Saratoga News

'Twas the season to be busy

The holiday season saw many Saratogans as busy as elves in Santa's workshop this year. And they weren't just rushing around taking care of the holiday enjoyment of their own families. For a number of local residents, the season has been a time to think in terms of the greater community. Whether it was collecting warm clothes and food to bring cheer to people in need or gathering toys for children who might otherwise be disappointed, 'twas the season to be busy. Here are a few snapshots taken along the way.

Foothill Club Donations

The Foothill Club continues a 44-year tradition of distributing food baskets--many of them to local seniors--with the help of youngsters at Redwood Middle School who collected canned and dry food. The Salvation Army provided the poultry. Club members pack the food, and then off-duty firefighters from the Saratoga Fire Dept. and students from St. Andrew's School make the deliveries. Since this year's packing and delivery was going on as the Saratoga News was being delivered, we dug up a 1996 photo of Shirlee Cunningham and Becky Breed at work.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Santa Claus, a.k.a. Ed Porter, gives a gift to a young lady all dressed up for Christmas. Some 220 presents were distributed to children during the Saratoga Rotary Club's second annual Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 13 at the Saratoga Federated Church. Rotarians brought youngsters to town for the festivities. Rotarian Don Perez no doubt frustrated a few customers in line at local toy stores when he went through the line with his 220 toys, including Barbies, trucks and games.

Annual GGG Holiday Party

Jane Dennis and Don Sturdevant prepared holiday decorations for the Good Government Group's annual Holiday Appreciation Party to thank elected and appointed officials and commissioners for their service to the community. The gala took place Dec. 7 in the Saratoga Senior Center.

O Christmas Tree

Kookie Fitzsimmons (left), owner of Corinthian Flowers, and Roberta Tomaino, Foothill School art teacher, pose in front of the Christmas tree in Fitzsimmons' flower shop. The tree is decorated with multicolored hobby horses made by first-graders in Tomaino's classes. The hobby horses were on display early in December.

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