Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Main Street

Mary Ann Cook

A Place for Teens remembers the Peckler family

HONORING the PECKLERS: To honor the memory of the three Peckler family members who lost their lives in a tragic auto accident last winter, A Place for Teens held a commemorative potluck supper recently at the center. It was an appropriate memorial because Jim Peckler had been a driving force behind the establishment and development of the teen center, also called "The Outhouse." His son, Jeff, was a freshman board member of the center, and his daughter, Jill, was a recent Los Gatos High grad.

Three white rose bushes were planted in the garden area at the center to commemorate the three, and participants were invited to place shovelfuls of dirt to add to the base of the plantings. Judy Peckler, wife of Jim and mother of Jeff and Jill, was among those who came forward. Nearly 100 people attended and shared their special memories of these special people. When Judy Peckler spoke, it was especially hard to hold back the tears.

Photo montages of the family were posted, and a video of Peckler family activities played continuously in the rec room. The whole thing was the teens' idea, under the leadership of Jasmin Ghaffasrian, outgoing co-president of the teen center's board.

Gladie Rabitz, adult co-president, said that seeing so many past and present members of A Place for Teens coming together was so stirring that the board voted to hold an annual homecoming. The cost of the event was covered by a $300 grant from the Santa Clara County Community Foundation, the first the center has received from that body. Board member Celia Bell oversaw the planting.

Retirement celebration for Eleanor Vora, who is retiring from Live Oak Senior Nutrition and Service Center after 10 years. The date is Aug. 27 at 11:30 a.m. in the Neighborhood Center. Under Vora's direction, the center vastly expanded its offerings in education, health, recreation and information and referrals for West Valley seniors.

Meals on Wheels and on-site lunches for seniors are under the center's aegis. The average age of meal recipients is 91. That's average age. Some 60 meals are delivered daily, and about 46 are served on-site at First United Methodist Church. Added bonus during her tenure: a proactive 16-member board has come aboard, particularly skilled at fundraising.

"I've gotten so much more back than I've given," Vora says. "These have been the most rewarding years of my entire life, in growth and understanding." To be part of the tribute, call Penny Wanzer, 354-0707. Vora will refuel for a year--read, tend her vegetable garden and take voice lessons--then it'll be time for her next phase: working with abused children. She taught elementary school in New York City before locating here.

FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR WINNER: Jonathon Schmuck, son of John Schmuck (former L.G. library director, now retired), has won a graduate scholarship to Australia. He'll study art glass at the Australian National University at Canberra. One of 16 chosen from 93 applicants nationally, he has studied art glass at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y., for the past year, earning an MFA.

His bachelor's degree is from UC-Santa Cruz in earth sciences. A geological map he made of the Grand Canyon looked like a Chinese dragon, and that led him into art: He began to take art courses as a crossover from geology. After blowing his first glass piece, he was hooked.

Besides a student, Jonathon has been a novice in a tofu factory, has bicycled through Europe and was a studio artist in New Mexico. At RIT he was a graduate assistant and student rep for the Glass Art Society, communicating with art glass students all over the world. In June he studied with Venetian glass master Gianni Toso in a workshop at Corning Glass.

GARDEN PRODUCE: The St. Luke's Garden Tour reaped $6,000, and the money was distributed as follows: Santa Maria Urban Mission, $2,000; Habitat for Humanity, $1,000; and $500 each to Live Oak Adult Day Services, Live Oak Senior Nutrition and Service Center, A Place for Teens, Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence, St. Luke's Food Pantry and the Georgia Travis Day Care Center for abused women and children.

Steve and Julie Conway were co-chairs of the benefit. This is the first (but likely not last) time the church has held a garden tour fundraiser.

PROMOTION: Paul Simas, who serves aboard the U.S.S. Constellation as part of Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf, recently earned the rank of U.S. Navy petty officer, third class, ABH 3. He directs aircraft for launch and heads crash and salvage (firefighting and rescue). He's part of a Western Pacific six-month stint. A 1994 grad of LGHS, he's the son of Marion and Joe Simas. Promotion in the Navy is by competitive exam--no small feat.

SUNDAY SUNDAES: As a thank-you to their customers, the vendors at the Sunday Farmers Market in the Town Plaza hosted an ice cream social from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. a couple Sundays ago, a time they'd normally be folding their tents and stealing away. An informant reports on the quality of the ice cream: "It was wonderful, real rich, none of this fat-free stuff--and with sauces."

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