Saratoga News

Saratoga Sampler

Mary Ann Cook

Southwest tribes win a prize in Los Gatos parade

INDIANS WIN THIRD: The Y Indian Guides and Princesses from the Southwest YMCA won third place in their category (amateurs under age 12) in the Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade. Marching in the parade from the Southwest Y were some 450 youngsters, plus their fathers, to produce a grand total of 700. Heading up the program, although bringing up the rear in the Y parade lineup, was Brian Huebsch, youth program director at the Southwest YMCA.

The Y guides and princesses program is for youngsters in kindergarten through third grade and their fathers. The idea is to nurture and strengthen that particular relationship. Parade marchers were dressed in traditional Y Indian wear, including vests with patches proclaiming what events they had participated in. The groups hold two campouts a year, and other field activities include ice skating and wall climbing.

Some tribes decorated and rode on floats. A Campbell fire engine no longer used by firefighters was pressed into action. One truck was adorned as Christmas in Hawaii. Another was decked out as Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and tribe members rode in the back and sang Christmas carols to the judges as they rolled past.

In other Y news, the Y offers Winter Holiday Fun Clubs between Christmas and New Year's Day. These operate much like Y summer camps, with arts and crafts, games and field trips. One of this season's field trips will be to Loma Prieta's Community Theater to see the Theatre in the Mountains production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

The next Fun Club is Dec. 29-Jan. 2, with no class Jan. 1. Cost is $65 or $80, depending on level of membership. Swim lessons will begin again in early January. The pool has been closed the past few weeks for resurfacing. And winter basketball league for grades K-8 will start Jan. 17 and meet on Saturdays for eight weeks. Cost is $50.

SANTA'S ELVES: The Chamber of Commerce receives about 300 letters to Santa and answers them all--at least those that remember to enclose a return address. The answering notes reassure the letter-writer that he or she is indeed on the list and will be getting a fine present soon. Santa's reindeer particularly enjoy Saratoga, the note goes on, because there are so many trees and plenty of greenery to nibble on.

Answering Elves this year include Sheila Arthur and Carmel Scott of the Chamber and a cadre of volunteers from the Senior Center. The Chamber office, incidentally, is a lot cozier these days, what with a thorough housecleaning, rugs laid and furniture repositioned. Arthur and Scott are still operating out of boxes but will gradually get everything back to rights, they assure.

SANTA SIGHTING: Santa appeared at the Federated Church a couple Saturdays ago, thanks to the Saratoga Rotarians, who also imported some deserving children. Gifts and goodies were dispersed.

HOLIDAY BUFFET: West Valley Welcomers held their holiday luncheon buffet at the home of Jeanne and Gordon Case last week. Guests were as abundant as the holiday goodies brought by members.

FOR THE HOMELESS: Eric Diec's Mandarin Chef will supply dinner for the homeless at the Julian Street Inn on Dec. 23, a program initiated by the Presbyterian Church outreach. Menu: broccoli beef, steamed rice, Chinese chicken salad and fortune cookies. Warren and Doris Nelson and Paul and Sarah Piligian deliver and help serve the 60 recipients. Church members supply the food one day a month, and Saratoga restaurants donate the food another day per month.

AWARD WINNERS: The Sizzling Seniors won first place in the miscellaneous division of the Los Gatos holiday parade. The seniors are a dance group led by Saratogan Bev Myers, an offshoot of Myers' dance aerobics class offered through the Los Gatos recreation department. Seems like there was a slight drizzle that morning. Must be hard to sizzle in a drizzle.

BLUE LIGHTS: Some who use blue lights for holiday decorations are supporting and honoring law enforcement personnel. A Philadelphia housewife, Dolly Craig, started the custom in 1988 because she wanted to commemorate her son-in-law, Danny Gleason, who was killed in the line of duty in 1986. Others picked up on the idea, and now the practice commemorates lives lost in service and honors those working in police departments throughout the land.

SURPRISE: Commander Ed Wark of American Legion Post 503 in Saratoga was amazed when his 94-year-old mother, Marie, was gifted at the legion's annual holiday party. The party drew 250 guests from the district, which is composed of 20 posts countywide. The assembled were entertained by 40 banjo players. Wark had no idea that a special gift honoring his mother would be presented. "The idea must have come from the district. And I was amazed to see all my post officers there." Gifts from the veterans' group also went to the Veteran's Hospital, P.A.L. and the blind. Marie Wark has been getting a lot of recognition lately: KSAR-Channel 6 came to interview her at her house recently.

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