TO THE RESCUE: Saratogans Shelley and Barbara Williams were so horrified at the devastation Katrina wrought that they volunteered to help out via the Red Cross. Though Barbara is a nurse, and it was originally her idea, Shelley was pressed into service first--indeed, 10 days earlier than the call to Barbara.
Shelley, a retired Realtor, was charged with doling out food and drink and finding and apportioning clothing. The Williamses tended to evacuees in Gonzales, La., south of Baton Rouge. Some 2,000 evacuees were stationed there at the height of the disaster but when Barbara got there the population was 700.
By the time she left it was down to 300 housed in the city's Expo building. About 70 volunteers were housed nearby and drove to their clients daily. Barbara reports that the snoring of that many people got to her the first couple of days but by the time the third day came she was so tired the noise didn't deter her sleep.
Barbara nursed there three weeks; Shelley rendered services for a month.
Barbara is the call nurse at Kaiser Santa Teresa, answering whatever questions come her way. She's been a nurse for 35 years, loves the field, but works part time now. "I felt they needed the skills I have," she says about volunteering.
Moved by the plight of those in the hurricane and levees' path, volunteers came in all ages, from all walks of life, she reports. Her clients had incredible stories: one woman was trapped on her roof for four days with her mother and two children. A helicopter rescued the children and mother, but the woman was left behind.
Though the helicopter driver promised to come back for her, somehow she was forgotten and wasn't rescued until she had been on the roof--without food or water--for 10 days. She lost 50 pounds, broke a leg and had no idea how. And, she didn't know where her children or mother had landed.
Despite all this, her attitude was upbeat, said Barbara. She felt lucky to be alive. Doctors couldn't operate on her leg before she gained back some weight. And before Barbara left the center, her children had been located.
As for the scene outside the center, "the devastation is so horrifying you can't even describe it. You can't believe it. I don't see how they will ever be able to rebuild." One house floating down the street blocked the entire street, was stopped only by a hanging tree branch.
ART FOR HOME & BODY: A "Dressed to Thrill: Artwear for the Home and Body" show, benefiting Hospice of the Valley, was organized by local artists Marcia Manzo, Leilani Bennett and Joyce Steinfeld. It featured the work of 15 artists who design in clothing, glass, wood, jewelry and hand woven textiles.
"An upscale art show that created a win-win for the artists and a local charity," was the show's objective, Manzo said. Each artist donated an item for the silent auction. Funds raised will go toward care for the terminally ill. Sally Adelus is executive director of Hospice of the Valley.
The event helped kick off November as National Hospice Month. Sylvia Katzman is president of Hospice of the Valley Service League. Jane Coldoff, who owns the boutique Treasure in Los Altos, was the show sponsor.
BEAUTY & BEAST: Five Saratoga youngsters have parts in the Peninsula Youth Theater's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast to be performed Nov. 12-20 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. They are Leah Cohen, Danielle Coleman, Samantha Pack, Chelsea Venuti and Max Venuti.
Also in the cast are Polly Ellis of Monte Sereno and Kendall Bartlett, Sydney Duncheon and Chelsea Prather of Los Gatos. Tickets are $19 and $16, except for $7 weekday matinees. The contacts are 650.903.6000 or www.pyt.org.
ASIAN-AMERICAN HEROES: Ken Iwagaki of Monte Sereno and John Tauchi of Saratoga were two recipients of Asian American Heroes Awards in the fifth annual county awards program. The award was conceived to honor outstanding Asian Americans for their community service and leadership.
Iwagaki is volunteer CFO of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose. Tauchi is a longtime volunteer leader in Saratoga's Sister City and the Hakone Foundation. Another recipient of the Asian American Heroes award was Raj Bhanot, founder and treasurer of the Hindu Temple and Community Center.
Still others were Angely Chen, music teacher at the Community School of Music and Arts; Iris Wang, executive director of Vision New America; Lisa Fischer-Colbrie, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; A.T. Wee, Tzu Chi Foundation; and Patrick, Susan and Candice Kwok, team award for civic engagement.
TO SING AT FILOLI: Mission Valley Chorus will entertain at Filoli Gardens in December and invites all who love holiday music to join in rehearsals on Tuesdays at Nordahl Hall, 580 Parr Ave., Los Gatos, at 7:30 p.m. after Nov. 15 to learn the music. For more information: 408.318.0339.
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By Mary Ann Cook