Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

Classmates finally get to know each other

FRANCOPHILES UNITED: Jay Druian of Los Gatos and John Couch of Saratoga both attended high school in Chateauroux, France, in 1962. So when Couch came into Druian's French Cellar wine shop at 32 E. Main St. a few months ago, the two began to compare notes on memories of things French.

Eventually a Chateauroux yearbook was produced and--voila!--the two were on the same page. Though they barely knew each other then, they had mutual friends and similar adventures in France and have since become good buds, relates Sallie Robbins-Druian, wife and partner of Jay.

Couch, one of the first vice presidents of Apple, retired at 36 and is now CEO of Pangea Systems in Oakland. Druian was vice president for a major international insurance broker. Now he's turned an avocation into a vocation. The French Cellar has been open since April 21 and sells antique French stemware as well as wine and biscuits.

BEST YEAR: Saratogan Theresa Robinson and Los Gatan Betty Rogers open a two-person exhibit of their work at Gallery House in Palo Alto Aug. 25. The show is at 538 Ramona St. and runs through Sept. 19. Robinson constructs art from found objects, boxes them and labels them with wickedly witty names.

Rogers paints abstracts in watercolors. She describes her work as composed of memory, motion and energy. Robinson and Rogers are close friends and have exhibited together several times. A reception for the artists is scheduled for Aug. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the gallery's historic building at 538 Ramona St.

Rogers turned 80 in March and calls this the best year of her life. She quotes an anonymous poet: "When you're 80 people are surprised that you can reveal lucid intervals. At 70, people are mad at you for everything, but when you're 80, people forgive you for anything."

"If Georgia O'Keefe could have a show at 90, I can certainly have one at 80," she says with characteristic zest.

FINDING FOSTER HOMES: Here's an update on Lucy, the dog who gave birth to seven pups under a San Jose mobile home and was captured and rescued by the homeowner, his son and members of the Pet Network before the police could took more drastic measures. The pups were creating quite a show for the mobile-park children and caused the pup's mom to go ballistic, so the police were called. Fortunately, Lucy was coaxed into a trap when the homeowner's son put her puppies inside the trap and quiet reined by the time the police got there. Tragedy averted.

Cheryl Kleder of Pet Network was able to find a foster home for the family of eight, thanks to Laurie Freedman of Los Gatos, who postponed an East Coast vacation to care for the newborns and mother. Latest news is that Freedman is going to adopt Lucy, and homes have been found for two of the pups.

That leaves five to go. The dogs have received health checks and their second of four puppy shots and are dewormed. The dogs are a golden retriever/rottweiler mix and are 8 weeks old. A donation of $100 is asked. Pet Network number is 450-2452.

PUTTING ON THE DOG: In other canine news, the annual Our Lady of Fatima dog show is slated for Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. in the outside courtyard. In this show pets of staff or family members of some of the 73 residents of Fatima strut their stuff. Some dozen dogs are expected to compete, and the public is welcome. Prizes will be given in several categories. Last year's outstanding performance was turned in by Elma Tharp's granddaughter's dog. Tharp is in the nursing department of the facility. Debbie Nielsen is social services director.

NEW OFFICERS: Opera San Jose recently elected officers of the board that included Los Gatans Frank Veloz, president of Comptech West, elected vice president of finance; and Isobel Sturgeon, nominating committee vice president.

Hiro Yoshihara of Saratoga is a member of the board. As are Sharon Blasgen, Michael Kalkstein, Anton Musladin, Margaret Slemmons and William Siegel, all of Los Gatos.

SYMPHONY GALA: Joan Hackworth and Karen Krueger of Saratoga are co-chairs for the San Jose Symphony Gala, Shades of Blue, which is slated for Sept. 26. There'll be cocktails and dinner at Discovery Meadow at 5 p.m., followed by a concert at 8 p.m. at the Center for the Performing Arts.

The concert is all Gershwin--Porgy and Bess and An American in Paris, in honor of his 100th birthday. Then it's back to Discovery Meadow for dessert and dancing.

Joan Hackworth is secretary of the board of San Jose Cleveland Ballet and was one of the founders of the Tech Museum of Innovation. She and husband, Mike, are both symphony board members. Mike is CEO of Cirrus Logic.

Karen Krueger is v.p. of the board of the Silicon Valley Charity Ball Foundation and is its event chairperson. Her husband, Bob, is senior vice president of Centigram in San Jose.

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