Saratoga News Local family enjoys liftoff and a holiday reunion Mary Ann Cook LIFT-OFF: The de Carion family--David, Jan, David and Jim--were part of the recent space shuttle launch at Cape Canaveral in Florida, thanks to the friendship that son David had established with astronaut Maj. Frederic Sturckow, more commonly known as C.J. When David was working at McDonell-Douglas, he was introduced to C.J. Sturckow, who took him under his wing. David had mentioned he was going into the Marines, and C.J., a thorough Marine, started a mentoring program that extended to an invitation to the de Carions for the launch. There are six astronauts on this project and each could invite 50 people. The first launch, scheduled for 3:56 a.m. was postponed due to weather, so the de Carions were up before dawn the next morning as well. This time the launch succeeded--3:34 a.m. It was an incredible experience, says Jan. Lit up the sky. Even the sophisticated 20-year-old said it was a never-to-be forgotten adventure. And David was in seventh heaven. Jan estimates they were watching about four miles away from the launch. One of the best parts was reuniting the family over the Thanksgiving holiday. David, now a Marine, is in flight school at Kingsville, Tex., and Jim is a student at University of Arizona in Tucson, so reunions are infrequent and precious. DAFFODIL HILL: It'll be some time before we see the fruits of their labor, but come March when you take a ride up Big Basin Way a swath of hillside some 50 feet beyond the sign for Saratoga Springs should be awash in daffodils. The idea came from Patti Hughes, recently retired assistant principal at Los Gatos High School. She talked Saratoga Springs owner Bill Gianinni into transforming the roadside section into a mass of daffodils. In the summertime, overflow cars are parked there, but by that time, the daffodils will have nodded their last for the season. That's why the day before Thanksgiving a passerby could have seen Hughes and longtime colleague Ted Simonson (former LGHS principal) planting 300 bulbs along that stretch of Big Basin. The bulbs are a mix of Golden Dawn, yellow and fragrant, and Carleton, a yellow trumpet. The bulbs were purchased from the Bulb Baron at the Cabrillo College flea market, the best bulb bargain around, Hughes attests. A side note: Carleton is Ted Simonson's real first name. Seems the longtime administrative high school team hasn't been parted yet, even though both are retired. Now they're teaming up to do landscaping work, not just for roadside beautification but for bona fide clients. To wit: Gianinni paid for the bulbs and labor, and the team is eager for more work. IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE: Deirdre Gallagher is one of the founders of the Irish-American Heritage Society, now a year old. The Society recently presented checks totaling $20,000 to various nonprofits in Ireland, plus the Irish Immigration Pastoral Centre in San Francisco. The recipients included three schools located in poverty pockets in Dublin. Also benefiting from the society are scholarships for high school and first year college students, victims of the Omagh bombings in Northern Ireland, and restoration of the Kylemore Abbey in County Galway. CONSIGNMENT: The new Home Consignment Center at El Paseo de Saratoga accepts used furniture in good condition, sells it and returns 60 percent of the sale price, a plus for everyone--those wanting to subtract or those wanting to add furnishings. Easiest way to see if they'll accept an item is to bring a photo of it if it's too big to tote easily. The number is 871-8890, and Barbara Petro is the manager. LIBRARY RING: There's a new telephone system at the library, and director Dolly Barnes is looking for feedback from the community about it. Next adult program at the library is Dr. Audry Lynch on The World of John Steinbeck on Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m., accompanied by 100 slides. COOKIE EXCHANGE: Their 11th annual cookie exchange was held at the Saratoga home of Joyce Malia. Some 30 cookie-makers, including Karen McCord, came from as far away as San Diego. The annual exchange is an excuse to get former co-workers and friends together; the idea started when Joyce gave Karen the Wellesley Cookie Exchange Book. BIG GAP: We know not everything is hot-toddy warm and wonderful during the holiday season, but when one sniffs the cinnamon in the air and hears the uplifting strains of "Joy to the World" in local shops, it's easy to forget the spirit isn't necessarily universally embracing. While picking up some gifts on a recent Sunday I saw a woman lying on a bench on Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos. I thought she was just taking a needed catnap until I heard her crying. On the sidewalk next to her was a Gap bag. Did this mean she must be OK economically, since the Gap is quite an upscale place? Or was this a part of her baglady's belongings, and aptly named with a small "g?" [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 23, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.