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Saratoga Sampler
Cookie names keep pace with the times
By Mary Ann Cook
HOW THE COOKIES CRUMBLE: One of the choicest angles to this cookie exchange are the prize categories--the most traditional cookie, best international entry, freshest out of the oven, cookie with the most chocolate content, the Woman of the '00s cookie.
Every year the Mallet-Head Award is presented to the person whose cookie was the most difficult to make. For the 13th year, Joyce Malia of Saratoga cohosted the Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange for 30 former colleagues from Valley Med's Physical and Occupational Therapy departments. Everyone brings six dozen cookies and prizes are awarded.
A traditional cookie winner, Mary Fries of Los Gatos, noted that her chocolate crinkles have had several names over the years, reflecting trends. To wit: chocolate krinkles, seismic. snow-capped, el Nino, la Nina, wrinkled crinkles, Y2K. This year's label: dimpled crinkled chads.
This exchange even imports its own entertainment from Danville--Randy Graeme of the Bearitones. The Bearitones are alumni of UC-Berkeley and Saratogan Vic Ulmer is also a member. Randy is the husband of cookie baker Dawn.
Another Saratogan involved is Audrey Vaggione, who regularly attends the exchange. Cohosts were Karen McCord, San Diego; Rosemary Wylie, Pleasanton; and Mel Hagopian of Mammoth.
CHAMBER HAS ANSWERS: Connie Palladino and her husband, John, moved from Menlo Park to Saratoga more than a year ago to be closer to their grandchildren. Her daughter is Donna Reynolds, who lives in Los Gatos with husband Dale and three children. Donna teaches sixth grade at Santa Clara Christian. Their children are 8, 7 and 6 years old.
Connie also wanted to feel connected to her new town so, after a few months of settling in, she hied herself to the Chamber of Commerce to find out how she could serve. She and John worked at the ticket bank for Celebrate Saratoga!
Since there were some 33,000 ticket holders, they managed to connect with a passel of people that evening.
The Palladinos served on the membership and business awareness committees of the Chamber and are now the newest members of the board. Mrs. P. also joined the Saratoga Community Band as a flutist, an activity she's very enthused about.
She and John are soon off to Vienna for a 40-year reunion. She was an exchange student in Vienna and she and her then roommate are taking their mates on a return trip to Vienna, Salzburg and Augsburg. It's not only a reunion, but a significant birthday celebration for Connie. She's not saying which one.
Connie is a career consultant who maintains an office at her home on Quito Road and one in San Mateo at her husband's office. He's an insurance financial adviser.
NEW V.P. Ken Comee of Monte Sereno has been named vice president of sales for CollabNet, a collaborative software development company stationed in Brisbane. Comee was most recently with Exemplary Software, a spinoff of HP, as vice president of worldwide sales.
Before that he was vice president of sales in North America with Parametric Technology Corporation. He worked for Amdahl for 10 years and was ranked No. 1 sales vice president in North America, and No. 2 worldwide. Comee has a master's in business administration from London Business School and a bachelor of science degree from Santa Clara University.
DAFFODIL DAYS: Daffodil delivery isn't until March 26-28, but volunteers are needed now to distribute order forms and promote sales. Later on, volunteers will be needed to arrange bouquets and baskets, and help plan routes and deliver flowers.
Daffodil Days is a project of the American Cancer Society and the money raised goes to research, education and patient services. The DD hotline is 408.879.1032. Flowers are in bouquets of 10 for $10. Other special arrangement are $55 to $110.
The most popular gift is 10 daffodils in a vase delivered anonymously to a cancer patient. It's called the Gift of Hope and is available in $15, $25, $50 and $100 versions. Two Los Gatos volunteers are Patricia Gustafon and Taryne Logue. Both of whose mothers have cancer.
FREE CUTS FOR DISABLED: Free haircuts will be offered on Jan. 7, at Durand Hair Salon to disabled children. The shop is on Santa Cruz Avenue next to Expressions in Los Gatos. For reservations, call 408.354.1050.
PHYSABILITY EXPANDED: More branches of the Y have added a physability component to their programs since a cover story about the program appeared in the Saratoga News. In the physability program the disabled attend the same classes as the able bodied and volunteers often help staff the classes.
Dalia Nir is the director of the program, modeled on one she started in her last Y job in the south. The article added adherents to the program and had a bearing on the addition in other branches, we're told.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
