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Saratoga Sampler
Memorial observances impart history to Saratoga youth
By Mary Ann Cook
MEMORIAL DAY: Members of the El Sereno chapter of the 4-H Club and local Girl Scouts gather the day before Memorial Day to make the laurel sprays they will lay on each veteran's grave the following day at Saratoga's Madronia Cemetery. There are 625 veterans in all buried at Madronia, from every war since the Civil War.
The sprays are part of the observance for as long as people can remember. The girls gather in the barn at Madronia to assemble them. A red, white and blue ribbon encircles it and two emblems serve as anchors, one with a flag, one with a flower insignia.
The 4-H group marches up Oak Street behind the veterans as they solemnly proceed to the cemetery after opening ceremonies at Memorial Arch. Lyle McCarty, WW II veteran, will be the principal speaker for the observance.
McCarty was a navigator of a B-24 bomber, flying out of Italy with the 459th Bombardment Group. He wrote a history of the group called Coffee Tower. The Saratoga High School Band and the high school chorus also take part in the annual event.
The 4-H participants gain a reverence for the day and their history, once they take part in the observance, relates El Sereno co-leader Deborah Lang. "I've heard 12-year-olds get up before a group and urge other children to go to the Memorial Day service," she adds.
"It changes them. They find a place within [themselves] and for the next few years this is what they have to do on Memorial Day. It gives them a reverence for those who came before them and paid a price."
MORE 4H ACTION: The local 4H El Sereno chapter has 85 young members and is not just about animals. The local 4H pursues such interests as community service, photography, macramé, computers and food. New categories crop up whenever a member takes an interest. The focus of 4-H is about leadership and sharing, emphasizes leader Deborah Lang. Her son, a senior at UC-Davis, led classes of 100 people in computer programming after his years of 4-H experience.
El Sereno meets at Westhope Presbyterian Church on Saratoga Avenue at Cox the third Wednesday of the month, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Vicki Bosworth is the co-leader and Annalisa Clarke, 17, is the president. Clarke is also the Youth All Star for the county, the highest honor accorded in 4-H work. As such she represents all the county chapters at ceremonies throughout the Valley, often astride her horse. Other honors were earned by the El Sereno chapter during its recent Santa Clara County Fair showing.
For example, the chapter won first in Poultry Showmanship, thanks to Sara Leisgang, 15; tops in Rabbit Showmanship by Ian Jones, 16; and first in Dog Showmanship, courtesy of Shelby Jones, 14. The large animals hadn't been judged as of this writing.
With the County Fair being held in May this year, youngsters must tend their animals before school starts, which makes for a very early alarm clock jingle.
NONPROFIT FORMING: A new chapter of the National Assistance League is underway and an invitational coffee will be held on May 31, at 10 a.m. at the Los Gatos History Club, 123 Los Gatos Blvd. National representatives will meet to explain its charities and benefits to the community.
Saratogans on the steering committee are Loretta Rosengarten, Mary Swentzel and Peggy Yetter. Others, mainly Los Gatans, are Ann Bennett, Jill Bess, Carol Garnett, Sonja Haws, Gail Hehir, Terre Hepurn, Angela King, Mary Landers, Sharon McCall, Becky McEntee, Susan Swartz and Gail Veeder.
Chrystie DeSoto is the steering committee chairwoman. Call 408.356.7376 for more information.
AUDITION: Auditions for Rumplestiltskin will be held at the Saratoga Community Center on June 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for grades 2-12. Shows will be at Wildwood Park on Aug. 5, 6, 12 and 13. It is sponsored by Saratoga Children's Festival Theatre.
Rehearsals will be Tuesday and Thursdays, 5:30-8 p.m. and some Saturday mornings. A $79 children's fee and a $40 adult fee is payable to Festival Theatre Ensemble if roles are accepted. Shauna Harris adapted the fairy tale for the stage and is also the director. Bruce W. De Les Dernier is the producer.
HIKES: Two Sierra Club hikes are set for May 28. One is to Pinnacles National Monument, a day hike within the remnants of a volcano. Call Teresa after 9 p.m. for information at 408.296.5821.
The other hike is the Fort Funston Dog Hike through forest and beach. Bring lunch and liquid for yourself and your dog; the dogless are welcome, too. Call Bob Wallace at 408.867.4576 for information. Next general meeting is June 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Library.
AT MONTALVO: The High Priest of Texas Swing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on May 25 at Montalvo. That's Clarence Gatemouth Brown, a 70-something who crosses his brand of blues and jazz with the Texas-Louisiana style. He's called red-hot and hard jumpin' but always sophisticated. And he's adept at multiple instruments--all at once?
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
