BYE-BYE, B&B: Former Los Gatans Barbara and Bill Mason are selling their bed-and-breakfast in Meeteetse, Wyo., but will build on part of the acreage they own there, retaining five acres. Meeteetse is a town of 351 people, which is just the way the Masons like it. They have run the B&B for several years.
It's a lot of work and they're ready to take it easy now, they say. And yes, Mr. M. bears a locally famous name. It was his father, Bill Mason Sr., who was responsible for the existence of the children's railroad that bears his name at Oak Meadow Park.
The Mason Jrs. were in town recently to visit their old stomping grounds and get caught up with friends and family, including former high school principal, Ted Simonson, Mason's wrestling coach, who crows, "Look at him now." Mason stands a towering 6 feet or more, and, when they are lined up side by side, it's definitely Mutt & Jeff time.
RINCON GALA: Rinconada Hills will sponsor its fifth annual Gala Charity Dinner on Feb. 28, 610:30 p.m., in the Rinconada Hills Clubhouse to benefit Courageous Kids of the American Cancer Society. Champagne dinner, live music, dancing, silent auction and donation drawing are all part of the event that's the brainchild of Fran Rude.
Cost is $50 per person, black tie optional. Some $10,000 was raised at last year's gala, which meant 500 kids undergoing cancer treatment and their families could revel in Great America for the day. To sign up by mail, checks can be made payable to Rinconada Charity Events, Rinconada Hills, 100 Avenida del Sol, Los Gatos, CA 95032.
For tickets, the daytime number is 408.374.5750; the evening number is 408.370.1127.
BIG JULE, BIG ROLE: Los Gatan Catherine Stevenson plays powerful gambler Big Jule in the Children's Musical Theater production of Guys & Dolls, Feb. 2629 at the Montgomery Theater in San Jose.
When gambler Sky Masterson bets he can win the heart of straight-laced Salvation Army Sgt. Sarah Brown, he gets more than he bargained for.
Other Los Gatans in the cast are Julia Curtis, Ty Doughty, Sydney Duncheon, Ryan Kwasney, Aaron DiNapoli, Kristie Eline, Carina Lukas, Bryan Rose, Adam Rose and Sarah Tilton. Saratogan Shawn Platzker plays gambler Nathan Detroit.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $11 for children 12 and under. The box office phone number is 408.288.5437.
OLD PHONE BOOKS?: The library would dearly love to have donations of Los Gatos phone books from the earliest (about 1900) up to the 1950s. Of course, anything earlier would be even more of a coup. The books will go into the small local history room for safekeeping, and would be made available to anyone doing research.
The History Project is still greatly in need of funding, reports Library Director Peggy Conaway. Feeling beneficent? Checks can be made out to Los Gatos Library Trust Fund—Digitize.
TUTTLE MEMORIAL: And it's not too late to donate to the Nick Tuttle Memorial Fund. The money raised will be used to honor the man who was so active in the Los Gatos Athletic Association. A major improvement project will be donated to the LGAA football program in his name.
Tuttle, who died recently, was the announcer for the frosh-soph football games for many years and game reporter for the Los Gatos Weekly-Times. Joe Zanardi is the one to contact at 408.395.2002 or checks can be sent to the Nick Tuttle Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1334, Los Gatos, CA 95031.
UP IN THE AIR: The Wright Brothers are distant cousins of Monte Sereno Councilman Curtis Wright, so he has a vested interest in the anniversary of flight. In addition, his father was a P-40 fighter pilot with Chenault and the Flying Tigers.
But most significantly, Wright pere was the sole air defender of California between Los Angeles and SF on Pearl Harbor Day. If you remember those days, you know how jittery people were, wondering when or where a new strike might be struck.
WOMAN'S HEALTH CONFERENCE: Ginger Taylor McDonald of Los Gatos is chairwoman of the Seasons of Life: A Woman's Health Conference to be held Feb. 7 at the conference center in San Jose. Jackie Kellan, the "First Lady of Boxing," will be keynote luncheon speaker.
The Meg Ryan film Against the Ropes is based on Kellan's story. Another keynoter is Joan Perry of Los Gatos, a financial adviser. Marcia Stefanick of Stanford's school of medicine will talk about the latest hormonal replacement therapy.
VOTING ISSUES: The pros and cons of initiatives on the March ballot will be discussed on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Neighborhood Center by League of Women Voters members. A candidates' forum for the four Democrats and one Republican running for 21st District State Assembly will be held Feb. 18, 7 p.m., also at the center. The League and the 55+ Program are co-sponsors. For more information, call 55+ at 408.354.2360.
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By Mary Ann Cook