NetAid, a partnership between the UN and Cisco Systems, is dedicated to the goal of reducing global poverty in half by 2015. Lukkoor, 34, has two young sons, and has been a NetAid Online Volunteer with People with Disabilities Uganda for several years.

She helped launch that organization's website and continues to update its contents. She has worked to forward education in both the U.S. and developing countries. As the essay winner, Rajashree and her husband, Anjan, attended a gala at the UN that marked International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Her winning essay was published in the NetAid newsletter, Connections. Other essay ideas included forming cooperative education programs throughout the developing world and creating a chain of stores to sell goods from farmers blocked by trade restrictions in developed countries.

PACIFIC MIGRATIONS: The Organization of Chinese American Women and the AAUW are combining forces to present a lecture on Pacific Migrations on Nov. 22 and to announce a new learning center dedicated to that topic. Cynthia Chang is the representative from OCAW and Marlene Duffin from AAUW.

"Pacific Migrations, A New Learning Center," will be held Nov. 22, 2­4 p.m., at the Saratoga Library. The center will be located at New Brighton State Beach. Reps from the state department of parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks will discuss the museum.

The center will explore the Chinese impact on the region's economic development and will compare the human migration to that of birds. Both followed the same ocean currents that carried the Chinese junks from the Western Pacific to the California coast. The center will celebrate both the human and wildlife diversity of California.

MAGNIFICENTLY MUSTACHIOED: Gary Hagen won a trophy and the title "World Championship Handlebar Mustache" in an international whiskers competition in Nevada City recently. Hagen's award should come as no surprise to the regulars at the Saratoga Safeway, where he worked for 12 years.

He is now working at Morgan Hill's Safeway and regaling folks there with his handlebar antics. At Christmas time he adds bells to the appurtenance; on the 4th of July the mustache may sprout red, white and blue coloration; and on St. Patrick's Day it tends to turn green.

His pursuit of the mustache title displays the same give-it-your-all spirit, since he wore his 1914 Model T Touring Car outfit. This costume includes duster, spats, round collar, high-top boots, round glasses, pocket watch—you get the picture.

To get a digital picture of winners, click on whiskerclub.org. The championships are held every other year and include contestants from all over the world, though the Germans seem to dominate. Hagen misses his Saratoga customers, but keeps in touch with Bill McDonald and Ed Porter.

SOLOIST: Jennifer Wu, a Saratoga High sophomore, will be a featured soloist at the Sinfonietta Fall Classic concert Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m., at Cubberley Theatre in Palo Alto. Wu, a flutist, will perform Hue's Fantasie. Also on the program are works by Mozart, Strauss and Manfredini.

The Sinfonietta is an advanced-level orchestra of the El Camino Youth Symphony under the direction of Dr. Camilla Kolchinsky.

ANNIVERSARY: Beth David marks its 40th anniversary with a weekend of festivities Nov. 21­23. Leading off is Founders Recognition Service Friday at which four founding families will be honored. At Shabbat services on Saturday lay leaders will be honored.

Havdalah service and party on Saturday night includes skits about historical highlights of the congregation. Minyan service on Sunday will be followed by a lecture by Rabbi Leo Abrami on "The Lost Tribes of Israel: The Case of the Lembas of South Africa."

TURNABOUT: A dozen Japanese students and their chaperones from Toyokawa visited Saratoga and their hosts were the youngsters who had gone to Japan this summer, including Craig Akimoto of Saratoga. The group took in the sights at Pescadero and San Francisco.

They shopped, had an ice cream party, scarfed up pasta, tri-tip, burgers, pizza, burritos and Chinese food. One day the guests turned the tables, cooked up beef bowl, miso soup and soba noodles. And they helped an appreciative Akimoto with his Japanese language homework.

Hosting the chaperones were Connie McNair of Kennedy and Arnold Posada of Miller school. "I don't know if it was more fun going to Japan or them visiting us," said Akimoto, who termed the visit too short.

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