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.