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Saratoga Sampler
Even city's opposing factions danced together
By Mary Ann Cook
LIBRARY SWING FEST: "Jump, Jive and Raise the Roof," the event designed to raise money for and consciousness about space constraints at the library, was a smash, agree those who attended and those who engineered the doings.
A construction theme set the tone with music and dancing in the library parking lot and cars lodged across the street at St. Andrews. With that theme in mind, the so-called general contractors were Ann Peterson and Cynthia Lee and the "architect" was Bonnie Stone. (She designed the invitations.)
The event was triple sponsored--by the Library Foundation, Friends of the Saratoga Library and the Library Commission. Some 45 volunteers helped out, including high school Key Club members and five members of the Le family--Thi, Tho, Thuc, The and their father, Minh Le. The family volunteers regularly at the library.
Four more $1,000 donors were added to the list of 15 patrons to the library, thanks to the doings, and the entire evening is expected to bring something close to $30,000 into the Library Foundation coffers. Wine was donated from seven area wineries, and a full dinner was served.
Pat Smith's Extravaganza catering did the dinner honors with carving tables set up in the community room. Donated wine came from Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards, Clos LaChance (Brenda and Bill Murphy), Cinnabar Winery, Conrado Cellars, Mountain Winery, Saratoga Hills and Trout Gulch. Beer and soft drinks courtesy of M.E. Fox Co. Inc.
A strolling barbershop quartet sang before dinner; local Zack Gill played keyboard; and swing dancers demonstrated their skills. "We loved the band," enthused Marcia Manzo, chair of the Library Commission, about the Lyratones.
Others who helped give the library's 21st birthday a big boost were Gladys Armstrong; Dolly Barnes; Carolyn King, outgoing Friends' president; Sharon Pearce; and Sally Towse, president of the Saratoga Library Foundation.
Towse acted as emcee, introducing past and present citizens of the year, mayors and councilmembers. And noted that even opposing political exponents were seen dancing together on this balmy, apolitical evening. The evening was dedicated to the memory of Ken Lee, who sparked the idea for the gala and who died early this year.
FOOTHILL SCHOLARSHIPS: The Saratoga Foothill Club recently awarded scholarships to two graduating seniors. Diana JiMin Kim won the $1,000 American Heritage Award for outstanding activities in social studies and James Brenner won the $500 Fine Arts award for his drama and music accomplishments.
Kim was co-president of Interact, secretary of CSF, speech and debate commissioner, yearbook senior section editor, co-president of Future Business Leaders of America and a member of the badminton team. She is the daughter of the Sun Mo Kims of Monte Sereno and will attend UC-San Diego this fall.
Brenner has been in five high school productions in the past three years, as actor, chorus member, assistant director/stage manager and as co-producer/director. He is also a member of the Saratoga High Marching Band, playing the tenor sax, and this year was the drum major.
He is the son of Elizabeth and Richard Brenner of Saratoga and will attend USC come fall.
The American Heritage Award was first given in 1962, and the recipient was Wayne D. Brazil, now federal magistrate of the Ninth Circuit Court. He is the son of Burton Brazil, the first mayor of Saratoga, and attended the awards luncheon with his mother, Helen.
PROUD PARENTS: More than 20 years ago these eight couples met when their sons played Little League together. As 12-year-olds these sons won the 1982 District 12 championship and as 15-year-olds they won both the 1985 district and sectional championships.
Through the years the friendship among the parents has thrived and grown, with the group getting together periodically and reminiscing about the glory days. The couples siring the stand-out ballplayers:
Joe and Lesley Balough, Frank and Sue Barrera, Bill and Mary Kay Breitenbach, Dennis and Dee Molahan, John and Kay Nora, Jim and Carol Schmidt, Skip and Linda Shaw and C.J. and Joan Stoll. John Nora and Jim Schmidt were the team coaches.
MOVIN' ON TO PEBBLE: The MacKinlays--Helen and Rod--have sold their Saratoga house and in short order moved to Pebble Beach. Avid hikers, they also have a more remote place in the Sierra, in a town called Portola. Hard life for the MacKinlays, but someone has to live that way to show the rest of us how it's best done.
Helen is a fine-art photographer; Rod a retired engineer for Seagate. The family lived in Singapore for seven years before moving back to the Bay Area. Friends should not find it much of a burden to go over the hill for visits.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
