Saratoga News

Photograph by Louise Webb

Bill and Jeanne Holst recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary.

Louise Webb

No wonder the band leader looked familiar

If you thought the orchestra leader of the national Broadway production of Cats performed at Flint Center Dec. 5-8 looked familiar, it's because he is 40-year-old former Saratogan Craig Barna. His parents Lillian and Eugene Barna and his brother Keith reside in Saratoga. Barna's early musical education was supervised by Clarice Lincoln and Sue Shannon. While attending Saratoga High School, Craig continued his association with local theater groups and found Judith Sutton, Saratoga High School's drama teacher, very helpful.

After college at the University of Arizona, he inadvertently made the transition from performer to conductor and relocated to New York. Barna has conducted many musicals and worked with numerous stars including Debby Boone, Cathy Rigby and Anna Maria Alberghetti.

"It's true the bigger the star, the nicer they are," he noted.

Saratogans continue to party over the holidays. I bumped into Ann Peterson, who looked like a movie star in her fancy hairdo for the Rotary Club Christmas party.

The following day, the Saratoga Rotarians put on a Christmas breakfast for underprivileged children at the Senior Center. Chairman Don Perez said this is what Christmas is all about. Seeing the children's joyous faces was a thrill. Over 100 children were bused from San Jose and given gifts. Safeway donated the food. Santa's helpers included the Interact Club from Saratoga High School.

Arnold Del Carlo took pictures of the youngsters on Santa's lap. Ed Porter played Santa, and Dick Wood was the piano accompanist. Other Rotarians helping with the party were: Harry Peacock, Fran Andreson, John Hoiness, Ron Gemberling, Burt Coleman, Jim Welden, Greg Ogden, Maggie Porter, Jack Christensen and Ann Marie Burger.

Saratoga-Los Gatos Newcomers and the alumni group got together for a Christmas luncheon at the Saratoga Country Club and again to journey to the Dunsmuir House in Oakland. Newcomer Liz Iverson liked the mirrors placed under the Christmas tree in the house capturing the lights and reflecting them back, adding to the room's sparkle.

West Valley Welcomers held two Christmas events including Christmas caroling. Vice president Jeanne Holst was talking about her 52nd anniversary in Napa with her husband Bill. Their children treated Jeanne and Bill to a balloon ride.

Ann Kiehl, a West Valley Welcomers member, was talking about the bar she and her husband, Bob, bought with a partner. It's called the New Club 4 and is on Bascom Avenue in San Jose. Several Saratogans shared the first-year anniversary opening with them Dec. 13.

I learned at the American Association of University Women's Christmas party that Muriel Chew Kao, a '56 grad of UC-Berkeley, was recently elected to the alumni board for a three-year term. Kao is associated with Prudential Relocation in San Jose.

Congratulations to former fire captains Clark Edelstein and Don Bernardo. Both were selected as Santa Clara City Fire Battalion chiefs. Edelstein volunteered with the Saratoga Fire Department in high school and college. He has been with the Santa Clara Fire Department for 20 years. Bernardo volunteered with the Saratoga Fire Department for a short time and has been with the Santa Clara Fire Department for 26 years.