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There is something fitting about spending my year of “lasts” grappling with so many “firsts.” My fellow seniors and I have already started counting down: our last-first day, our last spirit rally and many more lasts to come. Yet, surprisingly, my final year in...

After more than a decade of matched, monochrome interiors, decorating across the country is turning in another direction. Rooms are becoming layered again: mixed wood tones, inherited furniture beside newer pieces, patterned textiles, natural materials and objects collected over time. In Los Gatos and Saratoga,...

Last month, I had a front-row seat to the bravery of our first responders. I joined the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department (LGMSPD) for what was to be a routine evening ride-along. The officer I was riding with said we were going to do some...

By Jeffrey P. Blum, Contributor When you walk down North Santa Cruz Avenue, it is easy to feel insulated from the harsher realities of Silicon Valley. But every so often, the contrast hits close to home. You might see an unhoused neighbor pushing a shopping...

Like many municipalities, the Town of Los Gatos constantly wrestles with how to manage a complex, high-stakes legal landscape without draining public coffers. As State mandates on housing tighten, and land-use and California Environmental Quality Act issues become more prevalent, the cost of legal counsel...

Seniors make up roughly 14% to 15% of Santa Clara County's current population, but a massive demographic shift is underway. Projections show older adults aged 60+ will account for over 25% of the county's total population by 2030 and could reach 30% by 2060. Roughly...

If you open tourist brochures for Los Gatos, you are likely to see the historic Town Plaza, a Victorian porch in the Almond Grove district, or a parade of shoppers on North Santa Cruz Avenue. It is a highly cultivated, frozen image. However, while downtown...

On Memorial Day weekend in 2003, after attending a convention, my husband Carman L. Smith and I toured our nation’s capital. My last visit was in 1962 a brief one at the White House graciously hosted by then President John Kennedy for young Red...

What Is happiness? Everyday terms: Happiness is feeling joyful, content or satisfied with life. It includes small pleasures as well as a deeper sense of meaning and fulfillment. Psychological perspective: Psychologists define happiness as subjective well-being—a combination of positive emotions, life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. It...

Who’s ready for a day at the races? The legendary Annual Zucchini Car Races are making a comeback. They’re scheduled to return to the Los Gatos Farmers’ Market Sunday, June 21.  Landing on Father’s Day, this will be a fun way to bond with...