HONORED BY YWCA: Joleen Callahan of Los Gatos will be honored at a luncheon tribute to Silicon Valley philanthropic leaders on Nov. 20 at the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel. The YWCA in Santa Clara Valley nominated Callahan, who has been a volunteer with the YWCA for more than 30 years. Callahan has served as board president and exemplary fundraiser.
There are two major fundraisers a year. The fall event is a Professional Women's Luncheon with a distinguished speaker. This year it's Nov. 18, when Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan, will speak. The spring event is a Tribute to Women in Industry. Outstanding women are honored by being nominated by their respective businesses.
Recently Callahan helped set up the charitable remainder trust for the Y, a vehicle for people who want to will their estate, or part of it, to the Y.
Realizing what an impact the Y can make on women's lives, Callahan says she has concentrated her volunteer philanthropy exclusively on that organization. Today's Y programs are more civic minded than earlier, when she was taking recreational- and hobby-type courses.
Today's Y offers courses to help job searches. There's a rape crisis center. Courses are given in pregnancy prevention and counseling. There's even a program whereby juvenile offenders can take a Y program in lieu of being sent to juvenile hall.
The tribute luncheon is sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. The number is 650.344.4011.
GRAVEYARD: It was a cold and stormy night ... well, actually the rain had stopped, but the cold didn't deter 65 locals from taking a Halloween flashlight tour of the town cemetery, Los Gatos Memorial Park. Sue Bruce led the tour through the bumpy terrain, pointing out the resting places of town notables and explaining the origin of graveyard superstitions along the way.
Wear black so that death doesn't see you and decide to take you with him. Flowers? To cover the smell of the decaying corpse lying in state at home for several days before burial, as was once the custom.
Scratch marks have been found inside some coffins, a sign that the deceased may have been buried a bit prematurely. When my companion, Robin Vo, who works at Memorial Park, left at the end of the tour, she expressed the hope we'd meet again. Such a reunion will be aboveground, I'm hoping.
OPEN STUDIO: Los Gatans Maralyn Miller and Ed Lucey will open their studios Nov. 15 and 16, 11 a.m.5 p.m., as part of Peninsula Open Studios. Miller's work will be on view at 36 Pleasant St.; Lucey's at 15080 Blossom Hill Road. They each have a page on the Peninsula website at www.PeninusulaOpenStudios.org with a number of images.
Miller's oil and acrylic landscapes are represented by the Los Gatos Company and four others. Her handmade jewelry will also be on sale. She is a member of the National League of American Penwomen and Oil Painters of America.
AROUND THE WORLD: Drive Around the World, a scientific research team whose coordinators are Los Gatans Nick Baggarly and Jonathan Knowles, began its Longitude Expedition early this month. The group embarked from the Sunnyvale headquarters of Parkinson's Disease.
En route to South America and Asia, driving Land Rovers over a never-before-attempted route, the expedition will follow lines of longitude around the world. The idea is to promote the study of science, geography and cultural diversity—and raise money to fight Parkinson's along the way. This is the third trek for Drive Around the World—and the most ambitious one so far.
YOUTHFUL THESPIANS: The latest production from the Peninsula Youth Theatre is Les Miserables, playing Nov. 1523 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts with a cast that includes 11 local youngsters. The show is double cast, and five of the locals have major roles. They are Chip Kraemer as Jean Valjean, red cast; and Blythe Faxon as Madame Thenardier, black cast. Both are Saratogans. Those from Monte Sereno are Rachel Balma as Cosette, red cast; Katie Pimentel, young Cosette, black cast; and Jon Oleson, Enjolras, black cast.
Others playing multiple roles in the ensemble are Johanna Hembry, red; Taylor Karl, black; Justine Lauren, red; and Lindsay Wilkinson, red, all of Los Gatos. Also, Jillian Lawson, black; and Kelly Meulema, red, both of Saratoga. Tickets are $16 and $13. Call the box office at 650.903.6000.
FRAUD, HOUSING FOR SENIORS: The Seniors Against Investment Fraud program will be Nov. 12 at 11:20 a.m. at the Neighborhood Center. The idea is to alert seniors about investment and telemarketing frauds and how to avoid being victimized. Also, how to check out a broker or financial planner, and how to lodge complaints against foul practices.
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By Mary Ann Cook