Main Street

Women are the focus-literarily and politically

By Mary Ann Cook

AMONG THE NOMINATED: Los Gatos author Margaret "Mardi" Murphy was among the nominees for the 1999 Women of Achievement award this year. Murphy is the author of Hidebound, the Economics of Native American Women, a poetry collection. She is one of the founders of the literary periodical Squeezebox and the literary press Paper Tigress.

The umbrella organization she helped establish, called Women Inc., led to the creation of a rape-crisis center, a battered women's shelter, a feminist art gallery and the newspaper Equal Times. She has held leadership positions in the National Women's Caucus, the League of Women Voters, AAUW and the Women's Fund.

NUMBER ONE: The Pop Warner Cheerleaders are posting a winning tournament season, even qualifying to compete in the national championship. So far, the Tiger Team has taken first place in three events--the Invitational Championship, Conference Championship and Regional Championship tournaments.

These successes qualified the team to compete in the national competition in Orlando, Fla. There are 43 girls on the Pee Wee team, ages 8-11, providing football and cheer for children in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno and Campbell.

The head coach is Holly Rodriguez, and the team business manager is Patsy Mercado. This is the first time the Pop Warner Cheer team has advanced to the finals. Although the group is back from Florida by now, it was not known at press time how the girls fared. We'll keep you posted later on the Florida results, though, rest assured.

A WAY WITH WATERCOLOR: Los Gatan Amy Konsterlie sees to it that there are paintings at 29 East Main, the restaurant and the address. Her own watercolors and pastels are there this month, along with the work of Dennis O'Connell, whose photos depict locales from New York to Egypt.

Konsterlie teaches art at so many different locales, it's a wonder she keeps them all straight, but she says they rarely overlap. She can be found at Hakone Gardens, Los Gatos High School, the Neighborhood Center, NOVA alternative school and anywhere in town the GATE program is offered.

Come Jan. 13, she'll be teaching at Los Gatos Art Supply on Thursday mornings for six weeks. Maybe you can catch up with her there. Konsterlie is a member of the Los Gatos Art Docents, which set her in the direction she now goes--teaching art.

She is also a member of the Los Gatos Art Association and the Santa Clara County Watercolor Society. All these changes of places and people keep her fresh and striving to find new ways of teaching, she says. Her daughter, Erin, is a sophomore at Los Gatos High School, and her husband is Larry Campagna.

CLOSE CALL: The cupboard was getting bare at St. Luke's Pantry because the Salvation Army had cut off its usual contribution to the church's food bank. But just in time, proceeds from Ira Spector's book about homelessness, Last Chance, came to the rescue.

The $500 realized from the sale of his book one weekend at Border's helped fill the coffers for the pantry and avert the bare cupboard. Jo Griner manages the pantry that feeds the disadvantaged at St. Luke's.

PREVIEW: The Women's National Book Association lists three Los Gatos authors of fiction in its annual fall preview list. The first is V.E. Rosswell, whose book is Into the Deep--The Haven, published by Archipelago Press. It's a "fascinating exploration of a perfect crime to accompany the unraveling of a maddening puzzle," the association's press release says.

Next is Loretta Scott Miller's A Ride on the Trojan Horse, published by 1stBooks Library. This murder mystery is set in Santa Cruz, where an environmental group, the local underworld and a wealthy restaurateur are all pieces of the puzzle.

Third entry is Shannon Hollis' Strictly Business in Secrets, Volume 5, from Red Sage Publishing. This volume is subtitled The Best in Women's Sensual Fiction. The heroine wonders if she can get the love she craves from a man married to his career, or would that pursuit mean a career failure for her?

The association's San Francisco chapter promotes local authors and contributes books to the Child Witness/Victim program, Laguna Honda Hospital and the Elizabeth Fry Center.

STOMP VICTOR: Another Los Gatan grape-stomp winner was Joe Castellucci, who won the grape stomp contest in Reno sponsored by Eldorado Hotel in 1995. He was a KARA radio personality, who died in May of this year. His widow is Audreyanne Shuman, a fifth-generation Los Gatan. (There's a rare description.) He was the son-in-law of Elayne Shuman, our informant.

Joe Castellucci credited his size 13 shoes with his grape stomp win, and Elayne relates he was always "very proud of his fun accomplishment."

OPEN SPACE HIKES: Three Midpeninsual Regional Open Space District hikes are offered on Dec. 18, including this witty one: Fleas Navidad Dog Hike at Pulgas Ridge, from 9 to 11 a.m. It's a three-mile hike. Dogs must be on leash, and reservations are required. Other hikes that day: Stevens Creek Shoreline and Skyline Ridge. Info number is 650.691.1200.

Photo: Newborn Camel

Ferries are practical for crossing the Bay

Photo: West Valley College fashion class

Wedding: Ashleigh and Trevor Coffeng

Picture from the Past

Sports Briefs

Los Gatos shot down in shootout

Ryan, Blevins lead Gatos to soccer win

Veteran frosh-soph football coach Scott Downs steps down

Photo: Fisher Middle School girls basketball team