Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

Winning can be just a matter of entering a contest

THE WINNERS: They didn't win the giant lottery, but Dolores and Raymond Siebert of Saratoga were winners in the Almaden Mazda Kia contest. All the Sieberts had to do was place their name in the drawing, and they won a weekend at the Highlands Inn in Carmel, including food and lodging for two days and nights and the use of a Mazda Kia for the weekend.

Dolores is no stranger to winning awards. Indeed, it's something of a hobby with her. After her six children were grown, she turned her energies to contests. Two years ago she won a Toyota; she won a trip to Hawaii through a call-in radio station. One of her most outstanding wins was a dream trip to Amsterdam--with everything taken care of. That one required more than just luck. She had to explain in 50 words or less why she wanted to go to Amsterdam. She obviously convinced the judges. With her kind of luck and perseverance, the Sieberts must not have to set aside much money for vacations. Dolores just has to sit down and put pen to paper.

HONORED: Ray Byrne of Saratoga was one of two board members from the Live Oak Senior Nutrition and Service Center recognized recently for his 25 years of personal dedication to the center. Lee Bowman, director of the Los Gatos Planning Department, was the other board member so honored.

The two men were in on Live Oak's inception and "worked tirelessly in many board capacities and hands-on repairs to provide for the physical and social needs of elders in our greater community," relates Marion Lyon, fellow board member.

Byrne has served as treasurer of the board and worked on various fundraising events through the years. He's been retired since '82 from his position as administrator of a small manufacturing company and is retiring again--this time from the Live Oak board.

PREVIEW SHOWCASE: The Showcase Preview Party to benefit the San Jose Symphony will be held May 7 at 6 p.m. at Rinconada Hills Clubhouse. Guests will travel in limos from the clubhouse to the Saratoga showcase home for the preview.

Then it's back by limo to the clubhouse for a no-host bar and buffet, a silent auction, champagne and cake. Tickets are $60 each, and reservations need to be made by May 1 by calling 378-2151. The showcase itself runs from May 9 to June 7, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., at 18450 Sobey Road. It's closed Mondays, except Memorial Day, and open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

Saratogans involved include showcase chairman Bonnie Radding, Joanne Holst heading up the fashion show, Lois O'Haren, treasurer, and Marie Low, publicist. Staffing the showcase house will be Nancy Daniher and Jo Ann Syvertson, among scores of others. Thirteen staffers are needed each day. Some 30 different designers worked on the house, and there are four different garden settings, including a waterfall, stream, country garden, herb garden and one planted specifically to attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

ATHENA AWARD: Rita McCarty will receive an Athena Award from the South Bay Alumnae Panhellenic at an awards luncheon at Los Gatos Lodge May 2. McCarty is incoming president and has served as vice president of the Saratoga Foothill Club. She has also been active in the Girl Scouts and school organizations.

A member of Kappa Alpha Theta, she has volunteered countless hours to her sorority alumnae group, as well as South Bay Panhellenic. Three Athena Scholarship winners will also be announced at the luncheon.

WHAT A CARD: Ryan Brenner is the only Californian among 51 finalists in the national Salute to Mothers greeting-card contest sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken and Family Circle. Ryan is a fifth-grader at Argonaut Elementary School and competed against thousands of other fourth- and fifth-graders throughout the country. Since Mother's Day is nearly here, we hope to hear soon if Ryan was a national winner.

GO, GIRLS!: U Go Girls is the name of the rowing camp sponsored by the Los Gatos Rowing Club over spring break. This is the first community outreach to be sponsored by LGRC. Club members Dani Nedom of Los Gatos and Rosemary Adamson of Saratoga teamed five girls from St. Andrew's School in Saratoga with 11 girls from Luther Burbank Junior High School in San Jose to teach them the advantages of team effort.

The girls themselves named the camp. The idea is to introduce at-risk youngsters to the sport of rowing and to give them an opportunity to work with others of different ethnic and economic backgrounds to accomplish mutually beneficial goals.

Local girls from St. Andrew's included Andrea Frangadakis, Natasha Sarkisian and Anne Richards. LGRC is focusing on developing its outreach program and is seeking sponsors for scholarships for further programs.

CHARITY BALL: Consuelo Underwood, development director of the Arts Council of Santa Clara County, hopes to have final figures tallied soon to confirm the fundraising success of the Silicon Valley Charity Ball. Past beneficiaries of the ball have included Canine Companions for Independence (for seniors living alone) and scholarships to Artcamp, a resource center for teachers.

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