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Saratoga Sampler
University of Illinois gets a clubhouse, thanks to Colvin
By Mary Ann Cook
LEAD DONOR: Saratogan Pat Colvin donated $200,000 to the University of Illinois-Chicago to build a baseball clubhouse, and the facility was completed this April. Colvin, a 1952 graduate of the Navy Pier campus that preceded the present university, made the lead gift to the project.
The facility is named the Peggy Colvin Baseball Center for Academic and Athletic Excellence in tribute to Colvin's wife. "I had a very extensive travel schedule, and she took care of my family. She did everything," he explained.
The state-of-the-art clubhouse features locker rooms for students, coaches and umpires; a study area with a computer lab; a video lounge; coaches' offices; and a Wall of Fame. Colvin also contributed significantly to the university's Flames Athletic Center that opened in 1999.
"It is a great honor to have our name associated with a great institution like this on a permanent basis," Colvin said. "The character of all the people that I have met and been associated with at UIC, in athletics, has just been of the highest caliber," said Colvin.
The UIC baseball team recently won its sixth straight Horizon League regular season title and captured the league tournament crown.
NEW BOOK: I'm Packing Things for Heaven is a book of poetry by Saratogan Carol Lynn Grellas, newly out from AuthorHouse, a print-on-demand publisher. Grellas will have a book signing July 15 at 3 p.m. at the Westgate Barnes & Noble.
When she lost her mother two years ago, Grellas struggled to find some way to help her grieve; poetry became her answer. She recited one of her poems at her mother's funeral, and that became the nucleus and the impetus for this first collection of inspirational poetry.
She and her mother had a business called Madcap Designs for some five years--hand-painted articles, which she embellished, plus French lace T-shirts and dresses her mother made by hand. They also designed Los Gatos and Saratoga jackets that were carried by Nordstrom briefly.
Grellas and husband Jim have five children, all grown except for Sabrina, 10. Jim is a medical distributor for Core, his own company. Packing is available at Desire Home Furnishings or the Maid's Quarters, Los Gatos, or at www.carollynngrellas.com.
PET PARADE AWARDS: The second annual Saratoga Pet Parade produced these winners--Best behaved: Sherry Schare's poodle Bijou. Second place was Sandy Reed's labradoodle Jake. Owner/pet look-a-like was Mary Kay Breitenbach and her poodle, Schatze. Second was Britt Null with her chihuahua, Peaches.
Funniest was Georgette, a bulldog owned by Betsy and Don Riccomini. Second place was Dan Decker's dog, a briard sheepdog named Hairy. Spunkiest dog was Lauren Belotti's havanese, Antonio Banderos. Second was Mimi Troyer's cockapoo, Darby. Best dressed was Lisa Anderson's minidoxie, Link.
Second was Frank Lee's shih tze, Laifa. Leading the parade of 50 entries up Big Basin Way was Biskit the Clown, portrayed by Laurel Perusa; and Dr. John Marian as a bunny. Judges were Cathleen Boyer, Fran Andreson and Kristin Davis. Judy Coulter organized the whole shebang.
FROM THE HEART: Saratogan Marie LoPresto, who was one of the first to have open heart surgery in '59, was this year's chairman of the AHA Gala held at the home of Boots and Kristen Del Biaggio. LoPresto enlisted people directly affected by heart disease for her committee.
LoPresto herself was born with two holes in her heart and was confined to bed through much of her early years. Since then she has dedicated time and talents to raising money for the heart association. Other committee members were Sydene Kober, Monte Sereno, and Anita Del Grande of Los Gatos, both of whom have heart valve problems.
Further, committee members Cathy Gillum and Barbara Oates have husbands who survived heart attacks.
JUST CALL HER GUV: Marlene Duffin won the vice district governor title at the recent state Lions convention after an intense and grueling campaign. She's the first woman to hold the position from this district. The area extends from Milpitas to King City, some 45 Lion Clubs.
RARE BIRD: Jack Mallory is a rare bird indeed. He came back from a Panama Canal/Caribbean cruise one pound lighter, having walked the decks daily. Jack and Sue were celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary, along with 40-year neighbors Betty and Bill Benevento and Jean and Don Wilson.
The cruise went from Florida through the Caribbean across the Panama Canal and up Mexico and Florida. It was 16 days sans phones, Internet, TV or community meetings--very un-Mallory-like.
DREAMING: Seventh-graders from the Waldorf School in Mountain View presented A Midsummer Night's Dream in the outdoor amphitheater of the Willys Peck digs recently. Daughter Anna Rainville teaches at Waldorf, and the Peck grandchildren attend the school.
ANNIVERSARY: It's the Learning Experience's 10th anniversary. The toy store is in El Paseo de Saratoga, and the manager is Carol Spacey.
Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to mac@impruve.com.
