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The Los Gatos Observer was the first to break the news that yesterday, just before noon, a man was killed at a townhome complex (Rancho de Los Gatos) on Overlook Drive, which is walking distance to downtown Los Gatos. Within a few hours, other news sources picked up on the story and we learned that the victim was a former bar tender and bar owner, the much beloved Mark Achilli.
Apparently a man dressed all in black had been hanging around this normally sleepy neighborhood for a few hours. He shot Mr. Achilli at close range with a number of bullets. Experts believe this is not a random shooting.
Right now, there are more questions than answers. Police are seeking any information. Please call (408) 354-8600 if you can help with this case. The suspect is still at large.
Mark Achilli is a former owner of Mountain Charley's Saloon and 180 Degree Restaurant and Lounge, and prior to that was a bartender at Carry Nation's - all three in Los Gatos.
Crime in Los Gatos
Los Gatos enjoys a very, very low crime rate, so this is particularly shocking for the townsfolk. The type of crime found here can be read in the local papers or online, and usually consists of things like drunk in public, domestic dispute, theft (often from or of autos), burglary, and so on. More serious offenses include rape, drunk driving and assault - but they are not too common.
A visit to CrimeReports.com enables the visitor to plug in the address and see, on a map, the types of crime there. You can see for yourself that this murder is an abberation for the otherwise ultra-safe part of Silicon Valley.
Link to CrimeReports.com's page for 18400 Overlook Road, Los Gatos, CA 95030
The police has a volunteer group, Volunteers in Policing, and these 150 or so goodly folks assist in a lot of ways around the town. Residents here experience good rapport with the police as well and it's hoped that together, we can assist our peace officers in solving this crime, bringing answers to Mark Achilli's loved ones, and again making our town peaceful and safe. If you know anything that might assist in this investigation, please call the police at (408) 354-8600, or phone the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Tip Line at (408) 399-7531.
For more on the investigation of this crime, please see these articles in the Los Gatos Observer: Los Gatos Police Investigate Shooting
Los Gatos Police Seek Murder Suspect
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.jpg) St. Patrick's Day is being celebrated in Los Gatos over a period of days, so everyone will have an ample opportunity to wear the green and enjoy the fun! Below please find a list of fun places to visit to partake:
Sunday, March 16th: C.B. Hannegan's, located at 208 Bachman Avenue in downtown Los Gatos (close to N. Santa Cruz Avenue and the Bank of America). Hannegan's always overflows with patrons for this feast, so they are celebrating a day early to be able to use the B of A parking lot. Visit their website for information on their St. Patrick's Day celebration
The Los Gatos Brewing Company, found at 130-G N. Santa Cruz Avenue (near Wells Fargo Bank in downtown Los Gatos) is offering a special menu both 3/16 and 3/17. You can always count on them to celebrate all the holidays!
Monday, March 17th: The Boulevard Tavern, located at 15043 Los Gatos Boulevard (near Lark Avenue, between Lark and Highway 85), honors the patron saint of Ireland with green beer, free corned beef & cabbage (I've been to Ireland and just have to add that I've never met an Irish person who actually eats corned beef and cabbage), Irish music, and all around fun. No cover charge. They don't appear to have a website, but their phone number is 408 358-0774.
Number One Broadway, which is actually not ON Broadway but instead at 102 B. South Santa Cruz Ave. (near the intersection with Broadway) will be open with a DJ and dancing.
What's the Hulabaloo Over St. Patrick's Day This Year?
The celebration of St.Patrick's day, with all of its secular aspects, is rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition of honoring a saint on his or her feast day. St. Patrick, who was actually not Irish himself (that's a long story!), brought the Christian faith to the emerald isle and now is its patron saint. Because this holy man died on March 17th (year disputed), that's when he's honored in the church. (So the celebration doesn't normally move around as other feast days do which are dependent on a lunar or solar calendar.) In many cities today, Mass preceeds the parade - though not in all places where a parade is held.
Every once in awhile, there's a "liturgical conflict". That means that one religious observance basically steps on another - often because one thing is based on the fixed date and the other on a moving calendar. So, for instance, during the penitential season of Lent, Catholics abstain from meat on Fridays. Sometimes, though, St. Patrick's Day will fall on a Friday in Lent. The local bishop usually gives a dispensation (think of it like a free pass) and the feast day basically takes precedence.
Unfortunately, this year, St. Patrick's Day actually falls during Holy Week (the week which begins with Palm Sunday and goes through the triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday prior to Easter Sunday). This is a very solemn week for all Christians, Catholics included. The Pope and the Bishops feel that feasts are not appropriate for Holy Week.
So there's the dilemma: we have an important feast which, like Christmas, has both religious and secular aspects to it. In some places, the observance of the religious aspect was moved rather than dropped (in Savannah, they moved it to Friday the 14th).
Getting less press, but along the same lines is the Solemnity of St. Joseph. This is a huge feast day in Italy and I believe the tradition is still strong to have a feast in one's home and invite the homeless in - at least that's what friends of mine in Sicily tell me. St. Joseph is the Patron of this Diocese and, as Mary's husband, is very important in the Church. St. Patrick's Day pretty much got dropped from the calendar here in the Diocese of San Jose this year, but the Solemnity of Joseph got moved from March 19th (same problem - Holy Week) to today, March 15th.
There's been a lot of uproar over St Patrick's Day being dropped religiously all over the country. It hasn't stopped the secular celebrations, though. I wonder if there's an equal fuss being made over the patron of homes (and of real estate), St. Joseph?
Luckily we won't see this calendar problem again for 50 or more years. May all our problems be so small!
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Date: Feb. 19, 2008
Tags: Los Gatos, Bicycle Club, Bicycle Race, Hill, Sugarcrm, Steep Hill, Nicholson, Anniversary Celebration, Almond Grove District, Fun Stuff In Los Gatos
If you took Driver's Ed in Saratoga or Los Gatos, you were probably made to park on the steepest hill around - Nicholson Avenue. Positively frightening! But local bicycle enthusiasts take on Nicholson not with motor vehicles, but on their bikes in a race that has become a Los Gatos classic - the Cat's Hill Classic. A Belwood area neighbor of mine asked me to help get the word out on this fantastic and fun event, so below please find their announcement.
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Date : Saturday - May 3, 2008
Time : Registration booth opens at 8:30 AM and closes 15 min. prior to each race.
Directions : HWY 17/880 south from San Jose. Take the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno (Hwy 9) Exit. Turn left on N. Santa Cruz Avenue. Go three blocks to Nicholson. Turn right to the start/finish.
Parking: Racers and visitors, please do not park in any merchant lots!! Use the Park & Ride lot north of Highway 9 and street parking out side of the course. Free bike parking is available at the corner of Tait and Bachman.
Course: Same course as always. Tait-Bean-Massol-Nicholson/Ellenwood-Belmont-Bachman-Tait, clockwise one-mile loop with the Start/Finish line at Tait and Nicholson. One very steep climb (23%), five 90o right turns and one 90 degree left turn. Rough pavement! Free lap rule applies; bring your own (strong) wheels.
Registration :Registration will be available (via www.catshill.org) on www.sportsbaseonline.com. A $5 fee will be charged after April 26 and on the day of the race. SugarCRM Breakaway Series T-shirts available for $10 on race day. A current USCF license must be presented at registration (one-day or annual USCF licenses may be purchased at registration). For additional information email catshillclassic@gmail.com.
Kids Race: Registration for the kid's race opens at 8:30 AM and closes at 11:30 AM. Parents should stage at Bean and Tait between 12:15-12:20 PM. Volunteers will be present to assist you with your children.
Notes: 1. Participation in multiple categories entitles you to a reg. discount of $10 per additional race.
2. District champion fees will not be waived. 3. This race is held under USCF permit.
Prizes : 1/2/3 Women and Pro/1/2/U23 men prize categories will pay out at 100% cash
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* Indicates a combined race with fields picked separately and separate prizes for males and females.
** Merchandise except as noted for Pro 1/2/U23 and Women 1/2/3
Cat’s Hill 2007 is proud to be a member of the Lance Armstrong Junior Olympic Race Series,
NCNCA Premier Series and the NCNCA Junior Point Series
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Category
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Laps
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Places
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Prizes
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Entry
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Start Time
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Field Limit
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Cat 5
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10
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3
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Medals
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$25
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9:30
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50
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Cat 4
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12
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6
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$250
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$30
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10:05
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100
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Junior 10-12/13-14*
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3
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3
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$50/$50
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$15
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10:45
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50
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Cat 3
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20
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6
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$500
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$35
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11:00
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100
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Junior 15-16/17-18*
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8
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3
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$100/$100
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$15
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12:00
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75
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Kids Race 4-9
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0.2
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All
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Medals
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Free
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12:30
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75
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Women 3/4
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10
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6
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$250
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$30
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12:45
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50
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M 35+ 1/2/3
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20
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6
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$500
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$35
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1:20
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100
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M 35+ 4/5
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12
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6
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$250
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$30
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2:20
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75
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Women 1/2/3
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1 hr
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10
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$1000 cash
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$35
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2:55
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100
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Pro/1/2/U23
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1.5 hr
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15
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$1990 cash
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$40
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4:00
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150
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Visit our club homepage at www.lgbrc.org
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.jpg) Today I visited Affordable Treasures in Los Gatos to pick up a few goodies for Valentine's Day. (I have teens. They still like candy!) Not suprisingly, the place was packed!
Not heard of it? Affordable Treasures is a "mainstay" in Los Gatos!
If you have never been to Affordable Treasures, let me tell you, it is aptly named. It is the ideal place to purchase party favors, seasonal decorations, and inexpensive trinkets. Whether you need a little something for Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Hanukkah,Christmas, New Years (or probably even Groundhog's Day), it's there. If you're filling a pinata for a birthday or goodie bags for kids, it's a great place to see things that are truly affordable and in non-Costco sizes. (And no, this is not a paid endorsement. They have no idea that I'm doing this post.)
.jpg) Affordable Treasures is located at 15795 Los Gatos Boulevard and you can find them on the web at AffordableTreasures.com.
Another surprisingly reasonable place right in town for this and other things is Walgreens. Here's a secret: your friends who visit may want to take away a tshirt that says Los Gatos on it. Take them to Walgreens. IF the tshirts are on display, you will find the price to be incredibly low. But let's get back on topic: this is another store (OK, two in town, one in downtown at N. Santa Cruz and Highway 9 and the other at Blossom Hill Road and Harwood Roads) with great Valentine's goodies at a great price. Need a card? Just do it!
So this is the stuff you get ahead of time, the cards, the decor, the little not-too-impressive candies (hey, my kids still like the heart candies with the words on them!).
What about really impressing someone for Valentine's Day?
I'm at the point in my life where I don't care about going out for dinner (or getting flowers) on February 14th. The nice things that happen day to day are more appreciated to me than that. Even so, sometimes it's nice to celebrate a holiday like this is an extra nice way.
So here are a few ideas:
 Los Gatos is filled with beautiful parks, and this week the weather has been in the low 70s. Suggestion # 1 for a romantic interlude in Los Gatos for Valentine's Day would be to get a simple assortment of cheeses, crackers, grapes and wine and head to your favorite park, whether it's Vasona or Belgatos or anything else.
Another nice place to "just be" is the pedestrian bridge between Old Town and Forbes Mill. There is something about being still on this little bridge with the world passing by underneath that's very special.
Need to do the official Valentine's meal out? Los Gatos is oozing with great restaurants. Some of my favorites include I Gatti, Tapestry, Viva, Crimson and Trevese, There are also tons of great places nearby. (Last night I was in San Francisco with a bunch of blogger friends and we dined at a fantastic place called Cafe Tiramisu. The ambiance, food, and service were all spectacular, and a wonderful Sicilian waiter humored me with a conversation in Italian to boot. If I had 4 thumbs, I'd give it four thumbs up!)
Need flowers? Bunches in downtown is very nice. I hate to say something negative, but do NOT buy them at Safeway. I've had terrible luck with the flowers not lasting from there. Better with those from Lunardi's. But do yourself a favor and visit a proper flower shop if you're going to do it.
Need chocolate? I love Chocolate Dream Box, located near Lunardi's at King's Court Shopping Center (yes, it used to be downtown on N. Santa Cruz Avenue). Another good option is Fleur de Cocao, which is downtown.
Need attention, ladies? Romantiques on University Avenue near Old Town, Los Gatos, is worth a visit! Beautiful silk goodies that you are NOT going to find in a chain store.
Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine's Day, no matter where or how you celebrate it!
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 Please vote today - it is both the Presidential Primary and also the chance to resolve the extremely controversial Los Gatos skatepark issue by voting on that initiative - Measure D.
 The voter guides we received didn't have the voting location printed, but you can find out where to vote by visiting the Smart Voter site, using this link for Santa Clara County:
http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/scl/
Remember to bring your photo ID.
See you at the polls!
(PS: Jim and I just returned from voting and as of about 9:15 or 9:30 am, the weather was ideal and the lines were very short at our polling place in east Los Gatos.)
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Tomorrow's Superbowl Sunday - Superbowl XLII, New England Patriots vs New York Giants. The big game starts at 3pm Los Gatos time.
 Where will you go to watch it? Need a suggestion?
 Two good possibilities in downtown Los Gatos are the town's sports bar, Double Ds, and also the Los Gatos Brewing Company (which just might be less crowded). Double Ds has tons of television screens facing every which way. The Los Gatos Brewing Company offers one 62" and four 42" televisions, all high-definition. I patronize both establishments and really like both of them a great deal - each gets a "two thumbs up" for food, service, and ambiance in my book. Either way, you can't really lose, but there are more tvs at Double Ds and more parking at the Brewing Company. My suggestion, no matter which you choose: get there (either place) before kickoff if you want to have a table.
 At Casa de Pope-Handy in the Belwood area of town, we have a few friends joining us to watch the game and cheer on the Patriots (the Quarterback, local boy Tom Brady, is a cousin of mine so there is nothing neutral in our allegiance). I'd like to see the Pats break another record and make history this year...and then have only themselves to best in the future.
Enjoy Superbowl Sunday!
Go Pats!
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Live in Los Gatos:
A blog about Los Gatos real estate, homes, houses, condos, townhomes, housing market, neightborhoods, history, events, businesses, parks, schools, photos, issues, and lifestyle.
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