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Saratoga Sampler
Foxes honored at Sacred Heart anniversary
By Mary Ann Cook
PAPAL CERTIFICATE: Saratogans Michael and Mary Ellen Fox received a papal commendation and medal from Rome in ceremonies at Sacred Heart Church recently. The occasion marked the 20th anniversary of the diocese of San Jose, of which Sacred Heart is a part.
The Foxes were called an inspiration and an example to the community. The Latin name of the proclamation is Pro Ecclisia et Pontifice (for church and pontiff). Michael is on the board of United Way, the Conference for Community and Justice, and the West Valley College Foundation.
Mary Ellen is on the board of Catholic Charities. Both are active in projects throughout the valley, including those benefiting Santa Clara University and St. Joseph's Church. The bishop of the San Jose diocese is Patrick J. McGrath. The Reverend Monsignor Alexander Larkin is pastor of Sacred Heart.
Also honored at the ceremony was Patricia Bortle, a strong advocate for the Adult Day Care Center at the Saratoga Senior Center. She worked most recently to get computer equipment installed there. In addition, Bortle is a dedicated visitor to the sick and elderly and a member of the Altar Society.
President of the local chapter of the Young Ladies Institute, she is active with the Sacred Heart youth group, thus managing to devote herself to activities at both ends of the age spectrum.
PAPER, GLASS TREASURES: Kristina and Michael Howes are the owners of Pavia, the Saratoga day spa, and avid glass collectors. So they were especially delighted to learn theirs was the winning bid on a piece of Dale Chihuly's artwork at the recent fundraiser for the Foothill Foundation.
The Seattle glass artist was at the event, signing his book and giving a slideshow presentation of his work. After the fundraiser, the Howes were doubly delighted and honored when Chihuly accepted an invitation to continue the evening at Viaggio's.
Owner A. J. Szenda put together appetizers and joined them briefly. The real piéce de résistance of the visit, though, came when Chihuly sketched three vases on a napkin--in lipstick. Kristina vows she's having the napkin framed as a memento of the evening. Their paths may cross again: The Howes gave the well-traveled artist a spa certificate, their Distress Eraser Package.
Another Saratoga angle at the benefit: Jim and Pat Compton were among those honored for their fundraising efforts for the community college. Most of the foundation money goes to the creative arts department.
GEOLOGIST AFIELD: The Men's Fellowship group of Saratoga Federated Church scored a timely coup when members heard Harry Cook of the Geological Society of America speak at a breakfast meeting this fall. The ground Cook mines in his geologic studies is in the former Soviet Union, the Great Silk Road of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
It's a region cheek by jowl with the area most in the news these days. Expeditions there were closed to geologists outside the Soviet bloc during Communist times. But now it's been opened up and U.S. and European oil companies and Russian research institutes have formed a consortium called the USGS-Kazakhstan-Oil Industry Project.
Models developed by this group helped uncover the Kashagan Oil Field in the North Caspian Basin, the third largest ever discovered in the world. Cook is part of a new explorative four-year program to research the central Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, near Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China.
Cook and others will be exploring in virtually the belly of the war-torn area to learn more about the oil and gas resources of Central Asia.
GROUP FLAG: Staff and students at Argonaut School formed a giant American flag earlier this month and had their photo taken by a photographer from Lifetouch, who had to be stationed on a very tall ladder indeed, since Argonaut students number 565.
The photos were then sold to raise money to buy books for the Gift of Reading Program. Catch the Argonaut Spirit is the current watchword at the Saratoga school.
RUN FOR THE LAW: Run for the Law, a 5K and 10K run that benefits pro bono work for children, raised $5,500 last month. The money goes to Legal Advocates for Children & Youth (LACY). The course was run through Los Gatos and Vasona Park. Kiwanis Key Clubs from Saratoga and Leland high schools helped out.
Some 280 runners participated, nearly double last year's number. This is the fourth year for the event. LACY was founded 11 years ago to concentrate on the needs of youth in such areas as adoption, abuse, runaways, teen pregnancy and parenting.
RED RIBBON DAYS: Red bows around town are thanks to the Rotary Club, and Miles Rankin is the Santa behind this graphic gesture of the season. What with lights and bows, Big Basin Way looks like a winter wonderland, sans snow, of course.
FLAG GIFTS: In a show of support in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedy, Raul and Elsie Caceres donated 50 flags to friends, doctors, nurses and staff members at Kaiser Medical Clinic in Campbell. The Cacereses serve as volunteers.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
