She cited sex education in health classes as early as 1906, the first interracial conference in the South in 1915, championing the eight-hour work day, birth control and programs designed for Japanese Americans interned during WWII.

The agency that once offered teas and homemaking skills is now dedicated to helping the marginalized learn skills that lead to jobs. Stanford University has asked the Y to set up a rape center satellite on its campus, a testimony to the effectiveness of the local Y's program. The aftermath of rape is a healing process that may take a lifetime.

Steinem decried the testosterone-driven leadership in the Muslim world and said we need to re-examine the role of men. It is up to women to help create a world where sons are raised as their daughters are, and violence is not the solution to problems, she said.

Steinem pointed out that the leader of the 9-11 attacks had been tortured by his father daily for not being "man enough." He became someone who both hated and feared women. In his suicide note he strictly forbade any women from attending his funeral.

On the opposite side of the gender wars, the YWCA welcomed male members to its board of directors for the first time last year. Six men are members of the board and four are locals. They are Lon Allen of Monte Sereno, Steven Delva of Los Gatos and William Murphy and Michael Rosendin of Saratoga.

Also on the board is longtime volunteer Joleen Callahan of Los Gatos, honored this spring by the Y for her many years of service to that organization.

SELL-A-BRATION: Designing woman Dorothy Matthews has created and sold jewelry to local clientele for 30 years under the name Dorothy Designing. But this year she threatens to hang up the baubles and bangles. To celebrate her retirement--and reduce inventory--she held a four-day sell-a-bration recently.

An avid traveler, Matthews offers jewelry that includes materials from many lands. Examples are jade, carvings and beads from the Ch'Ing Dynasty to the present; freshwater pearls in natural pastels, as well as tech-treated black and gray pearls from modern China; Venetian glass; rare mother-of-pearl gaming counters; and antique silver.

A portion of sales went to Rotoplast International, which provides corrective plastic surgery for underprivileged children around the world. The Saratoga designer's son-in-law, Ron Gemberling, a plastic surgeon, volunteers several times a year for Rotoplast.

Ron is married to Adrienne, who was helping out at the sale, along with Matthews' other daughter, Nadie Lee. Father of the brood is Herb, a retired anesthesiologist.

In the flier for the sale a question mark appears after the phrase "one last time," so we may not have heard the last from Ms. M., jewelry-wise. Truth to tell, she was accepting orders on sale days from admirers who wanted more.

ONE WHEEL? YES, ONE WHEEL: If you've ever said to yourself, "I want to try that," while watching a unicyclist, now's your chance. A unicycle clinic sponsored by the Los Gatos Athletic Club will be held 10 a.m.-noon, Dec. 11, at the LGHS track--come rain or shine.

Los Gatan Grace Fleming, a storyteller and hypnotherapist, is one of the instructors. Fleming is training to ride 300 miles across northern Laos from Jan. 23 to Feb. 3 as a benefit for Oxfam, a charitable agency dedicated to victims of social injustice.

Fleming, along with husband Nathan and son Beau Hoover, will demonstrate at the clinic. Other experts on hand will be Corbin Dunn of Los Gatos, Mike Scalisi of Oakland, Seth Golub of Sunnyvale and Scot Cooper of Capitola.

The free clinic will include lessons in big wheels, little wheels and unicycles with no frame nor seat. Riding with two feet, one foot and no feet will be demonstrated. Nathan and Beau unicycled in the Alps this summer--565 miles, eight mountain passes, ascending 43,965 feet.

CELEBRATION: Yvette Zamora and Matt Bryant, former Los Gatans, were married recently. At the reception, the groom requested "Celebration" be played in honor of his mother and the two danced to same. 'Twas a gentle rib, because when the family threesome attended Oakland A's games, mother obviously got a bigger kick out of the song than she did the game. "Celebration" belted out whenever the A's scored. Matt's parents are Ken and Dale Bryant: Dale is executive editor of this paper.

ANONYMOUS THANK YOU: A Saratogan who lives on Brockton Lane called to thank the paper for running her garage sale ad free a few weeks back. The sale reaped $641, which was sent to Americans Helping Americans to benefit the victims of Katrina.

Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.