She's served in the housekeeping department of the hospital for the past 14 years. And she even designed her own uniform. So taken was the hospital with it that they adopted it for the other members of the housekeeping staff. She helps with the tailoring for others.

For patients, it's always "above and beyond" time for Olivencia. She baked a Barbie cake for a pediatric patient, a Barbie devotee who had been hospitalized for more than two months.

At Christmastime she brings cakes, cookies, candies and food baskets to every department in the hospital. No wonder other departments often ask that she work in their area. They don't want to miss out on any goodies, both spiritual and culinary.

NEW FACE: The Butter Paddle has a new look these days, thanks to the painting proficiency of a handful of members. The upscale gift shop, which benefits EMQ Children & Family Services, was closed for a week while the walls were painted and the rugs cleaned.

Those performing yeoman duty with brush and roller were Cindy Fortino, Jan Furman, Cynthia Lee, Gail Arvay, Karen Greenbaum, Julie Marshall and Marge Brigadier. Fortino is the store manager this year, and Furman is her assistant. Caryl Pozos is head buyer, assisted by Susan Brandenburg.

Cynthia Lee and Suzanne Dalton are the food buyers. Gail Joseph is book buyer, and Beth Berger is gadget buyer.

SOUND OF MUSIC: Four local young thespians have been cast in the Peninsula Youth Theatre's production of The Sound of Music, which runs March 8-16 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Jillian Lawson of Saratoga and Justine Lauren of Los Gatos share the role of Mother Abbess.

The play is double cast: an astounding total of 154 young people ages 8 to 20 will take to the stage. Katie Pimentel of Monte Sereno plays Gretl von Trapp, and Rachel Magnan, also of Monte Sereno, plays a goatherd puppet and a youngster at the party. This production of The Sound of Music has youngsters cast as marionettes in the goatherd scene.

Tickets are $13­$16 for weekend and evening performances and $6 for 9:30 a.m. weekday performances. Call the box office at 650.903.6000. Showtimes are 2 and 7:30 p.m. on March 8, 9 and 15; 9:30 a.m. on March 13; 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on March 14; and 2 p.m. on March 16.

PURIM PARTY: A Purim party for the Jewish community will be held on March 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Congregation Beth David social hall. The MC is comedian Joel Chasnoff and the Beth David Sisterhood is the host. Food, music, dancing and kosher wine tasting are all promised.

Tickets are $50, payable to the Beth David Sisterhood, 19700 Prospect Ave., Saratoga, 95070. Partygoers are encouraged to come in costume or festive dress. The contact is Susan Desmond at 408.741.1901.

AT HAKONE: Art historian Dr. Kendall H. Brown will speak on Hakone's role in the history of America and Japan on March 8 at 4 p.m. at the Cultural Exchange Center at Hakone. A reception and buffet dinner follow from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 for Hakone Foundation members, $35 for others.

Dr. Brown is the author of Japanese Style Gardens of the Pacific West Coast. Hakone is one of the oldest Japanese-style garden/retreat centers in the West.

Those with photos of special events that took place at Hakone are urged to bring two copies, 8-by-10 inches or smaller, to add to Hakone archives. Photo bearers get a discount: $30 for talk and dinner. Include a one-page statement about the event pictured.

MEMOIR READERS: Students from the senior center's memoir writing class will read from their work at the Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga Newcomers Alumnae Club coffee March 5 at 10 a.m. at the Rinconada Hills Clubhouse. Louise Webb, the instructor, will give tips on how to get started writing one's memoirs.

The class meets every other Friday at the center. Reading one page each from their work will be Loraine Campbell, Verda Keenan, Jane Stewart, Charlotte Vukelich, Ginny Johnson, Evelyn Johnson, Pat Smith and Jim Oggerino.

"Our lives are more significant than we know," Webb says, "and this is one way to pass on all that we have been. We are not only family—we are history."

BOOK BARGAINS: The Book-Go-Round turns 20 in March and celebrates by offering customers a 20 percent discount on purchases of $20 or more, reports Mary Jeanne Fenn, BGR guru. A tidy economy for your spring entertainment dollar.

Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.