Saratoga Sampler

Docent discovers that one thing leads to another

By Mary Ann Cook

DECENT DOCENT: Harry Cornbleet has the distinction of being the Decent Docent for 1998-99. That's the highest accolade the Midpeninsula Open Space District awards its docents. Cornbleet will relinquish the commemorative rock come summer to the next DD recipient.

But he won't relinquish his docenting duties. Because those "have given me a whole other life and an expanded family of nature lovers," he says. "I've learned so much." Docents do a lot of research before their hikes, and they also learn from other docents. "More than from books, I'd say."

After hikes people often ask him if he's a geologist (Earthquake Walk) or a botanist (Aromatic Plants Hike) or an astronomer (Equinoxes and Solstice Walks). The answer is no. He's a doctor, an internist for Good Samaritan Hospital. If he can find time to be a docent, can't we?

Cornbleet got hooked when he discovered and explored the Fremont Older Preserve and "felt like a kid again. I went on a [docent-led] hike, picked up a brochure, and noticed a docent training class was beginning. My wife (Joanne) said 'Go for it,' and I'm happy I did."

Besides acquiring nature-loving friends, it's led to other docent duties. He's also become a docent for the Judah-Magnes Jewish Museum in Berkeley, talking on such subjects as "Chicken Soup and Other Miracles," and "Against the Evil Eye, Magic and Folk Beliefs in Jewish Tradition."

Though the museum furnishes a script and slides, there is still research to be done for these talks, too. For his Open Space District talks Cornbleet creates props from Styrofoam and cardboard to better explain the shifting of tectonic plates, the earth in cross-section and the relationship between earth and moon.

Evaluation sheets are handed in by participants after the hikes. Besides being called an excellent speaker, informative and fun, some of the other comments said: "He's a treasure." "The best program we've experienced." And, "If he's not paid for this, he should be."

SHADES OF A PIONEER PAST: Members of Bev Myers' dance aerobics class created a friendship quilt for their instructor by creating 65 individual squares. Each member embroidered, cross-stitched, tatted, glued, or painted individual 7-inch squares of cotton material to represent something about Myers or about themselves.

Flo Sutcliffe held a workshop in her Monte Sereno home for those working on squares. Then the pieces were assembled into a cohesive whole, thanks to the expert needle guidance of Sandy Ferrill. Leslie Dinette was one Los Gatan who helped in the final process--sewing the quilt together, adding the batting and handling other details.

The finished product was presented to Myers at a surprise ceremony at the Santa Clara Senior Center, where Myers also teaches. Her Los Gatos class meets at the Los Gatos Recreation Center three times weekly. It was hard to find a dry eye in the admiring crowd.

Myers, a wellspring of enthusiasm and joie de vivre, is a beloved instructor now undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer. She lives in Saratoga with her husband, Frank, who himself underwent cancer treatment last year. Treatment was evidently successful, since he's scuba diving in the Caribbean as I write this.

CELEBRATE SARATOGA: The Peck family marked daughter Anna Rainville's birthday recently by celebrating Saratoga along with the natal day. Willys, Betty and Anna, plus granddaughters Sarah, 9, and Merina, 6, played tourists in their own town.

The quintet walked into town, picked up gifts (which had already been picked out and packaged) for Anna along the way from local merchants and ended up at the Inn at Saratoga where they spent the night. Dinner was at a nearby restaurant.

"We stayed in the Joan Fontaine suite. It was lovely," says Betty. A fitting choice since the Pecks are all avid thespians, including actor/teacher son Bill. Anna teaches kindergarten at Lakeside School.

VOLUNTEERS CELEBRATED: The Meadows in Los Gatos celebrates Volunteer Recognition Day with a reception April 24 at 3 p.m. in the multipurpose room. Honored will be Meadows residents, adult volunteers and 32 high school students. Los Gatos-Saratoga High School District Superintendent Cindy Ranii will be a guest.

Students help out at the Meadows by escorting residents to in-house activities, such as movies; by writing notes; reading aloud to residents; or running errands, says Paul Hager, the Meadows' activities director coordinator of the volunteers.

"I don't know what I'd do without them," he says. "Some come nearly every day, and most come two or three times a week." Saratogans to be honored include students Mozhdeh Rastegar and Elyse Driscoll and adult Jane Hamel.

ON JEOPARDY: Paul Marchegiani, a Los Gatos High School grad of '95, has qualified for the College Tournament division of the TV game show Jeopardy which will air the week of May 3.

Paul was selected from 28 finalists.

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