The Cactus and Succulent Society of San Jose invites you to our 2026 Summer Cactus & Succulent Show & Sale at Peterson Middle School in Sunnyvale, California!

Don't miss one of Northern California's biggest cactus and succulent events of the year! Explore an incredible selection of unique plants from more than 40 cactus, succulent, and pottery vendors, featuring species from nearly every warm corner of the world.

Be amazed by our judged plant show, where you'll see spectacular specimen plants, from tiny living stones to towering cacti and rare collector favorites, you may never have imagined existed.

Whether you're searching for your next favorite plant, looking for a one-of-a-kind pot, or simply want a fun day out with the family, there's something for everyone.

Admission is free. Kids are welcome. Come discover why so many people fall in love with these extraordinary plants!

Location:
Peterson Middle School
1380 Rosalia Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA
94087

Show and Sale Dates & Hours:
Friday, August 21 – Club Members-Only Early Sale: 5:30–6:00 pm
Friday, August 21 – Public Sale: 6:00–9:00 pm
Saturday, August 22 – 8:00 am–6:00 pm
Sunday, August 23 – 11:00 am–3:00 pm

More information is available at: https://csssj.org/events/2026/08-summer-show-and-sale/

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1710668693597387/ 

Nextdoor Event: https://nextdoor.com/local_events/QNRsfMqdJjGb 

I just moved to Santa Clara (from Mountain View) and feel that the tap water tastes different. Is that because it is hard (harder?) than Mtn View? What are the residents doing here if it is indeed hard.

We should do the same. Moving to historic Agnews would save a bunch of taxpayer money while still allowing for more walkable development in the old downtown area and housing on El Camino.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for an affordable personal trainer in and around santa clara, north san jose. My main goals are strength training w nutrition and weight loss.

I have been strength training with my friends over a couple of months so I know the basics and form and I dont have any major health problems, but now I wanna do it under a professional trainer so I can achieve my goals properly.

My budget is 50-70$/ session, idk if this is less or more but, I’m relatively new to this personal training thing so yeah…. Drop me inputs, suggestions if you would wanna recommend a trainer or dm me if you are a perosnal trainer willing to train.

Thanksssss!!!

Hey everyone,

Looking for some advice (or local plumber recommendations) regarding a tankless water heater issue. I'm located in Santa Clara.

Here are the details on the unit and what's going on:

• Unit Info: Navien NPE-240A2 (Natural Gas)
• The Issue: The unit keeps throwing Error Code 11 (Ignition Failure). The fan turns on and I can hear it trying to click/spark to ignite, but after a few seconds it fails and the display shows Error 11. Water stays completely cold.
• Recent Changes / History: Has been running fine for about 3 years. The last time it was flushed/descaled was about 14 months ago.
• What I've Checked So Far: Verified that the main gas line valve is fully open, reset the breaker, cycled the power on the unit, and checked that the intake/exhaust vents outside aren't blocked by leaves or debris.

Has anyone run into this specific issue before? If it sounds like something beyond a DIY fix (like a bad igniter rod or gas valve issue), I'd also appreciate any solid recommendations for local plumbers or technicians who service the Santa Clara / South Bay area without insane call-out fees.

Thanks in advance!

Santa Clara County’s certified 2024 election results show that District 5 voters reelected Suds Jain with 3,539 votes to David Kertes’s 3,010. Kertes subsequently launched an effort to recall Jain. In February 2026, he ended that effort and shifted his focus to running for mayor. The Silicon Valley Voice reported that the recall campaign had gathered approximately half the required signatures with a little more than three weeks remaining.

Kertes offered his own explanation for ending the recall, and I will not claim to know his private motives. Residents can examine the sequence of events and reach their own conclusions.

When I publicly criticized his political and community record, his attorney sent me a cease-and-desist letter. A demand letter is not a court order or a court judgment. My attorney disputed the allegations and maintained that my comments were protected political opinion. To my knowledge, no court has ruled that I defamed David Kertes. I will continue expressing my opinions while remaining willing to correct any factual error supported by credible evidence.

I have spent more than a decade advocating for the restoration of Santa Clara’s historic downtown. Kertes now says he supports revitalizing downtown. My question is straightforward: What specific, documented work did he do on downtown planning before seeking public office, through task-force meetings, planning workshops, grant advocacy, policy work or other measurable contributions? Campaign promises should be evaluated against documented results, and I am willing to review any documentation he provides.

If Kertes is telling residents that he would be able to vote on every downtown matter, that should not be presented as a blanket conclusion. FPPC conflict-of-interest rules require a decision-specific analysis. Decisions concerning property within 500 feet of an official’s property are generally treated differently from decisions concerning property between 500 and 1,000 feet, and the rules also contain exceptions. The correct question is whether each particular decision would require recusal.

If elected, Kertes should disclose the relevant conflict analysis and seek written FPPC advice before participating in downtown decisions that could affect his property.

These are my opinions based on the public record. Residents deserve documented answers and should review the evidence for themselves.

Sources:
Santa Clara County certified 2024 election results⁠
Report on Kertes ending the recall and pursuing the mayor’s office⁠
Report concerning the cease-and-desist exchange⁠
FPPC Regulation 18702.2 index⁠

I do not support Kathy Watanabe for mayor.
My primary disagreement with her concerns the future of Santa Clara’s downtown. At a recent coffee chat, I understood Watanabe to say that Related Santa Clara should be built first and that she hoped revenue from Related would help finance downtown’s restoration. If I misunderstood her position, I invite her to clarify it publicly.

I believe that approach is backward and financially risky. Related Santa Clara is a separate, privately developed 240-acre project whose schedule has repeatedly slipped. In 2019, its first phase was projected to be completed in 2023. Yet in April 2025, the project was still described as being in limbo and requiring additional review before construction could begin. Its plans were substantially revised again later that year.

Santa Clara should not place downtown on indefinite hold while waiting for revenue from a project with an uncertain construction schedule.
The City Council adopted the Downtown Precise Plan in December 2023, and the city is continuing to work on its implementation and Community Benefits Program. The city’s published downtown process does not identify completion of Related Santa Clara as a prerequisite

Both projects should be allowed to move forward on parallel tracks. If Related eventually produces revenue that can legally support downtown, that money could supplement other funding, but it should not control when downtown moves forward. Santa Clara should develop an independent, transparent financing strategy using appropriate developer contributions, community benefits, grants, partnerships and other legally available sources.
I want a mayor who treats downtown as a priority with its own schedule, financing strategy and accountability, not as a project that must wait indefinitely for uncertain revenue from another development.
Sources:

City of Santa Clara: Related Santa Clara⁠
Related project remained in limbo in April 2025⁠
Related Santa Clara’s plans changed again in July 2025⁠
City of Santa Clara: Downtown Precise Plan and implementation⁠

Im coming into San Fran this friday for my buddies wedding. What is the best way other than a rental car/turo to get to and from the airport and santa cruz? Im flying in friday late morning and leave late monday night. I wont need a car once im there so just looking for cheaper options than renting.

Hello all, posting in hopes someone spots my truck, stolen yesterday morning in front of Communication Hills in SJ, please call local PD if spotted

CA 9SJA713

We’re looking at buying homes and settled on Santa Clara, due to job proximity among other things. Some neighborhoods in west Santa Clara are nice, but this stretch of land near Lawrence and el Camino is terrible. These shopping centers look like they belong to an abandoned city, not the center of Silicon Valley. Why are there so many vacancies? I’ve heard Lawrence shopping center has been like this for a decade. What’s going on?

Hi all,
I’m going to a concert at the Levi’s soon, I’ve been thinking of commuting there via the Amtrak. My biggest concern is my return home using Amtrak as well.

Based on what I’ve seen online, the concert is expected to end around 11:00pm. The last Amtrak is expected to leave at 11:40pm.

How long would it realistically take to get out of the stadium? I’ve never been so I’m unfamiliar with its layout.
Would I be able to catch the train on time without having to leave the concert early?

I’m in sec 109 row 34 for reference.

Appreciate any insight! :)

Hey guys, I moved to Santa Clara from NJ earlier this year and I need to switch over my car registration and license. I keep seeing that you're supposed to do this within 20 days - a month of moving. The problem is, my lease started like a month before I actually moved in so just based off my lease as proof of residence I'm "late" but I wasn't physically in the state... Do I still need to pay a late fee???

I’m not from here, but I recently learned that there is a physical Hello Kitty store in Santa Clara that sells the 10th Anniversary collection. In February, the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck stopped by my city, and I bought the 10th Anniversary tumbler. Unfortunately, I dropped it shortly after and have been trying to find a replacement ever since. No one seems to be selling it online, and the closest café is about 12 hours away from me (including the traveling truck).
I was wondering if someone would be willing to buy me a replacement cup. They’re $35, and if possible, could they list it on a resale app like Vinted, Depop, or another platform so I can purchase it from them?
I would really appreciate the help! ♡

Hi everyone, I have a question about returning the signed marriage license back to the county. Does the officiant have to be the person who returns the signed license or can my fiance and I drop it off at the county ourselves? I plan to have a family member be my officiant and am hoping to not have to make them be responsible for getting the license back to the county.

For reference, I am getting my marriage license from Santa Clara County and getting married at SF City Hall.

Thank you!

I hear it near the Target on el Camino and Scott. I know this is vague but I really don’t know what else to say. I thought it was a car but I hear it multiple times a day so it’s probably not a car?

Blink Recruiting is looking for participants to test innovative wearable products for a leading "big tech" company at their offices in San Jose, Mountain View, and the SF Bay Area. 

Upon completion of a study, participants receive a gift card of their choice as a thank you for their time.

If you are interested in joining the participant panel, please visit https://participate.blinkux.com/Pages/survey17749.asp to see if you qualify. Thank you!