The poem is called "I Am the Same Inside," and Miggs' pop/rock band recorded it. All Stars Helping Kids, a nonprofit led by former '49er Ronnie Lott, donated the money for the duplication of the CD. Robert Berry of Soundtek Studios offered his studio to produce the song.

"It has turned out to be a very emotional yet uplifting song," Romeo Durscher of ROCK 101 promotions reports. "We have gotten wonderful support for this event. This is about the spirit of the community, how we all can make a difference, and it's about Kaitlyn."

"Kaitlyn loves music, and so we decided to organize an all-age benefit concert, invite top local bands and record a benefit CD," said Erica K. Weil, co-owner of ROCK 101. Kaitlyn turns 9 a few days before the benefit and would like to sing onstage if she's able.

Kaitlyn was stricken with a debilitating disease last spring, has been in and out of hospitals ever since, and has been near death several times. Members of her class at school will have a poetry contest and read the winning works at the benefit. The CD will include songs from all the artists performing for Kaitlyn, as well as the song based on her poem.

The poem talks about Kaitlyn's feelings and how she just wants to be a normal kid again. The entertainers include teenager Rachel Lauren; Courtney C. Patty, a local singer/songwriter; and Sweet Durations, a male and female vocal group. The website is located at www.rock101promotions.com/kaitlyn.htm.

SHAZAM: The De Anza Kiwanis Club stepped into the breach when the Saratoga Adult Care Center recently lost a fundraising dinner sponsor. The Kiwanians put on a sold-out fundraiser—with but two weeks' notice. Center director Sean O'Leary called it one of the greatest fundraisers the center has ever had.

Saratoga members of the De Anza Kiwanis who performed stellar service are Dick Angus, Ken Bowersox, Tad Curtis and Pete Joachin. The president of the group is Phyllis Ehrenburg, who rallied the troops. De Anza Kiwanis members have also paid for an audio system for the center's Fireside Room. In addition, they laid out the vegetable gardens for the center, helped set up and clean up after various events and sponsored other fundraisers. Incidentally, this largesse fit tidily into the groove for Saratoga's official Random Acts of Kindness Week, the second week of February.

NONAGENARIAN: Five Saratoga High grads helped their grandmother, Los Gatan Clair Dougherty, celebrate her 90th birthday in Las Vegas recently. Treating were Kevin and Nancy Ryan of Monte Sereno, who took their mother, plus their five children and children's spouses to four days at the Paris Hotel in Vegas.

"We'll show you the world in four blocks" was the motto of the group, extolling the health and spunk of the seemingly ageless Clair. People were incredulous about her 90 years, wanted to know her secret of longevity, but she wasn't telling. Gambling, shopping and sightseeing were all on the agenda.

The grandchildren and their spouses are Shannon and Ben McIlvain of San Jose; Sean and Lisa Ryan and K.C. and Janeen Ryan of Illinois; Erin and Bill Deehan of Maryland; and Chris and Roberta Ryan of Virginia. (Saratoga High School grad dates: Shannon, '88; Sean, '85; Erin, '83, Chris, '82 and K.C., '80.)

Shannon McIlvain is a lawyer in Los Gatos. All the siblings are also graduates of the University of Notre Dame. Now they can't wait until 2013, when they can celebrate the triple-digit birthday of the hippest grandmother around.

A SMASH: The Mustard Walk through Heritage Park got rave reviews. An estimated 600 to 800 people walked the fields, with the short set riding the donkey cart, which was bedecked with flowers. There were wines to drink and mustard-laden crackers and mustard greens to nibble on.

Eight artists worked at their easels, and all sold their wares. This could turn out to be a weeklong event, say the sponsors, the Saratoga Heritage Committee.

ART AND PHYSICS: Art often foreshadows the discoveries of scientists, and Dr. Leonard Shlain will illustrate that point with his talk at the Saratoga Foothill Club Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. Using slides, Shlain will give a talk titled "Art and Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time and Light" that will reveal an astonishing correlation of vision between the two seemingly disparate disciplines. An $8 donation is asked for the public lecture series, which is sponsored by the Foothill Club.

GROUNDHOG DAY: Those intrepid Pennsylvanians raised $2,250 for the Second Harvest Food Bank when they celebrated Groundhog Day with festivities at Los Altos' Rancho Shopping Center. They didn't just look for the groundhog's shadow but helped lift some shadows as well.

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