ROCKIN' SPACE: A rock musical, Galileo: The Emotional Life of a Spacecraft, was written and produced by Max Evjen, son of Lynda and David Evjen of Monte Sereno. The musical and its author were scheduled to be highlighted on CBS Sunday Morning and ABC's Nightline last week.
Max grew up in Saratoga, went to Bellarmine, class of '94. Since college days he's appeared in four plays and is now a member of Redshift Productions, the company that produced Galileo. The musical pays tribute to the spaceship's mission to observe Jupiter and its many moons.
A blend of rock, folk, funk and pop provides the background for the poetic lyrics. Through spoken word and song, narrator and orbiter engage in a dialogue about Galileo's quest, and the knowledge gained thereby. A large projection screen shows images created by Galileo, the Jet Propulsion Lab and Moey Inc.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, writes, "Redshift Productions has once again raised science to an art." Giving Galileo the voice and words we all know it would have (if it could) to tell us of its cosmic journey.
The spaceship was deliberately set to self-destruct this week for fear of contaminating Jupiter with earth microbes. It's been in orbit for 14 years.
TO THE RESCUE: The art teacher at Foothill Elementary has departed, because of the grim education economy. Art departs as budgets are cut: indeed, it's usually the first victim. But, fear not, Saratoga. To the rescue comes a local association of artists.
Nacera Guerin, an artist whose daughter Nessa is a third grader at Foothill, wanted to provide some art lessons as a volunteer. And she also approached other members of her art group, Saratoga Contemporary Artists, to see if they would be interested, too.
So enthusiastic were they about the idea that Guerin thought to herself, "I want to live in Saratoga all my life." Those who will be offering their services are Phyllis Feemster, SCA president, Gloria Watson, Margaret Boen, Anne Lamborn, Jean Snow, Lillian Isaacson, Helen Riley and Margaret Magill.
The group will tackle the third-grade classes on Fridays at Foothill first, then see about proceeding to other schools. SCA is a venerable 45 years old. Some of the most-longstanding members are Ruth Rainie Condit, Mary Guth, Maree Lubran, Lorraine Ordahl and Helen Riley, plus Feemster and Watson from the list of volunteers above. Lubran was named their Artist of the Year recently and Watson is credited with being the sparkplug who has kept the group together through the years.
FALL FESTIVAL: Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroups will host a Fall Festival Oct. 5, 10:30 a.m.4 p.m., at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino to raise funds for Women and Their Children's Housing, which provides housing and other services to victims of domestic violence.
Los Gatan Karen Phillips and Saratogan Carolyn Tom are two of the coordinators of this fundraiser. Other organizers are Jennifer Edwards Feasby, Lenore Sanborn and Nancy Ozawa.
The festival will feature crafts, home-based businesses, children's activities, free massages from Royal Touch, a raffle and silent auction. One bid item is a 180-hour massage-certification course valued at $1,200. For more information, visit www.lasmadres.org or email LMFallFestival@aol.com. For WATCH go to www.watchworks.org.
This year is Las Madres' 50th anniversary. The group, for preschoolers, provides playgroups for children based on location and age. Several Las Madres playgroups gather weekly in Los Gatos parks. Parenting classes and family activities are offered, too. Some 1,700 members are enrolled countywide.
PIG ROAST: The Sousas—Bill and Judy—hosted a pig roast at their Saratoga home recently, a benefit for Sister City scholarships to the exchange program. A perspiring President Frank Riddle presided over the covered outdoor spit where the 115-pound pig revolved. It was his umpteenth time to roast a whole pig for Sister City and other groups. Maybe 30 total? More, he estimated. Riddle was gratified at the response to this initial fundraiser. More than $1,000 was raised for scholarships.
John Tauchi revealed the itinerary for the Sister City trip to Japan next year—Oct. 28-Nov. 15. Cost is $3,250 per person. Since it's the 20th anniversary of Saratoga's link with Muko, Japan, it's a milestone trip. Ten destinations are on the itinerary. Questions? Call Peter Marra, 408.741.1551 or John Tauchi, 408.867.9133.
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By Mary Ann Cook