Valley's agricultural families are central to heritage plans

All local families with roots in the orchards of Santa Clara Valley are invited to attend the Orchard Heritage Blossom Faire and Barbecue, a May 22 event celebrating 100 years of orchards and orchard families. The festivities run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Orchard Heritage Park at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 Remington Ave.

The event includes a special "Santa Clara Valley Orchard Family Celebration" hosted by Paul Bernal, chairman of the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission and himself a descendant of one of the Valley's oldest agricultural families.

Other festivities aside from the barbecue include an ice cream social, old-time music, talks about and tours through the park's apricot orchard, activities and clowns for children, historical art displays, items for sale in a silent auction and general store and signings by authors and illustrators of Valley of Heart's Delight, a new book written about the Santa Clara Valley, its history and orchard families.

"We have heard from about 70 families throughout the Valley, expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to be honored [at the fair]," says Joe Guterriez, chairman of the Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit (OHPIE) Alliance.

Families are also wanted to take their place in what will be a permanent "honor roll" section of OHPIE, which may not be completed for at least a year. The OHPIE committee has a brief survey for these families to fill out. Among the local families who have already responded are descendants of the fruit-growing Cilkers, Howes and Sunds of Los Gatos and the Garrods, Marions, Coxes, Seagraves and Williamses of Saratoga.

The OHPIE exhibit is the Valley's first project of its kind and is dedicated to preserving the history and way of life of the Santa Clara Valley when it was known worldwide as "The Valley of Heart's Delight"--filled with blossoming fruit and nut trees, fruit canneries and farms.

The OHPIE exhibit, designed to be a permanent, open-air pavilion with self-guided tours, exhibits and a small amphitheater, will serve as a "living museum" on the grounds of Sunnyvale's Orchard Heritage Park, a 10-acre working apricot orchard. A portion of proceeds from the Blossom Faire--which with advance reservations costs $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $5 for children--benefits OHPIE.

For ticket information, call 739-5004. For information on being included in the exhibit, call 738-0846. Information is also available on the Internet at www.living-history.org/ohpie.

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