Photograph by George Sakkestad
Heather Gornitcha, 9, discovers the beauty of a water-balloon toss during the sizzling days of August: Sometimes the loser is really the winner.
By Bob Aldrich
Families will mark the waning days of summer when the 41st annual Los Gatos Town Picnic is held at Oak Meadow Park on Aug. 25.
The community picnic, scheduled from noon to 7 p.m., is sponsored by the Los Gatos Lions Club. It will be a day to relax, forget responsibilities and just enjoy. Those who want to laze away the day can do so, but there will be plenty of activities for the more energetically inclined, including a chipping contest, basketball throw, volleyball and a tug of war.
Two bands will play live music throughout the picnic hours. Sammy Roye and the Plain James Band will perform from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., followed by Rick Rinaldi and the Variety Band. The music will be provided as this week's final Music in the Plaza program.
And what would a picnic be without good eats?
"This is the first time we're offering an all-you-can-eat barbecue menu," said Lions picnic chairman Paul Mahoney. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children. There'll be a choice of steak, chicken or hamburgers with grilled vegetables, pasta salad, corn on the cob, garlic bread and dessert. Soft drinks and beer will be sold.
For tickets, call Jeannie Palma 395-9231, or ask any Lions Club member. Tickets will be on sale at the park.
Each picnic-goer will get a free ride on the W.E. Mason Carousel or the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad.
For the children, there will be a full program of games, including an egg toss, a water-balloon toss and face painting with prizes for winners.
A new event this year will be a "company vs. company" challenge, with representatives from various local firms competing in a free throw, relay and tug of war. The winner will receive a trophy.
A highlight of the outdoor event is the drawing for a new car from Moore Buick or $10,000 in cash.
The Los Gatos Lions Club' biggest fundraiser, the Town Picnic will benefit the club's major charitable causes for sight, hearing and diabetes. On hand as usual will be a mobile health van for screening in the three health categories.
It should be a great day if it doesn't rain, and the chances of that in late August in Los Gatos would seem mighty slim.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, August 21, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved