Saratoga News

Louise Webb

Animals help elderly feel better

As members of Pet Assisted Therapy, Bon Bon, a French poodle, and her Saratoga owner Sherry Schare go to Channing House in Palo Alto and visit monthly with senior residents. The residents miss the companionship of animals, and this fits their needs. For further information about the organization. call Pet Assisted Therapy Services at 280-6171. Star Sinclaire of the Sub-Acute Saratoga Hospital group adds that visiting animals temporily help take away patients' pain and agony.

Speaking of dogs, Sondra and Alex Goldberger's golden retriever Pelé celebrated his fifth birthday wearing a party hat at the International Coffee House and the Blue Rock Shoot. The Goldbergers handed out dog biscuits to Pelé's dog friends.

Former 49er football star Ronnie Lott has been spending time lately at the Blue Rock Shoot with his family. He says he likes Saratoga and enjoys activities in our city.

Brookes Brown is founder and president of the Grand View League, a branch of the American Cancer Society. The evening of Sept. 28, the league is putting on the Cattle Baron Ball at the Hayes Mansion in San Jose. Call 226-3200 for tickets. Some of the 47 Saratoga members helping include Barbara Bocks, Gail Bonaso, Winnie Chin, Noreen Christopher, Barbara Combellick, Gay Crawford, Anita del Grande, Kathleen Dirickson, Michelle Hanssen, Sherril Kenny, Gretchen Mair, Carol Murphy, Roxanne Peasley, Roxanne Peterschmidt and Toni Pinn.

Sharon Pao was walking around the Saratoga High track backwards the other day. She said she heard walking backwards keeps you from getting sore. The track still isn't paid for, and race director Cindy Tollivar says there will be a fun run/walk (two miles) Sunday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. Proceeds will go toward the track. Beautiful T-shirts designed by Karen Gareappololo will be given to participants. There are also lots of other prizes. Cost is $15 to pre-register and $20 on race day. Registration forms are at the high school and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce.

Author Isabel Allende will speak Sept. 26 at 7:30 in the International Student Center Ballroom at SJSU. Proceeds will go for "Paula" scholarships in honor of Allende's daughter. Call 924-6333 for information.

There was a packed house at the Saratoga Friends of the Libraries meeting to hear Gerald Uelmen talk about his book on the Simpson trial and the one-act play he wrote about Williams Jennings Bryan. Lynn Augustine was in the audience and shared a letter with Uelmen that Bryan had written to his grandfather.

The play Bryan will be performed Oct. 2-6 at the University of Santa Clara. Call 554-7883 for tickets.

Marta Dorman is working on a scholarship committee at SJSU.

Many Saratogans attended the celebration of the life of conductor-composer George Barati Sept. 15 in Soquel. Barati was former executive director of Villa Montalvo. His wife, Ruth, has taught yoga in Saratoga for many years. George died June 22 after a fall in downtown Los Gatos.

Chamber works by Barati will be performed at the UC-Santa Cruz Center for Performing Arts Oct 2 at 8 p.m. Call 459-2159 for information.

Sorry to hear about famous dancer Gene Nelson's death. He was best known for his role as Wil Parker in Oklahoma! Nelson helped direct Stepping Out for the Saratoga Drama Group on April 2, l993, which then-mayor Karen Anderson proclaimed as "Gene Nelson Day" in Saratoga. Nelson gave autographs at the post office that day and rode with Anderson and postmaster Charles Mirrione in a surrey with fringe on top.