Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Our Town

Bob Aldrich

Almond Grove owners asked to open homes for Historic Tour

Residents of the Almond Grove district can perform a valuable service for the Los Gatos museums. They are being asked to open their homes for the Los Gatos Museum Association's Historic Homes 1997 Tour. Four or five homes will be chosen to showcase the best of these historic houses. "We will have several docent volunteers to help you present your home," says Lucille Hogan, co-chair of the home-selection committee, in a letter. "Homeowners may or may not want to be present during tour hours." Hogan is hoping for some affirmative replies by June 13.

Almond Grove homeowners can call Hogan at 395-1500.

The Historic Homes Tour is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the two museums and has proved highly popular. It's an opportunity to see some of the most beautiful and well-cared-for homes in town. The 1997 Tour is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27 and 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A MEMORIAL service for former Los Gatos resident Minty Brown will be held June 21, at 11 a.m., in St. Mary's Catholic Church. Brown, an artist and one of the founders of the Los Gatos Chamber Orchestra, had many friends in our town.

SUNDAYS at 5 p.m. should mark a happy time for those attending the Music in the Plaza concerts. Starting June 22 with the Calvary Church gospel singers, there will be 12 concerts, ranging from reggae and bluegrass to jazz and Mexican mariachis. The July 4 concert featuring the San Jose Wind Symphony will be on the front lawn of Los Gatos High School. The concerts are, of course, free to the public. The Los Gatos Arts Commission always welcomes donations. Donors of $25 or more are listed in concert programs. Call committee chairwoman Sue Gilmour, 376-0756, or Community Services coordinator Barbara Coy-Bulicz, 354-6823.

ERICH Pichler, the Redwood Estates Marine who lay in a coma after a traffic accident in Arizona, "is now walking and talking," his father, Art Pichler, said. "He'll be able to come home in a few months." Erich has been reading the many cards and letters sent him, his dad said. The address is P. O. Box 644, Redwood Estates, CA 95044.

LOS GATOS and artist John Pugh get attention in a new book, Painting the Town: Murals of California. Available in August from RJD Enterprises of Los Angeles, the book by photographer Robin J. Dunitz and and James Prigoff pictures in color the illusionary mural on the side of a restaurant at 49 E. Main St. Left standing after the 1989 quake demolished parts of East Main, the building served as Pugh's "canvas" for a trompe l'oeil painting. "The pre-Columbian symbols in this mural," Pugh said, "convey an optimistic statement about the future, embracing the concept of growth after pain, rebirth after death. To me, that's what the rebuilding of Los Gatos is all about." Pugh's painting on flat surfaces gives the impression of three-dimensional depth.

HELPING hands: Rose Arnaudo of Monte Sereno calls this column's attention to some Los Gatos High School students "who are doing some positive and great things for the summer."

Helping to build houses or do other services for the poor as part of the Amigo Program will be Devin Sodt, Megan Walter, Kathryn Breed, Francesca Doriss, Blair Lien and Kristin Vhynal.

On a teen mission to the Philippines, doing much the same as the Amigos, is Jessica Moeller.

Traci Johnson and Sara Lee will be attending the Rotary Club leadership camp, Camp Ryla.

Angel Cheng, as previously mentioned, plans a People-to-People journey to China.

Kristin Hoeft will participate in a National Youth Leadership Conference on Medicine.

Anna Arnaudo is one of 40 students from throughout the country selected for the Young Scholarship Program at UC-Davis, a six-week research program for high schoolers. She will present a paper at the end of her research.

Quite a contrast to the summers I used to spend loafing, fishing, swimming and occupying a hammock.

MORE about students from Tonya Silva's LGHS freshman English class who interviewed elderly residents of The Meadows about their careers. "This is our third year of conducting interviews," Silva said. "It's part of a larger program on community service. This year there were only six interviewers, all boys. Last year we had 15." The assignment may require several visits. The students then write a detailed article which is printed, bound and presented to the interviewee. Students taking part this year were Andrew Swing, Andrew Holcomb, Chris Choi, Ted Chang, Forrest O'Leary and Taeran Baroach.

SPEAKING of Los Gatos High School, the Los Gatos Rotary Club honored five members of the school staff by awarding each their prestigious Paul Harris Fellow recognition, named for Rotary's founder. Receiving the honor were Ted Simonson, Patricia Hughes, Ron Cassel, Diana Pleasant and Sharon Smith. It's the Rotary Foundation's way of expressing appreciation for "a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational program."

RUSTY Rinehart, president of Los Gatos Kiwanis Club, and other club members have been busy seeking volunteers for the Fiesta de Artes in August, when a dozen musical groups are expected to entertain.

[ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ]