JINGLE WINNER: Terry Ryan, author of The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Children on 25 Words or Less, will speak at the Friends Friday Forum on Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. in town council chambers.
The program begins at 7 p.m. with shmoozing, book signing and refreshments.
Ryan is the sixth of Evelyn Ryan's children. After discovering a trunkload of her mother's memorabilia—entry forms, copies of jingles and prize-winning results—she was determined to tell her story.
Since Terry's father was an alcoholic, life was not easy while the children were growing up. Evelyn's winnings managed to save the day for the large brood, including staving off foreclosure of their house (which she had bought from money she had won).
Terry Ryan lives in San Francisco and writes the cartoon "T.O. Sylvester," which appears in the San Francisco Chronicle and other publications.
A funny, approachable speaker, the author is being sponsored by the Friends of the Los Gatos Public Library.
PRO BONO: Anne Cusick , a lawyer in Washington, D.C., has been doing some pro bono work for an African refugee from Zaire, helping him gain legal status in this country. Now she is helping to get the rest of his family here—his wife and four children.
She's also been sending money to his wife, who fled to and is living at a Franciscan Brothers mission in Zimbabwe. Since Anne, daughter of Kathy and Joe Cusick of Los Gatos, has seven siblings, she asked that word of the Kabaso family's plight be passed on to the siblings at Thanksgiving.
Kathy and Joe have contributed to the family, as have members of Kathy's Bible study group and book review group. If anyone else would like to contribute to the family, the check should be made out to Franciscan Mission Association and sent to Anne Cusick, Akin Gump Strauss, LLP, 1333 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20036.
FUZZY FRIENDS: Anna Andrade of Monte Sereno and her Rhodesian Ridgeback dog Pepper have been visiting Good Sam's skilled-nursing unit at Mission Oaks Hospital on a monthly basis, but as of this month they'll snap up the pace to weekly visits.
They are bonafide auxiliary members, now that Pepper has passed puppy training and the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Test. He also possesses a Bay Area Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Herding Instinct Certificate. The hospital visits are part of the Fuzzy Friends program.
NEW ASSIGNMENT: Dr. Fred Wilson , senior pastor at Calvary Church for 22 years, has been named senior pastor at Trinity Church of Sunnyvale. Wilson has been hosting the daily radio program Reaching for Life, heard over KFAX-AM for the past 18 years.
The high-tech component in the valley responds well to Wilson's unique style of explaining the Bible. Besides his local work, Dr. Wilson serves various international ministries of teaching, pastoral training and humanitarian relief.
FOR COURAGEOUS KIDS: Rinconada Hills will hold a charity supper to benefit the American Cancer Society on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. in the clubhouse. The $40 ticket includes appetizers, dinner, dancing, drinks, a silent auction and a drawing. The dress is black tie optional. Send checks to Rinconada Charity Events, 100 Avenida del Sol, Los Gatos, 95032.
The brainchild of Fran Rude , the event raised $7,000 last year. That amount sent more than 500 kids undergoing cancer treatment, and their families, to Great America for Courageous Kids Day.
YSI MARKS 50TH YEAR: Science and outdoor adventure don't need to take a holiday during winter weather—as witness, the winter lineup at Youth Science Institute, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In Los Gatos the venue is at Vasona Park; in Saratoga it's Sanborn Park.
Science classes are held at Vasona from 3:45 to 5 p.m. each day. The cost is $14 per class. For more information, call 408.356.4945 or visit www.ysi-ca.org.
Night hikes in Sanborn Park are scheduled for Jan. 25, Feb. 15 and March 8, 6:308:30 p.m. Look and listen for night animals.
GRIEF WORKSHOP: Los Gatan Betty Auchard will lead a workshop, "Life After Spousal Loss," presented by Hospice of the Valley, on Jan. 25, 9:30 a.m.noon at Second Harvest Food Bank on Curtner Avenue in San Jose.
Auchard takes a serious subject and makes it humorous. She tells about her loss, survival and eventual thriving after her spouse's death. Art therapist Carol Johnson Davis , director of bereavement services for Hospice of the Valley, will discuss the "tasks of grief" from William Worden's classic text Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy in relationship to Auchard's presentation.
For more information, call 408.947.1233, ext. 422. The cost is $25.
REPRESENTED: At John McCormack's memorial at St. Mary's Church recently, a member from every department at Lunardi's was present. A very friendly, active church member, Mr. McCormack was obviously a beloved market-goer, as well.
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By Mary Ann Cook