We told them. People move from Kansas to California, not the
other way around. Despite our warnings of tornados, bugs, humidity
and being closer to family (after all, family is not all it’s
cracked up to be), Bob and Kelly Martin have sold their West Coast
real estate, said their goodbyes and moved to the land of Toto.
We told them. People move from Kansas to California, not the other way around. Despite our warnings of tornados, bugs, humidity and being closer to family (after all, family is not all it’s cracked up to be), Bob and Kelly Martin have sold their West Coast real estate, said their goodbyes and moved to the land of Toto.
In a farewell wake at the home of Eric and Beth Newquist on Saturday night, the Martins drank their last summer patio drink without a screened-in porch and reminisced about their days in South County. Barbara Campbell, Donna Peachy, and Beth Newquist worked together to create an atmosphere of upbeat sadness offering designer drinks at the beautiful outdoor bar. The Kelly Cosmos and the Purple Hooters (Bob doesn’t care what color they are) were a hit and snuck up on the unsuspecting. I offered to do my best flame-eater impression after sucking one of the vodka Jell-O shooters but the gentlemen in the fireside cigar lounge had all the lighters.
Tom and Patty Despit filled me in on what it was like growing up a Catholic southerner. When asked if he owned a confederate flag, Tom smiled knowingly, “I’m sure I could dig one up.”
Kay and Dennis Evans admitted their passion for wine has led them to a new venture called The Wine Tasting Club. Dennis, being much too young to retire, recruits hosts for wine tasting across the country through his Web site www.winetastingclub.com. Amy Matanane, back in the South County from El Dorado Hills to say farewell to the Martins, has recently signed on with the Evans to host wine tasting in the Sacramento area. Maybe Kansas will be a hotbed of wine tasting potential (in a screened-in porch, of course).
In other news …
The talented fiddlers of Lori Franke’s Gilroy Suzuki Violin group were recently asked by Gilroy city mayor Al Pinheiro to accompany him on a June trip to the Azores. Part of a sister city program, Franke’s violin touring group, made up of 25 string students ages 6 to 17, will travel to various islands with the Gilroy contingent providing entertainment fresh from the Garlic Capital.
“I’m looking forward to a great year, but we’re going to have to work hard,” says Franke, still recovering from her group’s tour of Germany last year. Pinheiro initially invited the group to play for the group from the Azores visiting Gilroy, and the young music students received a rousing standing ovation.
Says Pinheiro about the opportunity, “It’s an honor to have such a great group of not only children, but fantastic parents to share our Gilroy citizens with the people of Angra do HeroÃsmo (Pinheiro’s birth city) during their festival and also the children of the Azores.”
Never one to shrink from a challenge, Franke has risen to the occasion by planning an exciting program of music including Brandenburg Concerto #3, Vivaldi in G minor, Schumann Lullaby (to be played for the orphanages in the Azores), Fiocco, Fiddlin’ the fiddle, and the Can-Can by Offenbach. To raise money for the trip, the group will soon be recording these works at Valhalla Recording Studios in Gilroy. To support the program by purchasing a CD, contact Lori Franke at (408) 847-0615. Buena sorta!
Tchau for now.
