THE CURRENT exhibit at Forbes Mill Museum featuring works by the late artists George Dennison and Frank Ingerson includes a number of items donated to the museum. A large self-portrait painted by the two men was donated by Herbert A. Grench of the Mid-Peninsula Open Space District. The picture, which shows the artists sitting under a tree, formerly hung in the district office. The district now owns the land where the two had their home, Cathedral Oaks, for half a century.
Many artifacts were given to the museum by Barrie and Carol Coate, who lived at Cathedral Oaks after the two artists died. Among their donations is a Louis XIV pigskin-covered chair which the two men decorated. A number of other items had been donated earlier by the Ralph M. Heintz family.
Photographs sent from Paris by Olivia de Havilland are included in the Dennison-Ingerson exhibit. The actress is also sending a decorated mahogany panel by the two artists, which has not yet arrived, curator Mary Foster said. Attendance at Forbes Mill has increased since a Feb. 19 cover story appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, she said.
THIS column, goofing badly, said the Los Gatos High School Class of 1937 would hold its 60th reunion in March. The correct date is May 17 at Los Gatos Lodge. Apologies, readers, including any alumni who felt rushed.
RUNNING in the Boston Marathon April 21 will be Mary Mills, owner of Old Town Antiques. "This will be my sixth marathon," she said, adding that she will turn 50 just before the race. In Boston, Mills will be running with her brother, Dan Barsell of Ben Lomond. She has run in marathons in San Francisco, Portland and Sacramento, among others.
THE LOS GATOS branch of the Daughters of the American Revolution honored Mary Foster for her community service at a luncheon at the Los Gatos Lodge March 3. Presented witha pin and certificate by DAR Regent Anita Bell, Foster was cited for her Christmas programs, her interiews with pioneer Los Gatans, her direction of Poetry for Everyone and her preparation of Forbes Mill Museum exhibits. About 25 people attended.
A TEACHER of French and German at Fisher Middle School for 25 years, Lea Frey was looking around for something to do that would make use of her language skills after she retired three years ago. Frey wrote to Irene Dalis of Opera San Jose offering to assist the opera and received a quick reply. For the past three years Frey has been a diction coach for the opera singers.
"I start working with the singers even before they begin to practice," she said. "I attend the sessions with their vocal coaches, and I sit and take notes during rehearsals. They have been wonderful to work with." This past year Frey assisted with three operas, one in German and two in French. The company recently presented Faust.
Frey grew up in a family that emphasized languages and culture. "We were a multilingual family," she said. "My mother was Belgian and my father German. The family name was Frederickx." Members included a grandmother who spoke Spanish. They conversed in five languages.
AT ST. LUKE'S Episcopal Church on University Avenue, a series of spring concerts began March 2 with an organ recital by James Johnson. The Early Muse, a group from Santa Cruz, will offer a concert of early European music March 16 at the church at 3 p.m. A free-will offering will help support the group.
LOS GATOS-SARATOGA Camera Club will hold its monthly meeting March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Los Gatos Presbyterian Church Youth Center, 16575 Shannon Road. Inspired by a recent Alaskan trip, Peggy Patterson will speak and present a slide show, "North to Nanook." Admission is free and anyone interested in photography is welcome. For information call Doug Ordahl, 867-9761.
LORI BIRCH, manager of Family Services, reminds seniors that they can get free help preparing tax returns. Tax experts meet Mondays at the Neighborhood Center and Tuesdays at Great Western Bank. Phone 354-1514 for appointments.
A MEADOWS resident, Helen Andres Steiner, a public speaker and educator, gave a review of the bestseller Undaunted Courage on Feb. 26 in the Meadows' Fireside Lounge. The book about the explorers of the Louisiana Purchase territory in 1804-06 ties in nicely with a recent Ken Burns PBS show about Thomas Jefferson, who purchased the territory from France.
FRIENDS of Bear Creek Redwoods Regional Preserve, a group of Bear Creek area residents who oppose planned cutting on land owned by Hong Kong Metro Realty, have scheduled a community meeting March 26 at 7 p.m. at Lakeside School. Owners of the land awarded logging rights to Big Creek Lumber of Davenport. According to the Friends, the timetable is unclear, as a timber harvest plan is not complete. When it is, they say, the California Department of Forestry will likely give a logging permit. Big Creek would like to start cutting his summer, but may have to wait until the 1998 season.
At a Feb. 10 meeting at the Neighborhood Center, Eric Huff, a forester with Big Creek Lumber, stressed that the company would observe sound forestry techniques, do as little damage as possible and not use helicopters. Julia Bott of the Sierra Club led the discussion.
To get in touch with the group, call Jim Crowley, steering committee chairman, 395-5999; or Bott, 415/390-8414.
THE HISTORY CLUB of Los Gatos will have its spring luncheon March 19 at 12:30 p.m. to honor past presidents and new members. The Elbon Singers, a group of women in early-day costumes, will perform old-time songs.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, March 12, 1997.
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