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When presented with the idea of traveling to Africa last summer to offer her skills at a school in Awaso, Ghana, second-grade teacher Noreen Kakalec would be the first to tell you she didn't immediately rush off to pack her bags.

Sisters Nora and Delia Ephron took the book “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” by Ilene Bacmerman, added stories of friends and their own experiences and came up with a delightful production that hits home with most women and can tickle the funny bone of the guys in the audience. Sadly, Nora Ephron died a little more than two years ago and left an enormous library of plays and books, including “When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle” and this play.

This past weekend, many Gilroyans took a moment to reflect and light a candle or recall a loved one as they marked “All Saints Day.” In our church, we called out the names of those past saints we wanted to especially honor.

South County residents will have an opportunity next month to honor U.S. veterans buried in local cemeteries. Remembrance ceremonies will be held in Gilroy and Morgan Hill on Dec. 13 at 9 a.m. simultaneously with a national observance at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

SAN JOSE – San Jose struck for two goals in the third period Saturday night to upend the New York Islanders 3-1 at sold-out SAP Center.The victory gave the Sharks seven of eight possible points over the past four games and moved them into a tie with Vancouver in second place in the Pacific Division. Vancouver comes to SAP Center Thursday before the Sharks embark on a seven-game road trip.The Islanders brought a 6-4 mark into the game, including a 3-2 effort on the road. The visitors managed to skate into the first intermission with a 1-1 deadlock, but after a scoreless second period the Sharks were able to solve goaltender Jaroslav Halak for two goals.New York earned the game’s first goal 8:06 into action. Defenseman Nick Leddy controlled the puck along the left boards into San Jose’s zone before dropping the puck to Kyle Okposo. The right wing slid past one defender and snapped a shot inside the left post past goaltender Antti Niemi.San Jose drew even at 10:23 on a power play. Matt Nieto was able to chip the puck away from Isles defenseman Johnny Boychuk at the New York endboards. Tommy Wingels controlled the loose puck and found Tomas Hertl open for a slapshot from the low slot past an off-balance Halak."(Tomas) had a little more of an intensity in his game," said coach Todd McLellan of Hertl's play. “We were able to keep our shifts short and keep the puck out of our net,” said Wingels of the Sharks’ defensive play.After the teams combined for 11 shots in the second period, San Jose scrambled for a pair of even-strength goals in the third.Logan Couture took the team lead in goals with six when he redirected Justin Braun’s pass over Halak’s left shoulder from a tough angle at the 11:50 mark.James Sheppard connected for his first goal of the season at the end of a 3 on 2 rush at 15:35. Rookie defenseman Mirco Mueller ignited the rush by denying a New York charge into the San Jose zone. Andrew Desjardins came up with the puck and headed up ice. Burnish took a Desjardins pass at right wing, then threaded a pass past one defenseman to a streaking Sheppard for the point-blank goal.Notes: Scott Hannan was honored in a pre-game ceremony for playing his 1,000th NHL game on Oct. 14 in Washington. Hannan was injured in the first period after six shifts and did not return to action…San Jose has won 13 of the past 19 games against the Islanders…Barclay Goodrow was activated Saturday and suited up at forward for his second NHL game.

I don’t know how it happened, but somehow my son is crazy. I mean, seriously crazy. Apparently, one time when Junior was 8 or 9, we drove past See Grins RVs and I said, “I’d love to get an RV and travel all over the place.” Somehow, that one, innocent remark turned into, “Once you move away to college, Dad and I are getting an RV and traveling the United States.” I know this because he came home last weekend and asked us when that was going to happen. (Side note: I’m sure it was because he missed me and not because he missed having clean underwear.)

It is apparently mandatory during every conversation about ocean cruises that each person declare whether or not they are a “cruise person.” At least it appears that way based on my experience. Though I suspected I was not a cruise person, I wasn’t sure since I had never been on one. I just knew that if I wanted to see Alaska’s Inside Passage, it would be on a cruise—and I definitely wanted to see the Inside Passage.

We went to the Tamale Festival in downtown Gilroy (Oct. 18) and there's a lot for them to learn. They ought to send a group to Indio, outside of Palm Springs, and see how they run theirs. The first weekend in December is always the Tamale Festival in Indio and they have learned to run a tamale festival. In the beginning it wasn't so hot, but in time it got better and better and I'm sure this one will too. But there were only two booths with tamales and they ran out. It could've been a fun day with all the cars and such, but no tamales, so we went to Mi Pueblo and they were out too. So we went to Taco Bell and had a taco. There were no tamales available. I'm sure it could be a great event for Gilroy

For a unique experience that transcends into a special, almost spiritual adventure along with encounters that make you wonder how the great powers created so much beauty in the oceans, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Happy Halloween! For those of you on “team pumpkin,” it is an exciting time of year. Pumpkin flavored everything is just about everywhere. However, this is not exciting to me. You may remember that I dislike pumpkin. I side on another fall favorite and consider myself part of “team apple.” This week, I feature a recipe for a breakfast item, containing apples that is close to my heart.