AWARD WINNER: Attorney Barbara Spector has won the Bryl R. Salsman Award from the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the highest honor that group awards. The award is given for exemplary professionalism in the practice of law and for contributions to the community.
The award recipient is designated as an unsung individual, someone who serves the profession and the community. The award is named for the late appellate court justice who served from 1961 to 1967 and was a superior court judge from 1949 to 1961.
Spector is a mediator for the first district court of appeals and the Santa Clara County Superior Court; a judicial arbitrator and judge pro tem in the superior court; and an early evaluator in federal and state courts. She has been a trial lawyer for 24 years, handling commercial, real estate, employment and personal injury cases.
A former Los Gatos planning commissioner (198088), Spector was the first female president of the Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association. In addition, she served on the Santa Clara University Law School Board of Visitors from 1993 to 1998. Her committee work for the bar association includes civil practice and fee arbitration.
Bryl Salsman served in the state Assembly from 1938 to 1942 and in the state Senate from 1943 to 1949. Besides having a most distinguished career, Salsman was loved and respected by his fellow lawyers.
REPAID: Vic Collard has a loyal cadre of friends and a history of Boy Scout leadership. For many years he has led the oldest troop in the county, Troop No. 539, which is based in Los Gatos. Recently that lifetime of service was repaid somewhat when loyal friends sprang into action on his behalf.
Collard had been hospitalized for a few days of testing, and upon his return home friends responded by shining up his surroundings so he could convalesce with a lighter heart. Those who were part of the cleanup included Brian Jarvis, Jim Sugai, MarLynn Rasmussen, Wendy Fox and Duino Giordano.
OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP: Los Gatan Ryan Stanley completed a monthlong backpacking course last summer with the National Outdoor Leadership School, based in Lander, Wyo. The students backpacked throughout the Pacific Northwest, learning the basics of backcountry travel.
Their wilderness education included glacier travel and ascending a few mountains. Other skills taught included map reading, campsite selection, conflict resolution and group decision-making.
BENEFIT FOR KAITLYN: A benefit concert for 8-year-old Saratogan Kaitlyn Langstaff will be held March 1, 15 p.m., at Santana Row in San Jose. A new song, written by Don Miggs and based on a poem by Kaitlyn, will be part of a CD on sale at the benefit.
The poem is called "I Am the Same Inside" and the Miggs pop/rock band recorded it. All-Stars Helping Kids, a nonprofit led by former 49er Ronnie Lott, donated money for duplicating the CD. Kaitlyn was stricken with a debilitating disease last spring and has been in and out of hospitals ever since.
Her poem talks about how she just wants to be a normal kid again. Kaitlyn turns 9 a few days before the benefit and would like to sing onstage if she's able. Members of her class at school will hold a poetry contest in conjunction with the concert and will read the winning works at the benefit.
The concert website is www.rock101promotions.com/kaitlyn.htm.
STEERS & STRIPES FOREVER: Despite the dire news from other fundraisers and the demise of the Silicon Valley Ball, the Cattle Barons' Ball of 2002 raised $1.3 million for the American Cancer Society, a number commiserate with earlier years. And the Cattle Barons' Ball will continue, though in a scaled-down environment.
The 2003 version of the event will be held Sept. 20 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Chairs this year are Kim Abelite, Helen Owen and Leanne Popa. "Steers and Stripes Forever" is the theme of the fundraiser, now in its eighth year.
KEYNOTER: The keynote speaker at a National Inventors Hall of Fame event last fall was Los Gatan Steve Wozniak, he of Apple fame. Probably one of the few times in his life he could look around at a roomful of peers.
ART AUCTION: A raffle and silent auction Feb. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. will benefit the newly renovated Art Museum of Los Gatos. The artwork to be auctioned off is on display at the museum, located on Tait Avenue. The event is called "Touch my heART." For tickets, call 408.395.7375.
Los Gatos Mayor Sandy Decker will MC, and John Agg will raffle off smaller pieces of artwork. Sherry Horst will cater, and guitarist Doug Young will perform.
DIDJA KNOW: Didja know there is a hitching post outside the Los Gatos Public Library, opposite the Ferrari dealership, that can still be spotted if you look hard enough? That library was built in the early '60s. Hard to believe that Los Gatos was that horsy that short a time ago.
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By Mary Ann Cook