It was an anniversary for George Rivera, director of the Triton Museum in Santa Clara, and his bride, Christine Lindseth Rivera. Exactly a year ago he had proposed, and they were married last summer. Both Riveras had artwork in the show this year, and George was the judge.

He decided which works would be posted in the raffle room and which would be for sale in the silent auction. If you won in the raffle drawing, you could choose which work of art you wanted. I would have picked Nancy De Weese's wine tote, bearing a watercolor of a nude. A wine bottle nestled inside and the gift tag was also adorned with a partial nude. The tag read, "This unique wine tote is fashioned from sketches made in the life drawing group at the Los Gatos Coffee Company."

As for the silent-auction lineup, my favorite was Neal Boor's Double Espresso. It quickly eluded my grasp in the bidding wars.

Sandy Decker was the auctioneer, goading the crowd to go ever higher. Highest bid offered was $460 for a year's worth of carwashes at the Dorsas' establishments. Second-highest bid was $450 for Go Faux, furniture refinishing by Patti Linder-Dodd.

Co-chairwomen of the gala were Eileen Broadwater and Maria Fischer. Al Slutman, president of the museum association, and wife Bobbie made sure all went smoothly. Pat Smith was caterer, with killer bacon rollups and chicken kebobs, among other treats.

Marta Cossey and Prue Grider manned a Wheel of Hearts, at which one paid $20 and spun the wheel; the number that came up determined which goodie bag one won. The two women invented the game and put it together, including the 60 bags of donated goodies.

HEARTENING: Lori Orgish, who works for Windermere Real Estate in Los Gatos, found an injured cat behind her office in such sad shape that it brought tears to her eyes. He was filthy, with motor-oil drops down his back and eyes so infected they were nearly stuck shut.

Yet, when she bent down to pet him, he meowed and began purring. "He was so sweet I couldn't just leave him there." Calls to the Humane Society and Animal Services produced recorded messages. But at Johnson Animal Hospital she reached a human, Jackie Barnes, who said she'd meet her.

"I couldn't believe this woman would leave her practice to come and pick up a stray cat from a parking lot." But in less than five minutes, that's what happened. "I thanked her and gave her a hug. It's nice to know that people like this still exist." P.S. Orgish has been checking the cat's progress since his treatment.

PLANNING PRAISED: No one seems to know how Vancouver, Canada, got wind of Los Gatos, but there we are, featured in the Feb. 6 issue of the North Shore Times, with photos of the Opera House, the historic architecture of Main Street and the new shops facing Old Town.

The article praises Los Gatos' planning for keeping its historical heritage while adding new businesses and buildings. Community Development Director Bud Lortz is cited, saying that it's a fine balancing act, juggling the historic with the new.

The tool he recommended, and the town adopted as a bylaw, is the use of poles and netting to show the height and proportion of proposed developments. It's a graphic illustration of what's to come and easier to read than blueprints. He got the idea from a visit to Carmel.

And that's where the tie-in with West Vancouver comes in. "Shouldn't our community follow something similar?" the article asks readers.

MOURNING LINCOLN: Rain canceled the walk from the History Museum mourning President Lincoln, but some 100 history lovers filled the Forbes Mill Museum to hear speeches given as though the year were 1865. Mayor Steve Glickman spoke, having just arrived via stagecoach.

Orchestrating the entire proceedings was Monica Tucker, who is curator for the current exhibit, The Birth of the Death Industry. The chances were zero to none a woman would have been one of the speakers at such an auspicious occasion in the 19th century, she allowed, but being curator might have helped.

Bill Wulf brought a prosthesis for an arm and hand, circa 1865, a grisly affair of hasps and hooks.

PLAYS: Short plays by Los Gatans Riva Rubnitz and me will be presented in town council chambers Feb. 27, sponsored by Friends of Los Gatos Library. Other playwrights with work on view that night are Roxy Sax and Zach Miller. Refreshments at 7 p.m.; show starts at 7:30 p.m.

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