Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 30

B-6 SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL Sunday, May 5, 2002 SANTA CRUZ STYLE CELEBRATIONS Officer pants-on-fire and Judge Susan the afternoon. My heart was pounding as we approached the bench and sat at the table in our matching wooden chairs. I turned and looked at my accuser. He did not look back. He got to speak first.

As I listened my heart settled down. "Ten miles an hour," he told Judge Susan, "she was driving 10 miles an hour right through the stop." Liar, liar pants on fire, I did not say but wanted to. The judge listened carefully when I told her my side of the story. And when she asked Officer Liar Liar if he had anything more to say, he declined. As the judge smiled down on us, she said she would notify me by mail when she had reached a decision.

I took this to mean that I had won and she was trying not to embarrass the officer in front of all his badge-wearing buddies. All the way home 1 sang to myself, "I am woman, hear me roar Unfortunately, when the notification came, I had to change my tune. For days now all I can hear in my head is: "I fought the law, and the law won." 1 name to be called so I could go up and plead my case before Judge Susan. I took notes as I listened to the other defendants explain just how they had gotten into trouble with the law. I learned things.

I learned that when given the ticket to sign, you should not write "Bart Simpson" instead of your name. It will come back to bite you when you are sitting in front of the judge, who will not be sympathetic to your problems. I learned that even if you are wearing a lovely navy blue blazer, a cheery plastic headband, are walking with a cane and have three children under the age of 6 with you, if you can't control the little darlings, the judge will not be impressed with the fact that you have dressed nicely and also have a challenging life to contend with. Carlos sat one row up from me. He was not in his Sunday best.

As he sat down, I could clearly see through the large hole in his jeans that his boxer shorts did not match anything he was wearing. Poor Carlos, I thought as his name was called. But his cop didn't show, so he got a free walk. Who knew? Then it was my turn. Or our turn, as my police officer apparently didn't have anything else to do and had decided to drop in for Cops are our friends.

This is what I believe. And after Sept. 11, those who wear a badge have grown even taller in my eyes. So I was surprised to find myself sitting in a court room in Redwood City the other day waiting to do verbal battle with one. I haven't gotten many traffic tickets in my life, and when I did I simply paid them.

I think my last one was 20 years ago. But after stopping at a four-way stop one morning and then continuing on, 1 found that there in my rearview mirror was the flashing red light. I pulled over, clueless as to what I had done. He probably is curious about my hybrid car, I thought to myself. Wants to know where he could get one.

I imagined police all over the country driving the fuel-efficient vehicles. I was about to tell him how much I love my little Toyota when he said, "I think you may have rolled the stop." I was not concerned. I knew I hadn't. After taking my license and radioing in to find out the secrets of my driving history, he came back to the car. I was fully prepared for him to tell me to stop a bit longer next time, or ask me how I think lie might look The Gotches on their wedding day, left, and today.

Gotches celebrate 60 years driving a gas-electric car. I was stunned when he handed me a ticket to sign. As if I had really run the stop! When I was 10, 1 used to swim at the Oakland Athletic Club. Late in the day I would leave the old building and make my way home, hair green from the pool, still shivering from the long hours in the water. I had to hurry to make my bus, my arms full of wet gear.

There was a police officer who stood at the corner right by the stop. It was not unusual for him to hold the bus for me if he saw me running. 1 remember once, just making it on board and hearing the doors swoosh shut as I put my change in the coin box. Then the doors opened again, the officer stepped in and handed me my towel. I had dropped it in my rush.

I remember the smile filled his face like a full moon. I kept thinking of him as I sat in the courtroom and waited for my She was a homemaker after her marriage. James was born in St. Louis, Mo. He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1931, from Washington University in St.

Louis in 1937 and from George Washington University in Washington D.C. in 1954. He was a member of Delta Theta Phi and Eta Sigma Phi. He was an attorney in St. Louis; a retired commander from the Navy, where he gave 20 years of service as a fighter pilot from aircraft carriers in World War II and in the Korean War, provided close air support from aii-craft carriers.

He was also an accountant at GTE in Mountain View. Gertrude C. "Gert" and James R. "Bob" Gotch will celebrate 60 years of marriage May 12 in Los Altos. They were married May 9, 1942, in Corpus Christie, Texas.

The couple met at a playground in St. Louis, where Gert was Bob's supervisor. Special guests at the celebration will include daughter Ginny Malbon and her family from Santa Cruz, daughter Mary Gotch Posta and her husband from San Rafael, and son Bob Gotch and his family from Saratoga. Gertrude was born in St. Louis, She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1927 and from Harris Teachers' College in 1931 where she was a member of Phi Gamma Psi.

3irN AS Claudia Sternbach has paid her fine and can be reached at of families Wedding' celebrates the messy love By CATHERINE GRAHAM SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL Every so often a wonderful movie sneaks into town, then closes before word-of-mouth gets around. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is such a movie. And I ra here to tell ya not to miss it. It's a variation on the Cinderella tale, with a screenplay written by AT THE MOVIES 1 feaa irth iiHi'm rtaifiiiMtti) WrMiti fled her home on the outskirts of Chicago (where she once double-dated with Al Capone's son) to become a bathing beauty in Miami, where she met her own Prince Charming, my quiet, scholarly, non-Italian dad. In "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," there's a scene where Toula meets her future in-laws tightly-wound, quiet folks who had only one child the antithesis of her big, loud ethnic family.

My husband nudged me during that scene. It was an re-enactment of his first encounter with my parents! Lots of silences interrupted by weak attempts at polite conversation. It hit me like a ton of bricks, how successful my mom had been at shedding her ethnic skin. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" celebrates the messy love of ethnic families. It shows how alike we are as humans, whether our roots are in Russia Granowsky" my husband quietly exclaimed when the Greek grandmother makes her first appearance), Africa or Italy.

It also shows how something essential is lost when adults (like my mother in her attempt to become what she perceived as American) compress their lives so there is no room for surprises, serendipity or swells of emotion. I was fascinated by the casting of the actor John Corbett as the groom-to-be. In the early '90s, Cor-bett played Chris, the sensitive DJ in the eccentric town portrayed on the TV show, "Northern Exposure." After that, he had an ongoing gig as the spokesperson for Ford SUVs. I'm fascinated by the cultural dichotomy expressed in Corbett's persona: a warm, fuzzy, sensitive male who is simultaneously masculine enough to operate a four-wheel drive along muddy roads. In pop cultural terms, he's the ideal male of the New Millennium.

As such, he was perfectly cast as Carrie Brad-shaw's love interest on the HBO series "Sex and the City." A modern twist on tradition, he wanted to get married; she had fears of commitment. Corbett appears in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" in the same role. He's good-looking in an unself-conscious, one-day's-beard sort of way. He doesn't notice Toula's self-described frumpi-ness. He's the kind of guy who automatically perceives the Person Within.

He's willing to do anything for his lady love, enduring a formal baptism in her Greek orthodox church so he can be better accepted by her family. He's a fantasy male, as uncomplicated and unrealistic in his way as a Victoria's Secret supermod-' el is as another sexual ideal. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is playing at the Riverfront Twin and might only last another week or two. Do yourself a favor and make it a priority to see this wonderfully warm-hearted, laugh-out-loud movie before it disappears. Contact Catherine Graham atcatherinegrahamiJwtmail.com.

The Fagundes on their wedding day, left, and today. Fagundes celebrate 65 years Nia Vardalos, based on her one-woman comedy show. She also stars as Toula Portokalos, an unmarried frump still living at home and working in the family business, a Greek restaurant. Toula is transformed when she meets her Prince Charming, a WASPy vegetarian who, like the audience, adapts to the eccentricities of a large, ethnic family, which in turn is enriched by embracing an outsider, someone not-Greek. My mother grew up in a big fat Italian family, much like the Portokalos family in the movie.

They were loud. They ate a lot of ethnic food. And there were a whole lot of them grandparents, aunts, uncles, second cousins, brothers and sisters of all generations. They all crammed together, talking at the same time, moving as one, like a well-honed military unit, any time anything happened to any member of the tribe. Unlike Toula.

my mother dedicated herself like an athlete to shedding her ethnic roots. She Americanized her name from Marina to Mary Lou. She BIRTHS They have seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Veronica was born in Rapid City, S.D., and graduated from San Diego High School. She has been a home-maker and mother of three children.

Henry was born in San Francisco and graduated from St. Ignatius High School. He was in the U.S. Navy and worked for NASA for 15 years. For the last 20 years of his career, he owned Aero TV in Pacific Grove.

Kevin and Jennifer O'Horan The couple honeymooned in Negril, Jamaica. They live in Holmes Beach, Fla. Benjamin Farquhar and Katy Erhart Urn. Veronica and Henry Fagundes celebrated 65 years of marriage April 14 in Sunnyvale. The couple were married April 14, 1937, in San Diego.

Special guests at the celebration included daughters Patricia Fagundes of Mountain View and Kathleen Baker of Santa Cruz. Their oldest child, Henry Fagundes of Redding was unable to be at the celebration. O'Horan-Feurtado Jennifer Michelle Feurtado and Kevin Patrick O'Horan were married March 25 in Negril, Jamaica. Maile Kinsella, the bride's mother, was matron of honor. Thomas Feurtado, the bride's father, was best man.

A reception was held in Holmes Beach and a second one will be held in Aptos in June. Jennifer is the daughter of Maile Kinsella of Aptos and Thomas Feurtado of Soquel. She graduated from Harbor High School and San Jose State University. She is a graphic artist for the Bradenton Herald of Bradenton, Fla. Kevin is the son of Karen Horan of Cullom, 111.

and the late James Horan. He is a reporter for the Bradenton Herald of Bradenton, Fla. Erhart-Farquhar Katy Lynne Erhart and Benjamin Erik Farquhar are engaged to marry July 13. Katy is the daughter of Donna and Jim Felich of Santa Cruz and Bob Erhart of Vancouver Island, Canada. She graduated from Santa Cruz High in 1991.

She is assistant manager at Origin Natural Resources in San Francisco. Benjamin is the son of Hal and Keiren Farquhar of Mahopac, N.Y. and Myrna Farquhar of New York. He graduated from high school in Mahopac in 1990, and from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He is a musician and a musical sound engineer at Skyline Studios in Berkeley.

PAPER PARADE William Arthur Crone's Fine Stationery all your Invitation needs Wedding Invitations Birth Announcements 'I Social Occasions .504 Bay Avenue Capitola nexl to Gayle's Bakery Open til 6 476-2311 Ubalda Rivas Enrique and Noe Carlos Rodriguez Carredo, Santa Cruz, a 8-pound, 7-ounce boy, Christopher REYNOLDS April 29. 8:50 a.m., to Christopher Ann (Bonar) and Randall Evjen Reynolds, Capitola, a 7-pound, 5-ounce girl, Catelyn Ann WILCOX April 29, 9:34 a.m., to Whitney Anne Warner and Stephen David Wilcox, Los Gatos, a 7-pound, 5-ounce girl, Naia Bryn Waddings Receptions Enjoy Severinos, award winning restaurant Wlltl Palln Dining i cascading waterfall, lush colorful gardens Js 140 beautiful rooms Perfact localttm, exquisite food, mid personal service al a very affordable price "6iimiiiiiiiWaBf'Pli ol Parting STATE PARK DRIVE EXIT, APTOS 688-7306 LUCKOW April 23, 12:36 a.m.. to Allison Margaret Marino and Alan Joseph Luckow. Ben Lomond, a 3-pound. 2-ounce girl, Jessica Sierra LARA April 24.

5:17 a.m., to Nancy Hernandez and Primo Gregorio Lara. Watsonville. a 9-pound girl. Emry SALDEN April 24, 12:14 p.m., to Meaghan Elise (Fer-rell) and Darin Vaughn Salden, Royal Oaks, a 8-pound, 2-ounce boy, Benjamin Vaughn SOLANO April 24, 6:34 p.m., to Candace Simonne Crowell and Donald Ray Solano, La Selva Beach, a 8-pound, 3-ounce girl, Anna Chiara MURRAY April 24, 4:21 p.m., to Robin Melanie (Olney) and Sean Patrick Murray, Watsonville, a 8-pound, 2-ounce girl. Mikaela Claudia KANG April 24, 7:05 p.m., to Hye Cheon Chong and Dong G.

Kang, Watsonville, a 8-pound, 6-ounce boy, Daniel Zion BARCUS April 25. 2:38 p.m., to Amber Danielle Angelica (Moore) and Skye David Barcus, a 8-pound, 8-ounce boy. Brendan Otto TALAMANTE April 25. 3:33 p.m., to Use Brooke and Troy Elias Talamante, Felton, a 6-pound, 6-ounce girl, Teyah Jade MUIR April 25, 7:58 p.m., to Burnne Yew and Kevin Christopher Muir, Santa Cruz, a 4-pound, 9-ounce girl, Hall MEZA- April 25. 12:01 a.m., to Evelia (Mora) and Bal-domero Meza, Santa Cruz, a Spound, 2-ounce girl, Lucia MAGANA April 25.

9:30 a.m., to Maria De Jesus Aguilar and Carlos Ivan Magana, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound, 11-ounce boy, Carlos Ivan LOCATELLI April 26. 8:39 a.m.. to Sandra Emilia (Colombini) and Claudio Antonio Locatelli. Santa Cruz, a 7-pound, 7-ounce girl, Emilia Francesca BOGNER April 27, 9:37 p.m., to Crystal Marina Bogn-er and Jason Lynn Campbell, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound, 7-ounce girl, Lexie Marie R0DR1GUEZ-RIVAS April 28, 11:33 a.m., to Maria 420-1)135 1 102 Pacific Avenue Downtown Santa Cmz I (Alvarez) and Louis Gene Compoginis, Capitola, a 6-pound. 13-ounce boy, Alessandro DE PRIEST April 18, 8:15 p.m., to Tiffany Elizabeth (Gregg) and Kyle Jeffrey De Pnest.

Santa Cruz, a 7-pound, 5- ounce girl, Devin Paige MERINO April 18, 8:35 a.m., to Nicole Elizabeth (Allen) and Roger Andrew Merino, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound, 15-ounce gtrl, Isabella Brynne PLASCENCIA- April 18. 5:33 p.m., to Ma. Guadalupe (Romero) and Juan Ramon Plascencia, Santa Cruz, a 6- pound, 13-ounce girl, Andrea McHONE-TODD-April 19, 10:49 p.m., to Melissa Ann McHone and Maurice Anthony Todd, Boulder Creek, a 9-pound, 2-ounce boy, Calvin JENSEN April 20. 10:07 a.m., to Connie Kaye (Wilson) and John Steffen Jensen, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound, 4-ounce girl, Eleanor Eloise HIGHTOWER April 20, 5:56 a.m.. to Christine Suzanne (Miller) and Edward Charles Hightower, Santa Cruz, a 8-pound, 2-ounce boy.

Cody Joshua FANTHORPE April 21, 10:31 p.m.. to Justine Hilary (Lizarraga) and James Andrew Fanthorpe, Watsonville, a 8-pound, 8-ounce girl, Natalie Simone FELDHEIM April 22. 7:32 p.m., to Sofie Reda (Safe ma) and David Andrew Feldheim, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound girl. Vivian Scott PRYOR April 23, 9:56 p.m., to Shannan Nicole (Raf-fetto) and Matthew James Pryor. Aptos, a 6-pound, 8-ounce boy, Jacob Matthew HARTQUIST April 24, 3:13 a.m., to Gina Frances (Lyons) and Jon Eric Hartquist.

Aptos, a 7-pound, 4-ounce girl, Cameron Dominican Hospital CORDER April 13, 11:51 a.m.. to Jana Lynn (Olson) and Eric Dylan Corder, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound, 11-ounce boy. Tyler Reed COLLINS April 15, 3:19 p.m., to Nicolette Paula Ital-iano and Scot Douglas Collins, Ben Lomond, a 5-pound, 8-ounce girl, Isabella Sonti ORR April 15, 8:48 p.m., to Elizebeth Kathryn (Brill-hart) and Wade Douglas Orr, Santa Cruz, a 5-pound, 13-ounce girl, Miranda Jayne PETERS April 15. 9:34 p.m., to Jennifer Elaine (Hitler) and Gary Michael Peters, Salinas, a 8-pound girl. Grace Ann SALDANA April 15, 11:58 a.m., to Anabel (De La Cruz) and Arnulfo Saldana, Watsonville, a 7-pound, 4-ounce girl, Kyanna Itzel HARGIS April 15, 4:26 p.m., to Joy Lin (McCreary) and Lynn Eric Hargis, Boulder Creek, a 7-pound, 10-ounce girl, Jessica June NEW April 16, 8:55 p.m., to Tracy Rc-nee (Cates) and Christopher Anthony New, Boulder Creek, a 7-pound, 7-ounce girl, Madeleine Ann RASMUSSEN April 16, 4:41 a.m., to Celia Koharig Cavanaugh and Ryan Wade Rasmussen, Watsonville, a 8-pound boy Caulynn Wade BEITNES April 16, 2:27 p.m., to Judith Lynn (McHale) and Anders Lars Beitnes, Scott Valley, a 7-pound, 10-ounce girl, Audrey Caroline DICKEY April 16, 3:08 p.m., to Sheila Jean (Smith) and Robert Fred Dickey II, Ben Lomond, a 8-pound, flounce girl, Sierra Jeanette FRYM April 17, 4:05 a.m., to Maria Jacqueline (Fragoso) and Peter John Fryn, Watsonville, a 7-pound, 7- ounce girl, Sophia Jacqueline Portal that Clicks BayandBeyond.com i your portal to the Monterey Bay and the world; a total online solution.

A service of wvw5antaCruzSontlnel.com Sutter Hospital TAO March 31, 4:42 a.m., to Caitlin (Van Horn) and Patrick Tatsuo Tao. Santa Cruz, a 7-pound. 5ounce Lwy. Cassidy Kainalu Wiley Tatsuo PLASCENCIA-UNDELL April 2, 2:22 a.m.. to Maria Luisa (Plascensia) and Michael Paul Lindell, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound girl, Melanie Mane PATZ-April 2, 7:15 a.m., to Mary Esther (Kosek) and Richard John Patz, Aptos, a 8 pound girl, Emily Ann BEAUUEU April 3.

9:57 p.m., to Kirsten Maria (Lind-strom) and James Patrick Beaulieu, Watsonvifle, a 7-pound. 9-ounce girl, Adia Elizabeth CARRILLO April 3. 8:43 a.m., to Marie Dolores Valle-jo and Miguel Angel Carnllo, Salinas, a 8-pound, 10 ounce girl, Arianna Mikayla CRUZ April 4, 8:46 p.m., to Yolanda Venegas and Marciano Rigoberto Cruz. Santa Cruz, a 6-pound, 2-ounce girl. Esperanza Venegas HILL-KEMP April 4, 10:40 a.m..

to Tara Hill and Joshua John Scott Kemp, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound, 14-ounce boy, Zavter Anthony WAECHTLER April 5, 12:14 p.m., to Emily Gail (Steinkamp) and Mark Kenneth Waechtler, Santa Cruz, a 9-pound, 5-ounce girl. Ruby Gail STEWART April 6. 4:51 p.m.. to Jennifer Elayne (Pybrum) and Joseph Everette Stewart, IV. Watsonville, a 10-pound, lOounce boy, Austin Joseph CAMACHO April 6.

9:12 a.m.. to Sheila Mary iCarbin) and Carlos Luis Camacho. Monterey, a 5-pound, 15-ounce girl. Josefina Mary Amparo GARCIA -April 8, 8:35 a.m., to Sandra Jean Silva and Antonio Rodriguez Garcia. Santa Cruz, a 8-pound, 6-ounce boy.

Gabriel Antonio WORMHOUDT April 8. p.m., to Carolyn Ann (Cords) and Zachary Adam Wormhoudt, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound. 15flunce boy, Adam Kenneth GUERRERO April 9, 11 :46 a.m.. to Cnstina (Fuentes) and Jose Guerrero, Watsonville. a 8-pound, 1-ounce boy.

Brian BAILEY April 9, 8:22 a.m.. to Amy Elizabeth (Caltabl-ano) and Gregory Herbert Bailey. La Selva Beach, a 9-pound. 4-ounce boy. Casey Gregory BOCHNER LOEWENBERG April 10.

12:54 p.m.. to Orti (Loewenbergt and Steven Shalom Bochner, Santa Cruz, a 6-pound. 9-ounce boy. Nitzan Joel MEDINA April 10. 2:35 p.m..

to Knsten Leigh (Chick-ey) and Mitchell Shawn Medina. Santa Cruz, a 8-pound. 13junce boy. Cody Mitchell SULLIVAN April 13. 5:45 p.m., to Julia Maria (Aguirrej and Jade Arthur Sullivan, Santa Cruz, a 9-pound.

Bounce girl, Alesandra Anna -Danielle HUNSAKER April 14, 10:16 p.m., to Laura Jean (Wamsley) and James Scott Hunsaker. Santa Cruz, a 6-pound, 11-ouncegirl, Kaithn Taylor KEMPER April 15, 8:01 p.m., to Denise (Gooding) and Mark Douglas Kemper, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound. 11-ounce boy. Ryder Douglas ELMAN April 16, 4:46 a.m., to Julia Elizabeth (Cahn) and Michael Ian Elman, Santa Cruz, a 8-pound, 1-ounce girl, Anna Danielle GRAMOND April 16, 9:38 a.m., to Alexandra Yvette (Lacan) and Sebastien Jean Gramond. Santa Cruz, a 6-pound, 15-ounce girl, Morgane France Annie HALL April 1.6.

11:33 a.m., to Faye (Dal) and David Michael Hall, Santa Cruz, a 7-pound, 11-ounce girl, Serena Faye C0MPOGINIS April 16, 11:43 to Blanca Uranea fv Mama Jmhbm Serrinx Your liruhl Seeds For 47 ears (831)4764777 2121 V-4IST Avr. 106 y- Capitola A. WE RENT WIRELESS MICROPHONES COMPLETE SOUND SYSTEMS rum Weddings Churches DJ's Schools Groups Special Occasions Bands mm Community that Clicks Community Events Calendar Free Web Sites A service of www.SantaCruzSentlnel.com iMiMirl.