Camp out under a meteor shower and play pingpong at Montalvo
The Montalvo Arts Center provides some of the most scenic views of the Santa Clara Valley, but visitors to the historic villa and grounds in Saratoga on Aug. 10 will be invited to turn their gaze up instead of out. That’s because one of the highlights of “Starry, Starry Night,” Montalvo’s midsummer event, is a telescope viewing of the Perseid meteor showers.
Of course, Bay Area residents can take to many other elevated spots to watch the brilliant streaks of stardust against the night sky, but Montalvo is offering quite a bit more. There will be a guided night hike, an outdoor viewing of Pixar’s familyfriendly space adventure, “WALL-e,” and games like glow-in-the-dark pingpong.
Montalvo’s artists in residence, Matteo Rubbi and Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar, will be on hand with projects, Obsidian Butterfly and the Sacred Fire Dance Company will captivate the crowd with a dance performance incorporating LED lights, and Draco the Juggler will showcase his skills with crystal balls, rope darts and flaming torches.
To top it off, you can set up a tent and camp out under the stars on Montalvo’s Great Lawn and enjoy a pancake breakfast the next morning on the veranda. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children (accompanied by adults) and $55 if you want to camp. Go to www.montalvoarts.org for more details.
CHRISTMAS MIRACLE WORKER >> Christmas in the Park honored longtime volunteer Martie DeGutis at its 25th annual Christmas in July fundraiser Saturday at San Jose’s History Park. DeGutis, who recently retired from the organization’s board, has been devoting her time to the holiday spectacle for more than three decades.
DeGutis started out decorating the trees in the park with her family in the 1980s. “And we continued to do that for the next 30 years,” she said. “That’s where my love for Christmas in the Park began.” She and her husband, Warren “Dee” DeGutis, were part of a devoted core of
volunteers who kept the park going. She organized the first fundraisers at Coyote Ranch Lake Park that became Christmas in July, eventually moving to downtown’s Circle of Palms and then to History Park a few years back.
DeGutis’ honor wasn’t a surprise to her, but there was an unexpected bonus for Christmas in July attendees: Southwest Airlines, the presenting sponsor for Christmas in the Park, gifted everyone in the crowd of more than 300 people with 10,000 Rapid Rewards miles.
MAKING STRIDES IN SUNNYVALE >> CityLine Sunnyvale, the plan to reinvent the old Town Center and revitalize
downtown, is already having a transformative effect on Sunnyvale Community Services. Executive Director Marie Bernard made a point of thanking the project’s partners, the Sares Regis Group of Northern California Education and Community Foundation, Hunter Storm and others, for funding its upcoming back-to-school Backpack Day.
“They have raised an incredible $150,000 from the firm’s business partners to support this endeavor and we could not be more grateful,” said Bernard, who added that Sunnyvale Community Services expects to provide a record 1,800 students with supply-filled backpacks on Aug. 3. Other corporate donors include Texas Instruments, Western Digital, Walmart, Synopsys and NetApp.
Rob Wagner, managing
director of SRGNC, says he hopes to see even more businesses in the area stepping up, too. “We established this foundation with the goal of giving back to the communities in which we live and work, and we’re grateful that we’ve been given the opportunity to make a difference for so many children living in Sunnyvale,” he said.