Los Gatos Weekly-Times Main Street Mary Ann Cook Several honorees also provide the entertainment PEN WOMEN: Seven women achievers will be honored at the National League of American Pen Women celebrity luncheon at 11 a.m. Feb. 20 at Manhattan's Restaurant at Azule Crossing. Opera San Jose and Irene Dalis, founder of Opera San Jose, is one of the seven to be honored, as is Barbara Day Turner, music director of Opera San Jose and music professor at San Jose State University. Members of Opera San Jose, together with Dalis and Turner, will present the program. Other honorees are Saratogan Mary Ann Henderson, artist, and Carolyn Larsen, artist/teacher, who is vice president of the Los Gatos Art Association. Also to be recognized are three authors: Philomena Durcan, who introduced Celtic design to quilt-making and who wrote Celtic Quilt Design. She does floral art painting on fabric. Her second book is called Celtic Garden. Others are Norma Voth, cookbook author, who includes customs and traditions from the locale of her recipes; and Beatrice Warren, author of nine novels and numerous nonfiction articles. For tickets to the luncheon call 867-7717. HOMEBOUND OUTREACH: The newest volunteer program at the library is the outreach program. In this one, those who are homebound because of disabilities or illness, or who are recouping from accidents or surgery can request books, cassettes or other library materials. A volunteer will bring these materials monthly to the resident. So far there is only one client signed up. There must be other Los Gatos residents out there who could use such a service, but just haven't gotten the word yet. Let's hope this will help. The volunteer driver is Miki Nadler, and the volunteer coordinator at the library is Susan Buxton. Call her at 399-5723 with suggested names. Since videotapes can't be taken out of the library for a month's duration, the outreach program would appreciate any donations of videos that may have outlasted their appeal. Such donations could be used for the outreach clients. MOVED: Wilma Thompson is now ensconced in Room 3 of the Guardian Rest Home at the corner of Samaritan Drive and National Avenue. The feisty Thompson, who is recouping from a stroke, now has a phone and would appreciate calls or visits. Better call Guardian ahead of time, because her venue may have changed by the time this reaches print. KIDS' KINGDOM: The castle-like tree house that volunteers built for the Los Gatos Parent Nursery School will be unveiled at an appreciation party Feb. 6, 1-4 p.m. at 15 Lyndon Ave. More than 350 volunteers helped renovate the playground, a year-long project. Enrollment for the 1999-2000 school year opens in February, and the number to call is 354-1433. Classes are for children from 2 years, 9 months old up to kindergarten. IGUANA UPDATE: Here's a book about iguanas that at 2.5 pounds is heavier than most iguanas I've ever met. The author of this 650-page tome is James W. Hatfield III, now of Oregon, but formerly of Los Gatos--for 10 years During his Los Gatos years he was noted as a triathlete; now his fame rests on the backs of iguanas. The book is Green Iguana--The Ultimate Owner's Manual, and the publisher is Dunthorpe Press of Portland, whose phone number is 503/635-8222. "I wrote my book to help save iguanas, and make life better for them," Hatfield says. Potential iguana owners need to be apprised that iguanas are tree-living, have highly specialized needs, can grow to 6 feet in length and live as long as 15 years. THEY LOVE A MYSTERY: The members of a mystery-reading group were featured at a program Monday at the Saratoga Library and came dressed as their favorite characters. To wit: Kathy Cusick donned a nun's habit and transformed herself into Sister Frevisse, the heroine of tales set in 15th century England by Margaret Frazer. Bernice Giansiracusa became Amelia Peabody, an archeologist of the 1890s created by author Elizabeth Peters; Sandra Hill took on the persona of Kinsey Milhone, Sue Grafton's detective; and Pat Jenkins transmorphed into Miss Marple, Agatha Christie's famed sleuth. Others in the group are Roberta Gies, Margo Restrick, June Cartwright, Frances Stearns and Irma Jean Crouch. Crouch is the unofficial leader of the group, which has been in existence at least five years. Exactly how long is a mystery. CONCERT: Pianist Robert Theis, who won the Prokofieff competition in St. Petersburg, Russia, will play at the Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Concert Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m. at Los Gatos High School auditorium. For tickets call Ray Strong at 377-1106 or Ruth Capps at 356-7014. HISTORIC L.G.: A reception for the new show at Forbes Mill Museum takes place Feb. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. "Los Gatos--Our Town" is a display of photographs and objects depicting life here before it became Silicon Valley. GREAT RACE: Great Race Feb. 21 promises to be greater than ever, what with double the sign-ups compared with this time last year. Some 2,500 runners are expected. Walkers don't sign on, but there is a baby-buggy brigade. The Rotary fundraiser will take place rain or shine. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, February 3, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.