Los Gatos Weekly-Times Main Street Mary Ann Cook Russian visitors mixed business with pleasure HOSTING THE RUSSIANS: The Russians came, saw and conquered the Rotarians with sincere appreciation of everything their hosts had arranged for them. The idea was to acquaint these visitors in the telecommunications industry with how it's done over here. "You're brave to start your own business in the midst of economic chaos," one Rotarian at a recent lunch meeting said. Promoting international friendship and understanding was the goal and inherent message of the visit. Though visits to various local businesses were the main objective, there were lighter-hearted moments on the schedule too, such as a swim party at Adu Bagley's. There it was discovered that both hosts and guests shared a fine appreciation for vodka. Lloyd Grant was the chief Rotarian responsible for the project. POUNDS AWAY: Here's a weight loss that's a stunner. Brother Norbert Korte, S.J., he of the Sacred Heart Jesuit Center and the Los Gatos Lions, has lost 117 pounds. That's more than fellow Lion Carol Musser weighs in toto. How did he do it? With a fasting program called the Health Management Resource Plan, he tells us. He goes to Sunnyvale for the program, and gets a health checkup weekly from a doctor, a nurse and a dietitian. And he picks up his supply of packets of minerals and vitamins that sustain him through the week. On this plan he can drink water, coffee and calorie-free soft drinks. Nothing else. Well, O.K., maybe a bouillon cube if body salts are low. Brother Norbert started this regime Jan. 12 and is now at his goal, so for the next 18 months he'll be on a maintenance program. No bells, whistles or fancy footwork involved with the maintenance plan, either. Strictly a balanced diet. There's also exercise involved. In his case, a rigorous ride on a Health Rider machine for 30 minutes daily. Motivation isn't hard to maintain on this fast, he claims, because you can see the results: the pounds start falling off immediately. And that's motivation enough. Brother Norbert went through the same program before--a couple of years ago. This time it's going to stick. HORTICULTURAL HONOR: Longtime Los Gatos nurseryman Ed Carman will be honored in Oakland Oct. 18 by the western chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society. Carman was chosen to be the horticultural representative for an oral history transcribed and published by the Bancroft Library of UC-Berkeley. The lifelong nurseryman was honored with the Pacific Coast Nurseryman's Award from the Nurseryman's Association a couple of years ago. And that's why his name was proposed for the definitive oral history of horticulture sponsored by the university's library, he conjectures. Suzanne Reese of the library conducted the interview. Carman will be presented with a copy of the book he helped create at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland. Carman owns Carman's Nursery on Mozart Avenue, as did his father before him at a different location, where Cosentino's now sits. PROCLAMATION: Artist Nancy Burbank of Monte Sereno was presented with a Proclamation of Appreciation from the City Council of Monte Sereno for the loan and display of her art work, which has hung in Council Chambers for the past three years. Burbank's painting, Mountains, Hills and Beyond, was the first to be loaned for display and thus began the practice of exhibiting the work of local artists at City Hall. Burbank was on the Los Gatos Art Commission for four years and had a one-person show at the Tait Museum in '85. HISTORIC: We and Our Neighbors, the oldest women's club in Santa Clara County, will feature a League of Women Voters member at its Oct. 18 meeting at 1 p.m. The topic is the November election and visitors are welcome. The historic clubhouse is also available for rentals, reminds Ramiza Dahlin, president. Call 377-1463 or 267-8175. MEMORIAL: The Peckler Memorial Relay will be run at 8 a.m., Oct. 18, at Lexington Dam. Money raised goes to CASA, A Place for Teens and The Teen Counseling Center of the West Valley. The event memorializes Jim, Jill and Jeff Peckler, active in local youth groups, who were killed in a tragic auto accident. For run details: 356-1858 or 358-4915. FRIDAY FORUMS: Genealogy research is the topic for the Friday forum at the library at 7:30 p.m., part of the library's centennial celebration. Other Friday presentations in the series are children's authors of Los Gatos Oct. 23 and Los Gatos poets Oct. 30, both at 7 p.m. HALLOWEEN PARTY: La Strada will hold its second annual Halloween party Oct. 31. Those who wear a costume will receive a free piece of pumpkin tiramisu. The costume contest takes place at 9 p.m. and the music begins at 9:30. To reserve a spot: 395-5704. PRIMO PRIMAVERA: Cafe Prima-vera, owned by Joanna Biondi of Los Gatos, is the bistro chosen as food purveyor for the Tech Museum of Innovation at Park Avenue and Market Street, San Jose, scheduled to open Oct. 31. The original Cafe Primavera is in Willow Glen and features soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas, pizzas and desserts. Greg Russi, formerly of Piatti and Paolo's, is executive chef. [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, October 14, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.