Main Street

Now the tale can be told-and published

By Mary Ann Cook

NEW AUTHOR: Here's another Los Gatos author who has recently surfaced. She's Nikki Milano, who writes as Nina Lourik, her name when she was growing up in northern Indiana. Her autobiographical book, just out, is 1234 Fifth Ave. It tells the story of her family--her Russian immigrant parents and the hardscrabble life they led raising five children.

The book was fomenting for 50 years. Milano kept journal notes she began at age 12. She started to put the book together when she was in her 20s, but one sister objected to family secrets being aired and the notes were put away. Years later, her granddaughter, Corine Milano, 12, announced she wanted to become a writer and asked for some stories.

Once Nikki began relating her early years, Corine urged her to write these stories herself. She was the only one still alive from those Depression days. Out came the notes once more and this time the task was completed. Fortunately she had a built-in editor: her son, Dominic Milano.

He is editor of several Miller-Freeman magazines, such as Keyboard and Digital Video. After three years of writing and editing, Nikki self-published 100 copies. The book takes Nina from age 4 to 19. Copies were sent to publishers and 12 rejections came back, but Pentland Press Inc. snapped it up.

IRONMEN AND WOMEN: Los Gatos was well represented in the Ironman Triathlon held recently in Penticton, British Columbia. This was one of 10 qualifying rounds for the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii in October.

Most participants enter as a personal challenge, rather than for the chance to earn a berth for international glory. The workout: 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking and 26.2 miles of running.

Those hearty locals who gave it their all: Brit Cheney, Nick Goddard, Todd Fernandez, Birgit Fink-Jensen, Craig Hartsell, Beate Heckner, Tim Johnston, Peggy Marcucci, Ric Medina, Miki Ochoa, Jim Parker, Lynn Rosser, Jack Rosser, Lori Ruiz and Rochelle Zolna.

TWIRLER: Speaking of world championships, Marissa McLean is just back from Florida, where she competed in one for baton twirling. McLean, 16, is ranked fifth in the country in the individual category and was on the eight-person team that competed for the U.S. internationally.

The U.S. came in third, behind Japan and France. A senior at Los Gatos High, Marissa has been twirling since she was 11. Her first coach was her mother, Cecilia Cruz McLean. Cecilia and her brother Michael Cruz were nationally ranked baton twirlers from Lynbrook High.

Cecilia coached the U.S. National and the Italian National teams. Today Marissa's coach is Sandi Rios of San Pablo, and the team has been training and competing all summer, bringing home the gold in these events: the Western Regional, the National, the U.S. Team Trials (to qualify for the world championship) and the U.S. Open.

OLD GLORY GONE: Los Gatos Village, the condo complex across from Oak Hill Cemetery, was stripped of its stars and stripes on Aug. 14. But most residents may not have noticed because flag attendant Jack Sorenson found a replacement and dutifully put it up the next day.

The flag taken had been donated by Motoko Barron. Barron's late husband, Jim, had been a lieutenant colonel in the army and the flag was a burial flag, presented to his widow. A memorial, it had never been displayed before Barron offered it to the complex.

On her daily walks Mrs. Barron would wave to the flag and call out, "Hi, Jim." Since the theft of the flag, she is no longer taking her daily walks to the cemetery. That's the reason Sorenson says that particular flag means more to the donor than it could possibly mean to the thief.

Return it to the flagpole and no questions will be asked, he says.

GOLFERS: The third annual golf tournament and dinner sponsored by the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce will take place Sept. 13 at La Rinconada Country Club with a shotgun start at noon. Cost is $200 for golf, cart, box lunch, dinner and goodie bag. For dinner reservations only it's $45. Contact Pattidawn Horn at 354-9300. The tournament will have a scramble format and soft spikes are mandatory at Rinconada.

Volunteers are needed to help things run smoothly. Call Yvonne at 861-8846, a 24-hour voice mail.

ALUM ALERT: Sandy Paulson Moore, president, wants to remind people to join the Los Gatos High Alumni Association. A volunteer is needed for the twice-yearly newsletter, and updates about alumni and news of reunions are always welcome. Moore's number is 354-1512.

FAREWELL: Friends and family bid a fond farewell to longtime Los Gatos booster and unofficial historian Wilma Thompson last week, and I'd like to add my appreciation for knowing her. The brusque and outspoken Ms. Thompson with the bawdy sense of humor will be sorely missed.

Police Report

The history of Holy City

Obituaries

Picture From the Past

Sports Briefs

Courtside Tennis Club teams take prizes in competition

Shirley Church wins age division in Western States Endurance Run