Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

Local Brits find ways to acknowledge the princess

ENGLISH MOURNING: Jan Petrucha put English mementos in the window of her Saratoga home and emailed condolences to princes William and Harry at the royal palace, while down the street Jill (she's a native Brit) and Robert Ebenhymer flew the British flag--all to commemorate the tragic death of Princess Diana. Jan went to the Britannia Arms the evening of the funeral to commiserate with other royal loyals but found few Brits there.

On a lighter note, Jan and her husband, Laddie, sprayed a 6-inch bell hanging on their front porch to get rid of wasps nesting there, but a couple of weeks later the insects were back. Just too good a home to vacate. Or was it a new generation? Granddaughters Chelsey and Heather Mahem spotted the return.

GRANDPARENTS GROUP: There's a growing social phenomenon among us--grandparents raising their grandchildren, often because their own children can't manage the job. Acknowledging the grim reality of this situation is the Saratoga Senior Center, which provides a support group for grandparents raising grandchildren. Here members can vent frustrations and share suggestions for coping. Leader of the group is Nadine Fralick. She's on hand Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 868-1257 or 868-1263, voicemail.

SOUNDS OF OLD JAPAN: They didn't see the moon--it came up after the group disbanded. But some 95 Sister City members (a record number for moon viewing) celebrated the Japanese custom of moon viewing at Hakone Gardens recently. Sake and bento boxes were part of the authentic Japanese menu. The bento boxes included one Western concession, potato salad.

The evening's highpoint was Saratogan Barry Weiss playing two different shakuhachi, or Japanese flutes. The centuries-old instruments, made of bamboo with five finger holes, produce a plaintive sound. What's amazing is that any sound can be produced on them at all, much less anything like the subtleties and range of notes Weiss can render.

One musically trained listener, Kerstin Stone, compared the music to a spider web--complex, strong and fragile all at the same time. The music, connected to Zen Buddhism, was developed as a series of meditations, and that origin remains: Something about it puts one in a meditative frame. "Playing each piece is a meditation into which the player aspires to become wholly integrated," said a handout from Weiss. He has played and researched this music for 20 years, traveling to study with many old masters. He finds that the concentration and control needed are an antidote for the other side of his life: president of Wizard Software.

ON THE RIGHT TRACK: Sometimes the slower, scenic route is the preferred method, and that's why John and Judi Gingerich picked Amtrak when they headed for his family reunion in Missouri. The scenery was outstanding, especially through Colorado. Another plus: a historian boarded the train to offer stories of the region throughout the Sierra. A similar guide through the Rockies would have been nice. Food was good, but they did run out. The Gingeriches debarked at Galesburg, Ill., where popcorn was invented, had some popcorn and hoped his brother had called ahead to note their three-hour delay. He had. Judi will plot Amtrak travel again, but her husband won't. She'll pick three bridge-playing buddies who understand the realities of train travel: beds and shower/toilet facilities dauntingly small.

PAPERBACK: The Friends of the Saratoga Library will hold their semi-annual paperback book sale Oct. 8-12. Hours of the sale: Oct. 8, 6-9 p.m.; Oct. 9-11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Oct. 12, noon-4. Paperbacks are 25 cents. On Sunday buyers can bring a paper bag, fill it with books of their choice and pay $2 per bag. After Sunday most of the remaining books will go to charities.

The rare-book auction will be Thursday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. "We've a remarkable collection this year," says Bernice Giansiracusa, past president. Rare books can be viewed at the Book-Go-Round from Sept. 24 to Oct. 5 and silent bids entered. Or check the Web site for book descriptions; the address is posted outside the Book-Go-Round. The Friends accrue about $4,000 from these sales. The Friends' first fall meeting will be on Oct. 6, 10 a.m. Susan Shillinglaw, director of the Steinbeck Research Center, will be the speaker.

SCHOOL KITS: Ten Thousand Villages, at 461 N. Santa Cruz Ave. in Los Gatos, has been open about a year and uses volunteer help so that more of its profits can go to the Third World artisans producing its crafts. In fact, shop manager Kim Martin figures from sales through the year that TTV has created full-time jobs for nearly 100 people. Saratogans who help there: Carolyn Burris, Ann Burris and Janice Spieler.

The shop is collecting school kits for children in poorly funded schools here and abroad. Customers pick up the kits, fill them with supplies and return them to the shop. The deadline is Oct. 15. Some 450 kits are filled and 500 is the goal. TTV is closed Mondays; their number is 395-9306.

[ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ]