Bruce, a professional genealogist, has conducted perhaps half a dozen tours there throughout the past year, but this will be the first nighttime adventure.

Bruce will be talking about the famed (or infamous) of Los Gatos, or those who died under unusual or mysterious circumstances. All those she will discuss have been dead for at least 70 years. She'll tell of Cinderella Sullivan, who lived to be 101, and Harry Morgan , run over by a boxcar at age 19.

An avid researcher, Bruce will also explain what the various symbols on a tombstone mean, such as a rose or a dove, and talk about funeral superstitions. The native Brit is a volunteer at Forbes Mill History Museum, where she transcribes Memorial Park's funeral records.

She works at the museum at least once a week and has entered into a database the names of all those individuals interred in the park up to the year 1922. She'll continue making the entries until she's up to the present date. Participants on the tour should wear sturdy shoes and will not be allowed to park on the grounds. (Security is tight on Halloween night at cemeteries.)

The cost is $15, of which $5 goes to cemetery staff members toward a charity of their choice. Alain Pinel Realtors will provide flashlights for everyone. Pumpkin pie and coffee at 7:30 p.m. are courtesy of Baker's Square, which is located on the site of the earlier town cemetery.

A drawing will win a dinner for two at the Chart House. That restaurant earlier housed the town mortuary. The tour is limited to 60 people and only ticket holders will be allowed in. Bruce's number is 408.921.5333.

Bruce led a tour recently for a school group of those aged 14­16. They declared it their best field trip ever.

COMMENDATION: Pantry for the Poor received a commendation from the Los Gatos Town Council early this month, recognizing its services to the community over the past 12 years. The Pantry feeds the homeless in this area and is sponsored by St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

Coordinator is Jo Greiner , who works in concert with the Interfaith Outreach Council, which includes St. Mary's, LG Methodist Church, Presbyterian, Unitarian, Congregation Shir Hadash, Bahai, Skyland Church, and the AAUW, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions.

Food, clothing and other services such as health care and transportation are provided by these churches and clubs. Soup is served each Tuesday at St. Luke's, provided by one of the groups above.

Youngsters from Fisher and St. Mary's help serve; librarian Gina Foster and other Skyland Church members provide sandwiches and soup on a regular basis, as do St. Luke parishioners. Special dinners are served at holiday times. Other Pantry sparkplugs are Nayan McNeill of St. Luke's and Joe Varozza of Rotary.

Those who lend a special hand to clients, besides food, include Shirley Henderson , James Bond , Dr. James Pellegrin and Evelyn at Alex's Sport Shop. At holiday time, school and Scout groups distribute gifts from the clients' wish list.

This year students will be sporting hand-knit elf hats in red and green, replete with bells, made by Anne Louise Heighho . Contributions to the Pantry are always needed and appreciated. Incidentally, Victor Sakellar could use a place to stay, adds Greiner.

Caretaker of an estate would be ideal. Sakellar comes complete with two large dogs. Contact Greiner at 408.354-1010.

WILDLIFE RESCUERS: Sophie Duckett of Saratoga has a fawn enclosure at her hillside home. She cares for orphaned and injured deer until they are rehabilitated enough to fend for themselves in the wild. Pam Lavin fields calls about deer problems for the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley.

Bonnie Noeh r of Monte Sereno rehabilitates squirrels in her own digs. Trudy Burney conducts educational outreach programs on wildlife to schools and Scouts and is the president of the board.

Sarah Kensler of Los Gatos is an animal care supervisor, works a shift at the center, is also on the board. David Huang transports wildlife from the Humane Society and delivers them to the Wildlife Center near Alum Rock Park. There are 150 volunteers at the center—and they could use more, says director Janet Alexander .

Some 500 ducklings and 600 squirrels are rescued and rehabilitated yearly. A total of 5,000 of all different species are treated each year. Opossums and raccoons, coyotes, wild cats, birds of prey and songbirds are other inhabitants of the center.

MIGRANT STORIES: Saratoga sociologist Nancy Anderson is doing research for a book she'll write for the Saratoga Historical Foundation, documenting the story of migrant farm workers in this area. Her phone is 408.867.4383 and email address is Dander2567@aol.com.

Got a tip for Main Street? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.