CRYSTAL BOWL: Saratogan Trudi A. Burney won a Crystal Bowl award recently, an honor bestowed by the San Jose Junior League, for her work with the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. Burney has been president of the Wildlife board of directors for the past two years and is the director of city relations and director of education.
Burney cites two accomplishments during her tenure that contributed to the award. She acquired funding for the first time from the eight cities the center serves. And, an educational program was started; Burney addresses both classrooms and adult groups.
Public awareness of the work the volunteer nonprofit does has also increased in the past few years. The agency handles 5,500 animals of all different species annually, restoring injured, sick or orphaned creatures to the wild. The Junior League issued 19 awards, culled from 121 applicants.
MEMOIRISTS: Writers from Louise Webb's memoir class at the Saratoga Senior Center read from their work at the Wednesday lunch at the center. Memories ranged from the humorous to the touching.
Max Van Rhee recounted his attempt at sex education—giving his sons the birds and bees message, but using fish as an example. Seemed the easiest route, since his sons had already viewed some fertilization and reproduction action going on in the aquarium in their home.
After thinking this explanation over, one of the boys asked, "But, Dad, how do people without swimming pools do it?"
Cecilia Frezel's piece told of her first helicopter ride—part of the celebration of her 90th birthday on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Today Frezel, an avid traveler, is 92 and looking forward to her next trek.
Charlotte Yukelich's paper related an embarrassing swim when she was 16, wearing cheaters in the bathing suit bra. After an adventuresome dive, the falsies repositioned themselves. She emerged with her eyes covered, rather than sporting an enhancement to her silhouette.
Barbara Mendenhall wrote about finding a new love (and new husband) on the other side of the country, after being widowed—a surprising outcome. Other readers were Lorraine Campbell, Emily Hendrickson, Evelyn Johnson, Ginny Johnson, Verda Keenan, Jim Oggerino and Jane Stewart.
The stories were heartwarming, but the most heartwarming aspect was the way members embraced each other's work.
TENNIS (SHOES) ANYONE?: Barb and Vic Ulmer, co-directors of Our Developing World, will be taking suitcases full of gently used tennis shoes to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam this summer and will return with bags stuffed full of native crafts from those countries.
The Ulmers will lead a Reality Tour for a group of 10 from July 17 to Aug. 8. "We take people from 18 to 95 if they are flexible and want to see for themselves how people live and help each other make a better life," Barb says. "We promise a non-Hilton adventure that will bring them home energized and full of hope."
The shoes will be used for land-mine survivors. Our Developing World is a Saratoga nonprofit educational project whose email is odw@magiclink.net and phone is 408.379.4431. Donations of children's clothes, medicines and shoes are always appreciated. The Ulmers are retired teachers.
They began ODW in '70, started leading tours in '75 and incorporated in '83. They retired early, now doing their part for worldwide rehab.
SONOMA FOR 88: Ruth Brunner celebrated her 88th birthday in Sonoma recently at a luncheon at Gloria Ferrer Champagne Cellars, hosted by former Saratogan Audrey Chapman, now of Sonoma. Dorothy Nolan was part of the festivities, as was Peggy Lambert, a Los Gatan recently transplanted to Sonoma.
The foursome took in a flower-arranging demo, and Brunner received a spring bouquet from the presenter. The Chapmans—Ron and Audrey—will tour Spain soon in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary.
BEAK/FEATHER BOUTIQUE: A secondhand sale of binoculars, artwork, field guides and other bird-related items will be held April 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at McClellan Ranch Park, Cupertino. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. For more information, call Susan Bell at 408.252.3747.
PORTRAIT DEMO: Gerald Bold will demonstrate children's portraiture with Nessa Guerin as the model on April 15 at 7 p.m. at the Saratoga Library. The sponsor is the Saratoga Contemporary Artists and members are invited to draw along with Bold. Nessa is the daughter of Nacera Guerin.
OFFISHAL: The garibaldi is the official fish of California. So announced Doug Rose one recent Friday morn at Blackberry Farm Golf Course. Who would have guessed? Indeed, who's ever heard of a garibaldi?
Rose is coordinator of the Saratoga Senior Center golf group, and spotting California poppies on the course hillside put him in mind of other species with state designations.
Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to
maryanncook@earthlink.net.
By Mary Ann Cook