SCI-FI SUCCESS: Mark Lavine, Saratoga High '76, has just published his first book, Forever Child. It's science fiction and was published by Aveneine. Lavine lives in Scotts Valley and held a book launch recently for his new title. He is the son of Magdalene Lavine of Saratoga and Richard Lavine.
Forever Child is the story of an enclosed community where most of the inhabitants never age. Those on the outside are poverty stricken. Still, some of those on the inside long to get out to lead a normal life, while those on the outside would like to get in. Some succeed.
Some also succeed in dodging the dose of the non-aging elixir that is routinely given the inhabitants so they'll remain children. Lavine has written two other books, as yet unpublished, that are not sci-fi. "I have a heightened appreciation for science fiction writers," he says.
The other books deal with social issues and are titled Dr. Prozac and Victimless Crime. The latter is set during the dot-com bubble days. Lavine, who majored in psychology at UC-Santa Cruz, is a quality audit manager for Underwriters Lab. He and his wife, Diane, have a son, Daniel, 3.
Mark's sister, Julie, lives in Barcelona, Spain. She and her husband met at Stanford when they were each getting a degree in law. For more on Forever Child, email Mark at di-mark@pacbell.net
EAGLE SCOUT: Will Heid was recently awarded Eagle Scout ranking by the Boy Scouts for a project that involved installing a brick floor in an outdoor display area for the Saratoga Historical Museum. He is a member of Troop 232 in San Jose and the grandson of noted architect and longtime Saratogan Warren Heid.
His father is landscape architect Jeff Heid, Saratoga High '73, and his mother is Julie.
CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK: Christine Leman of Santa Clara, granddaughter of Saratogan William Plonczak, graduated with top honors from Santa Clara University with a major in electronic engineering.
No surprise there, since she's been an "A" student all her life and her grandfather received a Diamond Award from the Federal Aviation Administration recently for his pioneering work on airplane design and maintenance.
Leman's mother is Sharon Leman.
NEW HOME: By now the Chamber of Commerce staff is well ensconced in its new home on Big Basin. Though saddened to leave their historic home on Highway 9 (the former home of the village blacksmith), they are glorying in their new digs, which are more centrally located. There is far more drop-in traffic and people asking about Chamber membership, they report.
On sale at the Chamber office are top o' the line polo and denim shirts with the word "Saratoga" embroidered on them, plus engaging travel mugs for gift-giving. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chamber products are also available through the website, located at www.saratogachamber.org.
Here's who may greet you at the Chamber office should you decide to stop by: Kristen Davis, executive director; Carmel Scott, accounts manager; Carole Atkin, office assistant and the Chamber's newest employee. Kai Lo, a sophomore at Saratoga High, is there regularly, too. He's a volunteer and is much appreciated by the staff. His mother, a Chamber member, owns Motivation Plus.
GRAND JURISTS: Selected as finalists for the Grand Jury of the Superior Court for 200304 were Kathleen Dirickson of Saratoga and James E. Moreton Jr. of Los Gatos. The grand jury is the civil watchdog of the county.
COMEDY NIGHTS: The Blue Rock Shoot is adding to its entertainment menu. The coffee shop will hold stand-up comedy nights every other Saturday throughout the summer. By popular demand, 'tis said. Shows will be given at 8 and 10 p.m. Amateur nights for the up and coming will be held July 19 and Aug. 30.
Except for the amateur open mike nights, the comedians are all professionals who play major venues such as Rooster T. Feathers and the Punchline. Some have appeared on TV. Call the Blue Rock at 408.868.1613.
DOUBLE WHAMMY: Saratogan Cloria Vandermate had a whirlwind social week recently, what with her daughter's marriage and the Fourth of July doings. Carla Anne Vandermate married Donald Kenton Westerberg in an outdoor wedding at Winterbourne, the Monte Sereno home of Stan and Pamela Atwood June 28.
The groom and Stan Atwood work together in the law firm Atwood, Haiman and Westerberg in Saratoga, and the Atwoods are generous about hosting weddings and other major undertakings at their place.
On the Fourth, Cloria played hostess for an overflow pool party at her house, an annual event that's been part of her schedule for dozens of years.
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By Mary Ann Cook