Main Street

Candi Aviakeotes honored with ARIS award

By Mary Ann Cook

ARIS AWARD: Candi Aviakeotes of Los Gatos was awarded the highest honor given to ARIS volunteers in ceremonies last month. Volunteers for ARIS (AIDS Resources Information & Services) offers emotional and practical support for those living with AIDS in this county.

Aviakeotes was given the Bob Clayton Heart and Soul Award for "demonstrating the highest level of ongoing dedication to the ARIS mission." She lends emotional support with one-on-one visits with ARIS clients, leads support groups, and trains other volunteers to fulfill such roles.

Aviakeotes also works full time in a related field. She is the director of the medical program at Bryman College, a vocational school on South Winchester in San Jose. As such, she oversees 400 students and 13 faculty members. "I do such teaching as I have time for," she says, mostly teaching instructor training.

She's volunteered at ARIS for more than six years and leads weekend training workshops three times a year. Each workshop is offered to 20 to 25 people who participate in 21 hours of training. The role of volunteer has changed considerably in the time she's been serving, she says.

Now the emphasis seems to be on practical support. Aviakeotes has three clients she meets with regularly in a friendship role. But what's needed most often from volunteers is someone to shop, clean and chauffeur--the practical aspects of daily life.

The award she received is called the Bob Clayton award, named for the co-founder of ARIS. The organization was formed as an outgrowth of meetings held in his living room with a handful of people concerned about the disease and its frightening spread. That was 14 years ago and Clayton continues to serve on the board.

TURNABOUT: Miki (Niki) Nadler (also known as Millie Bernstein) has a broken ankle, an injury acquired oddly enough, on the steps on her way out of Campbell's Kaiser Hospital. She was there for a routine visit, totally unrelated to broken bones.

She will, of course, be homebound for an indefinite number of weeks. Besides the ironic locale of the accident, there's another twist. Nadler is the one who delivers library books, tapes and other materials to shut-ins who can't get to the library themselves.

Now the usual unstoppable Nadler/Bernstein is on the receiving end of that service. In the meantime, Phyllis Hardin, who selects materials for outreach patrons after consulting with them, will do delivery duty. Hardin is the retired librarian from Fisher Middle School.

The library will need an additional volunteer for the program this summer, reports volunteer coordinator Susan Buxton. Some half-dozen clients are currently signed up.

RHODIE SIGHTINGS: On the hill in back of the police offices is the small, little- known park called the Pageant Grounds, because, of course, that's where the famed pageants of yesteryear were held. Nowadays the park is more famed for its dozens of rhododendrons.

Since this is the middle of the rhodie season, the floral splash there should be in fine bloom about now. Marge Rice, whose husband Rob is a member of the Parks Commission, is the one who reminds us of this annual plumage.

BACKROADS: In other Rice news the TV series Backroads has nothing on them. The Rices tend to take the road less traveled. Recent case in point was an exploration of the eastern side of the Sierras, following Highway 395. They find the unexpected by traveling in this fashion.

Touring the Sunkist plant near Porterville was one of the highlights of this recent trip. The employee who gave them the tour may never have had such a request before. Since Rob is a retired airline pilot, they've already done the well-traveled tourist trail.

RIVERS OF CHOCOLATE: Los Gatan Angie C. Smith was co-chair of Rivers of Chocolate, the annual fundraiser for SAY (Social Advocates for Youth) 'Twas a hedonist's dream--chocolate and wine being dispensed at dozens of tables at the mountain winery in Saratoga.

And food samples and cooking demonstrations from local restaurants. Organizers were blessed with fine weather, 400 beaming gala goers, and 36 purveyors of delicacies. Joseph Kleitman the event co-chair, manned the auction.

Saratogan Beverly Rossi is president of the board and a professional family counselor, a serendipitous dovetailing since SAY's main focus is youth in crisis. SAY operates a shelter for runaway and homeless youth, runs a youth and family counseling center, an independent living setup and a mentoring program.

Rossi credits SAY with "constantly assessing community needs and answering them." The Hudson River theme featured a replica of the Statue of Liberty in the inmost area of the chocolate den. Could have sworn I saw her drooling as I walked by.

WATERCOLORS: A reception for the watercolor painters in the senior programs class will be held on May 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the council chambers where the exhibit Visions of Food in Watercolor will be on display until June 30.

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