Grinch steals tiny paintings from gallery
Three miniature paintings by Saratoga artist Yoju, valued at $45 apiece, were stolen from Ægis Gallery on Big Basin Way during Saratoga Village's Holiday Open House on Nov. 29.
The paintings were taken between 6 and 7 p.m., said Steve Diewert, the artist's husband. "We had just put them out and gone outside to walk around, and when we came back, they were gone," Diewert said. "Someone just walked out with them."
The small paintings, measuring 7 inches by 7 inches, were mixed-media on rice paper. One was a landscape depicting the Grand Tetons; one was a portrait; and one was of a cat, Deiwert said.
In a letter this week, Deiwert wondered how anyone could enjoy viewing art they had stolen from the artist.
Nancy De Weese, vice president of the artists' cooperative, said this is not the first time artwork has been stolen from the gallery. "We are going to take some measures to stop shoplifting," she said.
Letters to Santa answered with a North Pole stamp
Each year, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce helps out Santa by answering letters mailed to Santa from local youngsters. Some 200 letters to Santa are received at the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce each year, said Executive Director Sheila Arthur. Each letter with a return address receives an answer from Santa postmarked from the North Pole, Arthur said.
Letters to Santa may be mailed in special boxes at the main Saratoga Post Office, the Village Post Office and Mail Boxes Etc. on Big Basin Way. But, don't forget, a return address is needed to get a letter back.
Operation Reindeer delivers holiday cheer
Operation Reindeer, a joint community project of PenWest, an association of Los Gatos and Saratoga real estate agents, and the West Valley Advisory Committee of the American Red Cross, is under way.
For the past 20 years, real estate agents have collected food and gifts for needy families in the area. The Red Cross delivers the items, along with gift certificates for turkeys and other perishable goods, the Saturday before Christmas.
Financial contributions may be sent to the American Red Cross, earmarked "Operation Reindeer," at 2731 N. First St., San Jose, 95134.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 11, 1996.
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