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Main Street
Advocates want rights for grandparents
By Mary Ann Cook
GRANDPARENTS' RIGHTS: Barbara Ross is a grandmother who, along with her husband, is raising her grandchildren. She is recently back from lobbying for grandparents' rights in Sacramento and was part of a group that met with state legislators.
Seems the state wants to require grandparents to legally adopt the grandchildren they are raising, and the grandparents protest that this judicial process is too disruptive and traumatic for the children.
Foster parents receive financial help from the government in raising children not their own, but grandparents have no similar recourse. Their rights seem to slip through the cracks, say the lobbyists. This group is hoping some changes can be made. Legislators said they'd be in the Bay Area soon to continue talks.
MEMORY WALK: Memory Walk, a benefit for the Alzheimer's Association, will be held at Treasure Island on Oct. 2, starting with registration at 8 a.m. The top individual walker will win a trip and all who raise $500 or more can enter a drawing for a weekend getaway.
Whole families who have been affected by Alzheimer's often sign up to walk. Free shuttles will be available from the Embarcadero in San Francisco to Treasure Island. The number to call is 800/660-1993.
With a special eye on the action are the residents and staff at Cedar Creek Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Center on National Avenue in Los Gatos.
Some 54 people are housed there now and short stays can be arranged, too, from five to 30 days to give care-givers a break.
Suzanne Rutlin, community relations director, gets propositioned a lot, she says. Even though Alzheimer's victims forget most everything else, they don't forget how to flirt. To a newcomer in his '80s Rutlin said, "You're so cute. I could really go for you." To which he replied. "If you were 77, I'd look at you." Touché.
BALLET BENEFIT: An afternoon of Greek buffet and wine is in the offing for those who attend the San Jose Cleveland Ballet Council's benefit for the Betts Cartwright Memorial Scholarship Fund. The cost is $35, $10 of which is tax deductible.
The benefit will be at the mountain home of Linda Sarles, 18765 Bear Creek Road, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept 26. Entertainment will be provided by members of the Hellenic Traditional Arts Institute. Contacts are Cynthia Somora at 238-0337 and Marti Stewart at 650/941-8811.
GOOD OLD DAYS: Alan Sims owns a rental cabin across from the Toll House Hotel and this rental hasn't been redecorated for some years--55 to be precise, Sims says, abashed. During recent renovations Sims discovered old Los Gatos newspapers proclaiming "Roosevelt dies" and "Japanese fleet decimated."
"It's a kick to read them," Sims relates. "A house for sale for $3,500. Counter maid needed. And the comics are still funny." The papers underlay the cabin's linoleum. Local historian Bill Wulf says they should probably go to the Forbes Mill Museum, where such artifacts hang out.
FRIDAY FORUMS: For fine arts' action, look no further than the Los Gatos Library in October. Friends of the Los Gatos Library will again sponsor four Friday night programs begining at 7:30 p.m.
On Oct. 1, author/illustrator Joan Cottle and author/musician Martha Kendall will share tales about the anguish and delight of writing for children and young adults.
Slide show by Cottle and music by Kendall accompany their presentations.
On Oct. 8, a video overview of the work of Picasso, perhaps the greatest artist of the 20th century, will be presented. A Los Gatos art docent will lead the discussion. The docents received a grant for the express purpose of purchasing this video.
On Oct. 15, the Galliard Recorder Group will present a medley of music from early Renaissance to modern pop. Shakespeare himself would have heard something similar. This group is composed of some 12 members and is based in Los Gatos.
On Oct. 22, the Mystery Readers will impersonate their favorite characters from whodunits and discuss the authors of same. Look for a celestial Kathy Cusick, among others. And discover who's sleuthing within the Agatha Christie cloak.
BOOSTING EMQ: The three shops that benefit Eastfield Ming Quong announce a banner year in sales--$607,000, a $200,000 increase over the previous year. The volunteer-run shops are the Happy Dragon in Los Gatos, the Butter Paddle in Saratoga and the Unicorn Thrift Shop in Almaden Valley.
BYE BYE: Friends and colleagues bid a fond farewell to Kay Henry, who served as office manager, first at the Times Observer and later at the Los Gatos Weekly-Timesz, for a total of 20 years. The pompom girl of local journalism will be sorely missed. Her enthusiasm and joie de vivre lifted our spirits on the most dismal of days.
APOLOGIES: Apologies to Judi Snyder for misspelling both her names in a recent column. Snyder's artwork, watercolor depictions of France, is appearing in council chambers through Oct. 29.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
