Saratoga News News Briefs Decorate Saratoga winners named Results are in on the sixth annual Decorate Saratoga competition, in which folks from the Saratoga Retirement Community judge the seasonal decorations displayed on homes around the city. "They liked the homes very much," SRC's Joyce Davis said. "They had to make some tough decisions." First place this year goes to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allerio, who live at 14169 Okanogan Drive. The Allerios will receive a certificate good for dinner at Bella Saratoga for their efforts on beautifying their home during the holidays. The judging was so tight, Davis said, that two residences were tied for second place: Hank and Marsha Lawson's home, at 12375 Farr Ranch Road, and Tom and Linda Parker's, at 14126 Okanogan Drive. To honor their festive displays, each couple will receive a $50 gift certificate to spend at Orchard Supply Hardware. A bus carrying 19 seniors cruised the streets of Saratoga on the nights of Dec. 14 and 15 to judge the seasonal displays. Quarterly business meeting announced The Saratoga Business Development Council is back in business, and will meet Jan. 26 at the Saratoga City Hall. Members of the local business organization, founded several years ago by former mayor Don Wolfe and local merchants, decided last year to reduce the number of times the group met from once a month to once a quarter. The group held its first meeting since last spring on Nov. 24. Ironically, the decision to reduce the number of meetings was made because of the group's previous success, not because it lacked things to do. "Largely, the decision was made because the visions and projects of the council were already in place," Wolfe said. According to Wolfe, several smaller committees formed by the SBDC for specific projects--such as TEAM Saratoga, to research and present ideas for the city's sign ordinance; and the Market Days Committee, to spearhead the city's farmers market--were also already up and running and, well, taking care of business. The SBDC is made up of local merchants and city officials, including staffers and councilmembers, and its meetings are open to the public. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 6, 1999. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.