Main Street
Debby Parker celebrates with her Lunardi's family
By Mary Ann Cook
BIRTHDAY: Every year since she turned 19, Lunardi's has hosted a birthday party for Debby Parker, now 34, and this year was no exception. The party was held one recent Saturday and everyone in the store sang happy birthday to the honoree.
Dottie Yarak of Lunardi's (at check stand No.3) is the one in charge of the event and it was her idea to begin with. "I'm the older lady," she says, "like the Eveready battery," adds one of her customers, "she just keeps going and going and going."
Lunardi employees bring gifts to Debby as part of the celebration. The Presbyterian Church, where her mother, Sherry, is a member, also sponsors Debby, by sending her to summer camp yearly. Debby has Down's Syndrome.
OUTSTANDING: Jeff Burbank, son of Nancy and Rex Burbank, recently received an award as the Most Outstanding Journalist in the state of Nevada. Jeff works for the Business Journal in Las Vegas and his book, License to Steal, a history of the gaming industry, was recently published by the University of Nevada Press.
He received his master's from American University in Washington. His undergrad work was at UC-Berkeley and he attended Leigh High School. Burbank is a familiar Los Gatos name: Rex, a retired humanities professor from SJSU, served on the planning commission; and Nancy, a nurse and an artist, was on the arts commission.
HAS A HEART: Barbara Roberts has had two heart attacks, two heart bypasses and two other heart surgeries, so has considerable understanding of dealing with that life-threatening crisis. Every Wednesday for the past 15 years or more, Roberts, a widow, has hied herself to Stanford Hospital.
There she acts as volunteer hostess for family and friends awaiting a loved one's return from surgery, serves coffee and tea, fetches the chaplain, if needed. Hours are flexible and volunteers are always welcome. The Stanford number is 650.723.6636
FULL TREATMENT FOR VP: We don't know which way the Preston Wynne political winds blow, but it was that Saratoga spa that massaged the taxed muscles of presidential contender Al Gore when he was in these parts for some heavy-duty fundraising with Elton John.
PW dispatched its body therapy manager, Dana Barnes, to give the v.p. bod a Hawaiian lomi-lomi treatment. Now that's being up close and personal to the body politic.
U-SAVE: Mike Hogan's realty business is called U-Sell$U-Save and his charges range from $1,950 at the bottom of the scale to $4,900 at the top--for any property over $800,000. He doesn't show houses, or hold open houses, but his services include everything else.
GIRLS RELAY WINNERS: Pauline Chow, Ali Rubnitz, Carly Stavis and Kaela Hoch ran in the girl-under-12 division at the Peckler Memorial Relay and came in first, behind two boys' teams. Since boys and girls teams were grouped together, they didn't get a medal.
They benefited the Peckler fund and posted a heck-uv-a run. Still, they're hoping next year's groupings will separate the girls from the boys entrants.
The relay teams that drew the most entrants were the Delta Gammas from Davis and the Los Gatos High School teachers, spearheaded by chorale director Diane Pleasant. A myriad of butterflies, donated by Magical Beginnings, was released at the end of the run.
Judy Peckler expressed her appreciation and Ashley Bening sang The Star Spangled Banner a cappella. The $25,000 raised will benefit CASA, A Place for Teens and the Teen and Family Counseling Center.
CERAMICS: Ceramic sculpture by Bea Garaidh and paintings by Joe Saxes will be on display at the San Jose Art League, at 1753 W. San Carlos. A reception for the artists will be held on Nov. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. At 8 p.m. Garaidh will read from her poetry, along with Lara Gularte.
Garaidh is part of the venerable Sund/Garth family, which settled in Los Gatos more than 100 years ago. She is also the one who has coordinated the monthly poetry readings at Cafe Rouge for the past five years.
ART FUTURE: Art in the council chambers takes a forward look in the next two months with its "Walls to the Future." Members of the LG Art Association are exhibiting their vision of the future through art on display until Jan. 12. A reception will be held on Nov. 3, 6-8 p.m.
Harley Newsom won the postcard design competition that was used for publicity for the show. Magritte-style, his design shows a plein-air artist in front of a landscape image that appears to be on a computer screen. The brush the artist holds has bristles shaped like a mouse.
BELLEEK BELIEF: A Belleek artisan will be in town on Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to appraise old pieces and sign new ones. The Emerald Isle native is Helen Elliott and she'll appear at Four Green Fields, 29 N. Santa Cruz Ave., explaining how the exquisite china is made.
Belleek is still made by hand in the village of Belleek, Ireland, and Four Green Fields has the largest collection of the same west of the Mississippi.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
