With Bob Aldrich, our man-about-town, still recovering from eye surgery, we've been at a considerable disadvantage bringing our readers news about people and places. The following is what we've been able to piece together from rummaging through Bob's mail:
Three local youngsters were winners of the Babies 'n' Berries photo contest at this year's Strawberry Festival. First place went to 23-month-old Lindsay Cellar, daughter of John and Debbie Cellar of Los Gatos; 4-year-old Gaby Kapp, daughter of Jennifer and Joe Kapp of Los Gatos, placed second; and third place went to 18-month-old Erika Driscoll, daughter of Kristie and Vance Driscoll of Monte Sereno. A couple of years ago, rain took a toll on the annual Eastfield Ming Quong fundraiser, so the organization took out rain insurance. Now they're wondering if there's heat insurance. The weather for this year's festival (on the weekend of June 1 and 2) was a scorcher, and the heat is thought to have been responsible for low food sales and high sales of strawberry daiquiris, Pepsi and good old bottled water. Another problem that's begun to surface: space limitations. There have been informal talks between EMQ and town staff about the possibility of the festival expanding onto Main Street or possibly the high school next year. This year's income of $60,000 to $65,000 was close to the goal of $65,000 but was down from the previous year's all-time high of $80,000. But some folks at EMQ are speculating that the crowds were so big the previous year that people stayed away this year to avoid a mob scene.
Lots of local volunteers put in time at the festival. Don Wolf and the Kiwanis Club earned about $4,000 with their Philly steak booth. About half the members of the Rotary Club participated in the festival, but Rotarian Alan Hogan broke his leg while bicycling to the event at the Civic Center.
Bronwyn Carson, a 25-year-old lifelong Los Gatan, has been awarded a Ginny Levin Scholarship to attend the American Musical Theatre of San Jose's Theatre Arts Institute, according to proud mom Isobel Carson. The younger Carson performed at San Jose Dance Theatre for many years and, in 1988, won a scholarship to the School of San Jose Cleveland Ballet.
Local art lovers mingled with San Francisco artists Al Martinez and Ramond Busuelas June 22 during an afternoon reception at the Los Gatos Museum on Tait Avenue. Martinez is a realistic painter who works in oils. Brusuelas is a sculptor, weaver and ceramicist. The exhibit opens June 19 and closes Aug. 18. Museum hours are noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Lisa-Maria Bottoni, a paralegal with the Los Gatos Town Attorney's office, was named outstanding woman during the state convention of the California State Council of Epsilon Sigma Alpha International. The award is presented to a member who upholds the ideals and beliefs of the organization in its effort to raise funds for St. Jude's Children's Hospital, ARC, the Blind Center of Santa Clara Valley and other nonprofit organizations.
Kelli Johnston, a senior at Los Gatos High School, will serve an apprenticeship at the Spruce Meadows Equestrian Center in Calgary beginning June 23. Spruce Meadows is one of the premier equestrian facilities in the world, providing training for many Olympic riders.--Dale Bryant
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, June 26, 1996.
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