By Clyde Noel
Town Crier Correspondent
Shoup Park barbecue for Sept. 11 victims, Follies draw supporters
When there’s a fund-raiser in Los Altos, people usually show up, checkbooks in hand to support the cause. Two recent events are excellent illustrations of Los Altans’ willingness to help.
The “Los Altos Cares” benefit in Shoup Park, Oct. 7, started with an idea by Jamie Carpenter to do something for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Carpenter, owner of Jocco’s restaurant, and other volunteer agencies got together to organize an event that raised $60,000.
The event brought together two local foundations, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Los Altos Community Foundation.
Community Foundation President Roy Lave announced at a recent meeting that 120 families attended the dinner and contributed $40,000. The Packard Foundation contributed another $20,000, to make up a $60,000 donation to the September 11 Fund.
The event was an opportunity for some residents to be recognized and to contribute their services. Local musicians provided entertainment for the barbecue dinner at no charge - the Main Street Singers, Tami Mulcahy, Michelle Bradley, Springer Sings with Rose Bradley, Pearl Bryan, John Sylvester and Jim Thurber. All food and supplies were donated.
In another announcement at the Community Foundation meeting, Los Altos Follies producer Vicki Reeder said the 2001 event broke all records for attendance and receipts.
The annual fund-raiser for the Bus Barn Stage Company, Oct. 12 and 13, is usually held only on a Saturday night. This year, however, the event was also held on Friday to accommodate demand.
The additional show drew 120 people, and both shows Saturday were sold out.
The shows netted $17,625, plus additional donations were made to benefit the Bus Barn Stage Company.
“I’m exhausted, and finally I’ll get some sleep again,” said Reeder, Los Altos Follies producer.
A cast of 10 local residents took on the power crisis, the dot-com failures and other local “hot button issues,” such as the proposed hotel in Los Altos, with their spoofs raising continuous laughter in the audience.
