TENNIES TRANSFER: After children at Castro Middle School heard a presentation by Barby and Vic Ulmer of Saratoga—founders of our developing world—about the devastating effects of landmines, they organized a drive to collect tennis shoes for children in the Kien Khlang Rehab Center in Vietnam.
The tennis shoes were destined for those with prostheses or in wheelchairs. Cabrillo Middle School also joined the drive, thanks to science teacher Bruce Halen, who had visited the rehab center three years earlier with odw. The center is a Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation Project.
They were able to take more than five large bags of tennis shoes to the rehab center, since Natalie Giaccone, president of Unique Travel, had procured extra checked bags for them from China Air. The shoes cost a prohibitive $16 on the used market in Vietnam.
With the children wearing the shoes, the prostheses last longer and those in wheelchairs with the use of a foot become stronger. Children in braces with polio have to wear shoes. The emptied bags were filled with handcrafts, made by craftsmen in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. They will be on sale at odw Nov. 20, 11 a.m.5 p.m., and Nov. 21, 14 p.m.
For directions, the number is 408.379.431. The Ulmers gave the landmine presentation at the Southwest Y in conjunction with Monique Salas of the Citizen School program. Citizen School is an after-school collaboration between the Y and Castro School.
CRAYONS FOR CHILDREN: Longtime Saratoga artist and teacher Ruth Rainie Condit died last week, and those who want to honor her are asked to buy crayons for children, instead of flowers. This very poignant remembrance of the beloved teacher and highly regarded artist is indeed a fitting one.
HOME TO CONDUCT: Craig Barna, who grew up in Saratoga, is musical director and conductor of the Broadway touring company of Peter Pan, now playing at the Performing Arts Center in San Jose. Barna, who lives in New York, has conducted numerous Broadway musicals both on tour and on Broadway.
He is a sought-after musical theater workshop presenter at universities, including his alma mater, the University of Arizona. Most of Barna's recording work is done at the Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra. His parents, Lillian and Eugene, and brother Keith are still active Saratogans.
The final performance of Peter Pan is a matinee on Nov. 7. Star Cathy Rigby will sign autographs at the end of each performance.
HAKONE HONORED: Hakone was lauded by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Save America's Treasures as the newest addition to the Restore America: A Salute to Preservation campaign. Hakone was chosen from 1,000 entries across the country. The Home & Garden TV channel will air a segment on the garden through November.
Hakone is the oldest surviving Japanese-style residential estate in the western hemisphere. Lon Saavedra is CEO and Phil Boyce is board chairman of the Hakone Foundation. A plaque by artist Tom Russell and a $68,000 check was presented to the gardens in ceremonies last week.
Hakone was built by Oliver and Isabel Stine on 18 acres of Saratoga hillside as a summer retreat and completed in 1929. The Stines spent $100,000 (a considerable sum for that time) to create the Japanese ideal of the garden as a space where art and nature merge seamlessly.
In 1932, Major C.L. Tilden bought the place and added the main gate. But by 1966, Hakone had fallen into disrepair and was purchased by the city of Saratoga. Kyoto-trained gardener Tanso Ishihara was hired to begin the restoration. After his death in 1980, his student, Jack Tomlinson, was appointed Japanese garden specialist.
Tomlinson was charged with maintaining the beauty and authenticity of the gardens and the dream of Mr. Ishihara. The Hakone Foundation was formed in 1984 to fund the garden. Hakone hosts more than 40,000 visitors annually and offers art and cross-cultural programs.
This is the first Silicon Valley site to be recognized as an American treasure. The Hakone website is http://www.hakone
.com/calendar/events.html.
YOUTH SYMPHONY: Eight Saratoga musicians—Connie Chen, Catherine Chiu, Kevin Liu, Jacqueline Liu, Jamie Lu, Joanna Nam, Xin Wang and Carolyn Wu—will perform Nov. 6 and 7 with the El Camino Youth Symphony. The opener Nov. 6 is at 7:30 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, Redwood City.
On Nov. 7 the concert is at Gunn High School, Palo Alto, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $5 and the number is 650.327.2611.
COMEDY NIGHT: Every Tuesday is comedy night at Blue Rock Shoot. The laughter gets under way at 8 p.m., generally runs an hour.
The four comics I heard represented our valley's diversity and underscored the belief that comedians often come from minorities.
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By Mary Ann Cook