SISTER CITY: Exchange students representing Saratoga in an exchange with Sister City Muko were introduced at a Sister City meeting last month. They are Emily Yao of Saratoga High School and Steven Brady and Jessica Ricks of Westmont High.
The students visiting from Japan were Yukako Kushima, Yukari Maki and Haruka Hanafusa. The visits are 11 days long on both continents and the Japanese students came shortly after the U.S. students got back from Japan. Emily said she was surprised about how connected she felt to the family she stayed with, and vice versa. She was amazed at how close they were after a relatively short stay.
The young women all wore kimonos to the potluck meeting. They had been to Monterey for the day and had a sleepover. "We don't have sleepovers in Japan, so we wanted to try it," said the visitors.
Steven, being the only male of the six, skipped the sleepover. His host sister, Yukako, was so proficient in Japanese that she usually translated for the others. All the students said it was an indelible experience, a trip they won't forget, perhaps even life-changing.
Lillian Morgan is the Sister City rep in charge of the exchange. Mrs. M. grew up in Japan and her husband, Dan, is soon to be president of Saratoga's Sister City group.
LIVING LIFE LIKE A LAKOTAN: High school student Michael Weiner served a week this summer on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota, doing construction and maintenance work as part of a Global Volunteers team.
Michael was immersed in the Lakota's culture and religion during his stay. He was particularly awestruck about the sweat lodge ceremonies. "I have no words to express the experience. I was speechless." Usually only Native Americans are allowed to take part in this religious practice.
Global Volunteers sets up short-term projects in 20 different countries. Volunteer teams work at the request and under the direction of host agencies. Global Volunteers is based in Minnesota and the phone is 800.487.1074.
SANDLOT STORIES: To experience the sheer joy of playing baseball, there's Steven Young's Sandlot Stories, relating how people all over the world play the game. Its latest review is from the Tahoe Bonanza. Young, originally from Saratoga, now lives in that area.
"Baseball breaks down barriers," says one entry. "It was God's level playing field." Tales of playing baseball from India to Alaska are in Young's Sandlot Stories collection. His email is StevenHayesYoung@aol.com. Profits from the book go to the Parasol Community Foundation, benefiting charities in the Tahoe area.
NEW OFFICERS: The Saratoga Lions Club recently installed new officers for its coming year. They are: Helen Lemmon, president; Wilfred Hirschman, vice president for activities; Dalia Nir, vice president of programs; Marge Bunyard, vice president for membership; James Ousley, treasurer; and Dean James, secretary.
The club is 57 years old and its main concerns are health and youth- and senior-related projects, stressing local needs. But its members also collected more than 3,000 pairs of glasses last year for distribution to the sight-impaired overseas.
Meetings are held at noon on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Florentine Restaurant on Big Basin Way, and visitors are always welcome.
REUNION: Some 170 celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Saratoga High class of 1969 at the Cooper-Garrod ranch recently. The live music included former SHS band members Mark Slemmons, Rick Olson, John Cassidy, Roger Pease and Chris Geis.
Core organizers included Vicky Garrod Bosworth, Denise Daley Balocoo, Doug Neale, Ellen Kahle Evans, Nancy Blessing Walker and Rilla Jorgensen Betz.
BLUE WORLD: "Yogu's Blue World" is the title of the exhibit at the Aegis Gallery through Sept. 26. Yogu, born in Japan, has lived in Saratoga since 1988. These new works are done in suminagashi (spilt-ink) style. An artist reception will be held Sept. 11, 46 p.m.
ON OLYMPIC MAP: Two young women decisively put Saratoga onto the world's athletic map at the recent Olympics when they proved to be two medal winners. For those who were wireless in the wilds for the past couple of weeks, they are Kerri Walsh and Patricia Miranda.
Walsh, a product of Archbishop Mitty and Stanford, took the gold in beach volleyball and Miranda, of Saratoga High and Stanford, took the bronze in women's wrestling. These two can take pride in being at the forefront of two emergent sports. Who ever heard of those categories a few Olympics back?
WOMEN WATERCOLORS: Watercolors by Saratogan Bonnie Stone are on exhibit at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Ill., until Sept. 26. Called "Women's Work is Never Done," the works show domestic images and issues, including women's roles in traditional Judaic and African American cultures.
The web page is http://yyz.clc.cc.il.us/artgallery.
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By Mary Ann Cook