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Saratoga Sampler
Historic turnout for Historical Foundation barbecue
By Mary Ann Cook
RECORD NUMBER FOR FUNDRAISER: The Saratoga Historical Foundation held a fundraising barbecue one recent Sunday at Garrod-Cooper Ranch and Winery that proved to be one of the most successful of these October tri-tip events. The number of attendees was up, what with some 80 local history buffs gathering.
A slide show played continuously in the picnic area. It had been put together by Chuck Schoppe, president of the foundation, for a wine tasting fundraiser last year. Host Vince Garrod said the fall afternoon was especially meaningful to him, an extension of a family tradition.
His mother and father had held large gatherings in the fall to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Perhaps the most people ever gathered together at Garrod Farms was at his parents' 60th wedding anniversary. "It seemed like half the valley showed up," called out one listener.
Garrod talked about growing up in the valley when it was strictly agricultural and how the prune and apricot trees were eventually replaced by grapevines to keep up with changing times, changing markets. The longtime elementary school board member commented on how thoroughly he enjoyed that assignment.
And he added that he still keeps up with school doings. The most recent honor for the Garrod family was the naming of a new foundation at the vet school at UC-Davis to be called the Garrod Society.
His father had worked hard to get that vet school established and lived to see it happen, said Vince. The Garrod Society starts off with a $500,000 beginning grant.
Vince's sister Louise also added to the reminiscences of earlier times and their hands-on childhood with everyone sharing in the farm work. Later Louise mentioned to friends that Olivia deHavilland had called, visited and checked out the stable and winery, the wine operation being new since she was last in town.
IRONWOMEN READERS: Yet another club with bookish members is the Iron Women, so-called because its members were gathered from those who worked out at the Los Gatos Athletic Club. This group's emphasis is on other cultures and other lands in its reading forays, reports recent hostess Natalie Schutz.
She chose Kaaterskill Falls by Allegra Goodman last month. Though set in this country, it tells the story of an upper-class Jewish family, a culture unique in and of itself. Ironwomen members are mostly retired teachers, so it's a very well-read group with wide-ranging interests, she adds.
Other members are Verle Clark, Priscilla Albright, Janet Jacobson, Jan McDonald, Mary Lou Taylor and Margeaux Mann, all of Los Gatos or Saratoga. Joan Reed and Celia Deneus have moved to the Villages and Ann Preston lives in San Jose. The group meets monthly for lunch; participants bring salads, as befits Ironwomen.
ART SHOW: A Fall Invitational Art Show will be held at the Rinconada Hills Clubhouse on Nov. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Included are Violet Gelmann and Gloria Alabaster with pottery; George Gelmann, oil paintings; Rose Nunes and Fran Franklin, knit handbags; and Betsy Shaps, ceramics and glass.
Quilters are Edna Herman and Clareen Dunivin; watercolor on tile by Elke Groves; tole painting by Miyoko Date; pen and ink drawings by Yoshihiko Dave Date; photographs by Suzanne Karlak and Mike Hatman; jewelry by Alexis Rubin, Krista Magallon, Patti Linder-Dodd and Corey Potter. Kathy Allien will display her silk-screen work.
Ten percent of the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. Dunivin was the show's organizer.
NEW MARKETING GURU: Saratogan Len Rosenthal has joined Panasas Inc. of Fremont as chief marketing officer. "Rosenthal's management and corporate marketing expertise will be a key component in strengthening our global presence," said Victor Perez, Panasas president and CEO.
Rosenthal has more than 20 years of business development experience. He worked for PathScale Corporation, guiding it into one of the most respected technology suppliers in the industry, which ultimately led to its acquisition by QLogic.
Before co-founding PathScale, Rosenthal directed global partnerships with vendors, integrators, and resellers at Inktomi Corporation. He was in senior marketing management at Silicon Graphics and HP. His MBA is from UC-Berkeley and his bachelor's in economics and electrical engineering from the U. of Pennsylvania.
CHIEF NURSE: Mary Anne McCrea is the new chief nursing officer at Community Hospital of Los Gatos. McCrea was hired as the interim chief nursing officer in June, and now she's assuming the post on a permanent basis. "It really feels like a family here," McCrea says.
She cites the high quality of care for patients, outstanding physicians and some of the newest technology on hand as other pluses at Community. McCrea is described as a versatile leader, skilled in assessing performance and finding new solutions to problems, thanks to her 20-plus years of experience.
She graduated from Arizona State U. with a master's in nursing administration and a bachelor's in nursing.
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