Saratoga News

Photograph by Louise Webb

Klaus Pache (left), owner of the Plumed Horse, and chef Patrick Farjas prepare food for the homeless.

And now the good news

There seems to be so much bad news in the papers these days. I am pleased to report a lot of good deeds Saratogans are doing. Several well-known Saratoga restaurants have continued to donate dinners for at least 60 persons once a year or more to the homeless shelter at the Julian Street Inn in San Jose, a part of InnVision of Santa Clara Valley.

Warren Nelson, a Saratoga Presbyterian Church volunteer, coordinates the donations. It was his idea back in l992 to get the restaurants involved. Saratoga restaurants participating include Bella Saratoga, Florentine Trattoria, La Mere Michelle, Mandarin Chef, Le Mouton Noir, Jake's, Viaggio Ristorante and the Plumed Horse. Dolce Vita and Sent Sovi plan to join the effort in the future.

Klaus Pache, owner of the Plumed Horse, says, "It is terrible for anyone to go hungry, especially in America, where there is an abundance of food."

The Presbyterian Church in Saratoga has been very active in aiding the homeless. Members help deliver the restaurant food monthly to the Julian Street Inn. They also deliver other fresh meals monthly and collect clothing and cans of food on a regular basis. Dr. Richard Spencer, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, says his members are honored to share with those less fortunate. "It is good both for the giver and the receiver," he points out.

Jan Bernstein, InnVision's community relations coordinator, says other local churches participating in helping with the homeless financially or with food are Prince of Peace, Saratoga Federated, St. Andrew's, Congregational Beth David, Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sacred Heart, Grace United Methodist, Ascension and Immanuel Lutheran.

Marjolaine Bakery and the French Roast Coffee of Saratoga are also participants in the InnVision program. Bernstein says, "The people receiving the food are most appreciative. It shows them they aren't forgotten and that others care." If you wish to participate, call food service coordinator Lourdes Pollard at 271 0825.

Other News: Saratoga resident Jerry Ditto, president of Eichler Homes Realty Inc., was a guest speaker last month at an international conference in Boston. He spoke on "The Courtyard House and Urban Fabric." Ditto is co-author of the book Eichler Homes: Design for Living, published last year by Chronicle Books in San Francisco. The Eichler home received national and international attention after the book was published.

Sister City members are back from Muko, Japan. Mayor Gillian Moran says she was treated like royalty and that every day was better than the last. One of the highlights of the trip, organized and led by John Tauchi, was the day in Muko, with the official ceremony at city hall and a home dinner with Muko Sister City members. Muko members also held an elaborate Sayonara Party for the group. The Saratoga Sister City Group also visited sights in Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa, Miyajima, Hakone, Mt. Fuji, Tokyo and Seoul, Korea.

Last month's Silicon Valley Charity Ball was an outstanding success. Some $75,000 was raised for charities. Saratogan Karen Krueger is vice president of the foundation and was chairwoman of the ball. Her sons, Brian and Kevin Krueger, flew in from the University of Texas to help their mom. They wore colorful clown costumes and were a hit at the evening's festivities. Other Saratogans involved in the event were Lori Fox, foundation president; Nick Streit, treasurer; board members J.P. Puette, Lynne Streit, Mike Fox Jr.; and committee member Bonnie Radding.

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