Saratoga News Saratoga Sampler PenWest, Red Cross help needy for holidays Mary Ann Cook OPERATION REINDEER: Each year the West Valley members of PenWest Realtors and the American Red Cross combine forces to make deliveries of food and toys to needy families. This year the number served was 94--and college students home for the holidays helped package and deliver the bundles, too. Names of the recipients are selected from profiles drawn up by the Los Gatos and Union school districts, and by senior centers. For weeks individual real estate offices collect food and gifts. Scrips are included in the basket to provide perishable foods for the families. This year the scrips were redeemable at Safeway stores. The baskets usually contain enough food for about a week's supply of groceries. Frank Blaisdell was the coordinator between the Red Cross and the Realtors; Joan Donlon represented the Realtors; and June Sythe was chairwoman of the West Valley Advisory Committee of the Red Cross. "Participating in this makes my Christmas," says Sythe. Operation Reindeer also contributes money to seniors selected through the Jewish Community Center RECORD SETTER: Dorothea Bamford, longtime Monte Sereno councilmember, seems to have a habit of longevity. Not only was she a Monte Sereno councilperson for 16 years, now she may be setting hospital records. She's been hospitalized in Los Gatos Community Hospital since late August with fungal pneumonia and she's been in the intensive care or coronary care units most of that time, which may be that hospital's record for intensified-care stay. She was recently transferred to a regular hospital room, though, and is hopeful that a couple of months more will find her back home and ready to gradually pick up her old routine. That old routine would include the League of Women Voters, AAUW and, of course, stints on tennis courts, such as Courtside and the Saratoga Tennis Club. Right now she's laying plans for taking a walking trip to Ireland next summer. Does the word indomitable pop into mind? To show the seriousness of what she's been through: there's a 30-percent survival rate for that disease, says her daughter, Barbara Holden. "I knew she was well-respected in the community. I had no idea she was so well-liked, held in such affection." she adds. Bamford is too weak for visitors, but cards are always appreciated. Dorothea Bamford is not the longest sitting councilperson to ever serve Monte Sereno. That claim is held by Barbara Winckler, who served from 1973 to 92, according to city clerk Andrea Chelemengos. And that record will be toppled by Jack Lucas when he serves out his current term, Chelemengos reminds us. STORYTELLING ARTIST: Developing stories for teachers to help them nurture the classroom and help solve disciplinary problems is the task Nancy Mellon sets herself. Mellon is a teacher/therapist/storyteller who is director of the School of Therapeutic Storytelling in Concord, Mass. She's presenting her program "Hidden Treasures of the Human Voice: Storytelling as Household Art" at the home of Willys and Betty Peck Jan. 6. The program is part of the Kindergarten Forum, a program designed by longtime kindergarten teacher Betty Peck and her daughter, Anna Rainville, also a teacher. SEAL WATCH: American Youth Hostel at Sanborn Park will sponsor an elephant seal-watching day at Ano Nuevo Beach near Pescadero Jan. 10. Naturalist Mark Hougardy will lead a group, limited to 14, which will depart from Sanborn Park at 9 a.m. come rain or shine. Seals are actually more active in rainy weather. The cost is $10 and includes carpooling, parking and admission. The number to call is Mark's at 733-7393. Thousands of elephant seals gather yearly at Ano Nuevo, including newborns, pregnant females and mammoth males. LITTER CLEAN-UP: American Youth Hostel sponsors a litter clean-up morning for Highway 9. The group will meet at Sanborn Park at 9:30 a.m. Lunch is provided at the hostel at noon and a surprise is in store. In case of rain, the project is postponed a week--or more. Call 741-9555 after 7 a.m. if in doubt about whether it's a go or not. AYH also sponsors a gourmet dinner night Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Bombay Oven, 20803 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino. GREAT GETAWAYS: The Saratoga Community Center sponsors several trips a month called Great Getaway trips. It must be one of the most active community centers around. On the docket this month are a two-day bus trip to Reno/Tahoe Jan. 19 at 7 a.m., returning at 9 p.m. Jan. 20. Lodging is at the Silver Legacy and the cost is $61 double occupancy, $76 single occupancy. A one-day excursion to the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas is Jan. 23, departing at 8:45 a.m. and returning at approximately 6 p.m. That one is $59 and includes guide Audry Lynch, a Saratogan and an authority on Steinbeck. [ 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.