By Clyde Noel
Changes afoot at Rancho
In an effort to revitalize Los Altos Rancho Shopping Center, the Rancho Merchants Association has elected new officers and hired a sales promotion professional.
The new promotional director, Joyce Anderson, has coordinated and choreographed hundreds of fashion and bridal shows in the Bay Area. A member of the press corps, she has worked for ABC (KNTV in San Jose) and successfully produced her own shows for the past 10 years at KSAR in Saratoga.
Rancho Shopping Center will soon put on a Halloween face. From noon to 5 p.m., Oct. 31, merchants will put out a large plastic orange pumpkin filled with candy for the children, and there will be a drawing of names from Halloween pictures submitted by children.
The day after Thanksgiving, Santa will arrive and occupy his house at the north end of the shopping center. This year he will have to walk through snow to get in. There will be a truckload of snow to welcome him, along with the usual anxious young toddlers.
The merchants association made the annual Rock Back the Clock event a huge success last month. As a part of their commitment to the community the association turned over a check for $4,500 to Mike Balster, president of the Festival of Lights Parade, to help promote the annual parade.
This year, Rancho will enter a float in the parade in downtown Los Altos. A large wagon, drawn by two draft horses dressed in Christmas finery, will carry the officers of the merchants association down State and Main streets.
“Snowflake” is this year’s theme for the holidays at Rancho.
Decorations have already been placed on the roof of the shopping center but won’t be lit until after Thanksgiving.
Rancho merchants speculate that a chain drugstore may move into the space vacated by Gregory’s Drugstore.
The directors of the Los Altos Rancho Merchants Association for the coming year are: Kevin Sawyer (dentist), president; Rose Hartman (Hartman’s Fashions), vice president; Marc Joseph (Marc Joseph Hair design), treasurer; Lynn Floth (Just For You Florist), secretary; and Jim McLoughlin (Rancho Camera), alternate.
