Main Street

Children's writer learns words are expendable

By Mary Ann Cook

NEW BOOK: It was at least seven years in the making, but Emily's Shoes has finally reached print. This is the first book that Joan Cottle has both written and illustrated, though she's illustrated nine others. And here's just part of Emily's evolution.

When Cottle first wrote it it was called "Emily's Escape," contained 4,000 words and was designed for third-graders. After the publisher got it in '92 it was whittled down to 80 words. Now published by Grolier Children's Press, it is 27 words and tailored for emergent readers in grade 1.

Such are the vicissitudes of publishing. It's obvious writers, especially children's writers, can't afford to fall in love with their own words.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME: Sara LaBerge and Randy Attaway had themselves the vacation of a lifetime this summer. They spent three weeks in Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. If you only take one trip in your lifetime, a trip to Africa it should be, says LaBerge.

They are both still agog. "It was beyond our wildest dreams it was so wonderful," says LaBerge. "We could have stayed indefinitely. The people are gracious and anxious to hear about America. We went on safaris. We each rode elephants with a guide seated in front of us.

"I loved it, it was [such a] comfortable and easy gait. We took the Edwardian train, the Rovo Rail from Victoria Falls to Pretoria. Close up, we saw a cheetah feed an impala kill to its baby. It out-maneuvered its victim from the herd even at breakneck speed.

"When she brought it back, her offspring pounced on it. They were about 25 feet away. Even the guides, seven-year veterans, said they had never seen anything like that so close. The vegetarian with us had a hard time watching, but I didn't, even though I sometimes can't watch National Geographic specials.

"Randy planned the whole thing." Randy of course is Los Gatos Councilman Randy Attaway, who works for Therma. LaBerge teaches fifth grade at Baker School in the Moreland District.

WORLD CLASS: Chris Morris umpired at the Little League World Series in Taylor, Mich., this summer. This is an impressive honor indeed, since a candidate is first nominated by the local district, then only two are selected from the Western Regional, which is made up of 11 Western states.

Since there are 10 leagues in each district, the number of competitors for this honor is legion. Morris, who has been umpiring for 17 years, has been nominated by the local district for the World Series five times.

On home turf Morris is a real estate broker for Century 21 Seville Contempo and is third vice president of the Los Gatos Lions. Another local note: He adds that Los Gatan Dan Campagnola was chosen to umpire at the Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino.

FIGHTING CANCER: Jeanne Koepplin, general manager of Valeriano's Restaurant, has pledged to raise $1,700 in the fight against breast cancer by participating in the three-day, 55-mile walk on Oct. 22-24 from Santa Barbara to Malibu.

Pledges are fully tax deductible, and can be made by calling Koepplin at 978-0321 or at at 354-8385. Reportedly some 1 million U.S. women have the disease and don't know it.

BROWNIE ENTREPRENEURS: These Brownies are learning about commerce and fundraising early on. They sell freshly made lemonade as a fundraiser for their troop, Girl Scout Troop 113, which is based at Hillbrook School in Los Gatos.

The action takes place every Saturday through October, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Red Tractor Cafe in the El Paseo de Saratoga Shopping Center at Saratoga and Campbell avenues, as part of Red Tractor's LemonAid for School Aid program, which helps youngsters raise money for their schools.

The money raised by the Hillbrook Brownies will go for supplies for earning their badges and field trips. They're there to learn something about business and to remind their customers that fresh lemonade is one of the best reminders of childhood still to be found.

GENERATIONS OF EXCELLENCE: Bellarmine's annual Mother's Guild Scholarship Endowment Fund Fashion Show will be held on Oct. 22 in the San Jose Fairmont Hotel, with both a lunch and dinner show. Lunch will begin at 11 a.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Money raised helps qualified students who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford Bellarmine tuition. Each year the show raises roughly $100,000 for this scholarship fund. Lunch reservations are $68 and dinner is $115. The contact number is 294-9224, ext. 209.

"For the Boys ... Generations of Excellence" is the title of the show. These Los Gatans are on the committee that is bringing it together: Mary Almassy, Kristen Dickens, Joan Bertolotti and Ann Rogerson. And from Saratoga, Janice Morimoto, Barbara Gentzkow and Marlaine Griffin. This is the 45th year for the event.

ON 20/20: Of special interest to Kiwanians is the 20/20 show that airs on Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. on iodine deficiency, which is the condition that the International Kiwanis has set itself to eradicating worldwide.

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