SAMARITANS OF YEAR: Good Sam Hospital salutes its most exemplary employees yearly by naming them Samaritans of the Year. Those so honored this year are Deanna Terry, Kristie Wallingford, Sherry York, Hans Liang and Hiralal Motreja. Each receives $1,000, a trophy and a jacket. In addition, their photos are posted in the hospital lobby, in the newsletter and on the web page.
Deanna Terry is a nurse in the third cardiovascular department, which deals primarily with very sick patients and demands extremely experienced nurses. She has worked in this department at Good Sam for the past 12 years.
Kristie Wallingford is a nurse in the third surgical orthopedic/neurological unit with patients considered the most alert in the hospital. She's pursuing a master's at SJSU.
Sherry York is the lead housekeeper at Mission Oaks Hospital and is credited with making the move from Blossom Hill as smoothly as possible, anticipating needs. Her wonderful attitude, pride in her work and the fact that she is the epitome of customer service called forth nominations from four different managers. York lives in Los Gatos and is a 1966 LGHS grad.
Hans Liang works in the information services department. With a customer-friendly manner, he has an excellent work ethic and positive attitude, following through quickly with his thorough knowledge of the network. Liang helped get the radiation therapy department its own login. Working beyond normal hours, he came to the rescue of the cath-lab computers. And for the cardiac center he integrated a complex suite of software solutions.
Hiralal Motreja is a diagnostic imaging nuclear medical technician. When the nuclear equipment went down, Motreja had already injected a patient with an isotope. Although the machine wasn't fixed until 11 p.m., Motreja came back to scan the child so the patient wouldn't have to get re-injected with radioactive isotope.
99 RED BALLOONS: A new book about one-hit wonders written by former Los Gatan Brent Mann is now available. It's called 99 Red Balloons and 100 Other All-Time Great One-Hit Wonders, published by Citadel Press. Mann is an LGHS grad of '79 who now lives in New York.
He hosted a weekly radio show from KRVE studios in Los Gatos in 1980, along with fellow LGHS grad Mike Moore. Some of the more familiar one-hit wonders that Mann details and comments on include "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" by Looking Glass, which peaked nationally at No. 1 in 1972.
Other tunes that might jog the memory bank: "Precious and Few" by Climax, which peaked nationally at No. 3 in '72; "Please Come to Boston" by Dave Loggins, No. 5 in '74; and "More Today than Yesterday," Spiral Starecase, No. 12 in '69.
MORNING MOVEMENT: The Morning Rotary Club, new this year, appeared in the Los Gatos Children's Christmas & Holidays Parade for the first time. Though its jazz-themed float was next to last chronologically, its enthusiasm didn't lag behind. The brass-bearing Jazz Cats in the four corners of the float sent out the float's signature theme.
Those cited for float decoration include Grayson Williams, John Askine and Dan Lawson, plus musical background with Diana Pleasant. On Sunday, sales of Thomas Kinkade posters and paintings of Los Gatos' Santa Cruz Avenue at the Calvary Church drew a line that stretched around the building.
The local artist of light signed each purchase. A percentage of proceeds go to the club fund that benefits the community. Next year the Kinkade painting will be a view of the town plaza and the third year the high school.
BIRDER ALERT: Fifteen dollars buys a membership to the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society—for a birder on your list or yourself. Two publications are included: the Avocet newsletter, detailing classes and field trips; and Birding at the Bottom of the Bay.
Generated by SCVAS, this last booklet describes area parks and open spaces and which birds are likely to be found at each. Hikers and birders can follow the directions therein. The Audubon phone is 408.252.3747; email, scvas@scvas.org.
RAINPETAL JEWELRY: An online boutique of handmade jewelry by women artists has been established by Los Gatan Ravit Lichtenberg. Lichtenberg is an Israeli native who works in the high-tech field but was longing for a return to the simplicity and creativity of art, since she herself is an artist, dancer and musician.
The website is www.rainpetals.com; the email is Ravit@rainpetals.com; and the phone is 408.656.5448. Paintings, gift cards, and home enhancements can also be purchased online.
ART & TECH: Digital photographs by Diane Fenster and Helen Golden are now showing until Jan. 17 at the Art Museum of Los Gatos. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.
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By Mary Ann Cook