A couple of days ago, I did a post on how you can cut down on your junk mail and junk phone calls. But did you ever wonder how these people even know to call you? (My husband always tells me to NOT enter contests with my personal info - he's convinced that's one way that my info gets "out there".) But I love a good contest....
One site you should check out is Zaba Search. I mention this because it will wake you up if you "Zaba" your own name and see what exactly is "out there". Go on, try it. Visit www.ZabaSearch.com and type in your own name. Do you live in Los Gatos? There's a good chance your home address is right there for all to see.
See what I mean? Scary, isn't it? If you have ever had a listed address, it's in there. If you have owned property and recorded it in your own name (rather than in the name of a trust), it's in there.
What can you do? I'm not a privacy expert but there are a few things I've learned. If you have any kind of a license from the state (whether you live in California or elsewhere), your address is listed somewhere on the web. Assuming that some people are nuts and others may be mean (though 99% are very decent and kind), do NOT list your personal residence on your license. I don't care if you're a doctor, lawyer, real estate salesperson, insurance salesperson or anyone else
with a license. Either use your work address or get a PO Box if you have to. If it's on your license, it's public!
Also - do not list your home address in the phone book. That may seem obvious but I took ours out when someone unexpectedly showed up on our doorstep from out of state.I love being hospitable, but I DO want to know they're coing. Keep your address out of the phone book.
And if you do buy propery (house, condo, or other real estate), if privacy is really important to you, see an attorney and talk about having a trust with the property's name in the trust. Your name could be Sally Smith and you could set up a trust with a fictitious name, as I understand it, such as "The Crosby Family Trust" or the "John Smith Family Trust". That way you could - I think - have property without your real name being attached to it. This might be a really good idea if you had a sensitive job (criminal attorney, CIA/NSA/FBI employee, etc.) I have not had any of my Silicon Valley buyer clients do this to my knowledge - but I do know it is something to consider for folks with extra safety worries.
Meanwhile, Zaba yourself. You might be surprised at what you read!
When people hear the phrase "the wild west", Los Gatos doesn't tend to be the first thing to pop to mind. But truth be told, this was the wild west, complete with horse theiving, bandits of every kind, grizzly bear attacks, scary stagecoach rides, the danger of fire with only a bucket brigade, and every other advantage and disadvantage you can imagine in the 1800s.
Transportation was a challenge back then. The road to Santa Cruz was dirt, narrow, and frought with danger. Hairpin turns could be lethal if another stagecoach was coming your way and you didn't hear it in time. Just as now you might toot your horn on a narrow, blind mountain turn, the stagecoach drivers would use a loud whistle to announce their presence to avoid catastrophe.
One of the teamsters who ran the stage between Los Gatos and Santa Cruz was a character named Charley Parkhurst ("Parkie"). Initially hailing from the east coast, Charley was an exceptionally adept driver. Having survived a grizzly bear attack but losing an eye in the process, Charley sported a black patch over the empty socket. Rough times! For about 20 years, Parkie or "one eyed Charley", traversed the hill (from about 1854 to about 1874). Charley eventually had to slow down and retire to his home in Aptos. There he died in late 1879.
That's when the surprise came: it was discovered that he was actually a she! Apparently an orphan, Charlotte escaped the orphanage dressed as a boy...and simply continued on that way.
Interesting fact about this colorful figure:
Charley Parkhurst voted on November 3, 1868 when Ulysses Grant was running for president of the United States. This makes her the first woman to have voted both in the state of California or anywhere in the US
Charley Parkhurst is sometimes confused with "Mountain Charley" (Charles McKiernan), who also suffered the wrath of a grizzley. But they are not the same people - they just happened to both live and work nearby during the same timeframe.
The Los Gatos Observer published an article a few hours ago that town residents, especially those "in the school district", should read: State Report Criticizes Los Gatos School District. This article outlines a highly disturbing and extremely surprising situation involving waste and fiscal irresponsibility. Los Gatos are very involved in their schools and many donate cash as well as time. This is sure to be upsetting news.
Quick reminder that trucks spraying (or "fogging") for mosquito abatement to prevent the spread of West Nile Virus begins tonight at 11pm and will be finished before 5am in part of Los Gatos (north of Blossom Hill Road). More information can be found on the town's website.
NB for those in a hurry, how to vote info is at the bottom of this post.
Back in November, this blog was launched as a place to discuss living in Los Gatos - its events, parks, vistas, lifestyle, history...and even a few posts on the town's haunted places, for instance. Little did this novice blogger know that come April, the web log would have a national audience as it was evolving under the auspices of Frances Flynn Thorsen (managing editor of Real Town, where this blog is hosted) and the Project Blogger Contest. In a nutshell, there are 12 pairs of contestants (one mentor - Fran is mine - and one apprentice - your humble servant). The winning team gets to assign $5000 to charity and Fran and I will have it go to CARE if we win.
How do the winners get chosen?It's two components: weekly judging plus the popular vote. The contest ran 14 long weeks, April 9 - July 15. Each week is judged and so far, 12 of the weeks have been done and we are in the lead. Two weeks are outstanding, and so is the PUBLIC VOTING. (There was a prior voting attempt but it had to be thrown out.) Voting counts for 15% of the overall score.
Do you like this Live in Los Gatos blog? If so, I would like to invite you to consider taking a few minutes and casting a vote for Fran and me!
(1) please select your blogger team
(2) email your vote to: vote@activerain.com.
(3) for the vote to be count it must include your first & last name plus phone number you can be reached at for verification.
(4) the deadline for votes is Friday July 27 at Midnight PDT. "
Fran and I would be most grateful if you liked our work enough to endorse it by emailing the gents at Active Rain with a vote for Frances Flynn Thorsen and Mary Pope-Handy
Feeling like you're getting pushed a little too much by folks intruding by phone or mail? Flex your power a little. Here are a few tips that I think you might find helpful to cut down on various kinds of intrusions, whether you live in Los Gatos, San Jose, or anywhere else in the U.S.:
To take yourself off pre-approved credit card mailings: 888-567-8688
A few caveats:
These three cut down, but don't eliminate calls, ads in the mail, entirely. There are a few caveats. The "do not call" list has two exempt groups: charities and politicians. The latter group drives me nuts. My husband and I are both pretty centrist in our views but happen to be registered with different parties. So we get every automated call from every top-level politician imaginable. Last time around, our daughter picked up the call and it was the governator. For weeks she was walking around the house saying, "Hello, this is Ahnowled Svartzeenagger..." Another time my son got the call and I picked up, not knowing he was there on the line already. I heard, "Mom, I'm having a private conversation with Nancy Pelosi". I wish we could "do not call" these guys, but they made themselves exempt.
Second, the Remove from Carrier-Sort Mail will not eliminate all ads (postcards, flyers etc.) but only those sent by bulk mail. Being a Realtor, I have not signed up for this because I want to see what other real estate agents (my competition) are up to!
Third, the removal of the pre-approved credit card mailings I think is VERY important because of the risk of identity theft (others stealing these offers from your mailbox and applying "for" you, only to take the money and run). When you call, you MUST give your social security number (or if there are two of you who qualify in your home, both call and request separately). I believe it's good for about 5 years.
Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus were found recently on the Cambrian-Los Gatos Border. In response, parts of San Jose and Los Gatosare scheduled to be fogged this Wednesday, July 25. A community information meeting will be held tomorrow, Monday, July 23rd at 6:30pm (to 8:30pm) at the Santa Clara County Vector Control District (directions).
A blog about Los Gatos real estate, homes, houses, condos, townhomes, housing market, neightborhoods, history, events, businesses, parks, schools, photos, issues, and lifestyle.
Mary Pope-Handy
Realtor, CRS, ABR, SRES, E-PRO
Luxor Real Estate Group
Mailing Address for Mary: PO Box 440 Los Gatos, CA 95031-0440
877 397-5391 (office/toll-free)
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One site you should check out is Zaba Search. I mention this because it will wake you up if you "Zaba" your own name and see what exactly is "out there". Go on, try it. Visit 
One of the teamsters who ran the stage between Los Gatos and Santa Cruz was a character named Charley Parkhurst ("Parkie"). Initially hailing from the east coast, Charley was an exceptionally adept driver. Having survived a grizzly bear attack but losing an eye in the process, Charley sported a black patch over the empty socket. Rough times! For about 20 years, Parkie or "one eyed Charley", traversed the hill (from about 1854 to about 1874). Charley eventually had to slow down and retire to his home in Aptos. There he died in late 1879. .jpg)
NB for those in a hurry, how to vote info is at the bottom of this post.
Feeling like you're getting pushed a little too much by folks intruding by phone or mail? Flex your power a little. Here are a few tips that I think you might find helpful to cut down on various kinds of intrusions, whether you live in Los Gatos, San Jose, or anywhere else in the U.S.:
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