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News cycles spin with relentless negativity, bombarding us with stories of conflict, division and environmental woes. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the volume of problems the world faces. Sometimes, the most tempting response is to bury our heads in the sand, hoping the...

Every town has its sayings, little nuggets of wisdom, humor or caution, passed down through generations. In Los Gatos, a town with a personality as distinctive as its name, the sayings we use can reveal a lot about our culture, our humor, and even...

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...

Next to picking a college, picking a college major can be the most important and nerve-wracking decision facing a young person. Unfortunately, students often fail to recognize that a good education is about more than just the degree; it’s about exploring multiple disciplines, ​finding...

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...

Here goes my reputation, such as it is, as a hardnosed, take-no-prisoners divorce attorney. Truth be told, I never actually had that type of reputation, nor did I ever aspire to have it. In my line of work, you see enough conflict to last...

As I move through my senior years in semi-retirement mode, I share jokes about ailments and commiserate with fellow old timers about lost loved ones. At the same time, I apply myself to my job as a commissioner on the Community Health and Senior...

I aim for humor in my Los Gatan columns. The kind that elicits a chuckle, maybe a snort, not the kind that has readers questioning my grip on reality (though, fair point, the jury is deliberating on that one). Of course, I also try...

If you drove down Los Gatos-Saratoga Road this morning and felt a strange, existential chill, as if a beloved landmark had been quietly snatched in the night, you aren't alone. The horizon is flatter, the colors are duller, and the “Gateway to the Mountains”...

Contributor Jeffrey P. Blum is a family law mediator. Robert Greene’s book “The 48 Laws of Power” instructs us to never criticize our boss. Avoiding criticizing your boss is important for maintaining your position and gaining favor. Criticisms can be perceived as a challenge to...