SQUIRREL GODMOTHER: There are those in our midst who nurse orphaned squirrels from closed-eye babyhood to open-eyed youngster ready for release back in the wilds.
One such is Bonnie Noehr of Monte Sereno, whose workday role is as a speech pathologist for autistic children at Chandler Tripp School.
This nursing of squirrel orphans is a 16-week process, with the babies, or "pinkies" as they are called, fed every few hours with a syringe filled with a special formula. The regime means feedings through the night, as any new parent can testify. The surrogate parent in this case is a latex glove filled with warm water, nestled beside the infant.
Pinkies are kept in a shoebox in the early weeks. At 6 weeks they're transferred to a small cage. Then, eventually, they are moved to a larger cage in the Noehr garage. When the babies open their eyes for the first time, they seem to say, "Wow, I didn't know you'd look like that," Noehr relates. Once they open their eyes, they're released, now able to cope in the wild.
"You absolutely fall in love with them," Noehr says, as she and her husband Rolf have. She's tended nine at once.
Some 600 squirrels were rehabilitated last year by home-care team workers. Noehr got interested in rehab work when she found an injured bird outside on the school walkway. Not only did the Wildlife Center pick it up, but its progress was reported to her afterward.
She was so impressed with the followup that she signed up with the center on the spot and soon was caring for pinkies. "It's a joy," she says.
FINEST HAND: Monte Serenan Marian Gault won first place in a national handwriting contest sponsored by the Memphis Calligraphy Guild and others. Her winning entry, one-page long, is now on display at Northlight Gallery in Memphis in a show called Art of the Written Word.
Gault has been commended for her handwriting since first grade on, by friends and even postal workers. Her handwriting training was in first grade at a one-room schoolhouse in rural Idaho, Bear Creek School, and her writing hasn't changed since schooldays, she says.
The Palmer method has obviously stood her in good stead. A retired teacher, Gault is an artist and calligrapher and teaches calligraphy through adult ed at the Southside Community Center on Cottle in San Jose. A convention she attended alerted her to the handwriting competition.
The convention sponsor was the International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers and Teachers of Handwriting. Marian and her husband, Ned, also teach international folk dancing in Santa Clara.
BOUTIQUE: A boutique of handmade goods, a fundraiser for the Blossom Hill Home and School Club, will be held Nov. 22, 14 p.m., in Judy Stanley's garden, 15852 Cherry Blossom Lane. Stanley will be selling Judy's Cozy Blankets, fleece blankets in a variety of sizes and patterns.
Elyse Elconin-Goldberg's line is stainless serving ware—ladles, salad sets, cheese servers, cake servers. Entwined with stainless wire and beads, they're called Beadazzled Serving Ware. Mary Chessin makes handwoven crystal items, bracelets, dubbed Aruba Designs.
Meaghan Madden's necklaces are made from glass beads, vintage to modern. Lori Wortley's handmade Sazee Jewelry is from Venice, London and Kenya. Jenny Clancy will sell Italian charms and bracelets.
Pat Georgoff, a consultant for Cookie Lee Designs, will sell their jewelry, including a children's line. Most items are under $40, except for larger blankets at $60.
BOOK LOVERS: Davina Morgan-Witt of Saratoga started an Internet site called BookBrowse.com six years ago. The site lists eight book choices weekly, with reviews, excerpts from the book, book-jacket blurb and something about the author. Some 200,000 browsers tour the site each month.
Reviews are from well-regarded periodicals such as Publishers Weekly and the NY Times Review of Books. Her email is Davina@bookbrowse.com. An author interview is included on the webpage and viewers can submit their own reviews, which may then be added to the website.
ON TV: A new sitcom at 10 p.m. Wednesdays on ABC is called Karen Sisco, and one of the most recent episodes was written by LGHS grad Scott Frank. The episode was called "Dear Derwood."
RECEPTION: Some 50 artworks by members of the Los Gatos Art Association will be on display at 840 North First Street restaurant until March. A reception for the artists will be held at the restaurant Nov. 21, 68 p.m.
DANCE: Abhinaya Dance Company, led by artistic director Mythili Kumar of Monte Sereno, will present two fall concerts on Nov. 22 at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose, at 2 and 8 p.m. Abhinaya dance tells mythic tales of India, using classical forms fused with modern interpretations. For tickets call 408.983.0491.
Got a tip for Main Street? Send email to
maryanncook@earthlink.net.
By Mary Ann Cook