Saratoga Sampler

A personal crusade continues despite twin tragedies

By Mary Ann Cook

HONORED: Richard Previte, CEO of MarketFusion, was honored recently for his work on behalf of Parkinson's Disease. Previte, of Saratoga, has served on the board of directors for the Parkinson's Institute Research and Treatment Center in Sunnyvale for the past six years.

His wife, Betty, developed the disease some 12 years ago, which inspired him to help in finding a cure. She died the day of the terrorist attack, adding to Previte's personal tragedy--and to his dedication to the cause.

Previte is a former president and COO of Advanced Micro Devices. His current company, MarketFusion, is an e-services solution provider. The reception honoring Previte was held at the Stanford Wilkes Bashford's men's store, Bashford being a personal friend.

A large check for Parkinson's from Italian clothing designer Ermenegildo Zegna was presented to the institute at the reception. Previte also serves on other nonprofits: the Bay Area Council and the regional chapter of the National Council on Community and Justice.

HEROES: Thomas Garland has many roots entwined in the Twin Towers tragedy, being originally from Staten Island. His brother John is a 20-year veteran of the FDNY. His father was a lieutenant in the NYPD for 35 years, and his uncle was with the fire department for 30 years.

John Garland was promoted to lieutenant the weekend after the attack and was pictured on the cover of the New York Post the day after the tragedies. It was a picture of four weary, rubble-covered firemen; he was on the far right. To honor these family rescuers, and all the others, the Garlands built a lighted memorial outside their Pierce Road house.

"Sometime heroes are close to home, even though the miles between us are great. I am proud of my brother and all the men in the FDNY and NYPD who made the supreme sacrifice and still desperately struggle to save lives," says the Saratoga Garland.

ST. ANDREWS: St. Andrews students sold red, white and blue bracelets, with proceeds to benefit the Red Cross. And they'll be collecting coins until Oct. 12, which will go to NY firefighters and police disaster funds, as well as Mercy Corps scholarship funds for youngsters who lost parents.

Money will also be collected for the Episcopal Relief Fund, which will provide grief counselors. In addition, a teddy bear drive was held Oct. 1-12 for children of victims of the tragedy.

PATRIOTIC PINS: Vanessa Hart, a fifth-grader at Saratoga Elementary, shaken by the tragic events of Sept. 11, wanted to reach out in her own way to the families of the firefighters. Vanessa hit on the idea of making U.S. flags using safety pins and red, white and blue beads.

With the help of her mother, Vicki, she has made enough pins to collect $250 by selling her flag pins for $2. She will send the money and two of her pin flags to the fund established for widows and children of the New York uniformed firefighters' association.

TWIN TOWERS PHOTOS: Felicia Pollock was clearing out some of her old photographs and found some heart-tugging shots of New York's Twin Towers, photos she had taken some years ago. She was so impressed with them that she's readying them for framing and possible sales.

For those who want the memory intact, the Pollock phone number is 408.867.4089. Pollock's portraits of city fathers, mothers and staff, hang at city hall.

CREEK CLEANUPS: Three area creeks were cleaned during the Coast Cleanup Day and the numbers were bigger than ever. In Saratoga's Calabazos Creek, at Prospect Avenue and Via Reoneola, 20 people picked up 350 pounds of trash and 80 pounds of recyclables.

At Los Gatos Creek, from Camden to Lark avenues, 78 people rounded up 400 pounds of garbage and 175 pounds of recyclables. And at Lexington Reservoir, 105 volunteers collected 2,580 pounds of trash and 1,740 pounds of recyclables.

People are realizing they can make a difference in their environment, says Sheila Tucker, manager of the West Valley Clean Water program.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK: The California Retired Teachers Association's county office is based in Saratoga, and Retired Teachers Week is Oct. 14-20. So Lu Messimer, spokesman for the association, suggests people remember teachers at this time.

By calling or writing teachers who made an impact, you'll make their week, she attests. Messimer's number is 408.253.3888 and might be able to help track the retirees.

WINE AWARD: Saratoga winery Savannah-Chanelle won two gold medals at the Atlanta International Wine Challenge: a 1999 estate Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains; and a 1999 syrah, Meeker vineyard. The S-C tasting room is at 23600 Congress Springs Rd., open daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 408.741-2934 for more information.

SPAGHETTI FEED: The spaghetti fundraiser for Saratoga Adult Care Center will be held Oct. 18. Price is $12, with seatings at 5 or 7 p.m. Chefs will be Ken and Ilena Sternberg, in memory of Marjorie Sternberg and Adelia Bortolin. Reservations: 408.868.1262.

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