Main Street

Tait's juried show proves to be the best ever

By Mary Ann Cook

A BLOCKBUSTER: The juried show at the Los Gatos Art Museum on Tait Street is the best ever, reports docent coordinator Janet Kerr. The reputation of the museum show must be spreading and strengthening, and a bold, bright show is the result. There were more entries than ever--350--submitted by 187 different artists.

The exhibit ends May 29, and Los Gatos painter/instructor Mike Linstrom was the juror. Local winners include Los Gatans Ella Fisher, who received an honorable mention for sculpture; Lisa De Wilde, honorable mention for watercolor; and Connie Klass, honorable mention for oils. Saratogan Mary Ann Henderson won a second for a pastel and an honorable mention for a watercolor; and Michiko Shimoda won a second in ceramics.

BADMINTON CHAMP: Los Gatan Jeff Fishback won the National Championship in the Senior Men's Singles, age 55 and older, held recently in Seattle. Badminton champions from some 20 states participated, including several national champions.

He also won second place in the Senior Men's Doubles teamed with Perry DeGuzman of San Jose, a first-time pairing. Fishback coached badminton at Los Gatos High for several years when his children were on the school team there. He is a math teacher at Cupertino High, but coached at other schools through the years.

Jeff Fishback is no stranger to winning athletic competitions. He was a member of the 1964 Olympic track and field team, competing in the steeplechase. No horses are involved in this event: it's strictly running, with barriers and several water jumps along its 3,000 meters.

And he won the Bay to Breakers race in 1963 and set a record for the time. He was a member of five national track teams during his college days, winning a gold in the Pan American Games in 1963. One sportswriter called him "the first of the modern runners." Doesn't sound like he's slowed down much in the meantime.

YOUNG ARTIST: A sketch of a feline creature created by Suzanne Tow, 11, of Los Gatos appeared in the May/June issue of New Moon magazine of Duluth, Minn. "The magazine for girls and their dreams" is the magazine's subhead.

Suzanne's entry in the drawing contest was accompanied by these words: "I think of Luna [the magazine's symbol] as a tiger. She has amazing strength but is sweet and quiet like a kitten. She stares down at Earth, watching and waiting." Suzanne's drawing was selected from hundreds of submissions.

BOCCE TOURNAMENT: Steve Mariucci, head coach of the 49ers, hosted the first annual Steve Mariucci Bocce Ball Tournament at Campo di Bocce last week as a benefit for Community Against Substance Abuse. The tickets were $50 and donated to the 49ers Foundation, which offers financial support to nonprofits, such as CASA. Mariucci is a Saratoga resident, and the event promises to become an annual one.

REGATTA WINNERS: The Los Gatos Women Junior Rowing Team won second place for overall women's points, and the entire junior team won third place for overall team points in an International Rowing Regatta held at Vancouver, British Columbia, in April. More than 1,600 athletes from 40 clubs competed.

The Los Gatos team is made up of 90 youngsters from eighth grade through high school. Skip Braatz, Mitch McCoy, Robert Goldsmith and Gene Knipe are the coaches who attended. Earlier this year, the club hosted 30 Canadian rowers from Brentwood College for a nine-day home stay in Los Gatos. Brentwood was the site of the Vancouver competition.

ANNIVERSARY: A tea to honor the Live Oak Senior Nutrition and Service Center's 25th anniversary was held this week at the Los Gatos United Methodist Church. Lunch and transportation are provided daily by this agency to alleviate the loneliness of elders.

Dr. Carl Thoresen spoke on "The Power of Volunteering." Local restaurants donated the food for the hundreds who attended. Musical entertainment was offered, and local service clubs decorated the tables.

LIBRARY FRIENDS MEETING: The annual meeting of the Friends of the Los Gatos Library will be held May 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the library. Featured will be Friends board member Martha Alderson, who will present a slide show and historic look at Commodore Robert Stockton.

SYMPHONY SHOWCASE: The 1999 Symphony Showcase will be held June 5 to 27 at a Greco-Roman style home in the Saratoga foothills. Donation is $20 and hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. For more information call 354-0773.

ELVIS FAN: Thanks to local Elvis fan Jacqui Wilson, who alerted me to Michael, who calls himself the Great Pretender. Michael impersonates Tom Jones, Johnny Mathis, Louis Armstrong and a host of others besides Elvis. Wilson reports that Michael performs at the Campbell Prune Festival and Pacifica's Moose Lodge. His number is (415) 892-0864.

Paul Curtis named as new community development director

National Turn Off Your TV Television Week

Photo: Van Meter students plant a tree for Arbor Day

Photo: Theatre in the Mountains presents 'Gypsy'

Picture From the Past: LG Memorial Park

Sports Briefs

The Wildcats deal the Lancers their first softball loss

Los Gatos boys face undefeated Bellarmine volleyball team

CCS, SJ Sports Authority hand out senior athlete scholarships

Summer athletic activities for youth