Los Gatan March 5, 2025 by Weeklys

A VISIT TO THE PIZZERIA ON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

“Tony” Hwang on kindness to strangers, cannabis sales and North Korean flags

Faizi Samadani, Contributor

The Highway 17 trek back and forth “over the hill” between Los Gatos and Santa Cruz— with its rush-hour chaos and treacherous turns on rainy days—is a route many are all too familiar with.

At the summit lies a reddish structure that has been seen by thousands (if not millions) of locals and tourists—and yet, many have never pulled over to see what lies inside.

And now, the owner of the enigmatic business, called Kambu Pizza, says he’s putting it up for sale after three-and-ahalf decades.

“All types of people stop here,” says Daniel “Tony” Hwang, reflecting on the tourists from Germany, Poland, France, Australia, the Baltic region—and beyond— who’ve stopped in over the years.

“Everyone knows me as Tony— because I wanted a relatable name, and it’s easy for people.”

Local residents may best recognize this as the business that has been the subject of much

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT’S PIX NET WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY ACCOLADES

Parham Pourahmad, 14, says you have to be patient to get the shot

Aradhita Singh, Intern Parham Pourahmad stands in the hills of Ed Levin County Park in Milpitas, waiting for the perfect moment to snap a bird of prey in its natural habitat. Suddenly, a Cooper’s hawk swoops down. It begins to claw apart a squirrel.

Pourahmad aims his Sigma 150-600mm lens and presses the shutter-release button on his Nikon D3500 to capture the brilliant scene.

“It was pretty surreal,” he

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VOL.4 NO.27

Dan Pulcrano Executive Editor & Publisher

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DINAH’S EVENT LOG: END OF A CHAPTER

Dinah Cotton, Contributor

“March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.”

No predictions here, as March may come in like a lamb and leave like a lion.

After all, it is spring, and weather can change in a “New York minute.”

On the 9th, our clocks spring forward— some automatically and some manually.

The first day of spring is March 20. And I hope you have a gentle day.

OUT & ABOUT

ADDISON-PENZAK DANCE PARTY JCC March 9, 9am, 14855 Oka Rd. 2.5 hours of dancing, Zumba,

and U-Jam with motivational music. Dance your worries away.

PAUL MCCARTNEY’S PHOTOGRAPHY at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. March 1–July 6. HIKE WITH MIDPEN meets at Sierra Azul Preserve, March 10, 10am-1:30pm. “Following in Ohlone Footsteps at Mount Umunhum.” Docent guided. To register: sccl.bibliocommons.com/events/679d5eca1973a5f24dd06139

CINEQUEST ‘LUMINATE’ Silicon Valley film and creativity festival, March 11-23. Voted the best film festival by USA Today readers, it’s a celebration of creativity and innova -

tion with over 300,000 participants. Opening night: “The Luckiest Man in America.” Cinequest.org

THE BUTTER PADDLE a non -

profit gift store at 33 N. Santa Cruz Ave. presents “Shop for a Cause” with Romantiques and French Lessons, March 14, 12-5pm. Support local atrisk children served by Pacific Clinics.

CAFÉ AT LOS GATOS ISLAM -

IC CENTER March 19, 10-11:15am. 16769 Farley Rd. Drop by for a coffee. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOCIAL AT NESTLEDOWN For Chamber members. March 21, 1-4pm. $70 for lunch, $30 for shuttle. losgatoschamber.com

CAMPO DI BOCCE St. Patrick’s Day Celebration March 17, sold out.

KIWANIS LOS GATOS OPEN HOUSE Neverland Clubhouse behind Los Gatos High School, 1 New York Ave., 5-7:30pm.

WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOPS Presented by the Santa Clara County Fire Department. Learn how to reduce wildfire risk and better prepare your: self, home, family and your neighborhood. A two-hour presentation will be offered free-of charge.

Redwood Estates Pavilion Los Gatos April 22, 6-8pm. April22WildfirePreparedness.eventbrite.com

Saratoga Senior Center May 3, 10am-12pm. May3WildfirePreparedness.eventbrite.com

The Los Gatan’s calendar will be migrating to a new format, assisted by the CitySpark digital platform. It has been great covering the movers and shakers of Los Gatos in my log over the past year.

ORANGE GLOW Sunset over Los Gatos on Sunday.

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Rufus after 16 years of being our team member, has crossed the Rainbow bridge.

TEEN PHOTOGRAPHER FLOWN TO UK

Wildlife, from page 1

recalled, in an interview with the Los Gatan, reflecting on the weeks it took to time the ideal shot. “I had been going to that park a lot in hopes of photographing those hawks with prey, and I eventually got the opportunity.”

The photo the Los Gatos resident, now 14, took that day would go on to win him multiple honors, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year award, put on by the Natural History Museum in London, for the 11-14 year old category.

Just like so many others who picked up new hobbies during the pandemic, Pourahmad began his photographic journey just before the world went into lockdown. He fell in love with the art of freezing the action of the natural world. Eventually, it became a way to express his love of wildlife. Spending time at parks and sanctuaries, he took many photos, including his photo of

the hawk devouring its prey.

“Light and intimacy pull this photograph together,” chair of the jury Kathy Moran said in a statement posted on the Natural History Museum’s website. “The hawk and the squirrel are beautifully lit. The light feels like a spotlight; they’re so perfectly framed, and the way in which the hawk holds the squirrel feels more like an embrace than predation.”

Pourahmad picked up the camera for the first time in 2019, at the age of nine, while on vacation in Hawaii.

He remembers watching his mom snapping pictures of a cardinal.

“I asked her if I could take a few pictures,” he said. “Then, she taught me how to press the shutter button, everything like that.”

Even early on, Pourahmad was sure of his ability. He started entering competitions.

However, at first, this resulted in little success.

“I was really ambitious, probably, but I didn’t really win many awards or get published at the start,” he said. “But, I kept on getting better from there.”

After Pourahmad’s parents mentioned his hobby to his teachers, they began to give him tips.

He says he received a lot of support from two of his 5th grade teachers at Daves Avenue Elementary School.

“They encouraged me a lot from the very start,” he said. “They liked to look at my pictures and gave me tips, at the very start when I really had no idea what I was doing. That definitely helped there.”

Pourahmad’s parents took him to different locations during, and then after, the pandemic.

After four years of entering the Wildlife Photographer of the Year category, he finally got his win last year.

He’s won other accolades, too, such as the youth award and two selections in the Audubon Photography

Awards, put on by the National Audubon Society, and in the California Watchable Wildlife Contest (twice for their bi-monthly winners: in September-October 2023 and then again in March-April 2024).

Collecting the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award was particularly memorable, as Pourahmad was flown out to London for the event.

While his pictures have an effortless quality to them, he says taking pictures of animals is one of the most challenging types of photography.

“You have to find your subject, and you have to keep up with them as they move around,” he said, adding you have to be patient to snap a great wildlife photo. “I like the process of finding the animals and getting close enough to them to get good photos.”

It’s kind of like a game, Pourahmad says.

Plus, he adds, getting to spend time around wildlife makes it all worth it.

Pourahmad says he’s looking forward to entering even more competitions in the days ahead.

WINNING SHOT This photo of a Cooper’s hawk devouring a squirrel won Pourahmad the British Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Yearaward for the 11-14 year old category.

Courtesy of Parham Pourahmad

Did Blum’s comedic Los Gatan article fill a pothole?

My recent Los Gatan piece, a brief foray into levity after a series of my more usual serious columns, featured a few lines about the “Grand Canyon-sized pothole” on the Highway 17 north on-ramp.

I even mused, in my most lawabiding tone, about the legality of a DIY asphalt solution.

Lo and behold, mere days after the edition hit newsstands (or, you know, screens), the aforementioned abyss was...gone.

Coincidence? Or, did my subtle hint of rogue pothole repair send shockwaves through Town Hall? I’m picturing panicked bureaucrats, coffee sloshing, scrambling to avert a potential asphalt-wielding citizen uprising.

While the truth may forever remain shrouded in the mists of municipal efficiency, I tip my hat to the Town staff.

You’ve spared me the ignominy of becoming a blacklisted roadfiller, a felon reduced to pleading for a presidential pardon, or, worse, a gubernatorial “Good job, you fixed the road, but technically…” speech.

Consider this my official “thank you” for saving me from a life of orange cones and existential guilt.

Jeffrey

P. Blum

Los Gatan contributor

*Read his latest Guest View article on P12

Readers dismayed by change to print calendar format

Unwelcomed rumors have it that there is consideration to discontinue the column in your newspaper written by Dinah Cotton (local area “happenings”).

Not only is the column charming and delightful, the column integrates what Los Gatos is all about, particularly during these unwanted times of relentless economic and political unrest.

Our Los Gatos group (I have been a resident for over 30 years) suggest a re-think on the matter. Disavowing what we consider the highlight of our local

newspaper leaves us aghast. It’s the most interesting column in the newspaper!

We are hoping you are not immune to persuasion.

After all, we are your audience!

Herman Gill —via email

I’m writing to let you know how wonderful Dinah is and how so many people love to read her column.

Not just myself and my fellow Kiwanis members, but all different people and groups in and around Town.

She really shines as an important ambassador for the Los Gatan!

As you probably know, I am also involved with Los Gatos Thrives and she shows up at their events also—and is a staple in the community for all groups.

I am not quite sure what is happening, but I saw a comment on social media that Dinah’s Event Log may not be continued.

Please do not do that!

It makes us all feel so good to read her column and live through her experiences and fun commentary.

In fact, just a couple of weeks ago, we had some adults show up at the Trail Cleanup that I host, and I asked how they knew about it... they said that they read it in the Los Gatan!

Nancy Pearson

Los Gatos Kiwanis Club boardmember

Editor: The Los Gatan is integrating the current print events listings with the digital “CitySpark” platform we have been using for years now on LosGatan.com. You will be happy to learn that Dinah Cotton will still be curating the calendar and completing other assignments.

Head to losgatan.com/events-calendar to find upcoming activities or promote your event.

*Articles are edited for length and clarity

HWANG’S MOUNTAINTOP DOMAIN

Summit Pizza, from page 1

intrigue over the past couple years for flying North Korean flags (alongside those of other countries), and for a bright red sign that read “The great Korean people are a nation that possess 50 atomic bombs,” in white Comic Sans letters, which was posted temporarily outside.

Hwang says he fled his home country of South Korea in 1980, during a period of unrest, seeking a freer life.

At the end of the 1970s, anti-communist leader Park Chung Hee was assassinated and the country appeared to be moving in a democratic direction.

But on May 17, 1980, a military coup was led by General Chun Doohwan against the government of President Choi Kyu-hah.

“I don’t like Korean politics,” Hwang said. “They would stop you on the street if they thought you looked funny.”

Leaving a society he describes as very controlled, he seems to have arrived in America with the intention of creating community as a rebellion

against those confinements.

When Hwang came to America, he spoke almost no English. So, he studied at a language school in Mountain View for a couple years.

He worked at a Korean bank in San Francisco and eventually borrowed money to open his own video shop at Story and King roads in San Jose around 1983-1986.

With his entrepreneurial background, his rural Los Gatos address was something Hwang had his eye on for a few years.

“I was going to church in Scotts Valley in the late ’80s...As I was driving, I saw a (for) sale sign for this location,” he said, adding he purchased the business and property on Summit Road for about $800,000 in 1990.

It initially opened as Casa Del 17— an homage to the highway—but has gone through several name changes over the years.

In 2000, Hwang changed the name to Pop’s Pizza, which was meant to

Donald Trump figurine, and a poster with Trump and Kim Jong Un on it, Hwang says he actually identifies as a Democrat. The last time he voted in a US election was for Barack Obama, he adds. Hwang says he used to sell medical marijuana at this location from 20102013, but then sold the business.

According to higherherb.org, Santa Cruz Mountain Herb held a recreational and medical license to sell cannabis at the location from July 17, 2019 to July 16, 2020.

Hwang’s current plan is to retire and move to Oregon with his wife.

“Everybody has a limited life,” he said, musing on the different philanthropic approaches of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. “Steve Jobs made money and didn’t enjoy life. You make money and you give it back to the people. It’s important to enjoy life. We’re almost at the end of life now. I have three brothers, one sister and me. My three brothers have all passed away. So, it’s just me and my sister. How many more years are we alive? Who knows. So, I’m thinking everyday, How much is left of my life? Money is not important. Today, how can I spend my life? That is my goal.”

For Hwang, success is self-defined: you get back what you give.

He tells an illustrative tale of the time, in 1991, a Lincoln Continental arrived with a loose wheel.

mean grandfather, like papa. Hwang decided to switch to Kambu Pizza (“Kambu,” he says, means “friend”) last February.

“I have been here for 35 years now,” Hwang said, considering the trees across the highway that grew up in the meantime. “You could see Monterey Bay from here.”

Now, Hwang says, he’s selling the pizza shop.

Inside the Business

One of the first things you notice when you walk through the front door of Kambu Pizza is the robust security system.

It monitors when you open the door to the party room in the back and even when you reach into the fridge to grab a can of soda.

“I’ve spent $10 million of my own money on this place,” Hwang said. “We have a 65,000-gallon pump, which cost 1.5 million to put in.”

A song titled “Kambu Pizza’s Sauce is the Key to their Fame” plays in the background.

When asked about the North Korean flags on the property, Hwang said he put them up to celebrate his heritage and sense of Korean pride.

While the interior decor includes a

A woman got out and walked in, asking if he could have a look at her vehicle.

Hwang helped the traveler, who had a Motorola phone, and sent her on her way to Los Angeles.

Hwang left for Japan and promptly forgot about the whole thing.

But, a week later, he says an envelope from the Lockheed Martin defense corporation appeared in his mailbox.

Hwang recalls it was from the chairman, who wrote to say, Thank you. You saved my wife’s life. A $250 personal check was enclosed.

The response to his act of kindness reminded him that small actions can have a big impact.

What you find at this summit is a man who defined and achieved his own version of success.

Hwang still uses a flip-phone while wearing a hat with a flashlight connected to the front.

He says he sees himself as a “mountain man,” and says it’s people who have passed through his shop over the years who have made the journey worth it.

“Thank you, appreciate it,” he said.

“You stopped by my store and you made my life. And for that reason, I am happy.”

AT THE SUMMIT Hwang says he’s looking for a buyer for his shop so he can retire and move to Oregon with his wife.

CABLE Orange holds up the high-tech wire that is placed at the bottom of the ocean to facilitate international communication.

LIONS FASCINATED BY UNDERSEA MAPPING EXPERT’S TALK

Santa Cruz seafloor sounder scores a new US Navy grant

Drew Penner, Editor

The day after he received word he’d won another valuable grant from the US Navy to help America up its undersea exploration game—and a few days after meeting with Meta officials in London about their plan to lay $10 billion worth of fiber optic cable at the bottom of Earth’s oceans—“Dangerous” Dan Orange strode into the Los Gatos Lodge and began to chow down with local Lions Club members.

“Krazy” George Henderson, an 80-year-old Capitola resident, eagerly awaited the presentation from the global expert in seafloor mapping.

“I saw him speak at a function over in Santa Cruz,” he said. “It was great.” Henderson, who used to live aboard a boat, knows a thing or two about peering into the depths with sonar.

“When I’m cruising…I’m looking for rocks and stuff,” he said. “He’s got five ships.”

Henderson says he understands the geopolitical significance of undersea exploration.

“It’s critical,” he said. “Not for me, but for the Navy, and defense.”

Plus, Henderson is a pioneer of the waves himself.

He’s credited as the professional cheerleader who invented “the wave,” which occurs with human arms in the stands at sporting events.

Orange is known to many in the region—as “Dangerous Dan”—for his folksy and informative contributions to the Friday morning KZSC radio show The Bushwhacker’s Breakfast Club.

And after the Lions discussed dues and plans for assisting with St. Patrick’s Day festivities at Campo Di Bocce, it was time for Orange to blitz through a vast quantity of data about the digital technology horizon.

Orange, who lives over the hill in

Orange echoed a main petroleum industry talking point—that cheap hydrocarbons have lifted most of the world out of poverty over the last century or so—but also said undersea mapping can help make the case for alternative energy production.

“What I’m doing is I’m over-sampling,” he said, revealing how he’s capable of finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. “I am successfully imaging something that’s 18 inches in diameter.”

The Lions were quite taken with the thimble-sized styrofoam cups with scribbling on them that decorated the round tables.

“Every 30 feet you go down, you go up one atmosphere,” Orange said, explaining how they miniaturized. “I have been down 13,000 feet.”

One eager listener asked just how vulnerable the cables are.

Orange replied that, despite a State Department pronouncement that two of the most recent undersea cable breaks in the Baltic Sea were “not the result of nefarious actors,” based on his conversations with top subsurface minds the prior week, “not everyone is convinced.”

In response to a question from this reporter, Orange confirmed he has yet to discover Atlantis, or anything of that nature.

“No aliens,” he said.

Phil Knopf, 82, a Los Gatos Lion, found the luncheon fascinating.

“He really knows stuff,” he said.

Santa Cruz, made his first appearance in front of the Silicon Valley service club weeks earlier, and returned armed with responses to questions sparked by the first talk.

Despite the complexity of the subject matter—about our fiber optic future, facing off with nation-state adversaries and how to find oil at sea—the older audience appeared to soak in the speakers’ words like sponges mopping up a spill.

He talked of the “transducer” and “receiver,” the “backscatter anomaly” and the “spaghetti survey.”

At one point, Orange showed a slide with a colorful blotch that stood out from the rest of the chart.

“This is how you de-risk a frontier basin,” he said. “When we go into these anomalies, we get a lot of oil. When you go away from it, you don’t get much.”

He brought up facts that downplayed the impact of wind farms on bird populations and distributed a chart that depicts the web of influence the Koch brothers can use to spread disinformation.

John Lochner, a two-time mayor of Los Gatos, said he also enjoyed it, though he admitted it went a little deeper than he could totally follow.

“I didn’t understand a lot of it, but it was very interesting and informative,” he said.

Farzon Almaneih, the founder and CEO of Los Gatos-based IT company One82, said he was surprised at just how much information the group seemed to take in.

“I was really impressed, I was taking stock in the audience,” said Almaneih, whose company previously contracted for Space Systems/Loral, now a part of Maxar Technologies. “I don’t know very much about the Lions, but that was pretty technical information…I did feel like I was in the room with a lot of really smart people.”

Orange confirmed he has been tapped to continue modernizing the US Navy's Office of Naval Research’s Auxiliary General Oceanographic Research (AGOR) vessels with the newest generation of subsea sight tech.

THE

SPORTS

’CATS ARE BACK ON TOP, WIN CCS TITLE

Los Gatos overwhelms M-A for 15th straight victory

Emanuel Lee, Sports Editor

The Los Gatos High School girls basketball team went 3-7 in the nonleague portion of its schedule, a byproduct of facing a Murders’ Row of powerhouse opponents.

Was coach Sara Quilici Giles worried? Hardly.

Now we know why.

After the slow start, the Wildcats ripped off a 15-game winning streak spanning the regular-season and Central Coast Section playoffs, climaxing in a 42-30 win over Menlo-Atherton in the

Division I championship game March 1 at Mission College in Santa Clara.

Los Gatos (19-8) received the No. 12 seed in the CIF State Division II NorCal Tournament and plays at No. 5 seed California of San Ramon on March 4. Quilici Giles also led the Wildcats to a CCS D-I title in 2022 only to see the team go a combined 1-5 in the stacked Open Division the last two years.

That’s what made their latest CCS championship all the more rewarding.

“It’s so special,” Quilici Giles said. “Especially for the seniors, because they won CCS when they were freshmen, and the last two years we’ve been

in the Open Division and it’s just been so hard. The Open Division is tough, and you get there as a public school and you’re not expected to win…But to be back in D-I, it felt really good to be back with the public schools and to prove how much better we’ve gotten the last three years.”

The outcome of the Menlo-Atherton game was essentially decided in the first quarter, the Wildcats’ best 8-minute stretch all season. They jumped out to a 15-2 lead and never was seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Sure, M-A did cut the deficit to six points on two occasions in the fourth quarter, but each time Los Gatos answered with a bucket of its own.

“I think in years past maybe if the other team was coming back, we would’ve gotten rattled and let it get to us,” Quilici Giles said. “But I think we

took a deep breath and realized, No, we’ve got this. We’re really battle tested and we’ve dealt with a lot of adversity.” Ashley Childers had 15 points and Rita Zhou scored all 10 of her points in the first half. Nicole Steiner had a tremendous all-around game, finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Childers, a Cornell University-signee, also had four steals. Zhou had the hot hand early, banking in a 3-pointer and following that up with a layup to close the first quarter. Steiner, a Cal State Fullerton-signee, controlled the paint area with her decisive size advantage. Four of the five Los Gatos starters are seniors and Lola Cuevas—a junior—has been on the varsity squad since her sophomore year.

The veteran group didn’t panic

ON TOP The Los Gatos High School girls basketball team celebrates after a 42-30 win over Menlo-Atherton in the Central Coast Section Division I championship game March 1 at Mission College.

SOFTBALL SEASON

HELD OPENING DAY

SATURDAY

Girls looks forward to “Magic” moments

Mike Garcia, Contributor

The Los Gatos Saratoga Girls Softball Association, a volunteer-based nonprofit softball league, held its opening day on Saturday.

The season, which goes until October, features participants from across the wider Los Gatos community. The competitive fastpitch tournament team is called the “Magic.”

Practices occur multiple times a week, and some games happen outside the local area, such as in Napa, San Luis Obispo and Lake Tahoe.

Family members of the players often volunteer doing field prep and helping with the snack bar.

Dr. Lindsay Huston was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremonies. She played for the Magic as a kid and went on to become a UC Berkeley head team physician.

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CARING Softball isn’t all about winning.

BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH…FOR A BLOOD DRIVE!

Let’s not despair. Let’s care.

Jeffrey P. Blum , Contributor

Julius Caesar, a name synonymous with power, ambition and—ultimately—betrayal, met his fate on the Ides of March. While we remember this date for the fall of a Roman emperor, the Ides of March also offers us a chance to rise to a different kind of power: the power to save lives. This March 15, the Rotary Clubs of Los Gatos and the Red Cross are joining forces to host a vital blood drive. Unlike Caesar’s demise, this Ides of March promises a life-giving legacy.

Caesar’s story is one of dramatic highs and tragic lows. He was a brilliant military strategist, a shrewd politician, and a charismatic leader who transformed the Roman Republic. His reforms, including the Julian calendar, still resonate today. But his ambition ultimately led to his downfall. On that fateful Ides of March, a group of senators, fearing his growing power, ended his reign with a flurry of daggers. Shakespeare immortalized the soothsayer’s warning, “Beware the Ides of March,” forever linking the date with treachery and ill fortune.

But what if we could rewrite the narrative of the Ides of March? What if, instead of a symbol of death, it became a symbol of life? This year, we can do just that. While Caesar’s story reminds us of the fragility of power, it also underscores the importance of community and the collective good. Just as the senators acted (albeit perhaps misguidedly) in what they believed was the best interest of the Republic, we too can act to protect and preserve life.

And speaking of preservation, let’s talk about blood—the essential fluid that carries oxygen and nutrients to our cells. It’s something we often take for granted, but for those who have lost blood due to injury or illness, it’s a precious and often scarce resource. This is where you come in. By donating blood, you can become a modern-day hero, a lifesaver in the truest sense of the word.

One pint of blood can save up to three lives. Your single act of generosi-

DONATIONS NEEDED A blood drive will be held at St Luke’s Episcopal Church on March 15 from 8am-2pm.

ty can have a ripple effect, touching the lives of multiple people and their families. It can mean the difference between life and death for someone in need. It can mean a second chance for a child battling a serious illness. It can mean hope for a family facing a medical crisis.

This Ides of March, let’s transform a day associated with loss into a day of giving. Let’s replace the image of a fallen leader with the image of a community united in compassion. Let’s trade fear and uncertainty for hope and healing.

You might be thinking, I’m busy. I don’t have time to donate blood. But consider this: Caesar, despite his immense power and responsibilities, met his end in a fleeting moment. We never know what the future holds. Taking an hour or two out of your day to donate blood is a small sacrifice that can make an immeasurable difference. It’s a way to invest in the future, to ensure that life-saving resources are available to those in need.

And while we’re on the subject of Roman connections, did you know that the seemingly classic Caesar salad has a surprisingly recent origin? It wasn’t created by Roman emperors or served in ancient banquets. In fact, it was invented in the 1920s by a resourceful Italian chef named Caesar Cardini in Tijuana, Mexico. Facing a shortage of ingredients, he whipped up a culinary masterpiece using what he had on hand: romaine lettuce, eggs, croutons, Parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce. Anchovies ( yech! ) came later. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Caesar salad is a testament to creativity and resourcefulness. It reminds us that even from humble beginnings, something extraordinary can emerge. And just like the Caesar salad, your blood donation can be a simple act with extraordinary consequences.

So, this Ides of March rise to a different kind of power. Rise to the occa-

sion and donate blood. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Be a hero. Be a lifesaver. Be a part of something bigger than yourself.

Register today for the blood drive, to be held at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, located at 20 University Ave. in Los Gatos, March 15, 8am-2pm. To sign up, go to redcrossblood.org and search for “Los Gatos Rotary.”

CORRECTION

Last week’s sports round-up story incorrectly stated the number of wrestlers who qualified for the CCS State competition.

There were, in fact, 10 students who earned the right to go. We regret the error.

FIERCE Wildcats sophomore Sophie Riese is all determination as she battles for a rebound between two M-A players in the CCS D-I title contest on March 1.

WRESTLING RESULTS

Sports, from page 10

when M-A made things a bit interesting in the second half.

“ They’re just so seasoned,” Quilici Giles said. “They’ve been in a lot of close games and they know what they’re capable of. This year we’ve been working on a lot of mental composure.”

Quilici Giles credited the players’ intensity as one of the keys to victory.

“I think our bench energy was absolutely fantastic for the entire game and we really needed it,” she said. “We know, when we have strong starts, we usually win the game.”

Wrestling

The Wildcats’ top two wrestlers medaled in the CIF State Championships March 1 at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Senior Dylan Pile defeated Clovis’ Adrien Reyes 10-3 in the third-place match at 175 pounds. Pile lost a 12-8 decision to Pitman’s Mason Ontiveros in the championship semifinals before rebounding with two convincing victories to secure a third-place finish.

Meanwhile, junior Antonio Rodriguez beat Valencia’s Slater Hicks 5-0 in the fifth-place match at 126 pounds. Rodriguez lost to eventual state champion Isaiah Cortez by a razor-thin score of 4-3 in the championship semifinals, knocking him to the consolation semifinals. A matchup with two-time state champion Ronnie Ramirez resulted in a narrow 4-2 decision defeat, placing Rodriguez in the fifth-place match.

Fictitious Business Name Statements

File Number: FBN713358 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: KIDDIE ACADEMY OF CAMPBELL - SAN JOSE , 1522 S. Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, SILICON VALLEY EARLY EDUCATION LLC, 5175 Sunny Creek Dr, San Jose, CA 95135. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Not Applicable and 01/31/2025 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Patty Camarena /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. SILICON VALLEY EARLY EDUCATION LLC /s/ Richard Kowalczyk /s/ Managing Member. Article/Reg # 202463518018, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. (Pub LGN: 02/12, 02/19, 02/26, 03/05/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #712731

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Ghien Hu Tieu Nam Vang, 1818 Tully RD STE 110, San Jose, CA, 95122, Ton Dynasty LLC. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Above entity was formed in the state of California. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 01/14/2025. /s/Thu Ton. Member. #202565218096. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 01/14/2025. (pub LG 02/12, 02/19, 02/26, 03/05/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #712730

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Quan Hue Restaurant, 1818 Tully Rd STE 116, San Jose, CA, 95122, Ton Dynasty LLC. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Above entity was formed in the state of California. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 01/14/2025. /s/Dung Ton. Member. #202565218096. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 01/14/2025. (pub LG 02/12, 02/19, 02/26, 03/05/2025)

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME #713148

The following person(s) / registrant(s) has / have abandoned the use of the fictitious business name(s): Bedolla Salon, 74 A Race St., San Jose, CA, 95126, Bedolla Salon, Inc. Filed in the Santa Clara County on 03/11/2020. under file No. 664578. This business was conducted by: A Corporation. Filed on 01/27/2025. /s/Tamie Qua, CEO. (pub dates: (Metro 02/12, 02/19, 02/26, 03/05/2025)

File Number: FBN713295. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: TAKE IT OUTDOORS LIFE AND WELLNESS, 162 Harrison Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, TAKE IT OUTDOORS LIFE AND WELLNESS LLC, 162 Harrison Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/01/2025 and 01/30/2025 is the file date. Statement filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara: /s/ Fraulein Dominguez /s/ Deputy, 110 West Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134. TAKE IT OUTDOORS LIFE AND WELLNESS LLC /s/ Elza Lee Hickinbotham Jr. /s/ Owner. Article/Reg # 202464612655, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. (Pub LGN: 02/12, 02/19, 02/26, 03/05/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #713395

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: PMI Willow Glen, 4414 Stone Canyon Drive, San Jose, CA, 95136. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Above entity was formed in the state of California. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/ Nabeel William Khashan. President. #6454803 This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/03/2025. (pub LG 02/19, 02/26, 03/05, 03/12/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #712850

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Vietnamese-American Communities Charity Inc.,

PUBLIC NOTICES

5779 Southpine Drive, San Jose, CA, 95138. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Above entity was formed in the state of California. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 01/01/2025. /s/Brandon Doan. President. #6497987. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 01/17/2025. (pub LG 02/19, 02/26, 03/05, 03/12/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #713758

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Massage By Me, 3199 S. Bascom Avenue, Campbell, CA, 95008, Pearl Pie Garret. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 02/14/2025. /s/Pearl P. Garret. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/14/2025. (pub LG 02/19, 02/26, 03/05, 03/12/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #713714

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Mochiholic.Milpitas, 1535 Landess Ave., #147, Milpitas, CA, 95035, GL USA, Inc. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Registrant has not begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Fu Cheun Fung. Vice President. #C6460738. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/12/2025.(pub LG 02/26, 03/05, 03/12, 03/19/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #713580

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Lulu And Lavender, 1574 Monteval Lane, San Jose, CA, 95120, Laura Gayle Taylor. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant has not yet began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Laura Gayle Taylor. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/10/2025. (pub LG 02/26, 03/05, 03/12, 03/19/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #713899

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Velvet Head Spa, 1961 Rivermark Prwy, Santa Clara, CA, 94054, Velvet Group Inc. This business is being conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 01/01/2025. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Phung Tran. Owner. #6567344. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/20/2025. (pub LG 02/26, 03/05, 03/12, 03/19/2025)

File Number: FBN713910. The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: 1. AA ADVISORY CA, 2. ATLAS BAKERY & MORE , 67 Fairview Plz Apt 5, Los Gatos, CA 95030. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, ATLAS ARYA LLC, 67 Fairview Plz Apt 5, Los Gatos, CA 95030. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 10/18/2024 and 02/21/2025 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. Atlas Arya LLC, Article/Reg # 202464217372, Above Entity was Formed in the State of California. /s/ Mustafa Yanarkaya /s/ Managing Menmber. (Pub LGN: 02/26, 03/05, 03/12, 03/19/2025)

File Number: FBN713828 . The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: C28 Folsom 14830 Los Gatos Blvd. Ste. 201, Los Gatos, CA 95032. This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company, Cilker 08 Folsom LLC, 14830 Los Gatos Blvd. Ste. 201, Los Gatos, CA 95032. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 01/01/2025

legals@losgatan.com

and 02/19/2025 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. Cilker 08 Folsom, LLC, Article/Reg # 202565714484, Above Entity was Formed in the State of CA. /s/ Keyston Smith /s/ President of Manager (Pub LGN: 02/26, 03/05, 03/12, 03/19/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #713396

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Lunardi Moving Services And Storage LLC, 1670 S. 7th Street, San Jose, CA, 95112. This business is being conducted by a Limited Liability Company. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 01/01/2023. Above entity was formed in the state of California. /s/Fabricio Lunardi. Owner. #202108310735. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/03/2025/2023. (pub LG 02/26, 03/05, 03/12, 03/19/2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #712795

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Bay Area Design And Wear, 1850 Norseman Drive, San Jose, CA, 95133, Miguel Angel Hernandez Juarez. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 01/01/2025. /s/Miguel Angel Hernandez Juarez. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 01/16/2025. (pub LG 02/26, 03/05, 03/12, 03/19/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #713508

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Vuelo Barber Studios, 7787 Suite A Monterey St., Gilroy, CA, 95020, Reyly Alvarado. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 02/06/2025. /s/Reyly Alvarado. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/06/2025. (pub LG 03/05, 03/12, 03/19, 03/26/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #714041

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Derma Corrections, 2986 Meridian Ave., San Jose, CA, 95124, Vanessa Christine Loque. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/Vanessa C Loque. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/25/2025. (pub Metro 03/05, 03/12, 03/19, 03/26/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #713999

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Pro Realty, 18312 Swarthmore Drive, Saratoga, CA, 95070, Monte Tajik. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant has not yet begun business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. /s/ Monte Tajik. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/24/2025. (pub LG 03/05, 03/12, 03/19, 03/26/2025)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT #713856

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Hayden Isaac’s Media, 136 Magneson Terrace, Los Gatos, CA, 95032, Hayden Taylor Isaacs. This business is being conducted by an Individual. Registrant began business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on 02/19/2025. /s/Hayden Isaacs. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Clara County on 02/19/2025. (pub LG 02/26, 03/05, 03/12, 03/19/2025