Sept. 11: On the anniversary of that fateful date, Rotarians may be wearing red, white and blue to their meeting, and fingernail maven Mary Urzi has had her nails painted with the Twin Towers. D. Michael Kane wrote a poem, "My Fathers' Flag," a few days after Sept. 11 "while still in shock and some depression" about the attack on the city of his birth. He sent it with Christmas cards last year.
Here's an excerpt: "Oh so many in prime/have a shroud for their time./Once a banner so brave/now a cloak for their grave./I watched as Old Glory/his glory his story/fell/and was buried in gray/to be lost and to rot/like his ghost, be forgot/and slipping away ... /Yet stay! Please stay!/For I'll fly you again/as oft as I can/As I breathe I will honor/our flag and our father ... "
Maybe the best commemoration we can give this day is getting on with our lives as much as possible. And, in that vein ...
2002 OUTSTANDING VETERAN FELLOW: Rosemarie Dias, music director for Los Gatos Union School District, was one of seven teachers named "outstanding veteran fellow" for her work this summer at National Semiconductor.
She was one of 120 teachers, chosen from the 390 who applied throughout the valley, who signed on for Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME). Dias created computer-based training programs for remote sites for National Semi. And she developed modules for safety and health training.
Some 10 percent of her time was spent developing a project to take back to the classroom. Her project, which was targeted for third- to fifth-graders, explained the differences between analog and digital tools. Dias also helped give workshops on information technology during the summer program.
IISME is an industry-education partnership that provides teachers from all subject areas summer jobs—not only to earn extra income, but to experience firsthand what students must be prepared to do in the workforce. Several Fortune 500 corporations are sponsors.
NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY: Lynn and Mark Miano were hosts for the late summer neighborhood block party held recently on Blossom Glen Way. This is the seventh annual incarnation of the event. Each year another family hosts, providing drinks and burgers, while guests bring the rest of the food.
But the main attraction this year was the presence of new Los Gatos police chief Scott Seaman. When Lynn called to get a permit to have the street blocked off, Sgt. Dave Gravel of the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department asked if the chief could come to the doings and meet some of his constituents. Only if he wears his uniform, decreed Ms. Miano.
Done and done. The Blossom Glen residents got their permit the very next day, and the chief showed up as promised—in uniform—to the delight of the young ones attending. Some 50 neighborhood folks of all sizes schmoozed with the chief while he munched a burger along with the others.
Lynn, who is the owner/proprietor of Classic Kids Photography studio on N. Santa Cruz Avenue, is lamenting only one aspect of the evening event. "Can you believe I'm a photographer and didn't get one photograph of the kids with the chief?" Maybe next year.
FLIPSIDE WINNER: Los Gatan Ron Borra is a park ranger for Santa Clara County's parks and rec department and is also a devotee of Internet games, a hobby that's recently paid off.
Seems he won $1,000 playing the Flipside Network. Since Borra isn't a lone ranger, he and his wife were planning a trip to Hawaii later this year, and that windfall will decidedly add to the festivities.
ART LOVERS WANTED: A coffee to lure new members to the Art Docents of Los Gatos, Inc., will be held Sept. 17 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Art Docents office next to Fisher School, 17000 Roberts Road.
WORLD PREMIERE: The premiere of Eating Dis Order, Eating Dat Order, written, directed, performed and produced by Saratogan Gary A. De Mattei, opens at Theatre on San Pedro Square Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. and continues through Nov. 9. Tickets are priced between $19 and $43 and are available at the box office (408.283.0200) or online at www.tosps.com.
Eating Dis Order is billed as a comedic journey through the trends and travails of the diet world. Portraying a variety of characters, De Mattei probes the foibles of celebrity chefdom. Staged as a live-TV format, noted chefs and celebrities will perform as guest hosts.
De Mattei co-founded the theater in '99 with Los Gatan Michael Smythe. The two renovated the building into a 199-seat theater. Eating Dis Order plays Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Outreach performances are scheduled for Oct. 2 and 16 and Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. for teen audiences.
BEAT EXHIBIT: A reception will be held Sept. 15, 4 to 7 p.m., for the exhibit about the Beats at the Los Gatos Museum of Art. A silk-screen poster designed by Rick Tharp to commemorate the inaugural event will be on sale at the event. Only 100 posters will be printed. Special hip guests promised to be in attendance.
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By Mary Ann Cook