May 26, 2003

YOU'D THINK SOMEONE who works as hard as Sunol Glen Superintendent-Principal Diane Everett could use a little R&R. She finally took a week off and did she go to Gimme The Works Spa or Umbrella Drink Island? Not this time, folks - try Northern Ireland Global Village Work Camp in Belfast to build houses with Habitat for Humanity. Diane traveled to Belfast with her twin sister Doris Stipech of Denver for a week, during which they with they worked on two row houses, caulking and varnishing window and door frames and off-loading lumber.

Diane and Doris stayed at St. Clements Retreat House, which Diane described as "very serene and relaxing." The Metro Denver Habitat for Humanity group sponsoring the trip has a kind of sister city relationship with Belfast. A group of women from that Irish city came to Denver last year to build with Habitat in one of the Mile High City's poorer neighborhoods. The Belfast ladies treated Diane and her fellow volunteers to a luncheon and a special dinner the final night.

There is another goal for the two Habitat projects in Belfast - one building site is in a Protestant area and the other is in a Catholic area, with the hope that the good feeling generated by the volunteers will help with much needed reconciliation. As for Diane, this is her second Habitat experience. Six years ago, she and Doris helped build houses in Fiji, and lived in the village while they were there. "I've had such a wonderful life," our caulking expert Principal said. "I do this to give something back." Pretty cool, huh?

SPRING FLING UPDATE: Sunol Glen School's Community Club is offering babysitting at the school's Eagle's Nest from 7:45 to 11:15 p.m. for parents attending the Spring Fling Friday night at Little Valley Bistro. The kids will dine on pizza and watch a movie - with popcorn, of course - for $25 per child. Just pop them into their p.j.s and bring them over to the Eagle's Nest and you can thoroughly enjoy the Fling knowing the kids are nearby and happy.

Now, more details about the event. The live auction will feature local art by Tom Harland and Pam Ekelbaum, and theme baskets from each Sunol Glen class with contents worth at least $200. Sunol Glen teachers and staff members have donated items involving a unique shared experience. Here's a partial listing: You could go bowling with Phil Mumford and Leslie Owen, have a water skiing adventure with Linda Pappas, get "Lost in Space" with Jane Murphy or enjoy a wine tasters dinner for ten with Nancy Chiprich. Diana McCrary is offering "Movie Madness," and Emily Summa will take you to a movie matinee.

Diane Everett is offering two different items. You could be "Principal for a Day," or have a great time at a swim party at her beautiful Sunol home. There's also "Mad About Science" with Kalina Wong, "Computer Bytes" with Lorri Vargas, or check out ""Jack(lin) of All Trades" with Brad Taylor and Leo Marquez. And kindergarten maven Becky Radulovich will come to your home to read your children a bedtime story and tuck them in!

The auction item list goes on and on, and you can even make sealed bids at the school's Open House on Wednesday evening if you can't make the Fling. Either way, you'll get something wonderful and help Sunol Glen keep its art, music and computer programs. Get tickets at Little Valley or e-mail Judy Bettencourt at judybettencourt@attbi.com.

MYSTERIOUS GOINGS ON: Another exciting evening at Little Valley Vineyard Bistro is coming up June 21, when the Bistro Players will present "Something Shocking in Sunol," a mystery theater dinner extravaganza. The dinner seating is at 7:30 p.m., with food catered by Gimanelli's, desserts by Sandi Bohner, and Little Valley's award-winning wines. This is an interactive theater experience - it's up to the audience to solve the mystery via clues and a chance to question the "suspects." The play, directed by Diane Tiessen and Klay Kunkel, is filled with twists and turns sure to provide an entertaining time. Tickets are $50 per person and will sell out quickly, so call Little Valley today at 925-862-9006 to reserve yours.

Happy Memorial Day…remember those gone too soon and enjoy the folks around you. And if you're looking for a place to do that, please do stop by the Save Our Sunol picnic at Sunol Glen from 1 to 4 p.m.