Saratoga Sampler

Teacher practices what she preaches

By Mary Ann Cook

THE GREEN LANTERN: Ariel Smart, who has been toiling in the writing vineyards for years and teaches composition and literature at DeAnza College, has a first book to her credit. It's a collection of 11 short stories, titled The Green Lantern and is published by Fithian Press of Santa Barbara.

Five of the stories are about a lonely little girl growing up in the Green Lantern Motel in arid southeast California. Publishers Weekly calls these tales "solid and appealing . . . quietly poignant . . . [with] bittersweet images of post-WW II California."

Smart's poetry has been published in literary journals, but this is her first prose publication. For the past five years she has hosted a writers' workshop at her home, which is led by facilitator Claire-Braz Valentine. Now those years of camaraderie and critiquing are paying off. The Green Lantern can be ordered at (800) 662-8351.

BRIDAL REQUEST: This bride and groom requested that in lieu of gifts, wedding-goers contribute to the library at Los Gatos Community Hospital as a memorial to the bride's father, who died of prostate cancer a few years ago.

A plaque was placed in the hospital library recently to commemorate her father, Edward O. Hook. And thanks to the generosity of the bridal couple, Mara Hook and Tobin Gabriner, the library added a new videotape, books and a series of pamphlets--about prostate cancer.

The entire Hook family used the Community Health Library located at the hospital extensively after Mr. Hook was diagnosed with the disease. "It's a wonderful library," says his widow Thelma Hook. "Very user-friendly. Lay people can walk right in and use it.

"There are no restrictions: You don't have to be a patient there or know someone who is. But people who use it are under extreme stress and Mike Liddicoat, the head librarian, knows exactly how to treat people in that situation."

The Hooks' other daughter, Taryn Hook, was also an avid library user, bringing books about the disease to her father so he could evaluate his treatment options. Incidentally, Thelma Hook is a hand therapist, one of the first in the field, and works in the Physical Performance Institute at Los Gatos Community Hospital.

The library contains 800-1,000 books and subscribes to 100 journals, Liddicoat says.

LIBRARY SPARKPLUG: Lynne Conde, who lived in Saratoga until three years ago, has become a mover and shaker in Rohnert Park, at least where a new library is concerned. Conde, a part-time nurse who also teaches Spanish, is spearheading a drive to ensure that a new library gets built.

Conde was an active volunteer in the Saratoga Library when she lived here. But when she wanted to contribute new children's books and computers to the Rohnert Park Library she found there was no room. Thus was her crusade born.

She traveled through the state at her own expense to research the building of modern libraries. Ultimately planners learned that $10 million could be borrowed through the local redevelopment district for the new building. The city council has approved it and the new Rohnert Park library is expected to be completed by 2001.

COMMUNITY OF PAINTERS: The Saratoga Community of Painters laid brush to paper at the Garrod Farms weekly from October into January, and the culmination of their efforts was held March 20 and 21 with an exhibit at the Fruit House on the ranch.

It's the 75th anniversary of the Fruit House, where dried prunes and apricots were stored before being shipped to market. Now it serves as the tasting room for the award-winning Cooper-Garrod Wines produced at the ranch.

The building was used regularly for box supper socials when Vince Garrod and Louise Garrod Cooper were growing up. It has also seen dances, 4-H and Scout meetings, riding instructor certifications and the ranch centennial.

"Vignettes of an Historic Ranch" was the title of the art show, and doyenne Jane Garrod is one of the members. SCP is an outgrowth of a Community Center watercolor class, and its facilitator is Judith Puthuff.

STEINBECK STUDY: A group of Saratogans are members of a Steinbeck study group that meets monthly.

The group journeyed to Salinas and Monterey lately to celebrate Steinbeck's 97th birthday. At the Salinas Steinbeck Center they saw a video biography of Steinbeck and met his son, Thom. In Monterey they toured Doc Rickett's lab and were entertained at Kalisa's La Ida Cafe.

Next to Kalisa's is the Wing Chong Grocery, also mentioned in Steinbeck's Cannery Row. The time warp was enough to "feel like Steinbeck could walk in at any minute," said Jack Mallory. Others at the tribute were Nancy and Doug Anderson, Anne and Bob Louden, Audry and Greg Lynch, Mary Jo Vitek, Louise Webb and Sue Mallory.

Photo: Former Japanese Prime Minister Mohiro Hosokawa

Joe Trio appears at Prentiss Brown Auditorium

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