December
15, 2003
The Holiday spirit is still very much alive here
in Sunol. If you get a chance, take a drive up Kilkare Road
and check out the wonderful array of colored lights, candy canes
and giant Santas. Dimitri and Trudi Kastriotis's home and field
are by day usually inhabited by a few horses and a flock of
wild turkeys, but by night the trees light up the grounds in
such a way that it almost looks like Disney's Electric Light
Parade.
Speaking of Dimitri, he was presented a plaque for being this
years Sunol Business Guild president at their Christmas Party
which took place Dec, 9 at Elliston Vineyards. Also awarded
that evening was Bud Hall for being our "Community Hero"
and Jim O'Laughlin for all his hand work and dedication in beautifying
Sunol's Depot Gardens Park. Sandy Bohner, owner of Little Valley
Vineyards said, "Donna is such a gracious host", commending
Donna Flavetta, owner of Elliston Vineyards for hosting the
get together. Sandy also said, "it was such fun, all of
Sunol's vineyards were there", referring to Fenestra Vineyards,
owned by Sunol residents Fran and Lanny Replogles, Elliston
Vineyards and Little Valley Vineyards. Also in attendance that
evening was Mario Montalvo, Alameda County Maintenance Superintendent
who is the one of the persons responsible for installing downtown's
new traffic "humps" (and that will be covered in another
column) and John Fenstermacher, Alameda County Real Estate Division.
More holiday highlights...Sunol was proudly represented in
Pleasanton's Hometown Parade last weekend. Braving the cold,
wind and rain were Bessie Barnes, Sara Brown, Kaitlyn Lipman
and Paige Arcieri of Brownie Troop #1026 and Becca Brown, Nicola
Barnes, Emily Madden and Mary Chambers of Junior Troop #2921.
Parents accompanying the scouts were, Brownie Troop Leader,
Cathy Morris and husband, Mike Brown, Junior Troop Co-Leader
Victoria Barnes, and parents Diane Madden and Kelly Lipman.
The Little Brown Church's Women's Fellowship book club gathered
at Pastor Ron Hunt and wife Lisa's home on Dec. 10 for a scrumptious
buffet and movie night featuring "Endurance" Ernest
Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, a book they had read a couple
of months ago. The women's group included Cathy Thomas, Bonnie
Feltrop, Linda Fellers, Laurie Foster, Janet Bachand, Lisa Hunt
and myself.
In keeping with Sunol Glen Schools' "Pirates of the Caribbean"
theme this year, the schools winter program is a musical adaptation
of Robert Louis Stevensons' classic "Treasure Island".
"I feel this play fits the eighth grade class very well
because there are lots of boys in the class and lots of boy
characters in the play", says musical director, Kitty Jowe.
As with past performances the eight grade class handles the
main character parts and the rest of the younger classes, kindergarten
through seventh grade, do the support singing. And of course
the schools wonderful band will play on both nights. The winter
program performances are on Dec. 16 th and 17th at 7:00 p.m.
Thespians far and wide...It's that time of year folks...Sunol
Repertory Theater has announced auditions for next years ever
popular old-tyme melodrama for January 6 at 6:30 in the Sunol
Glen School Auditorium. This years auditions are open for high
school students and adult character parts only.
And last but certainly not least, a big, huge welcome back
to dear old friend and school chum Mark Martin. Once a Sunolian
always a Sunolian, it's good to have you back home.