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Saratoga Sampler
Junior League of San Jose honors Danner, Pidwell
By Mary Ann Cook
J R. LEAGUE HONOREES: In a celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Junior League of San Jose, three local women were lauded--Tina Pidwell and Ann Danner of Saratoga and Charlene Raisch of Los Gatos.
Pidwell, after completing her term as president of the league, joined the American Cancer Society. She has served that organization for the past 20 years, as board president and president of both the ACS regional and district boards. Currently, she works on the district committee for the society, evaluating the retention and re-commitment of volunteers.
Raisch helped bring San Francisco's Princess Project to the South Bay. This project offers free prom dresses and accessories to teenage girls in financial need. Thanks to donations of clothing and jewelry, plus space to store it, the project made the dream of attending the prom a reality for more than 700 girls this year.
Raisch also served as president and co-chairman of the St. Francis High Women's Club Christmas at Our House fundraiser and co-chaired Santa's Drawing Room for two years. She is currently the parliamentarian.
Danner and Stephanie Bielanski-Fehr received the Dorothy Bogen Farrington Award, given annually to two league members who serve as role models and mentors to others. Their dedication, motivation and enthusiasm were cited.
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS: Anel Loubser and Jonathon Pwu of Saratoga High were each awarded $1,000 scholarships from the Foothill Club.
Anel won the social studies scholarship and is heading to UCLA this fall. She attended the National Youth Leadership Forum in February and is described as an extraordinary student. She grew up in two cultures--the United States and South Africa--which resulted in a mature outlook and global perspective. At Saratoga High, she was active in Amnesty International, the Red Cross and Key Club.
Jonathon received the visual and performing arts scholarship. He plays the clarinet and is passionate about music. Obviously highly regarded by his peers, he was named Homecoming king last fall. Jonathon plays in the symphony band and orchestra, marching band and wind ensemble.
Twice a member of California All State Honor Band, he will study at UC-Davis this fall. The awards recognize outstanding scholarship and exceptional contributions to school and community.
NEW FELLOW: Marvin J. Cohn has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the highest elected grade of membership. Fellowship is conferred upon a member with at least 10 years of engineering practice who has made significant contributions to the profession.
The Saratogan is manager of high-energy piping systems at Aptech in Sunnyvale. Thus, his contributions have been in energy piping, engineering mechanics and metallurgy. Cohn is involved in risk analysis and other assignments associated with safety and reliability in pipes and piping components.
Cohn attended the U. of Washington and UCLA, where he received a master of science in engineering in 1978.
PARTY BOY BOND: Some people, like Truman Capote and Ed Porter, know how to throw a party. A yardful of James Bond wannabes and other Bond characters celebrated his 80th birthday recently. The four Porter daughters threw the party for several hundred well-wishers.
Their original idea was a dinner party for 40. Ed's idea was a bit more lavish: unleash the floodgates. Tuxedos and gold lamé gowns were everywhere. Phylis Ballingall, regal in gold top, held up a welcoming finger swathed in gold lamé, as she greeted friends. That's one imaginative way to answer costuming requirements.
TURNING 10: The Learning Express, the toy store in El Paseo de Saratoga, celebrates its 10th anniversary July 14 with face painting, giveaways and games, plays and a special appearance from Clifford the Big Red Dog. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Owners Jim and Heidi Trah say their staff is like part of their family.
Managers' teenage kids also work in the store, including their own, a true family-run business. Both Trahs grew up in the area--Jim in a house just blocks away-- and picked fruit from the orchard where the store sits now. "It was only natural that we would want to come to work each day in our back yard," he says.
"It's great that our kids--Taylor, 15 and Colby, 13--get to hang out with their parents and are now an integral part of the business."
NEW OWNERS: The UPS Store on Big Basin Way was recently remodeled by new owners Rinkoo and Avtar Nat, who also own a UPS store on Meridian in San Jose. The Nats have two children--Jasneil, 14, at Saratoga High and Jaskiran, who won a Rotary Citizenship Award when she graduated from Foothill Elementary.
Rinkoo describes herself as a "people person," which is why she got into this business. Her husband works for a Hayward pharmaceutical company.
Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send e-mail to mac@impruve.com.
