September 15, 2004     Saratoga, California Since 1955
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Saratoga Sampler
McIntosh gets more active as YMCA board member

Mary Ann Cook By Mary Ann Cook

TO YMCA BOARD: Don McIntosh of Saratoga has been elected to a three-year term on the board of the Southwest YMCA on Quito Road. A retired vice president and general manager at AMD, McIntosh has been active in the YMCA both as a volunteer and as an active member, taking varied exercise classes.

His volunteer work was as an adviser to the Y during its recent building renovation. That renovation is now nearly complete. McIntosh holds master's and undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering from Santa Clara University. Since his work required so much travel, he felt a decided lack in the area of community involvement, which he has remedied since his retirement two years ago by becoming more active in the Y and by joining the Saratoga Lions Club. McIntosh says he is particularly impressed by the Southwest Y's dedication to incorporating children with disabilities into its mainstream classes.

This policy of inclusion is a very forward-looking program, he affirms. Don and his wife, Rachael, have three grown sons—Don III, Joel and Aaron—with families of their own who are presumably potential YMCA candidates.

FOR THOSE WHO SERVE: Louise Schaefer gave a party this week on the anniversary date of 9/11 to honor those who give to this community. She wanted to commemorate such community stalwarts as firemen, councilmen, commissioners, the sheriff's department and volunteers who serve in schools and nonprofit organizations.

The idea was to extend a massive thank you to community-service employees and those who volunteer. Music and dancing were included and children had their pictures taken on a firetruck. The event was co-sponsored by Coldwell Banker and music was by Bill of Factory Direct Carpets.

TEA & HARP: Afternoon tea will be served at the Saratoga Senior Center Sept. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. Sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, cakes, cookies, fruit, nuts and mints will all be on hand. Attendees are invited to dress in their best and, in particular, to wear a hat.

Prizes will be given for most unusual or most delightful hat. The annual Saratoga Hi Tea has limited seating. To reserve a spot, the number is 408.868.1257 or 408.867.4757. The cost is $15. Gloria Watson and Fran Wasserman are coordinators and the event is a kick-off to the Celebrate Saratoga! weekend.

ANGEL'S RACE: The first annual Angel's Race to benefit the children of South Africa will be held Sept. 18 with registration starting at 8 a.m. The race starts at 9 a.m. and goes along the Los Gatos Creek Trail from Vasona Park to the percolation ponds in Campbell. It's a 5K walk and a 10K run.

The fee is $25 for on-site registration and the contact is 408.371.2651. Organizers intend to raise $50,000 in this inaugural run. Coordinating the event is the Angel Team of Mimi Hernandez, Linda Mancuso, Lori Sexauer and Nicole Van Vleck.

Mancuso and Hernandez were so moved by the plight of orphaned South African children (the country is one of the hardest hit by the AIDS blight) that they decided to do something to help, and the race was the result.

Oprah went to South Africa at Christmastime last year, distributed toys and clothing in her own campaign. Her programs about that pilgrimage were so moving that the local women sprang into action. Hernandez is a hairdresser who formerly owned Deja Vu in Los Gatos, now works at Salon Rache in the Pruneyard.

Volunteers for the Angel's Race came from her wide network of clients.

NEW OFFICERS: Saratoga Sister City will hold its annual Moon Viewing meeting at Hakone Gardens at 6 p.m. Sept. 24. Entertainment will be by Chikahokai, an Okinawan dance group. To order an obento box dinner at $15, contact Joan Gomersall at 408.996.8050.

New officers have been elected but don't take over the reins until October. They are Don Morgan, president; Cathy Foscato, vice president; Charles Metcalf, treasurer; and Winifred Simpson, secretary. Apologies to D. Morgan for mistakenly slipping an 'a' into his first name recently.

YEARBOOKS, ANYONE?: Old Los Gatos High yearbooks dating back as far as 1909 are available for sale by contacting Sandy Spafford Moore at 408.354.1512 or Chris Miller at camillerlg@aol.com for price and availability. The LGHS Alumni Association recently stumbled upon several boxes of old yearbooks.

And the thought came—why not sell them? Professional photocopies of any year can be made if not enough copies are on hand. Books can be mailed anywhere in the country. The alum association is the sponsor, in cooperation with PostalMate Plus. Moore is association president.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley needs volunteers for office help and to help staff booths at farmers markets and street fairs. More visible roles include dressing as Nutcracker characters at parades, fairs and other special events. The contact is Lee Kopp at 408.288.2820, ext. 210, or lkopp@balletsanjose.org.

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