Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

Foothill Club continues tradition of gathering food

THE GIVING SEASON: Members of the Foothill Club have organized and distributed Christmas baskets in Saratoga for 44 years, and it's definitely a group effort, as they enlist the help of many agencies. Saratoga grade schools and Redwood Middle School students collect the dried goods for the baskets, the Salvation Army supplies the poultry, and the Foothill Club provides fresh vegetables, fruits, pies and rolls. Two days before Christmas, Foothill members pack the food and Saratoga firemen deliver the baskets, aided by youngsters from St. Andrew's. Last year 81 baskets were distributed to families and seniors, Connie Brooding reports. In other Foothill news, newest members are Ann Barber, Carol Greenleaf and Mary Sessler.

GGG RECEPTION: The Good Government Group held its annual Community Holiday Appreciation Party a Sunday or two ago to honor elected and appointed city officials and commissioners. Particularly feted were past GGG presidents Bud Card and Eunice Stark and charter member Dick Drake. Bud Card attended despite the fact that the Cards had moved from Saratoga two weeks earlier.

While here from their new home in Fairfield, they managed to take in several holiday parties over the weekend. Marion Card reported that while their house was on the market, they disposed of four roomfuls of furniture. A surprising number of prospective home-buyers were interested in purchasing furnishings, if not the house. Even accessories were up for grabs. A wall hanging of Josephine knots was admired and purchased, destined to be a present for a friend named Josephine.

A trip to Williamsburg inspired Marion C. to research Williamsburg paint colors and duplicate same in the Cards' new digs. The living room has been completed, and the other rooms are to follow. Though currently enmeshed in decorating, M.C. vows her future activities will involve nothing more demanding than a rocking chair. Believe that, and we have the usual lineup of bridges and Florida lots for sale for you.

UNSEASONABLE: No, this isn't a Christmas story because it happened during warm weather days. But Jane Dennis (a GGG director and owner of the late--and missed--Centre Court tennis shop at Argonaut Shopping Center) bought beaucoups big plastic balls at the Safeway there earlier this year. The enterprising Dennis had several carts full of balls and was so encumbered that friends wondered what she was up to. It was all a scheme she devised to keep the ducks out of the swimming pool that was supposed to be for the non-web-footed at the Vineyards complex where she lives. "The ducks have their own pool, for heaven's sake," she scolded. Dennis dumped all the multicolored balls into the pool, and that so daunted the feathered ones that the digital-toed could resume their paddling.

MORE SLEIGH SIGHTINGS: Operation Reindeer is riding to the rescue for 75 families who will receive special holiday boxes delivered by American Red Cross volunteers. Third-graders at Blossom Hill School are donating gifts, and PenWest Realtors are filling the boxes with food and gifts, including certificates for turkeys and other perishables. Donations for gift certificates are welcomed, are tax-deductible and can be made out to Operation Reindeer, American Red Cross, 27321 N. First St., San Jose, 95134. Boxes are filled according to each family's need, and recipients are referred by schools and other agencies such as Family Service, Live Oak Day Care and the Jewish Community Center. This is the 20th year, and Frank Blaisdell is chairman.

LITERARY LIGHTS: Montalvo Literary Arts Committee members Marcia Adams and Mary Lou Taylor attended a meeting at St. Mary's in Moraga recently that should help ensure that the best and the brightest literary lights are booked into Saratoga. Montalvo is the only nonacademic member of a new consortium just forming on the literary arts, a union designed to pool resources in order to bring in more well-known writers. Workshops and readings will be offered, and the literary lights will possibly serve a residency at Montalvo as well.

' TIS THE SEASON: Women's groups that once exchanged Christmas gifts are thinking of others these days. Witness the LitWits, a group of 10 Saratoga/Los Gatos women who wanted to donate the money and time they would usually spend on each other to benefit abused women instead. Jeannie Ottinger did some research and the LitWits settled on Next Door Solutions, an agency that manages shelters for abused women and children. Personal-care supplies were what Solutions said were most needed, so Pat Hammett and Cathy Cochrane purchased more than $100 worth of those articles to deliver to NDS.

On the athletic scene, members of Rinconada Women's 18-hole group brought teddy bears to their Christmas luncheon, ultimately destined for Catholic Charities. Those 100 bears made a warm addition to the gathering and should likewise warm and brighten their final destinations. The idea came from Saratogan Pat Bader.

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