Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

Youths give Saratoga City Hall a helping hand

Instead of whining, "There's nothing to do this summer," these three teens contacted Volunteer Saratoga and worked diligently for the city. Kevin Gazlay compiles statistics for softball leagues and provides volunteer relief for the city's main switchboard. He works a couple of afternoons a week and will be a sophomore at Prospect High this fall. Janet Ho, a word-processor dealing with the never-ending revisions to the city's emergency plan, says, "Volunteering is a fun thing to do." And then there's Jennifer Chen, the penultimate teen volunteer. She's been working for the city nonstop (not just summers) since '94, when she was 14 years old. She's a Jill of all trades: word-processing, reception and phone work. Jennifer says volunteering helped her overcome shyness, gave her leadership skills, sparked her interest in politics and helped her get into college. She'll go to UC-Berkeley this fall to study political science. She was twice named Youth Volunteer of the Year and served as Youth Commissioner from 1995 to 1997.

MEMOIR WRITING: Montalvo's Literary Arts Committee will offer a workshop in autobiography/memoir writing Sept. 18-Oct. 23. The six-week workshop, taught by Mary Jane Moffat, will meet Thursdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and is open to both beginning and experienced writers. Cost is $150, $140 for Montalvo members. Moffatt has taught at Stanford, SFSU, Cal Tech and Foothill, and is the author of The Times of Our Lives: A Guide to Writing Autobiography and Memoir, as well as three other books. For registration forms or more information, call Helen Mackinlay, 741-1908.

TATTERS, FLY FISHERMEN ALERT: Exclamation Point!, the Saratoga shop for embroidery and other fine needlework equipment, has added 500 square feet and a new window to its digs on Big Basin Way. "I can tell you I took out and put back 6,000 different bolts," says owner Lyn Dougherty, because that's how many different kinds of threads the shop carries. Classes are offered Tuesday mornings or afternoons by June McKnight, and a trunk show of three needle artists will be held through Aug. 16. The three are Susan Wallace Barnes, Linda Ragno and Jane Cather (Willa's niece). Embroiderers, quilters, weavers, cross-stitchers and fly fisherman all rely on the Exclamation Point!

Garden Party: Donna Padrick will host the third annual garden party for Gallery Saratoga Aug. 24. Easels and tables will be set up in the Padrick garden to display the paintings of some 28 artists. Featured guest artists: Kay Duffy and Maggie Blackwell, both watercolorists of Saratoga scenes. Everything from the representational to the abstract can be found here in paintings, pottery, jewelry, wooden turned bowls -- all for sale. Musical accompaniment (besides the sounds of paper being exchanged, as in paintings and money) will be by the Les Landin Skillet Likkers and Dale Walter and his jazz group. Food and wine? But of course. All this at 20215 Blauer Dr. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

HISTORY UP CLOSE & PERSONAL: Jo Ann Barter and Karen Schraga are TWA flight attendants who greeted VIPs at an opening party at the Smithsonian exhibit at the San Jose Convention Center. The event, hosted by TWA, offered a history of the airline. The two knew they'd be welcoming guests. What they didn't know was that they'd be part of the entertainment. Members of Clipped Wings, the organization for retired flight attendants, were modeling vintage flight costumes. But our twosome were the only ones in today's uniform, so when the narration reached talk of the present time, our heroines were called upon to come onstage in their Ralph Lauren- designed finest. Surely rising to the occasion can't be too hard for these high flyers.

Barter's appraisal of the exhibit: "There's something for everyone. It's impressive. You feel like you're part of history. It took 70 moving vans, all climate-controlled, to get these artifacts here." She mentions Abe Lincoln's top hat, Chuck Yaeger's leather jacket, Amelia Earhart's flight gear, the original Kermit the Frog puppet, Lewis and Clark's compass and the giant jewel called the Star of Bombay. So few cities are on the stop, we're lucky San Jose is one.

queue up for ícue: Sanborn Park Hostel's annual barbecue is scheduled for Aug. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m. On the menu: barbecued chicken, salads, bread, beverages and Peruvian music emanating from flute, drums and stringed instruments from the Andes. The event usually draws more than 120 people, who hike in the park as part of the day. Call in reservations by Aug. 22 to 741-0166. Cost is $7, half price for children.

SHAKESPEARE IN PARK: Merry Wives of Windsor plays Aug. 16 and 24; Treasure Island on Aug. 17 and 23; all performances at 4 p.m. in Wildwood Park. Tickets available at Saratoga Community Center for $12 and $8 or at that gate for $15 and $10. Call 868-1248. Festival Theatre Ensemble is the group responsible.

Grand Jury: Saratogans Patricia Ann Khan and Joanne Frances Michael are new members of the 1997-98 Santa Clara County Grand Jury.

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