Saratoga Sampler

Bob Fest shows Saratoga's spirit of giving at its best

By Mary Ann Cook

BOB FEST 2000: It was Saratoga at its best, said dance doyenne Betty McClendon, responding to Bob Fest 2000, the fundraiser for Bob Williams held recently at Los Gatos High. The event, put on by Saratoga High alum chums of Williams ('80, more or less) raised $79,600.

Williams has a rare and aggressive form of cancer and the money will be used for alternative treatments his insurance doesn't cover. Bob Fest was a steady stream of musical and comedic talent. Williams himself opened and closed the proceedings with a robotic mime act.

He played Curly in Oklahoma while at SHS and has taught school for the past 10 years. Highlights included Ann Stone singing "It Had to Be You" and "L.O.V.E.," and Mike Gurley playing such great jazz that McClendon said she wanted to get up and dance. Also cited were John Boswell, one of the best pianists ever, and brother David Boswell on guitar.

There was so much noise, it seemed as though the entire audience was one big family, with everyone laughing and talking between acts. A big jam at the finale had everyone hugging Bob. Ed Solomon (who wrote Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure) could be an actor; he did such a good job in that role, Clendon said.

"We hope you're having as good a time out there as we are back here," said Stone at one point in the evening.

"The infectious spirit of the whole picture was so uplifting," said colleague Willys Peck. "As when [Williams] danced spontaneously with his wife." A thrilling evening, this Bob Fest 2000.

LIGHTER SIDE: I wondered where all the Saratogans were at the opening of the San Jose Museum's The Lighter Side of Art last week. Onlookers were periodically and plaintively asked, "Are you from Saratoga?" Now I know: They were all at Bob Fest.

But here's how a couple of Los Gatans responded: "Thiebaut's the best," pronounced Richard Gordon. That's Wayne Thiebaut, he of the rows of deli type pies and cakes rendered juicily in thick paint.

In the middle of one room in the museum is a robotic family lit up by electronics. Joe Bot's torso is reminiscent of green intestines, thanks to the lighting, while Marilyn Monrobot 2000's torso is lit in red. The artist is Clayton Bailey, who uses old appliances as well as other materials.

The dog in this grouping is Robot Pet, made of a vacuum cleaner that barks. "I wish I had a dog just like that. It'd be a perfect pet," commented Dan Rees.

FLYING HIGH: Gary Niva of Monte Sereno is a licensed pilot, who takes young people for demo rides as part of the Aviation Foundation's Young Eagles program. He has now given more than 400 youngsters a ride up into the blue in his plane.

The idea of the Young Eagles program is to help young people discover the possibilities in the world of aviation. The Experimental Aircraft Association sponsors the program, with the goal of introducing one million youngsters to flying by its 50th anniversary in the year 2003.

In his down-to-earth job Niva is a biology and chemistry teacher at Lynbrook High School. His son Eric is now taking pilot training. Gary's father was a crop duster in South Dakota, so Niva grew up with flying.

IN HAWAII: Paintings by vegetable artist Maryln (that's the correct spelling, D & C) Mori are on display at the Hapuna Prince on the big island of Hawaii. The hotel is next to the well-known Mauna Kea Hotel. The gallery owner is Amaury Saint-Gilles.

Saint-Gilles also represented Mori when he owned a gallery in Tokyo and she was living there. The 10-by-10-inch paintings are acrylic on canvas. Mori paints mainly vegetables and flowers. But these still lifes are anything but still: the objects appear to be in motion, moving off the canvas or coming onto it.

MISS TEEN: Saratogan Andrea Photopoulos will compete in the Miss Teen San Francisco pageant on Sept. 23 and 24. Andrea, 16, is a sophomore at Archbishop Mitty High School, makes good grades, loves to sing and assisted at the Saratoga Community Center camp this summer. She is the daughter of Cathy and Sam Photopoulos.

SECOND SKIN: Helen MacKinlay read from her new book, Second Skin, a combination of poetry and photographs, at a get-together in Saratoga recently. MacKinlay, a former Saratogan, and her husband Rod now live in Carmel.

The MacKinlays are avid mountain climbers and runners. One of the most memorable poems told of a fear-laden trek down Mount Shasta when a sudden gale and snow forced their unexpected descent. Rod thought they should go down the chasm of Avalanche Gulch to speed their removal. Helen thought it too dangerous.

"I shout my rage into the wind. I don't want to, but I follow because I want to be your shield from the threat of death, and ultimately, I want to be with you when death comes." A poem based on fear turned out to be a love poem.

AUTHORS: Saratoga's Authors Hall of Fame is now on display at the Book-Go-Round until Sept. 30. Some 117 names are posted and a display case is filled with books by locals.

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