Eleven schools competed in both men's and women's events, as more than 50 races were run over the two-day regatta.

The event was co-hosted by Stanford University and Windermere Real Estate and is expected to be a yearly occasion. Cecilia Desmond, an agent in Windermere's Saratoga office, is also a lifetime member of the Los Gatos Rowing Club and so was particularly attuned to the action.

She, along with other Saratogans Rosemary Adamson, Carol Corcoran, Cathy Wooten, Art Monk, Doug Landau and Jan and Rex Hoover—all rowing club members—explained the uses of the equipment on display at the regatta.

The Los Gatos Rowing Club was started in 1978. Desmond rows at Lexington at 5:45 a.m. twice a week.

The club offers an outreach program to area high school youth, which includes grants and scholarships. In addition, the Windermere Foundation sponsors a weeklong rowing camp to introduce underprivileged youth to the sport of crew.

Windermere chose to sponsor the sport of crew because it's healthy, competitive and demanding both physically and mentally. U.S. gold medalist Jamie Schroeder of Stanford, the world indoor rowing champion, was one of those participating in the Redwood City regatta.

How can you win honors for rowing indoors? On a rowing machine, which is nicknamed an ERG. Now, when someone tells you they're erging, you'll know exactly what they're talking about; you'll know they're not just clearing their throat.

MONDAY LUNCH FOR SENIORS: There's a new senior center in town called Westhope Senior Activities Center, and it's located at 12850 Saratoga Ave. It's a month old and is open only on Mondays, 10 a.m.­2 p.m. Lunch is served at noon, and a $2 donation is asked.

Though located in the Westhope Presbyterian Church complex and sharing its name, the center is independent, not affiliated with any group. The phone number is 408.255.0955, and the email address is westhopesenior@aol.com.

POETS READ: Mary Lou Taylor of Saratoga and Parthenia Hicks of Los Gatos are two of the poets who will be reading from their works at the release of the newest issues of The Montserrat Review. The reading will be April 5 at 7 p.m. at the Divine Science Community Center, 1540 Hicks Ave., San Jose.

The journal's sixth and seventh issues will be released simultaneously, inspired by the large number of suitable submissions, said Montserrat editor Calder Lowe. Other readers are Jean and Bill Emerson, H.E. Lehmann, Lara Gularte, Ted Gehrke, Halfdan Hussey, Kathie Isaac-Luke, Cynthia Gentry, Joe Miller, Stephanie Pressman and Calder Lowe. The journal will be available for $11 and is also sold at Willow Glen Books. For more information, call 408.293.3838.

SILICON VALLEY CHARITY BALL: The Silicon Valley Charity Ball has ceased its elaborate dine-and-dance format this year and is issuing a simple plea for funds without frou-frou. Donors are asked to submit directly to the foundation the amount of money they would normally spend.

The address is Silicon Valley Charity Ball Foundation, 1922 The Alameda, Suite 209, San Jose, 95126. The phone is 408.260.0594. The need this year is greater than ever, say organizers, and the ball's demise does not mean the foundation's demise.

Nonprofits targeted to receive funds this year are the Emergency Housing Consortium, InnVision, Loaves and Fishes, Next Door Solutions for Violence, RAFT, RotaCare Bay Area Inc., SAVE, and Meals on Wheels. Over the past 16 years the ball has raised $10 million for local nonprofits.

NEW MEMBERS: Three new members at the Aegis Art Gallery co-op are Nancy Patka of Saratoga, Manli Chao of Cupertino and Bob Bowman of Morgan Hill. Patka and Chao are painters, Bowman a digital photographer. Their work is at the gallery now, and the three will be featured artists in a show in July.

Artists at Aegis are in the process of tackling mediums unfamiliar to them in the next few months, and the results will be displayed in a June show titled "Out of Your Element." Closer to Highway 9 on Big Basin is Saratoga Gallery, which recently relocated. Wood turnings by Jim Gott are one of the standouts there.

TEATIME: The American Association of University Women Committee on Homeless Women and Children presents its 15th annual fundraising tea on April 5 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Saratoga. Doors open at 12:45 p.m. for the silent auction action. Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 408.867.0108.

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