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Saratoga Sampler
Italian-American organization honors Saratogan
By Mary Ann Cook
HERITAGE AWARD: Bianca Solvi Macchi of Saratoga was one of four honorees at the first annual Achievement Awards Gala held by the Italian American Heritage Foundation in August. Before her retirement, Macchi owned her own travel agency, Bianca Travel Service in San Jose near O'Connor Hospital.
As a native of Rome, she specialized in tourism to her native land. The Italian government awarded Macchi the title Il Capo del Cermoniale Diplomatic della Republico Italiano in 1993 for her work on behalf of tourism. She also was named a "comandatori" by the Italian government.
In San Jose she worked closely with the Italian vice consul. He even had an office in her office. "I always helped out with passports, teaching English" to newcomers to the country, she says. Earlier, as a young woman in her native land, she had been very involved in volunteer service, too, particularly in health matters.
"Helping out poor people" was part of her makeup then, just as helping out newcomers became later. Macchi helped plan the Italian-American participation in the bicentennial celebration of the United States. From this group emerged the Italian American Heritage Foundation.
The foundation sponsors fundraisers and social and cultural events. Macchi is married to Ernie Macchi, and the couple met when he was stationed in Rome during WWII. They have two sons, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, all of whom gathered for the festivities.
The other honorees for the evening were Henry Shiro, Albert J. Ruffo and Frank Fiscalini. Proceeds from the $80-per-plate dinner will go toward scholarships, language classes and expanding IAHF facilities to eventually include a museum.
IRONMAN QUALIFYING CONTEST: Craig Hartsell, owner of the Saratoga Bike Shop, was one of the entrants in the Ironman Triathlon qualifying round held recently in Penticton, British Columbia. Besides testing their mettle and endurance, entrants were also competing for a berth in the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii in October.
Most participants enter as a personal challenge, rather than for a chance to compete for international glory, says Peggy Marcucci, another local entrant. The grueling workout is made up of 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking and 26.2 miles of running. I'm worn out just visualizing something that physically demanding.
Hartsell trained 15-20 hours weekly for the past year, aided by three coaches. "I had to learn to swim [competitively]", he says. Covington School pool in Los Altos was his training ground and Scott Shea was his coach.
Other coaches were Eric Barkey, a private triathlete trainer of Los Gatos, and Pete Kain of Kain Performance Center at the Almaden Valley Athletic Club. Hartsell entered this year's Ironman Canada competition after viewing the marathon event last year.
"Someone gave me tickets and I got hooked, and signed up on the spot," he says.
It's a growing phenomenon, this triathlete business. There's a Silicon Valley Triathlete Club of some 240 members and it's only been in existence for a year. And there are widely differing ages. "One guy is over 70," Hartsell said. Hartsell, 38, competed against others in his age group at the Canada Ironman.
IN GUATEMALA: Dr. Barry Politi will be serving part of his residency in Guatemala for two months practicing rural medicine. This is his second year of a three-year residency in family practice at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, S.C. He is working on his thesis for a master's degree in public health.
Politi, a Saratoga High grad in 1987, earned his bachelor's degree at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, and his master's in science and his medical degree at St. George's University in Grenada. His email address is politi@aimnet.com.
HAVE A HEART, ECUMENICALLY SPEAKING: Sacred Heart Church of Saratoga has once again opened its doors for Shir Hadash of Los Gatos. Shir Hadash will be holding its High Holy Days services in September at the Saratoga Church, as was the case last year.
The needs of the rituals involved in Rosh Hashanah, Sept. 10 and 11, and Yom Kippur, Sept. 19 and 20, demand a facility of a size that Shir Hadash doesn't have. Linda Allen, a member of Shir Hadash, says the Ritual Committee brainstormed and made the calls to come up with an appropriate venue. Melanie Aron is the rabbi at Shir Hadash.
ALUM ALERT: Sandy Paulson Moore, president, wants to remind all who qualify to join the Los Gatos High Alumni Association. A volunteer is needed to oversee the twice-yearly newsletter, and updates about alumni and news of reunions are always welcome. Moore's number is 354-1512.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
