It’s great news that so many are getting their COVID-19 vaccines Brian Garfield writes about his grandmother’s experience: “This past Wednesday my grandmother, Agnes Boecker, a 20-year resident, turned 100 years old. Thursday she was vaccinated for COVID—on the first day of her second century.” Go, Agnes!
Last month’s column mentioned local Kelly Brezoczky, executive vice president of Lucira Health. Since then, the company has gone public with a timely product. Their 30- minute COVID-19 test is simple and affordable, and best of all, it’s done at home. www.lucirahealth.com
DoorDash orders placed before March 15 can generate funds for the Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation. Rotary has had to cancel its annual art show for the second straight year, and the food delivery service is donating up to 20% of the proceeds from online orders placed with promo code SRC21 to the foundation to help make up for lost revenue. Rotary usually uses proceeds from its art show to fund grants to nonprofits. And using DoorDash to order meals from Saratoga restaurants is a win-win.
Saratoga Rotary, like other membership groups, is challenged by the pandemic. President Sesh Ramaswami has done a yeomen’s job keeping fellowship and service to our community alive. Weekly Zoom meetings have been interesting and informative. Finet Mortgage’s Dave Eshleman emceed a Zoom version of “Name That Tune” that was a smash. Service projects have continued, like helping at Martha’s Kitchen. www.saratogarotary.org
Jamie Price of Design Compass (designcompass.net) is heading up the Martha’s Kitchen project. “Saratoga Rotarians have been volunteering at Martha’s Kitchen once a month since the SIP began last spring,” Price says. “Chopping vegetables and fruit and assembling sandwiches is such an easy way to help the community. Martha’s Kitchen takes all the necessary precautions to keep volunteers socially distanced and safe.”
The volunteer-run soup kitchen, located in downtown San Jose, has been feeding the hungry since 1981. https://www.marthas-kitchen.org
Welcome to a new eye-catching business in town. Specs Optical is a family-owned independent store known for boutique, concierge shopping experience and curated collection of eyewear. 12295 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, Suite 500, 408-253-3588, www.specs-optical.com
Got a favorite recipe you’d like to share? The Saratoga Youth Commission is compiling a Saratoga Community Cookbook. Visit www.saratoga.ca.us/youth to submit a recipe using the online form.
We are all hoping for rain for many reasons. A fun one is Rainy Day Poetry. For the second year, poems are being stenciled on Saratoga sidewalks using a special paint that reveals itself only during rainy weather. No hints as to where they are located, but a fun hunt for families.
West Valley Community Services hosting its 10th annual Chefs of Compassion on Friday, March 5, at 6 p.m. As with most events, the fundraiser is virtual this year. Chef Esan Shaqir of Saratoga’s Tamra will join Chef Jacques Wilson of El Camino Health and Chef Kristyan d’Angelo of Terun to prepare unique dishes created with items from the WVCS food pantry. An accompanying silent auction will help the hungry and homeless. Tickets are $160 at www.chefsofcompassion.org.
If you have business or social news about Saratoga, I’d like to know: debby@debbyrice.com.
