TWELVE years ago, Community Against Substance Abuse presented its first fashion production. On April 27 at 3 and 6 p.m., the 12th annual fashion show, Off Broadway, will go on stage at the Los Gatos High School auditorium. Some 88 students created the production numbers, selected the music and designed the sets. The production benefits the Teen Counseling Center, as well as student activities and health promotions sponsored by CASA. A student production committee worked with technical director Joey Perez to fine-tune the numbers. Fourteen area stores are providing clothing and costumes. Among the musical numbers is a skateboarding Starlight Express. Tickets bought in advance are $12 for adults and $5 for students. They're on sale at the Teen Counseling Center, 354-7648.
THERE are those who volunteer for some cause now and then; and then there are some like Ray L. Byrne of Saratoga, who is active in a variety of organizations. Retired from a firm that made cattle sprays, Byrne worked with the First United Methodist Church of Los Gatos, doing everything from serving on the board to transporting people to services to weeding and planting. A list of the groups to which he has contributed time and help includes the Florence Nelson Foundation of the Santa Clara County Community Foundation (of which he's been a board member from the start); the Santa Clara County Council of the Boy Scouts (a volunteer since 1967; his and wife Betty's three sons were in Saratoga Troop 535); Live Oak Senior Nutrition Center (a founding member and a board member since 1974); and Live Oak Adult Day Services (a founding member, a current board member, and a volunteer in various capacities for 12 years).
Byrne has been nominated for several awards over the years, including the J. C. Penney Golden Rule Award, for which he was nominated this year by the Nutrition Center. He is on that organization's finance committee and has served as the group's liaison to both the town and the county.
Betty Byrne has been busy for 25 years with West Valley Fish, a food distribution group sponsored by St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Their sons, Jeffrey, Jonathan and Stephen, live and work in the Bay Area.
At a youthful 81, Ray Byrne's advice for seniors, as you might expect, is "Keep busy!"
ALSO in the category of People Who Get Things Done, John Font of Los Gatos joined a team of volunteers who helped disabled children in Quito, Ecuador. From Feb. 15 to March 1 this year, he worked in Quito with Global Volunteers, a nonprofit group based in St. Paul, Minn. "I spent most of the time working to build a cement wall around the children's compound," he said. Font, director of Beacon School for at-risk students in San Jose, has made trips with Global Volunteers to Spain and Guatemala. "I enjoy the trips and the physical labor involved," he said.
SENIOR citizens invited to A Place for Teens enjoyed a Spring Tea on a pleasant Sunday, April 13. Dru Barth, adult president, and board members Sue Tuttle and Gladie Rabitz greeted the visitors, some of whom hadn't seen The Outhouse before. They were given a tour.
SOME of the best artists in the region will be showing their work at the Los Gatos Museum art gallery from April 30 to May 25 as the Los Gatos Art Association holds its Open-Juried Show. A reception and awards ceremony is scheduled for May 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Art Museum on Tait Avenue is open Wed.-Sun. from noon to 4 p.m.
MARY FOSTER was back last week--after a hospital stay--leading Poetry for Everyone at Forbes Mill Museum. She resumed her duties as Forbes Mill curator. Also home from the hospital: Lions Club member Reg Hughes.
FRIENDS of Bear Creek Redwoods Regional Preserve, fighting to prevent tree-cutting on the former Alma College grounds, gathered on the front lawn of Los Gatos High School April 21 to wave banners and ask for community support.
THREE young Los Gatos fencers made like Errol Flynn as they took part in this year's Junior Pacific Coast Fencing Championships April 12 and 13 at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino. The event was hosted by the Fencing Center of San Jose. Using foil, epee or sabre were Eric Durante, who attends C. T. English Middle School, and Shoshaunna Parks and Joanna Sickler, both from Los Gatos High School. The event qualified junior fencers ages 7-19 for the 1997 Summer Nationals, to be held in Santa Clara July 4-12.
SAN JOSE'S Willow Glen, once a farm/orchard area, will welcome visitors to the 15th annual Willow Glen Lifestyles Tour of Homes on May 4, benefitting the San Jose Day Nursery. Four homes, from Spanish style to Tudor, will open their doors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a garden party at one house. In Los Gatos tickets ($15 in advance) are available at Watson & Martin, 114 Royce St.
LOS GATOS Rotary Club welcomed one unusual guest as Dr. Ben Ho of WOOF Search Dog Teams brought his German shepherd, Cash.
WOMEN have a calming influence on boat crews at times of stress. That was one point made as Jocelyn Nash, a veteran sailor, spoke to the Los Gatos Yacht Club. Seems no male wants to "lose it" in front of a female. There's no boating task women can't handle, Nash said.
GALS do all right at tennis, too. Stephanie Adcock received a national co-ranking in women's doubles of No. 1 and No. 8 in singles in the age-45 and over category. Susan Anawalt ranked third nationally in doubles and fourth in singles among women 55 and over.
TIGER, Tiger, burning bright: Like the rest of the country, Los Gatos viewers watched spellbound as Tiger Woods showed how it's done. Just get that swing down at age 2.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, April 23, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.