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Saratoga Sampler
Local youths excel with horses and music
By Mary Ann Cook
HORSE SENSE: Saratogan Amory Brandt, 11, won first place in the Novice Jumping class at the annual Halloween Horse Show at Westwind Barn in Los Altos Hills. Brandt won the speed event, riding her horse "London Air." Some 80 junior equestrians from throughout the Bay Area competed in the show.
Also part of the action was a costume class, dog-jumping class and trail class, where each horse/rider team negotiated a course of spooky challenges. The annual equestrian event is a fundraiser for Pacific Ridge Pony Club, a chapter of The U. S. Pony Club, based in Lexington, Ky. Young people up to 21 years of age can compete.
MUSICAL BIRDS, HORSES: Angel Yeh, a junior at Saratoga High School, was accompanist for the winner of the recent VOCE concert. VOCE is a project of the Music Teachers Association and stands for "voice, orchestral, instrumental and chamber ensembles."
Yeh played the Chinese hammered dulcimer (which looks like the inside of a piano) accompanying Lynn Ngai's Chinese violin. A Chinese violin has two strings and the bow is attached to the violin. The twosome played two traditional pieces, Birds Singing on a Deserted Mountain and Galloping of the War Horses.
The sound is very "unearthly," said one music teacher and listener, Saratogan Kerstin Stone.
FREE TRIP--TO ICELAND: To promote international understanding, Rotary International is sponsoring a free, month-long trip to Iceland May 14-June 12, 2002. Four will be chosen for the group study exchange program. The four need to be U.S. citizens 25-40 years old who have been employed for two years in a recognized business or profession.
Participants will live with Rotary families (although U.S. Rotarians and their immediate relatives don't qualify for the trip. The only Rotarian going is the team leader, Gene Zambetti.) In Iceland the travelers will connect with local people in their common occupations, attend Rotary meetings, give presentations and keep a log.
On their return they will submit a report and presentation to the local Rotary. Though Iceland's official language is Icelandic, most people speak English. Iceland has more hot springs than any other country in the world, thus, its nickname "the land of fire and ice."
Summer temperatures range between 50 and 65 degrees. Travel costs and housing will be provided. Those chosen will pay personal expenses only. Iceland has a thriving electronic business, is a geologist's dream and is strong in musical theater and literature.
Contacts are Henry Kaplan (408.867.3355) or Gene Zambetti (408.307.0065). Interviews will be held Dec. 1. To facilitate applications, Zambetti's email is gzambetti@yahoo.com. An essay of intent is part of the application. This is the first time a Saratoga Rotarian has been chosen a team leader for an international visit. Zambetti is hard at work boning up on Iceland culture.
FOR VICTIMS: Redwood Middle School students baked cookies and sold them recently, raising $365 to send to the victims of the 9/11 tragedy. The idea and the execution came from the students. This was a modest clutch of 12-year-olds: they didn't want their names mentioned. That isn't the point, they said ... so true.
HOLIDAY HOUSE: An English Tudor estate with 18th century elegance has been decked out in holiday finery for viewing Dec. 1-4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. A fundraiser for the Saratoga High Foundation, money raised is earmarked for the 600-seat Performing Arts and Lecture Center to be built at the school.
The estate is at 18911 Decatur Road, Los Gatos. Reserved tickets are $20; tour tickets (10 or more), $18; at the door, $25. Flat heels are advised. No cameras or children under the age of 8 are allowed. Visitors can park along Decatur or at SHS, from which shuttle service is provided.
Furnishings in the estate are by CK Driver Design Group, Menlo Park; holiday decorations are by SHS students. Check should be made payable to Saratoga High School Foundation or SHS. The contact is Dana Schroeder (408.399.3380).
FRACTURED FAIRYTALE: Los Gatan Craig Bohmler composed the music for the Shakespeare Santa Cruz production of Gretel and Hansel, now playing in the Main Theater at UC-Santa Cruz. Paul Whitworth is the director; wife Kate Hawley wrote books and lyrics. The fractured fairytale will play through Dec. 16. Showtimes are 7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday; 1 and 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.
The presentation is done as an English pantomime, akin to Italian commedia dell'arte with stock characters, including an animal character and a harridan played by a man. Tickets are $15-$28; the box office can be contacted at 831.459.2159.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
