LOCAL LOCALE: The book Wildwood is set in Los Gatos, and it's about three women in their 50s and their friendships and entanglements. The author, Drusilla Green Campbell, who grew up here and attended Los Gatos High School, will speak at Borders Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. about her book.
The acknowledgment names Betty Balch Chase, Judy Hamsher Lozano and Jill Derby as inspirations. The four graduated from Los Gatos High in 1958, and the book touches on many Los Gatos landmarks from those days and earlier—the old swimming pool, the Boogang Creek, the flume from Lexington and other landmarks now gone or covered by Highway 17. Los Gatos is called Rinconado in the book. But some people are called by their real names, such as sixth-grade teacher Edith Buhler and student Jimmy Mesa, though the latter is not a character in the book.
Today Campbell lives in San Diego, where she teaches writing workshops. She has written 10 other books, mainly bodice rippers. Chase still lives in Los Gatos. Lozano's husband, Bob, was head of the art department at Los Gatos High until his retirement.
GENEROSITY: Flying Doctors recently received $42,000 worth of medical supplies from Larry Hackett and Dan Cripes of Hackett Enterprises. Don Wolf, board chairman of the local chapter of Los Medicos Voladores Inc. (Flying Doctors), expressed his appreciation.
The supplies will go to Central America and Mexico, providing health care to poor people living in hard-to-reach places. For 27 years, Los Medicos Voladores has been flying to remote villages. Every month three to five planes leave Northern California, packed with medical professionals and supplies.
Additionally, twice a year large teams go to Central America and also to Oasis, Calif., to treat farm workers east of the Salton Sea. Besides this donation, Hackett Enterprises has taken a pioneering approach to its recycling of computers.
NONAGENARIAN: Los Gatan Clair Dougherty celebrated her 90th birthday in Las Vegas, surrounded by progeny. Her children, Kevin and Nancy Ryan of Monte Sereno, treated their mother, plus their five children and spouses, to four days at the Paris Hotel in Vegas.
"We'll show you the world in four blocks" was the motto of the group—family members came from all over to celebrate the health and spunk of the seemingly ageless Clair. People incredulous about her 90 years wanted to know her secret of longevity, but she wasn't telling.
Gambling, shopping, sightseeing and creating new family memories were all on the agenda. The grandchildren who attended, with their spouses, were Shannon and Ben McIlvain of San Jose; Sean and Lisa Ryan and K.C. and Janeen Ryan of Illinois; Erin and Bill Deehan of Maryland; and Chris and Roberta Ryan of Virginia.
Shannon McIlvain is a lawyer in town. All the siblings are grads of Saratoga High and the University of Notre Dame. Now they can't wait to celebrate the triple digit birthday in 2013.
NEIGHBORS: The oldest women's club in Santa Clara County celebrated its 111th birthday this month. We and Our Neighbors, at Los GatosAlmaden Road and Union, meets the third Saturday of every month for dessert, fellowship and good works.
New members are welcome, and the one to call is Beatrice Mead at 408.377.1463. She's treasurer and handles club rentals of the building. The president is Charlotte Taylor, whose grandmother, Ann Jane Cilker, was one of the club's founders.
The 10 founders were all orchardists' wives seeking cultural activities and mental stimulation. They would meet regularly at the clubhouse via horse and buggy. The clubhouse was acquired for the princely sum of a $1 gold piece from one of the founding members, Sophia LaMontaigne.
Her great-granddaughter, Jean Slaght, is a present member. Marion Armstrong, also a Cilker descendent, is a member. Penny Panario has been instrumental in the restoration of the clubhouse. Florence Frye has been a club member the longest—since 1942.
Maria Scofield must have enjoyed the presidency: She was in that role for 25 years.
SPECIAL TOUR: Scorpion Cub Scout Pack 556 of Van Meter struck a first. The members were given a tour of the construction site at their school, which nobody else except the school board has done so far. Ralph Kramer, parent of one of the Cubs, coordinated the tour. The Cubs are learning about construction, so this played right into their studies.
The Cub fourth-graders were Elliot Clark, Cameron Moessinger, Ryan Cooley, Patrick Markowski, Landon Cramer, Mason Everett, Will Cole, A.J. Meyers, Philip Vierhus, Deven Patterson and Joshua Johnson. Heynia Cooley is the Scout leader. John Scalla, Pete Solis and Erik Marawsky of the Swenson Associates construction team were the guides.
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By Mary Ann Cook