Tait hostess Marlynn Tink Rasmussen cited the jack-in-the-box, a dad wearing a customized large box. When the box lid was raised, Jack popped up: a 6-month-old charmer firmly strapped to dad. Another eyecatcher was the egg family. Each wore a white, oval costume with a circle of yellow thereon.

One egg depicted was fried, one sunny side up. A smaller one, perhaps a teen-ager, was also arrayed in egg costume but with the added fillip of horns. Ergo: a deviled egg. Others who received notice were a chicken, a Christmas present and a robot—all handmade. Will judging ever become a feature of the Tait festivities?

Next year "Tink" Rasmussen and Cat Griffin, who lives across the street, are hoping to levitate Griffin in Peter Pan fashion. The idea is to fly her back and forth during the devilish doings. Griffin was a deliciously ghoulish green-faced witch. Police blocked off Tait for three hours.

I won't say these two neighbors get into the Halloween spirit, but inside the Griffin house is a miniature Halloween village, similar to those found under Christmas trees. The difference is that this village is rife with pumpkin heads, skeletons that serve as lampposts and blue lights that flash off and on inside spooky gabled houses.

Horror cartoonist Charles Addams and his Addams' family creatures would feel right at home on Tait. Besides kudos to Tait, the Beautification Committee also cited another residence—Carol Thompson's at 131 College, which won a first place for neighborhoods.

Two businesses lauded were Nuance of Los Gatos on Main Street, decorated by Holly and Joani Ilse, and Antiquarium, decorated by Denise Harr, also on Main.

WORLD TITLE: Eleven-year-old Ashley Diamond Pollack, who literally grew up on horseback, recently won the equivalent of an Olympic gold medal—the world title in Tennessee walking horses in the 11-and-under category in competition in Tennessee. Ashley won top honors on the back of Mr. Chili Pepper.

Mr. Chili and Ashley have been competing as a unit ever since Ashley was 4. But she was on a horse long before that—at 3 months, before she could even sit up by herself, says her mother, Patti Pollack. The Pollacks, you see, breed and raise Tennessee walkers at their stable in Morgan Hill.

The Pollacks include Wanda and Robert, Ashley's grandparents, and her aunt, Sherri Pollack, all of Saratoga. Ashley has won many championship ribbons through the years, so many her mother can't even count them. This year alone she won 24 blue ribbons. But the world title is unequivocally the greatest honor.

Ashley, a St. Andrews School sixth-grader, won her first ribbon at age 4 in a lead line class contest, wherein someone leads the horse while the child rides. By age 6 she was showing horses. Ashley and Mr. Chili virtually grew up together: he's 9 now and she was the one who named him.

"You have to have a great animal to show in the under-11 class," says Patti. Tennessee walking horses are known for their wonderful disposition—very gentle and versatile." They perform in field trials, trail rides, jumping and bell racing and as show horses.

BENEFIT CONCERT: The piano concert held at Calvary Church in Los Gatos recently netted $6,000 for "Barber Bob" Siirila, who recently underwent a liver transplant. The money will help to defray hospital costs. Barber Bob is a beloved longtime barber at the Downing Center.

Those planning the event were Rich and Julie Keith; John and Hughie Cabri; Elaine and Robert Van Horne; and Carlo and Evelyn Pedron. Robert Van Horne was the pianist and Rich Keith is Siirila's barber colleague at the shop.

NEW BAR TRUSTEE: Lawyer Edward McDonald was elected trustee for the Los Gatos, Campbell and Saratoga district by the Santa Clara Bar Association in recent elections by that body. It's a two-year position and he was elected by bar association members in those communities.

ONLY THE BEST: Florence Lambert, Joyce Goodrow, Cyra Richardson and other Discovery Shop volunteers present Only The Best, a sale of designer clothing and accessories on Nov. 13 and 14 at the shop at 39 E. Main St. The Discovery Shop is a benefit for the American Cancer Society.

Sale hours are 10 a.m.­6 p.m. through the week until Nov. 13. Hours are 10 a.m.­4 p.m. on Nov. 14. Shop manager is Theresa Garcia Radzinsky.

FASTEST FRISSON FIX: Wendy Dando, a California Café bartender, won the recent Martini Mixing Competition held at California Café that was a benefit for the Red Cross. There were 15 competitors.

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