After the huge success of last year’s Wildwoodstock the organizers decided to do it again! This FREE family event is a fundraiser for team Mamageddon, a dedicated tribe walking the Susan G.Komen 3-day – 60 miles on the journey to end breast cancer.

Fabulous live music all day, a silent auction of fabulous stuff, face painting, food, drinks – this year they’ll have it all! Please tell all your friends, share this with everybody!

This event is dedicated to the memory of our dear friends Lisa Sanders, a Saratoga native who lost her battle with ovarian cancer 1/14/11 and Caroline Tirey Irvine whom we lost to breast cancer 8/9/09.

Join us to celebrate their lives and the lives of all the amazing cancer survivors we know – you’re our reason to keep going ladies and gents! Visit the Wildwoodstock Official Facebook page

They will be starting off the day with magic by Morgana, Mistress of Mystery! Band line up is as follows :

Some Random People
Epoch
Edna The World
The Ones
Never The Same
Grain with special guest
Dada (acoustic)
AND Mike Gurley will be MC-ing and singing throughout the day.

Copywrite photo by Rick Bonetti

The rain will eventually stop (we hope) and it will be time to plant your Spring garden!

If you have not already started your seeds, you might want to attend the 17th Annual Spring Garden Market put on by Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County on Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 9 AM to 2 PM. It is being held at the History San Jose Kelly Park at 1650 Senter Road, San Jose, 95112.

They will have herbs, flowers, 79 varieties of tomatoes, 106 varieties of peppers, beans, cucumbers, lettuce, eggplant and other vegetables for sale!  In addition, they will have educational talks and a sustainable gardening showcase.

Interested in a Spring gardening in Saratoga? Call Saratoga Master Gardener Chuck Stees at 408-867-7485

Original Painting by Mary Ann Snedeker

If one were to study the cultural anthropology of Saratoga, CA, Book-Go-Round, located at 14410 Oak Street (corner of Saratoga-Los Gatos Road and Oak Street) would be a good place to start! Here lovers of books will find a broad range of the intelectual, spiritual, artistic, travel, entertainment, musical and other pursuits of local Saratoga residents.

Saratoga residents and other friends donate slightly used books, DVD’s, CD’s, art, sheet music and other related items, which in turn are resold to support the Saratoga Public Library.

Periodically Book-Go-Round has an AUCTION of SPECIAL BOOKS and other interesting items. Their March 6-13, 2011 auction ends this Sunday! Auction books are on display at the store and you can download a pdf list of available items from their website. Closed bids are being accepted at the store and via e-mail to BGRauction@AOL.com

Here are a few of the 100 items:

• Ellis, Edward S.: The CAMP-FIRES OF GENERAL LEE from the Peninsula to Appomattox Court-House, Philadelphia: Henry Harrison & Co., © Feb. 1886
• Gallagher, Jane: CALIFORNIA IN SOLITUDE AND SILENCE, signed by Portola Valley artist, © 1966. Colophon states first printing of 610
• Holmes, Norman W.: PRUNE COUNTRY RAILROADING, Steel Trails to San Jose, SIGNED by author, Shade Tree Books, © 1985
• Kettlewell, Frank (aka Ket), former political cartoonist for the Oakland Tribune. Nine original pen & ink political cartoon ‘boards’, heavy cardstock, most 15×18
• Lanyon, Milton: TWO framed B&W woodblock prints signed by Lanyon, former art department teacher, San Jose State, former Saratoga resident, co-author of Cinnabar Hills. (1) “The Church on the Hill, New Almaden”; (2) Catholic Church, 1860, Chinese Camp, Mother Lode”
• Tahami, Daryoush and Farshad Abrishami: A CENTURY PICTURES OF THE OLDEN TEHRAN (From 1871 to 1971). Tehran Abrishamifar Publication 2005
• Vintage Trade Card scrap book

The store is staffed by volunteer Friends of the Saratoga Libraries,  They are open Sunday-Friday: Noon to 5 PM and Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM

Rick Bonetti | APR Referral Network | 408-857-8800 | DRE #01237009

• Robert Trevorrow, San Francisco Senior Centers
• Lisa Hendrickson, Avenidas & Avenidas Village
• Martin Entwistle, Center for Healthcare Systems Innovation, Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

On May 4, 2011 the topic will be Spirituality & Aging: Purpose, Meaning and Mutual Support.

If you know a senior who wants to age in place in their home, but needs supportive services or who needs to sell their home and relocate to a more supportive living environment, please give me a call. I can refer you to people who can help.

Rick Bonetti | APR Referral Network | 408-857-8800 | DRE #01237009

The Zoning Map is the foundation for neighborhoods in Saratoga, CA 95070.

Saratoga is laid out more like the spokes of a wheel, with the Village neighborhood at the hub, rather than a north/south, east/west grid found in some western towns.

Most of the “flat lands” in the north-northeast wedge are zoned R1-12,500 or R1-10,000, which creates a upscale, spacious, suburban neighborhood character. Interestingly, a gold map color of the R1-12,500 zoning predominates in the “Golden Triangle” neighborhood. Some Realtors think that’s where the gold is because the housing market demand is generally so strong and steady there.

The orange R1-10,000 zoned areas are generally either on the northeastern periphery or closer to the Saratoga Avenue core that was subdivided somewhat earlier.

The east/southeastern wedge of Saratoga and those foothill sections to the west of the flat lands are zoned R1-40,000 (referred to as one acre minimum, although an acre is actually 43,560 square feet). There are several distinct neighborhoods here such as Sobey, Fruitvale and Monte Vista.

Further west the topography dictates Hillside Residential zoning in neighborhoods such as Parker Ranch, Pierce Road, Mt. Eden Valley, Saratoga Heights, and Tollgate.

Similarly, the General Plan gives the blueprint of how the City sees neighborhoods developing over time. It is important to note the lighter green area outside the red boundary, indicating the “sphere of influence” – properties not yet incorporated into the city boundary. Standards for development in this sphere are subject to approval by the City of Saratoga even though neighborhoods such as upper Glen Una or Redberry may actually have a Los Gatos mailing address; redevelopment may even trigger annexation if adjacent, so consult with the City before buying property in these highly desirable areas.

Rick Bonetti | APR Referral Network | 408-857-8800 | DRE #01237009

November 26, 2010 the SDA organized and produced the Saratoga Village Holiday Wine Stroll. This year the Saratoga Downtown Association is planning Marketplace – a mid-week farmers market with 28-30 vendors and artisans starting Wednesdays, March 23, 2011 through fall.  The proposal is that small frontage part of Highway 9 adjacent to Blaney Park would be closed Wednesdays and quality food vendors and artisans would set up tents for public shopping.  As a mid-week event, this would not not in competition with the Farmers Market held Saturdays at West Valley College.

Also in planning is Saturday in the Park, a free family concert event series to start June, 2011 for 8 Saturday’s.  The proposal to the SDA was by the producers of last year’s WildWoodstock 2010 fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research, held in August at Saratoga’s Wildwood Park.  That event had about 700 attendees and was a huge success, raising $10,000! Saturday in the Park is envisioned to have a live band playing three sets each Saturday from 2PM to 5PM.  Although they will have food vendors as well as beer and wine for sale, it is anticipated that it will stimulate early evening dining and foot traffic in downtown Saratoga.

The Saratoga Downtown Association is taking final steps to become a 501-C6 non-profit and is now working with the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce to become their fun and fundraiser coordinating team.

In addition to the SDA there are two other groups interested in Saratoga Village.  The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce has a broader agenda of promoting businesses in all of Saratoga’s four other shopping centers.  The Saratoga Village Development Council focuses more on downtown beautification and non-fund-raising community events in the Village.

The Saratoga City Council is having their Annual Retreat on Friday, January 28, 2011 at the North Campus to receive public input about the future of downtown Saratoga (12:30-2:30PM) and alcohol in the park among other things.  If you have an opinion, plan to attend.

At the Monday SDA meeting I attended, I was impressed with the generous spirit of cooperation between the SDA members and the Chamber President and President-elect in attendance.   Similarly, last evening I was impressed with the balanced and positive and gracious state of the union address by President Obama and the gesture of members of Congress to sit side-by-side rather than as polar party opposites.  Saratoga is too small and united efforts, rather than factions, are necessary to create a vibrant core for downtown Saratoga.  Let’s work together. What do you think?

Rick Bonetti | APR Referral Network | 408-857-8800 | DRE #01237009

Tonight is the 7th Annual Benefit for South Bay Musical Theater! All you can eat Crab and Pasta Feed is located at the Community Center on Allendale in Saratoga, CA 95070. Entertainment is by the BluesBox Bayou Band. Info at 408-893-1551

Their next play, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum starts January 29, 2011.  The play takes comedy back to its roots, combining situations from time-tested, 2000-year-old comedies of Roman playwright Plautus with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville.

Click>here for a link to a map of parks in Saratoga, CA.

Rick Bonetti | APR Referral Network | 408-857-8800 | DRE #01237009