UNICYCLISTS' CYCLE: The unicyclist I spotted riding by Old Town was Megumi, the bilingual storyteller. Megumi (aka Grace Fleming), husband Nathan Hoover and son Beau, 12, regularly unicycle in various locales with a handful of friends. Another Los Gatan involved is Louise Woollen, a teacher at Music Together, a preschool singing program offered through the Los Gatos Rec department.
Recently a group rode their unicycles around Lake Tahoe—some riding the entire 72-mile loop and others the shorter 40-mile option. Now Nathan is in England for the fourth and last of his 24-hour unicycle races. Those marathons were at far-flung locations, such as New Zealand, for one.
Next month the Hoovers will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary by renting a beach house and inviting unicyclist friends to join them. Then it's off to Japan to attend the International Unicycle Convention in late July, an every-other-year event.
They attended conventions in Washington state and Beijing, as well. In China they had their picture taken riding the Great Wall—on unicycles. This year, in Japan, the Hoovers, plus Beau's friend Trey Miller, will go to Kyoto for a hiking trip in the Japanese Alps with friends there.
The Hoovers: A Los Gatos poster family for achieving balance. Beau's unicycling pals include David Burkhart, Andrew Davidge, Ronan Hayes, Michael Hodgeman, Ernie Houk, Grant Klein, Mikey Mitchell and Yoshi Osone.
As storyteller, Megumi's month of May was the busiest ever. It was Asian-Pacific Heritage Month and she was sought after to perform in Las Vegas and Oregon, as well as in the Bay Area.
WINS FELLOWSHIP: Los Gatan Barbara Cannon, artistic director of Bus Barn Stage Company in Los Altos, recently was awarded a $3,000 fellowship from the Arts Council Silicon Valley for her work in stage direction. The council recognized six artists, selected by professionals in their fields.
Cannon has worked as a theater director since '91, has directed more than 30 productions—at Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City, with Palo Alto Players and now at Bus Barn. A graduate in dramatic arts at UC-Berkeley, she has performed as an actor and singer and worked as a costume, set and props designer.
Cannon is currently directing Are We Almost There?, a musical revue that will play at the Bus Barn July 8Aug. 7. Other stage directors honored by the arts council were Daniel Helfgot and Judy Pearson. Visual artists who won fellowships were Nina Koepcke, Terry Kreiter and Marta Thoma.
An exhibit featuring the work of the visual artists is at the Triton in Santa Clara through Aug. 29 and a reception will be held July 15, 68 p.m. The fellowship program makes awards to artists each year in rotating disciplines.
OREGON WINE: Some 15 Friends of Bacchus ventured for the first time out of California. The AAUW interest group headed to Oregon's Willamette Valley, which is pinot noir country. The oenophiles spent four days touring, studying the process, tasting and linking appropriate wines with food.
Nancy and Floyd Hobbs organized the trip, assisted by Louise and George Cooper of Cooper-Garrod Winery. This interest section has been in existence 25 years and takes an annual trip together to a wine area. Up to now they've stayed in California.
Others sipping, besides the organizers, included Carolyn and George Collins, Michele Browne, Virginia and Bob O'Reilly, and Barbara and Brad Wyatt of Los Gatos; and Donna and Ray Muzzy and Kay and Bill Duffy, Saratoga.
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE: New officers for Assistance League include Shirley Johnson, president; Gail Hehir, v.p. membership; Terri Spice and Marilyn Manies, v.p., philanthropic projects; Chrystie DeSoto, v.p. resource development; Cynthia Snelham, secretary; Susan Schneider, treasurer.
Barbara Oggerino is public relations chairwoman and Jessica Perazzo is education chairwoman. Assistance League focuses on schoolchildren and the elderly. League members provided clothing and supplies to 395 children this year, a 53 percent increase from last year.
BONEMAN: Osteoporosis specialist Dr. Monmahan Singh will speak June 26, 10 a.m.noon, at the Neighborhood Center on prevention and treatments for osteoporosis. The "Singh Index," a technique for predicting hip fractures, is his invention.
Singh incorporates preventive and alternative medicines in his practice, along with traditional approaches. He is associate professor of orthopedics at the U. of Ill.Chicago and heads the Osteoporosis Clinic. The 55+ Program number is 408.354.2360.
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By Mary Ann Cook