Saratoga Sampler

Veteran of Broadway to see local 'Mame'

By Mary Ann Cook

TEA BENEFIT: The American Association of University Women Committee on Homeless Women and Children held its annual tea recently and Nancy Anderson and JoAn Lambert were the ones in charge--as they have been for some years. Anderson described the committee's success stories in retraining the homeless.

These included a woman who is now a nanny in England and bought a house there. Computer training is an emphasis at InnVision, including 30 workshops. A lively set of 10-year-old girl twins are living in the shelter and mentoring younger children. Preemies were recently born to another resident.

Anderson also personalized her report by capsulizing the co-chairwomen's recent travels: "JoAn spent three months in Nepal--alone--while I went on a strenuous wine trip to Salinas," she quipped. Servers at the tea were members of Saratoga High's California Scholarship Federation.

The students were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. One young woman said she intended to become the first woman president. Others ran the gamut from doctors to teachers to bartender.

Honored guests at the tea were Christine Burroughs, Maureen Denny and Judith Pelache of InnVision; Trish Crowder and Judy Vargas of the San Jose Family Shelter and Janice Barron and Marie Sol of Sunday Friends, a group that plays games, entertains and reads to the children at the shelter--on Sundays, natch.

Aid Association for Lutherans matched the first $800 raised at the benefit.

WINNING GYMNAST: Katelyn Shaffner, 14, won the state championship in gymnastics in April. She won first on the balance beam, first on the floor and first all round. Her next step was to the regionals, which covers all the Western states. There she placed fifth out of 75 in her category.

Next she goes to the nationals, since the top 20 are sent to the nationals. So fierce was the competition at the regionals, reports her mother, Karyn, that though she scored a 9.525 on the beam, she came in second. Katelyn is a freshman at Westmont High School. She has been competing since she was 8.

A bundle of energy, Katelyn went to a birthday party at a gym as a kindergartner. There a gymnastics coach told her mother she had talent. She had been bugging her family to take gymnastics for at least a year. Her father is Chuck Shaffner and siblings are Eryn, 13, and Kevin, 12.

SHS SPORTS BOOSTERS: Karen Fraser, Sarah Rothenberg and Shelly Newberry are the dedicated Saratoga High parents collecting choice auction items for the annual Saratoga High Sports Boosters auction/dinner on May 20, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Mountain Winery.

In the 21 years it's been on the scene, the event has raised more than $1 million. This strong support helps ensure that SHS athletics stay top rank. Tickets are $85 for dinner, served by Chateau LaCresta. Bidding wars often ensue between Len Perham, Marshall Howard and Bruce Black.

Some prime items this year are trips to Vermont in the fall and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Signed Sharks or Forty-Niner jerseys churn up spirited bidding. Big ticket items include 25 cases of wine from the Cinnabar Winery and the SJ Sharks President's Suite that holds 14-18 fans, easy chairs and couch. This last was again donated by Greg and Vicki Jamison. Greg is president of the arena.

Alums are always welcome, natch. Jana Galt is in charge of the silent auction. For tickets, call Sandy Lewis at 408.973.1655.

SISTER CITY ELECTION: Saratoga Sister City will meet at Hakone Gardens on May 18, at 6 p.m. to hear Pak Chan explain The Discipline of Tai Chi and for election of officers. The proposed slate is Joan Gomersall, president; Peter Marra, vice president; Phylis Ballingall, secretary; and Don Morgan, treasurer.

BROADWAY GUEST: Actress Janis Paige will be a special guest at the opening night performance of Mame presented by the Saratoga Drama Group at the Saratoga Civic Theatre on May 12. Paige played in the original production of Mame on Broadway, replacing Angela Lansbury.

Paige is perhaps best known for her role in Pajama Game. She has played in movies, TV and night club shows, as well as touring with Bob Hope's armed forces troupe.

Mame plays Thursday to Sunday through June 9. C. Michael Traw is director; Sheila Savage, choreographer; Pat Brown, musical director and producer is Roberta Savage. Tickets are $18 and $16. Call 408.264.3110.

DEAN'S LIST HONOREES: On the Dean's List at Columbia U. are Peter Carter and Rajesh and Sangeeta Das of Saratoga. Columbia counts seven Nobel Prize and eight National Medal of Science recipients among its faculty.

CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH: Montalvo Service Group offers a Mother's Day Brunch on May 13, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Villa. Catered by Pat Smith's Extravaganza, the brunch proceeds benefit the art center. Cost is $42 for adults. Call 408.961.5823 for more information.

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Photo: Actress Janis Paige to make guest appearance at the opening night reception of 'Mame'

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