Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

Octogenarian makes downhill trek at own speed

GLACIER POINT OR BUST: Elinor Vaughan, 81, finally got her wish--a ride up to Glacier Point and a determined walk down it. She's been bugging Kim Saxton-Heinrichs of the Saratoga Recreation Department for years to include Glacier Point in the rec department's trip to Yosemite. And this time Kim complied.

The reason Vaughan was so persistent was that she wanted to hike all the way down from Glacier Point to the Valley floor. And she did it. She completed the tortured and slippery 4.8-mile trip at her own pace. For the octogenarian it was a 612-hour challenge, so she didn't make it back in time for dinner.

But she got more spiritual nourishment completing the tricky hike than she would have from dinner--even though dinner was at the Ahwanee. Others accompanying the trooper down the mountainside were Anne and Geoffrey Harrop, plus Kim. But Elinor insisted these three hikers not wait for her but complete the trail at their faster pace, in about three hours.

The 38 other travelers in Kim's care had descended by bus, so she needed to get back. Most Yosemite T shirts carry the words "I Made It to the Top." Kim is searching for one for Elinor that says, "I Made It to the Bottom."

UNUSUAL ATTENDANT: Weddings seem to be getting more and more elaborate these days, but some people eschew all that folderol and deliberately downplay the formalities. One such was Sept. 13 in the Foothill Club gardens. Bride and groom Lisa Hilbun Cone and Tim Andriese came down the aisle together.

The bride is a nurse at O'Conner Hospital, and her only attendant was Tim Hinton, a close friend. The bridegroom is a bio-medical research scientist at Livermore Labs. David Blacklock of San Jose and Eric Wenberg of Arlington, Va., were his attendants.

By night the groom is a bartender at the Black Watch, and so is the minister who performed the ceremony, Michael Thompson. The two have worked together for 10 years. Tim Andriese is a 1984 grad of Los Gatos High School, and his father is Paul Andriese, a professor emeritus of biology at SJSU who lives in Monte Sereno. The newlyweds met 15 years ago when both were in the Santa Clara Vanguard, a drum and bugle corps.

Tim was drum major, Lisa in the color guard. Both were drummed out at age 22, the max age for that competition. The Vanguard was world champion six times. And when it came to planning the wedding, "we wanted something not quite so formal, where people could dance, be an active participant in this most significant event," Tim said. They wrote their own vows, natch.

JOIE DE VIVRE: The 10th biennial fundraising fashion show for the Junior League of San Jose will be Oct. 29 and 30 at the Fairmont Hotel. Luncheons Thursday and Friday start at 11 a.m. and are $65 per person. Dinner on Friday is $125 and begins at 6:30 p.m. For reservations call: 536-0988.

Fashions for Joie de Vivre are from Nordstrom, and Saratogans who are modeling are Sandy Baker, Kirk Koziowski and Jennifer and Greg MacDonell. All claim some athletic fame: Baker is National Aerobic Champion in the master division; Koziowski is a nationally ranked swimmer and Greg MacDonell is a black belt (first degree) in karate, as well as a physician. Not to be outdone, Jennifer MacD had a baby within the year.

Models from Los Gatos include Claudia Bowen-Campbell, Richard and DebRenee Cooley, Stacy D'Amico, Carolyn and Randy Harrell, Rich Sasi and Jennifer SeCoy Krach.

NEW PLAYWRIGHTS: If you like to be in on the ground floor for drama, the New American Playwright Festival is for you. It's at Villa Montalvo, and plays to be read by the pros include Krisit by Y York Oct. 17 at 3 p.m., about an aging actress lured out of retirement by her housekeeper. A reception follows and cost is $8.

On Oct. 18, the lineup is A Big Blue Nail by Carlyle Brown at 11 a.m. and Beatbox: A Raparetta by Dan Wolf and Tommy Shepherd at 3 p.m. "Nail" is about Commander Perry and the aide that went with Perry to the North Pole. Who really was the first to set foot on the pole?

"Beatbox" is an exploration of hip-hop music and movement.

TOWN MEETING: Congressman Tom Campbell will hold a town meeting at The Meadows Oct. 16 at 3 p.m. A shuttle up the hill to The Meadows will be provided from the Toll House Hotel. Park in the hotel garage. For more information, call 354-0211.

'50s REUNION: Grads from LGHS during the '50s will hold a reunion Oct. 16 and 17, featuring a tour of the high school at 6:30 p.m. and football game at 7 on Friday and a bring-your-own picnic at Vasona's Rain Tree and Circle at noon on Saturday. Cost is $3, and Dick Coffing is the one to call at 559-3984.

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