Saratoga Sampler
Montalvo Service Group honors Louise Young's 100 years
By Mary Ann Cook
PERSONAL MILLENNIUM: Montalvo Service Group honored one of their former members last month with a party for her personal millennium. The honoree was Louise Young on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Young lives in a Sunnyvale extended-care facility.
Up until five years ago, she wielded a mean needle as part of Montalvo's Tuesday Sewing Sessions. Thus, it was appropriate that the birthday party be held on a Tuesday. Though a wheelchair is her primary method of movement these days, Young is very mentally sharp and an avid reader.
Young is mobile enough to be picked up to attend the party, which was held at the Spanish Courtyard at Montalvo. Organizing the potluck luncheon to honor Young were Steve (Mrs. George) Deshon and Christine Morgan.
When Deshon visits Young in Sunnyvale they reportedly share, not only memories but, a chilled pitcher of martinis. A good memory enhancer, verily. Young's actual birthday is September, but the July date meant that more Montalvo mavens could attend.
Young's daughter, Ann Mason, is a member of MSG, too, and was the impetus for Young's original entry into the group. The sewing circle produces articles for the annual Yuletide at Montalvo--vests, baby wear, dolls and table settings.
A multipieced fabric ball that is sewn together so that even a tiny child can grasp it is one traditional gift made. Another traditional gift is monkey dolls from khaki-colored athletic socks. One such doll went to Hawaii this year: Its creator wanted to work on it, even on holiday.
That traveling toy will be decorated with a lei and Hawaiian paraphernalia for the holidays. A loose-limbed doll upon which toddlers and preschoolers can vent their frustrations is called "the damn-it doll" by the inner circle, yet another tradition.
B & B: The Hakone Gift Shop is getting bigger and better, say those who work and shop there. Don and Fran Miller, Ralph and Helen Metcalf and Helen McGaffen started the shop 10 years ago with very little space. And it's grown since then.
Elaine and Esen Salter, Alice Skurko and Helen Metcalf are the buyers who scout for goods at gift shows twice yearly. Carolyn Tanner and Cathy Foscato staff the shop and oversee the other volunteers.
They say they can always use volunteers, especially on weekends. Call Tanner at 408.379.3006, and Foscato at 408.354.7159 to volunteer. Denise Martinelli is the main honcho for the gift shop. Whoops. That's not very Japanese.
But for something that is--the Japanese tea ceremony demos are held the first Thursday of each month at Hakone. For reservations contact Aiko Tauchi at 408.867.9133. A series of classes in the tea ceremony are held Friday mornings with Minako Tsuji. To register for the class, call the recreation department at 408.8681248.
MUSICAL REVUE: Planes, Trains and Automobiles and other Means of Transportation, a musical revue and auction, is set for Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Cox and Saratoga avenues. The evening benefits the Center for Wellness.
Mary Elizabeth Enman is director/originator of the revue. Formerly with Opera San Jose, she is a full-time vocal and drama instructor at the center. Other performers are Monica Bacon-Proctor, Lynda Fox, Michele Harnack, Alina Shah, Daryl Gaumer, and Megan and Sara Horner.
Kathy Smith is the piano accompanist and Nick Olivari the drummer accompanist. Unique to the revue is that the audience will have a chance to bid on the singers. That is, they can request that a singer solo on a particular number--for a fee. Each singer compiles a list of tunes they can perform if called upon.
This item follows the same format as any other in the auction, except that the prize comes over the ether. More tangible auction items will also be up for bid. The center, part of the church complex, offers a diversity of classes to promote both mental and physical health.
POURING IT ON: Artist Lian Quan Zhen will demonstrate his color pouring- and blending- painting process, derived from Chinese brush-painting technique, at the Aug. 12 meeting of the Los Gatos Art Association at 1 p.m. at the Methodist Church.
Zhen pours three primary colors onto paper and blends them for extraordinary effects. A former physician in Canton, China, he studied art and architecture in the United States. He has a BA in art from UC- Berkeley and an MA in architecture from MIT. His book, Chinese Painting Techniques for Exquisite Watercolor will be published by Northern Lights Press this fall.
MADDOG: Sheri Fox, daughter of Lynda and Steve Fox of Saratoga, is a metal sculptor at Cardiff by the Sea. She designs animals that would be at home in gardens or atriums--monkeys, iguanas and "goofy jungle birds."
Her Jackson the Iguana, was selected for the Artists Guild show at the San Diego Museum of Art earlier this year, one of 69 pieces chosen from 1,257 entries. Sculptural steel furniture, such as a Princess for a Day chair, is part of her collection, too. Her email is sheri@maddogmetal.com.
|
Saratoga, California Since 1955
