Saratoga News

Photograph by Louise Webb

Rusty Rupprecht visits with Santa during Saratoga Village's Open House.

Louise Webb

The Saratoga Village open house was a hit

We have a lot to be thankful for--living in our town, for one. The Warren Palmer, Howard Detro, and Webb families journeyed to Henry Cowell State Park to share Thanksgiving. The three families started the tradition of going to the park 27 years ago. It was great being outdoors in the crisp autumn air, they said.

The following evening, we went to the Saratoga Village Open House. We weren't even out of the parking lot when we saw neighbors Kirch and Sharon DeMartini and Ron and Marlene Duffin with Marlene's visiting relatives Judy and Don Quayle. (Yes, they are related to Dan.)

People were talking about the unusual sport car parked downtown during the festivities. My spies tell me it was a Zimmer Classic. A friend lent the car for awhile to Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheila Arthur and her friend Al Ornellas.

To add to the downtown merriment, Father Christmas was at the Saratoga Historical Museum posing for children's pictures. A $5 donation went for film and the museum.

A Santa Claus posed for pictures at P. S. I Love You. Donations went to Child Quest. Another Santa appeared at Coldwell Banker. Cans of food or money donations for the Second Harvest Food Bank were accepted.

Did you taste the delicious buttered-toffee pretzels they were passing out at the Butter Paddle? They make great Christmas gifts. Lynda Godfrey, president of Eastfield Ming Quong Junior Auxiliary, says the Butter Paddle will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays during December.

Victor Amezacua, owner of the International Coffee Exchange, was offering free cappuccino and cocoa to customers. Victor tells me it was their l2th year of handing out free hot drinks.

You know the song, "Follow the Yellow Brick Road"? Bernice and Noel Kane were in the mood for popcorn when they saw some spilled on the ground. They followed the popcorn trail to Saratoga Video, where bags of the stuff were being given out that evening.

Stephanie Atchison, Greg Lynch Jr. and Roberta Lynch--all children of Audry and Gregory Lynch--along with grandchild Jenelle Atchison, had a surprise party Thanksgiving weekend for Audry and Greg's 40th wedding anniversary. The couple honeymooned in Bermuda and returned recently to the same hotel to celebrate their 40-year marriage. One couple showed up at the party wearing Bermuda shorts.

Are you looking for a unique Christmas present for your child or grandchild? Saratogan Ron Santana of Cantana Productions co-produced a video about Hokey, a clown, and Klucky, a chicken. Children will enjoy traveling with them on the magic bus, singing songs, learning new dances, watching a puppet show, and learning along the way what it takes to be a good friend. The video is also great for parties and classrooms. Write Cantana Productions, P. O. Box 206, Saratoga, 95071, or call (800) 72-HOKEY to join the Hokey Clown Fan Club.

Lynne LaCroix has a unique gift for women: She makes pins out of buttons. LaCroix is still writing her book Pardon Me But Aren't You Eating My Sushi? and is still looking for anyone who has a sushi story. Call her at 253-8663.