The daughter of Claudia and Dan Richards of Sunnyvale, Zhalynn now weighs 4 pounds 8 ounces but still has two tubes down her throat: one for nourishment, one for cleaning out the lungs. She also has a cup over her nose to aid breathing. Immature lungs are the baby's major problem.

Zhalynn had to have laser eye surgery last week. She's been in the isolette for three months and the high percentage of oxygen in the incubator damaged her eyes. About 11 percent of all babies are born prematurely. A baby is considered premature if born before 37 weeks or weighing less than 2,500 grams. Zhalynn weighed 578 grams.

Zhalynn won't be able to go home until she's able to maintain her body temperature outside the incubator and eat and breathe on her own. In Zhalynn's case, that may be in about a month, but it's impossible to predict. Her progress teeter-totters: two steps forward, one back.

Older sister Imani, 8, visits and the parents are able to hold their baby for an hour at a time, despite all the paraphernalia. Zhalynn, incidentally, is an invented name, evolved from the name Jaylyn. If she doesn't like it, she can always answer to Lynn, says her father.

PLAYDAY: Suzanne Cristallo's annual Playday at her hillside ranch normally features feats of skill done on horseback topped off with an evening of barbecue. But this year offered some surprises. Musician Linda Doering played guitar, accompanied by Jim Underwood on keyboard.

Jourdane "Greg" Wuestenberg, a legal representative for the disabled, was also at the party. Since the age of 5, Wuestenberg has been signing for the deaf, and he signed "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," creating a very moving moment, said Cristallo.

Also a newcomer, Saratogan Kate Stewart, 14, played trumpet in the flag-raising ceremony—her first public performance.

KING GLICKMAN: Despite his recent gallbladder-removal surgery, Mayor Steve Glickman is all set to play King Mark in Legends of Arthur and Merlin, one of three plays to be performed in the Los Gatos Shakespeare Festival at Oak Meadow Park July 16­Aug. 1.

Also on the bill are Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing. Legends is an original work by playwright Mark D. Pickens of Saratoga, who also wrote the script for this year's benefit for the Shakespeare Festival, Passport to Danger.

Here's the schedule: Much Ado—July 16, 25 and 31; Twelfth Night—July 17, 23, 29 and Aug. 1; Legends—July 18, 24 and 30. Tickets are $18;$12 children/seniors. Contacts are 408.996.0635 or box_office@festivaltheatreensemble.org.

FULL CIRCLE: Newest president of the Los Gatos Lions is Carol Musser, the first woman to be admitted into the club—in 1988. And she's the second woman president, following groundbreaker Jan Morris. Other new officers are Paul Grabeel, first v.p.; and Eric Childs, second v.p; Roger Mason, third v.p.; John Lochner, treasurer; and Gary Cayton, secretary. Frank Bonacorsi is Lion Tamer; Paul Mahoney the Tail Twister. Three-year directors are Tony Palma, Dimone Gabler and Deena Dodge; two-year directors: Al Eagle, Craig Hulse and Don Arnaudo.

One-year directors are Joe Zanardi, Gary Stern and Jim Reynaud. Craig Hulse received the Reg Hughes Award, recognizing Hulse's work on White Cane Days. He was awarded a $500 Life Membership for the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center. More than $150,000 was raised this year by the Lions to benefit the community.

ALOHA CONNECTION: The connection between Hawaii and California from 1793 to the present is charted in a new exhibit at the History Museum on view now through Sept. 26. A reception on July 10, 1­4 p.m., will feature Hawaiian barbecue, slack key guitar, hula music and dance.

Outriggers, horses and surfboards helped define both California, the 31st state, as well as Hawaii, the 50th. Hence, we have the Aloha Connection, notes curator Jade Bradbury. On view are an outrigger canoe, replicas of ceremonial musical instruments, Hawaiian quilts and items from the cowboy culture.

Hawaiian royalty sent family members to school in California, and three princes demonstrated the first surfboarding display off Santa Cruz in 1895, thus introducing Californians to the sport. Polynesians were surfing as long as 1,000 years ago—or more, it's thought.

Competitive surfing may have established status and political position. The princes' surfboards were redwood, about 15 feet long. They attended a San Mateo military academy.

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