Saratoga Sampler

Saratogan joins a hunger strike at college

By Mary Ann Cook

STRIKE FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS: Elizabeth Walthausen, a Saratogan who is a student at Purdue University in Indiana, has joined in a hunger strike at the college. The students' goal is to convince the administration to join the Workers' Rights Consortium.

The students are encamped at Memorial Mall in the center of campus, but continue to attend classes. They drink juices and take vitamins and have been at it for more than a week as of this writing.

"Elizabeth has exhibited tremendous courage in standing up for her peace and justice ideals," said Purdue English professor Patricia Henley, who alerted us to Walthausen's participation in the non-violent demonstration at the school.

ANTARCTIC WILDLIFE: Doug Cheeseman will present a slide program on Antarctic wildlife on April 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Library. Cheeseman, a Saratogan, is a retired professor of environmental studies at De Anza College and active in the Audubon Society.

Since retirement he has led excursions to observe wildlife, particularly birds, in native habitats not found in the U.S. To visit Antarctica he chartered a Russian ship, and with his clients, toured the Falklands, South Georgia Island and the Antarctic Peninsula.

The presentation is sponsored by the Guadalupe Group, the local chapter of the Sierra Club. The public is welcome.

CRUISIN': Sometimes it pays to be a writer. Case in point is Audry Lynch. She and her husband were treated to a cruise, called Cruise to the Sea of Cortez, last month courtesy of Cruise West . Of course, Lynch did have to sing for her supper in a sense--she was the entertainment.

Which means she gave two or three lectures in the lounge that were piped into all the cabins. People would say the next day, "I heard you in my cabin." Lynch is the author of With Steinbeck in the Sea of Cortez and some of the sites mentioned she hadn't even seen.

One locale was Magdalena Bay where the gray whales from Alaska were birthing and feeding their babies. "I had never been to Laredo or Concepcion Bay. The seas are so pristine there.

To hear more about Steinbeck or the Sea of Cortez, the Steinbeck aficionado will be the luncheon speaker at the Saratoga Senior Center April 26.

SATIRICAL SKITS: Ann Dedinsky and the Dave Ward Players will provide the entertainment for the Wednesday lunch on April 19, at the Saratoga Senior Center. Are these two the Mike Nichols/Elaine May of our region? We'll have to attend to find out.

Their work, satirical skits originally intended for radio, will now be heard and seen.

OPEN STUDIOS: More open studios to view artists up close--these at Montalvo on April 23, from noon to 4 p.m. Artists Cheryl Coon and Cheryl Dietz will host from noon to 2 p.m.. At 2 p.m. Poets Glori Simmons and Brian Komei Dempster will read from their works in the Carriage House Theater. Composer Michael Twomey will present excerpts from his music.

EXHIBIT: A two-dimensional artwork by Dawn L. Hart-Kocsis is part of the San Jose Art League's current juried show, on display until April 28, at 1753 W. San Carlos at Shasta, San Jose. A reception for the artists will be held on April 14, from 6 to 9 p.m.

FUNKY FASHIONS: A fashion show that featured funky one-of-a-kind fashions was held in the Santa Cruz Mountain home of Susan Zerweck recently by the local chapter of the National League of American Pen Women. The creative clothes were the work of Oakland seamstress/designer Jerri Scaife and were described as very arty, very avant-garde.

COMMUNITY CONCERT: Coloratura soprano Erie Mills will perform on April 16, at 2:30 p.m. at Los Gatos High School in the last of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Concert Association programs. Mills, professor of vocal music at San Jose State University, is described as a dramatic and dynamic performer.

Selections will range from 17th century Handel to 20th century Leonard Bernstein. Accompanist Sharon Brook is also a member of the SJSU faculty. Mills won a Grammy Award for "Candide," has performed with the N.Y. Met, San Francisco Opera and La Scala.

OPEN HOUSE: Community Health Library of Los Gatos will hold an open house on April 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library is in the Los Gatos Community Hospital, 815 Pollard, but is a separate entity. Tours, refreshments and prizes provided.

FIGHTING ALS: The Charlie Wedemeyer Scholarship Awards dinner will be held at the San Jose Fairmont on May 17. Six high school athletes who have triumphed over adversity will receive scholarships that night.

The Charlie Wedemeyer Family Outreach was set up to assist those with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and their families. Wedemeyer, a football coach, is perhaps the longest-lived survivor of the disease. For reservations at $150 per ticket, call 408.358.4784.

Los Gatos High School senior Zoë Segnitz realizes her potential through volunteering

Photo: Saratoga School's Strawberry Park campus earthquake drill

Commentary: Spring offers mulch ado about nothing

Photo: Argonaut School's annual variety show

Obituary: Kimberly Barney

Saratoga Sampler

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