reporter

Flor de Maria Rivera, a Los Gatos shoe designer, has been staying in Carmel-by-the-Sea in recent days, spending time with family.

The power outages she’s been dealing with there have reminded her of growing up in South America.

“I feel like I’m back in Peru,” she said. “With this weather, we just never know.

“I just worry about the elderly who have illnesses who really need the power.”

Rivera recently teamed up with Puerto Rican designer, Gustavo Arango, for a shoe drop in the Caribbean island that sold out in two days.

It’s been quite the journey for Rivera—from a young immigrant to Silicon Valley, to Marymount College student, to soccer PR professional, to upstart fashion blogger, to innovative footwear crafter.

Her love of fashion was seeded at a young age, in-part by a father who had an affinity for bespoke suits.

“There was an elegance to my dad,” she said. “I would go to the tailor with my dad and I would sit there and I would just be so intrigued.”

The tailor would give her scraps of fabric to play with, sparking a passion that would eventually launch her into helping shift the axis of fashion publishing and dreaming up apparel that would end up on the feet of celebrities such as Carrie Underwood, Paris Hilton and Kylie Jenner.

Back then, her fashion muse was Punky Brewster, the 1980s American sitcom character known for colorful, mismatched clothing and denim.

“Punky Brewster was my favorite show back then,” she said. “I wanted pockets everywhere.”

And even back then, even though she wasn’t familiar with the concept of a talk show, she would do mock interviews with guests, foreshadowing her future career in front of the camera, for broadcasters like Telemundo.

She recalls her first, “culture-shocking,” days at Los Gatos High School at the age of 14.

“You’re leaving behind your best friends, your school, your culture, your family,” she said. “It was defi-

nitely hard, because I didn’t really speak the language much.”

But she persevered, enrolling first at Marymount College in the Los Angeles area, and then at the University of San Diego, majoring in communications and Spanish.

It was at a summer internship at Telemundo in the Bay Area where she fell into the professional soccer world.

She was sent to get sound bites of

fans outside Spartan Stadium and came back with an exclusive interview with one of Mexico’s biggest stars.

Telemundo wound up with some great content and Rivera scored a job as a producer.

“I was thrown into a male-dominated industry as a sportswoman, an immigrant, a minority,” she said. “I was one of the youngest Latina sports anchors in the country.”

Back in the late-‘90s, there still weren’t that many women in sports broadcasting, although Rivera says she’s pleased that’s been changing.

After her dad died, she opted to shift paths. She landed on her feet, working as a publicist for the San Jose Earthquakes—the team she’d covered for five years before they left for Houston.

“I had known a lot of the players,” she said, about taking the public relations gig upon their return, as soccer blossomed in America. “For Latin people, soccer is everything.”

The Earthquakes were savvy in catering to the Latin community, for example signing Hispanic players, she notes.

“They knew it would get the audience going,” she said. “I knew what they needed to do to get the Latin people to the stadium.”

Spending time around athletes, Rivera would get requests for fashion advice.

“Can you go shopping with me?” they would say, telling her, “We pay people to do this for us…You need to do something in fashion.”

She launched a bilingual blog as the polarity of the fashion shifted from print publication to the online dissemination of style.

At first it was just a hobby, but it started to gather steam as she got on the radar of different brands.

“That’s when I moved to New York,” she said. “I quit my publicist job and I started from scratch.”

She knows she was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

“Because it was a hobby, I never had the pressure of making money,” she said. “I really did it because I loved it.”

Her goal, she says, was to help women feel more confident in their clothing choices—how to pair tops and bottoms, how to mix “high” and “low” fashion pieces effectively and what works well for different body shapes.

She appeared on TV, hosting segments on fashion and beauty, and worked with different magazines, including People en Español, Cosmopolitan and Cosmo For Latinas.

RISING STAR Flor de Maria Rivera’s recent shoe drop at a luxury boutique in Puerto Rico sold out in two days.

Courtesy of Flor de Maria Rivera

POLICE BLOTTER

MARCH 12

• Someone stole decor items from a front yard on Vasona Avenue.

• A man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on the 15100 block of Los Gatos Boulevard at 11:25pm.

MARCH 13

• A man in a trench coat carrying books was reportedly looking into the windows of a vehicle parked on Johnson Avenue.

• A juvenile was reportedly riding a dirt bike on Andres Street and Monterey Avenue, speeding through stop signs.

• A person attempted to steal a laptop at a store on the 15100 block of Los Gatos Boulevard, but ran away when the alarm sounded.

• A man was arrested for battery on the 200 block of Avery Lane at 3:38pm.

• Police responded to a battery incident after a “traffic altercation” on W. Parr Avenue at 4:14pm.

MARCH 14

• Public safety officials responded to numerous trees falling into power lines due to the wind, including a “flying trampoline” that took out a line on Belblossom Drive.

• A vehicle was burglarized on Mariposa Avenue.

MARCH 15

• A man reportedly cut a hole in a fence on Albright Way to drag a motorcycle through at 6:13am.

• A caller reported he was upset with the sound of his neighbor’s generator on Old Blossom Hill Road at 9:42pm and “would like it shut off.”

MARCH 16

• A man in a wheelchair reportedly refused to leave after he was “yelling at people” on Montebello Way at 10:16am.

• A woman was reportedly trying to sell “fake jewelry” on University Avenue at 4:19pm.

MARCH 17

• A vehicle was burglarized on Los Gatos Saratoga Road.

• Someone stole a vehicle’s catalytic converter on Oak Rim Court.

• A man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Highway 9 and University Avenue at 10:29pm.

MARCH 18

• A man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on University Avenue at Highway 9 at 1:09am.

• A home was burglarized on Bicknell Road.

• An unknown suspect vandalized two vehicles parked on Forrest Avenue.

• A caller reported a dog had been barking for 20 minutes on Longridge Road.

• A caller thought a man who parked his vehicle on Daves Avenue and Poppy Lane was “pretending” that his car was broken at 2:13pm.

• A man was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon on the 200 block of El Cajon Way at 7:59pm.

• A laptop was stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on W. Mozart Avenue.

• A caller reported a loud party on Chester Street at 9:10pm.

• A woman was arrested for inflicting injury on a cohabitant on the 15900 block of Los Gatos Boulevard at 9:19pm.

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

LOS GATOS GIRLS AMONG CCS ELITE

Upstart Wildcats aim for historic season

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

Talented, deep and with plenty of experience, the Los Gatos High girls lacrosse team is off to another fast start this season.

That should come as no surprise given the Wildcats advanced to the Central Coast Section playoff semifinals last year where they lost to Sacred Heart Prep, 14-9. The question is, has Los Gatos closed the gap between it and SHP and defending champion St. Ignatius, who were far and away the two best teams in the section last year?

“That’s the big question,” Wildcats coach Tes Hayton said. “From year to year we’ve seen ebbs and flows. Sacred Heart, I’m going for St. Ignatius now. I want to win. What’s the point other-

wise? That’s what we’re working on [to be the top team].”

The Wildcats earned a huge 13-11 non-league win over St. Francis of Mountain View on March 13 only to suffer disappointment four days later, absorbing a tough 19-18 loss to an upstart Scotts Valley squad.

But the win over St. Francis could very well play a factor for seeding position in the CCS playoffs in May. The Lancers always field a top-notch team and Los Gatos needed to be pushed given it won its first four games by double-digit margins.

Jackie Enns continued her spectacular play, finishing with six goals.

Keira Dodd had three goals and Alex Evans, Scarlett Roberts and Lauren Fried had one score each for the Wildcats, who never trailed in the match.

The Triple E’s—Enns, Evans and Elliott—have been terrific all season.

Enns and Evans take the faceoffs and oftentimes win them, which immediately leads to a goal or high-percentage scoring opportunity.

Elliott excels at possessing the ball behind the opposing goal and unleashing wraparound shots or passes that lead to goals. Enns and Evans consistently are able to attack a defense with their speed and get into the arc to get shots off.

They also have the unique ability to shield defenders with their bodies, allowing them to keep possession for long periods of time. Enns leads the team in goals and assists, the constant playmaker who can do it all.

As proof, Enns also ranks among the leaders on the team in takeaways, along with Tessa Dennon and Dodd, who has committed to play at St. Lawrence University in New York, which competes at the NCAA Division III level for lacrosse.

Against St. Francis, Enns and Evans drew several fouls inside the critical scoring area, resulting in the team attempting just under 20 free position shots. The Wildcats got off to a quick 3-0 lead only to see the Lancers answer with three goals of their own.

The teams were tied at 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5 until Dodd put the team ahead for good. The senior ran for 25 yards through the heart of the St. Francis defense before unleashing a shot from close range to make it 6-5 with 5 minutes, 25 seconds left in the first half.

A little over two minutes later, Enns scored after Los Gatos strung together a half-dozen passes around the 8-meter arc. Hayton said the team has been working on its transitions and changing up defenses, which is normal early in the season.

Because the Wildcats are unlikely to receive any resistance in league play, Dennon said it’s important to schedule non-league matches with top teams like St. Francis and Scotts Valley and Mitty, the latter which they’ll be playing on March 31.

“We need that competition if we’re going to take CCS,” she said.

Outside of the players already mentioned, the team has plenty of quality athletes including Teagan Fogerty, Jiwoo Hong, Elodie Douglas, Aubrey Salud, Agata Fin, Macy Dennon and goalie Kate Braidish, who made some key saves against the potent St. Francis attack.

Hayton said she has been pleased with the team’s on-field chemistry, noting how things tend to be smooth when substitutions are made.

“I’m very proud of the cohesion of the whole team,” she said. “Not just the girls on the field, but the girls off the field. Switching and subbing in and out, they are able to cohesively play well together. It’s not a little group of girls that play well together, it’s the whole team. If we can keep that up and keep the momentum going with that, I don’t think we’ll have any problems [reaching our goals].”

Hayton loves coaching the team and has added enjoyment in that both of her kids are playing the sport at Los Gatos. Her son, Aydan Celinski, and daughter Avelene Celinski, are on their respective varsity teams.

‘CATS ATTACK Sam Elliott, Maia Bernholz and Keira Dodd go on the attack in the team’s 20-9 win over Menlo-Atherton on March 3.

Jonathan Natividad

WILDCATS AIM TO FINISH STRONG

Boys volleyball team

takes on the best

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

Last season, the Los Gatos High boys volleyball team got off to a strong start only to fade to the finish. This year, the Wildcats are looking to stay healthy and peak as the season progresses.

“One of the big things we’re paying attention to early is managing our work load,” coach Brynja Thompson said. “It’s really important for the guys who are high flying, high hitting and diving all over the place. If the same players are taking those impacts too often, then we’ll end up like last year.”

Though the Wildcats don’t have a sparkling record—they entered the week at 3-5 overall and 2-3 in league— it’s a bit misleading in that they’ve played some of the premier squads in the Central Coast Section.

That includes perennial playoff participants Bellarmine and Branham in a beefed up non-league schedule that includes Mitty on March 21 and additional powerhouse teams in an upcoming tournament. With the addition of a couple of schools for boys volleyball this season, the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League has three divisions for the first time in history: the traditional De Anza and El Camino along with the lowest of the three-tier division, the Foothill.

Los Gatos is in the El Camino this season with Fremont, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Saratoga and the King’s Academy, with Los Altos at 4-0 the odds-on favorite to win the league championship.

After that, however, a handful of teams including Los Gatos could challenge for second and third place.

The Wildcats won back-to-back five-set matches over Lynbrook and Palo Alto last week, which came after a five-game loss to Fremont. Incredibly, Los Gatos went the distance in five of its first seven matches. It also had four-set losses to Branham and Bellarmine.

“We try to schedule hard, especially early in the season so we can work on anything that might be of weakness in

pressure situations,” Thompson said. “And by golly teams have been giving it to us which is exactly what you want. We’re learning from our matches and going to be really good from them.”

Senior Alex Olcott possesses a well-rounded skill set and is the team’s most potent attacker.

“Teams that allow him to touch the ball have the wrong game plan,” Thompson said. “Alex is just a fantastic all-around player.”

Sophomore Weston Kaefer also has been an impact player as an outside hitter.

“Weston is a Steady Eddy type player [who gets the job done],” Thompson said.

The team has an entire new set of middle blockers including 6-foot-5 freshman Nolan Harr and juniors Andres Goyes and Casey Colston.

“Andres is fun to watch and he’s flying around,” Thompson said. “Nolan will be spending a lot of time along the net. He’s a seasoned volleyball player and is on a high level club team.”

Los Gatos has mostly used a 5-1 offense with setter Devyn Nguyen, whose older brother, Kyle, was a twoyear starting setter before Devyn. The youngest Nguyen, Riley, is a freshman and the starting setter for the junior varsity team.

“It’s a great story,” Thompson said. “Kyle and Devyn have been fantastic for us and Riley will slide up in the big role as well in the coming years.”

Senior Devon Krish and junior Seth Greenland lead the back row and will be key in the team’s run for a top-three league finish.

“The two of them are flying around in the back row,” Thompson said. “Devon is one of the most well-rounded athletes that has ever gone through our program. Team captain, genius in the classroom, one of the best teammates one can ever ask for and he’ll be holding down the fort in our back line. And Seth’s serve-receive and defense has been phenomenal so we’re happy he’s on the team.”

Thompson can’t wait to see how the team improves with each passing week.

“Very excited to see where this team develops and where they go,” she said. “They’ve got a lot of talent and we can do a whole lot in the next six weeks.”

SET UP Wildcats senior Devyn Nguyen, seen here playing in the Bellarmine match on March 3, is in his second year as the starting setter for the Los Gatos boys volleyball team.

Jonathan Natividad

FUTURE IS ‘BRIGHT’

Designer, from page 8

Meanwhile, she collected hundreds of shoes, and was particularly inspired by creations from French designer Christian Louboutin.

“I realized that my love for shoes was always there,” she said, noting it got to the point where she couldn’t find what she was seeking, without spending thousands of dollars. “That’s when it happened, when I got tired of looking for shoes.”

Her moment of entrepreneurial inspiration happened right in Los Gatos, while reading a business book by the Vasona Reservoir.

“Right there at the lake it hit me, and I said, ‘I’m gonna start a shoe line,’” she recalled. “I said, ‘This is it; I’m gonna do it.’”

She decided to take business classes at Stanford University, then moved to Italy to study at Arsutoria, one of the top shoe-design schools in the world.

Rivera says her Flor de Maria line was inspired by the “fearless females” in her life, who she likes to refer to as, “her Queens.”

She aims to make footwear women can wear from nine in the morning into the evening.

“I started my company four months before a global pandemic,” she said, emphasizing that this was definitely sub-optimal, but caused her to just dig deeper. “I could either sit there or cry, or I could push myself harder than ever.”

She decided to pivot from season-based shoe drops to releasing new items every couple of weeks.

“People want it now—you see it now; you buy it now,” she said of her growing base of online customers. “For me, I don’t see them as clients. I created a community. This is bigger than shoes. And if by sharing my story I can inspire one person, I feel I’ve done my job.”

Following the success of her Puerto Rican luxury boutique foray, Rivera has been working on designing her first handbag. And she’s even considering opening a brick-andmortar store.

How does the future look from her vantage point?

“I think it’s bright,” she said. “And I’m so excited to welcome what’s next.”

CHAMBER GALA HONORS RESTAURATEUR

Drew Penner, Reporter

The magical moment in the stone “cave” passageway at Testarossa Winery was emblematic of the exquisite sensory experience that was this year’s annual Chamber of Commerce dinner, held March 9, the last with Executive Director Catherine Somers at the helm.

Fashionably attired guests stood in the darkness as the scent of garlic wafted through the air, as a garbled assortment of cooking sounds were piped in—including quotes from local chefs layered on top of culinary scenes from popular movies.

When the lights came up, attendees entered the resplendent tasting room filled with Baharat spiced carrots, baked truffled mac n’ cheese and whole-roasted king salmon.

And suddenly, there was David Kinch, the restaurateur to whom the evening was dedicated, garbed in a green and blue tartan suit jacket, carrying a glass of red and sporting a ravishing smile.

Much has been made of the three Michelin stars awarded to Manresa, the Los Gatos restaurant he launched— and from which he just retired.

But in the Q&A held later in the evening, Kinch humbly pointed out that

the stars aren’t given to an individual. And when you leave, they don’t follow.

“There was an incredible team of very, very hardworking, ambitious, very passionate individuals that came and went, some of them stayed the entire length of the 20 years that we were open,” he said. “I think that was an intangible that made the restaurant really special.”

A recent trip to New York—the land of starchy, carb-laden, fatty dishes—reminded him of how lucky we are here, he said.

“You know, we do not appreciate enough about where we are in California in terms of the quality of the produce, meat, fish, fruits, vegetables,” he said, noting that’s a big part of why he chose to open a restaurant in Los Gatos. “Cooking is not alchemy, it's not a magic trick. Chefs are not magicians; they can't take average ingredients and make a great dish. You work with great product.”

Great chefs have the ability to shepherd products all the way to the plate, he continued.

“It's all about them having the ability to bring great products into their house; they treat them with respect, and then gently push them towards a

period where they’re showing themselves at their best,” he said.

It’s not always the flashiest places that make the biggest impression, after all.

Kinch recalled exploring the “provincial restaurants” of France, places off the beaten path that packed the strongest culinary punch.

“You would get in the car, you would drive for a couple of hours and go to a place that was worth a special journey,” he said. “And you'd be driving down the country through woods—you’d think you were lost or something like this— and then you come to like a little town or a little village…It wasn't a grand a restaurant that was just all like crystal, and silver, and gold, chandeliers and all that. It was a profound restaurant of great food, and service—and ambience.”

Rob Jensen, the winery’s proprietor, followed up this story with one of his own—about the time he went to a Michelin three-star restaurant in France, and was asked by the head chef if he knew Kinch.

“He didn't care about us,” he said.

“But when he saw Los Gatos...in France, Los Gatos means David Kinch. And we were treated royally.

“So, thank you David for putting Los Gatos on the map internationally.”

AMBIENCE Attendees of the Annual Chamber of Commerce Gala take in a multi-sensory experience in the Cave at Testarossa Winery on March 9.

Drew Penner/Los Gatan

GUEST VIEW

A WAY FORWARD TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES

Jeffrey P. Blum , Contributor

The Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC) recently reported to the Town Council, detailing deficiencies in the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services in Los Gatos. CHSSC’s possible next step, subject to council approval, will be to develop a roadmap to implement the report’s recommendations.

After submitting the report to the council, I read a long opinion piece in the New York Times, titled “One Year Inside A Radical New Approach to America’s Overdose Crisis.” The opinion piece followed the workings of a harm reduction program called “OnPoint.” OnPoint’s program includes a consumption room, where drug users may take their drugs under the supervision of trained workers, who may administer drugs such as Naloxone and other drug overdose treatments, to reverse the deleterious effects of a drug when an overdose occurs. The workers also collect used needles left on the streets, offer users warm clothing and hot meals, and provide short-term living arrangements. Their funding is limited, and they face hostile and vocal opponents who accuse them of promoting drug use. In addition, they must contend with federal law, which outlaws the consumption room program concept.

The New York Times article was painful to read since although the OnPoint program claims to have saved thousands of lives, the numerous drug users referenced in the article, live horrendous lives, sleeping in cold and windy alcoves in New York, where they are subject to rain and snow. They beg for money to support their habit and feed themselves. They develop terrible skin conditions and diseases. Many of them die despite the efforts of the OnPoint workers. My anguish was heightened by reading about the frequently gruesome experiences of the workers as they strive to save lives.

The pushback received from a vocal portion of the community in response to OnPoint’s work, took many forms, including citizens engaging in shouting matches with the OnPoint workers as the workers struggled on the streets and sidewalks of New York to revive users who are often on the brink of death from an overdose.

This community pushback alerted me to the need to be proactive in improving mental health and substance abuse treatment in Los Gatos. I am also mindful of the tumult the cannabis dispensary debate in our town created. Justifiably, our town residents worry about their safety and the safety of their children.

CHSSC’s recommendations for improving mental health and substance abuse services are numerous. Some of the more prominent ones include considering ways to make mental health and substance abuse programs better known, finding ways to optimize service provider assignments to leverage scarce resources, developing a physical location in Los Gatos to serve as a mental health resource center, developing programs that teach older adults how to navigate the mental health landscape and select a mental health provider, finding ways to structure financial partnerships with mental health service providers, seeking funding sources for pilot programs, expanding mental health outreach with an access point or satellite operation in Los Gatos, expanding outpatient therapy, and facilitating the development of peerbased support groups.

A recent New Yorker article titled “Talking to Ourselves” indicates that roughly one-fifth of American adults has a mental illness and an estimated one in 20 has what is considered a serious mental illness that seriously impairs their ability to live, work or relate to others.

CHSSC’s report also highlights the severity of the problem by pointing to surveys showing that of those responding, 21% reported mental health challenges, about 30% of residents over age 60 live with depression, and 80% said they do not have access to quality mental health care.

Hopefully, given the gravity of the mental health and substance abuse problems, our community will recognize CHSSC’s recommendations as straightforward steps to ameliorate conditions, instead of concluding the recommendations are an attempt to push consumption room-type proposals or proposals to allow cannabis dispensaries in our town.

Art lovers at these FREE monthly programs enjoy a lounge-like atmosphere with music, drinks, + open galleries. Performance by Ensemble for Non-Linear Time, a social practice project by choreographer Hope

Jeffrey P. Blum is a family law mediator who lives in Los Gatos.

Mohr + artist Ranu Mukherjee.

Ranu Mukherjee, Ensemble for Non-Linear Time, 2022 Hybrid film, dimensions variable Courtesy of the artist New in the galleries: Sadie Barnette: Family Business

LOCAL SCENE

MANRESA BREAD WELCOMES BACK PASTRY CHEF

Manresa Bread founder Avery Ruzicka recently welcomed back Manresa alumna Stephanie Prida as executive pastry chef.

Manresa Bread’s growing expansion presents an opportunity to increase leadership roles and product development, and Ruzicka was quick to tap Prida to return to her native California.

Prida will oversee Manresa Bread’s pastry program, expand current offerings and develop holiday desserts.

Prida most recently served as Head of Pastry for New York’s Major Food Group, overseeing the pastry programs for the group’s restaurants, The Grill, The Pool and The Lobster Club.

Prior to her role with Major Food Group, Prida attained numerous accolades during her five-year tenure at three-Michelin-starred Manresa.

“Stephanie has an understanding of not only our roots, but also our vision for the future,” Ruzicka said. “She’s exceptionally talented and creative, and our guests will benefit from her thoughtful and balanced, seasonal perspective.”

Manresa Bread specials for Easter are now available for pre-order. Shareable treats include a strawberry tart and gluten-free blueberry coffee cake.

Pre-orders close on April 5. Pickups are available at all retail locations from April 7-9. To place an order, visit manresabread.com/preorder-1.

TIBETAN CALLIGRAPHER TO LEAD DAY OF CREATIVITY ROOTED IN MEDITATION

Breathe Together Yoga, 14107-H Winchester Blvd. in Los Gatos, hosts Tashi Mannox, recognized as the world’s foremost Tibetan calligrapher, on March 26.

A former Tibetan monk, Mannox’s art is recognized for its iconographic images, including tattoos.

While in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mannox will guide participants in the experience of creating an ensō, a circle painted with one brushstroke, as well as seed syllables of the Tibetan calligraphy tradition he upholds.

“Tashi’s visit has been anticipated for several years,” said Breathe To-

gether co-founder and owner Jennifer Prugh. “The opportunity to experience the mingling of steady awareness and art offers insight to our ability to let go. We are honored to host him and have people create with him.”

Mannox has held numerous workshops, courses and retreats worldwide. He has also exhibited his works internationally, including London, Moscow, New York, Los Angeles, Sharjah of the United Arab Emirates, Bhutan and more recently in South Korea. ➝ bit.ly/3ToBWah.

ARTNOW HIGH SCHOOL EXHIBIT OPENS MARCH 31

Unarmed Truth, the 12th annual ArtNow exhibition, will be on view at New Museum Los Gatos from March 31 to June 25, and will include opportunities for select students to win up to $16,000 in scholarships and awards.

This year’s ArtNow exhibition received 800 submissions from artists from 37 high schools across Santa

Clara County, the most students to ever submit to the program. ArtNow 2023 will feature work from 83 students from 23 different high schools, in various mediums ranging from drawing to animation.

ArtNow is an annual juried Santa Clara County high school art exhibition and educational program, presented by NUMU. The ArtNow exhibition and supporting programs offer opportunities for high school student artists, from Palo Alto to Gilroy, to gain real-world experience in participating in a juried museum exhibition. Students have the opportunity to win awards in eight artistic categories, as well as an overall Best in Show prize and a People’s Choice award.

The categories are painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking, sculpture, photography, digital art and video/animation.

Six Los Gatos High School students and one Saratoga High School student have been accepted to ArtNow:

• Sydney Chandler, 11th grade, Los Gatos High School

• Liam Matthiasson, 12th grade, Los Gatos High School

• Amy Pan, 10th grade, Saratoga High School

• Cal Railo, 12th grade, Los Gatos High School

• Rocky Rodriguez, 11th grade, Los Gatos High School

• Cynthia Wang, 11th grade, Los Gatos High School

• Kate Wright, 12th grade, Los Gatos High School

Each year, a new theme is chosen for the exhibition and students are asked to submit works based on that theme. For this year’s theme, Unarmed Truth, students found inspiration from leaders and social movements that have “helped us understand, embody, or uphold a hidden truth as a community and reflected on their own experiences,” NUMU stated in a press release.

This year’s theme was co-created with the ArtNow Teen Council, composed of six high school interns. For information, visit numulosgatos.org/artnow.

Local teams honored for academic achievements

Four Los Gatos High School Winter Sports Varsity Teams were award-

Courtesy of Los Gatos High School

SPROUTING PANSIES This colored pencil on matte board work by Los Gatos High School senior Liam Matthiasson is part of the ArtNow2023 exhibit at New Museum Los Gatos.

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD Los Gatos High School sophomore Leo Dai is a finalist in the global John Locke Institute Essay Competition.

ed the 2022-2023 Winter Season

Scholastic Championship Team

Award by the Central Coast Section (CCS) of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). Given to the top five schools with the highest collective grade-point-average (GPAs) of all competing teams, Los Gatos High School’s boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer and wrestling teams were honored.

Among the honors, the Los Gatos High School’s girls basketball team received the highest GPA of all CCS schools, with a cumulative team GPA of 3.8980. Students' GPAs are measured during the sport’s season of competition. All four

CALENDAR

For more events, visit the online calendar at losgatan.com/events-calendar

‘INTO THE WOODS’

Westmont High School will present its spring musical, “Into the Woods,” March 23-25 at 4805 Westmont Ave. in Campbell. The musical follows Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; Little Red Riding Hood; Jack and his ever-growing beanstalk; and a new story of a Baker and his wife, who long to have a child.

➝ visit bit.ly/3Fal8y3.

‘THE LIGHTNING THIEF’

Los Gatos High School, 20 High School Court, will present “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” March 24, 25, 30, 31 and April 1. ➝ lghs.net/news/what_s_new/ spring_musical_2023.

HERITAGE THEATRE PRESENTS VOCTAVE

up, for all skill levels. There will also be a race for children on all sorts of bikes at 12:15pm. Registration opens at 7:15am.

➝ teamsanjose.org/section/catshill.

MEDITATIVE PRACTICE OF CREATIVITY

Breathe Together Yoga, 14107-H Winchester Blvd. in Los Gatos, hosts Tashi Mannox, recognized as the world’s foremost Tibetan calligrapher, on March 26. Mannox will guide participants in the experience of creating an ensō, a circle painted with one brushstroke, as well as seed syllables of the Tibetan calligraphy tradition he upholds.

➝ bit.ly/3ToBWah.

SPRING WINE WALK

Tickets are now on sale for the Spring Wine Walk, held by the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce on April 22 from 1-4pm. Dozens of local wineries will set up shop in downtown Los Gatos to offer samples.

➝ bit.ly/42eXBGa.

Los Gatos High School teams will receive a certificate award from CIF-CCS.

“After-school sports is a large commitment for high school students, many of whom are involved in advanced placement classes, clubs and a number of extracurricular activities,”

Superintendent Bill W. Sanderson said.

“I am incredibly proud of these teams and athletes for continuing to prioritize their academic work, along with their games/matches.”

The CCS is one of 10 sections that make up the CIF. The geographical range for the CCS is from San Francisco to King City, serving 152 schools, 158,202 students and 74,296 athletes.

The Heritage Theatre’s 2022-2023 season continues March 24 at 8pm with 11-member a cappella group Voctave. Known for its performances of Disney and Broadway hits, Voctave has had more than 150 million social media views of their videos, and their latest album, “The Spirit of the Season, Deluxe Edition,” reached number six on the Billboard charts. Voctave will perform at 8pm at the Heritage Theatre, located at the Campbell Community Center at 1 W. Campbell Ave. Individual tickets are for $63; student and five-plus group discount tickets are $45. Tickets are available at HeritageTheatre.org, by phone at 408.866.2700, or through the Box Office, open Tuesday-Friday from 10am-4pm and Saturday from 10am-2pm.

CAT’S HILL CLASSIC

The San Jose Bicycle Club and Mike’s Bikes present the 47th Cat’s Hill Classic on March 25 in downtown Los Gatos. The day is split into 11 individual races for male and female cyclists ranging from 9 years old and

LIVE JAZZ MUSIC

Live jazz performances at the Tasting House, 368 Village Lane, take place Fridays and Saturdays from 6-9pm, and Sundays from 11am-2pm.

ENTERTAINMENT ATGARDINO’S

Gardino’s, 51 N. Santa Cruz Ave., features entertainment Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, along with Sunday afternoons.

➝ bit.ly/3OSvPHS.

ONGOING

Los Gatos Farmers Market

The Los Gatos Certified Farmers’ Market offers seasonal fruits and vegetables from Santa Clara County yearround. More than 40 local farmers and food producers sell their wares Sundays from 9am to 1pm at Town Park Plaza on Main Street and N. Santa Cruz Avenue.

➝ cafarmersmkts.com/losgatosfarmers-market.

Courtesy of Manresa Bread

MARCH

KNOLL-TOP VIEWS

This Los Gatos home on a knoll-top setting features views of the mountains, canyon and lights.

Located at 17255 Soda Springs Road, the 2,103-square-foot home includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a loft area that could be a fourth bedroom or family room.

The kitchen is equipped with granite counters, a center island with builtin oven range, a breakfast bar and vaulted ceiling. The dining area has a

French door that leads to the deck. The living room is outfitted with hardwood floors. The main bedroom has two mirror door sliding closets with cedar lining.

The home, built in 1981, had its roof replaced and a water heater installed in 2018.

The home is listed at $1.4 million by Compass. For information, visit bit. ly/3B4yPwn.

SODA SPRINGS ROAD This Los Gatos home has 360-degree views of the surroundings.

INSIDE The living room is equipped with hardwood floors.