Showtime Hoists the Jolly Roger

By Carolyn Schuk

There were laughs aplenty at last weekend's 27th annual Showtime fundraiser for senior health services. "We had a very successful Showtime 2010," reports Julie Clark, treasurer of the Santa Clara Women's League, the organization that annually undertakes the formidable task of putting on Showtime. "We to thank everyone who supported our fundraiser and contributed to its success. And a special thanks to Rick Mauck, Robin Burdick, cast and crew for another fun-filled, good-time show."

Rick Mauck and Robin Burdick co-produced and directed this year's, Capture of the Mississippi Belle – or – Pralines, Pistols and Pirates. Written by Showtime veteran Rick Mauck, Capture of the Mississippi Belle is the latest episode in the continuing story of Doomstown's "Honest John" Blackbottom's (John Peterson) schemes to get rid of his inveterate opponents Sheriff Sam (Rick Mauck) and Deputy Dan (Peter Sparaco); this time by engineering a pirate attack on the Mississippi Belle riverboat where the lawmen are enjoying a vacation.

Back from last year for a return engagement are the popular Hare triplets – Holly, Happy and Heidi (Bev Schuler, Hillary Brookshire, and Elaine Lewis) – whose plans for adventure didn't quite pan out.

Everyone's vacation plans are interrupted when Captain Long John Copperbottom (Steve Lodge) and his pirate crew – Bernadette "Bernie" Madoff (Pam Morrison), Chumbucket (Bill Shaddle), Jackie Sparrow (Char Blake), Scurvy Dog (Bill Schultz), Stevie Jobs (Rita Dietrich), and Tiger Woodie (Bill Cannon) – capture the Mississippi Belle. They force Sheriff Sam, Deputy Dan and Captain Andy (Andrew Hyatt) to walk the plank, and the rest of cruise guests to join the pirate crew.

Rounding out the cast were Joan Cannon, Polly Halek, Rosemary Huza and Mary Kline as party girls who'll go to any length – including joining a pirate crew – to have some fun, Arlene Rose as a sea siren with a truly diabolical laugh, young lovers and parrot trainers Patrick Morrison and Savannah Jaro, Linda Sutton as a longsuffering cruise director, and Carolyn Schuk as Doomstown entertainer and sex goddess May Western.

Just when it looks like Blackbottom's criminal plot has succeeded, some deft rope work on the part of the triplets and a river sandbar allows Sheriff Sam to save the day. The felons are dragged away to jail, the party girls get a free cruise, and all goes right and romantic in the end. Or at least until next year's show.

For the second year in a row, the undisputed star of this year's show was the amiable St. Bernard, Zoey, whom the pirates attempt to press into service a parrot sidekick.

An appealing variety show rounded out the second half of the program. Baritone Michael Taylor returned this year with his mesmerizing performance of Music of the Night from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Phantom of the Opera. Taylor's performance got a comic twist when Polly Halek and Joan Cannon, as Taylor's Christine on Friday and Saturday nights respectively, injected unexpected some comedy.

Comedian-magician Phil Ackerly, a Santa Clara favorite, was back with his signature conjuring act. The Town Square Harmonizers charmed the audience with their ringing barbershop harmonies, while the Sizzling Seniors and the Dancing Divas kept things lively with toe-tapping dance numbers. As he has done for several years, Santa Clara's Singing Cop Craig Sala closed the show with his audience-pleasing Elvis cover, charming ladies old and young.

While there were many familiar faces in among the performers and volunteers, one beloved Santa Clara figure was missing: the mother of Showtime, Cleo Stuckrath, whose health has prevented her from attending since 2009. A longtime community activist and journalist, Cleo created Showtime to replace funding for senior services cut as a result of Proposition 13, California's now three- decade-old property tax cap.

For 25 years Cleo was Showtime's playwright, producer, production manager, stage director, set designer, wardrobe mistress, choreographer, and prop master. When poor health forced her to step down two years ago, Cleo passed the baton to co- producers and directors Robin Burdick and Rick Mauck.

Interested in participating in Showtime? No acting experience is required – all you need is interest and a good sense of humor. Call the Santa Clara Senior Center at (408) 615-3170 for more information. Carolyn Schuk can be reached at cschuk@earthlink.net.

Milestones

By Miles H. Barber
Building a stadium is not an everyday occurrence and while it takes more than a village to make it happen, the village must approve it.
A lot of folks have asked how a small City like Santa Clara can afford to build a billion dollar stadium.
Well, when someone else is financing the project it becomes a lot simpler.
Here is how it stacks up.
The 49ers are responsible for funding 88% of the costs. This is unheard of in any of the 32 football stadiums existing in America, new or old.
Santa Clara’s 12% contribution is already available.
You see, we have about $42 million of redevelopment funds designated specifically for redevelopment in our entertainment district. That’s the area in and surrounding Great America and the convention center. We can’t spend it for streets, schools or libraries.
The purpose of these funds is to generate economic activity.
Now if we don’t invest these dollars, the State will continue to raid our RDA funds (as they have the last couple of years) until they are gone.
Another $20 million of our share will be counted from the relocation of a Silicon Valley Power substation currently sitting on the Great America Parking lot.
An additional $17 million will be counted towards Santa Clara’s contribution with the construction of the new parking garage at our convention center (which is already approved and fully funded).
The 4% balance will come over a period of time from the six hotels residing in the entertainment district. This comes from an increase in the TOT tax, paid by overnight guests (mostly out of town) with those revenues accruing to the Stadium project.
And the bottom line is? No money will come from our general fund. No new taxes on residents. No new fees on residents and, best of all, our City services remain in tact.
What does Santa Clara receive in return? A lot!
Remember, the funds in our RDA account are designated funds to stimulate economic activity.
The City of Santa Clara hired independent consultants Keyser Marston to evaluate the economic benefit of the 49er/Santa Clara stadium to private business in Santa Clara.
Their conservative estimate of annual economic benefit to local Santa Clara business is $41 million annually and over $240 million to the region.
Even if that number remains constant it is a $410 million return in the next decade.
So does our investment make sense and do what is intended? We invest $114 million and generate $400 million over 10 years. Absolutely!
God forbid we host a Super Bowl and/or Pro Bowl. Those events combined generate $200 to $250 million locally in a single shot.
We also create hundreds of new jobs and provide permanent employment through implementing our own stimulus package. A package that will generate over $36 million in revenues for our schools, our libraries, our seniors and our youth programs during that same 10 year period. The good news is this agreement goes on for 40 years.
Who needs Washington DC?
This has got to be one project our Santa Clara village can support.

Free Art Show at Biltmore Hotel

By Suzy Paluzzi

On Thursday, March 25, from 6 to 8:30 in the evening, six artists will be displaying their work in the atrium of the Biltmore Hotel and Suites, which is located at 2151 Laurelwood Road in Santa Clara. While you mill about and meet the artists and view their award-winning art, you will be offered samples of a variety of wine and cheeses.

The artists in the show are Lucy Liew, Floy Zittin, Phil Bongiorno, Hilda Kilpatrick, Chunming Yu, and Karen Honaker. There are a variety of mediums featured in this exhibit, including watercolor and oil. Some of the artists are internationally known.
Lucy Liew’s work is part of a permanent collection at the National Art Gallery in Malaysia. Chunming Yu’s art is honored in a collection of the Chinese National Museum of Fine Art in Beijing.

Each of these artists offers a different perspective. Hilda Kilpatrick features Californian landscapes and seascapes in her creations. SkyWest Magazine, SouthWestArt Magazine, and the Los Angeles Times all recognized her for her contribution to the art scene. Phil Bongiorno says, “ I enjoy and embrace flaws. It’s what adds character and allows everyone to be unique…My goal with my art is to move a person, to take them from whatever place they are in and transport them, if even for a moment, from there.”

Karen Honaker began her artistic training at the age of six in Nebraska. A Californian now, Honaker teaches watercolor throughout the nation. The subjects of her work are taken from her travels and life overseas.

Floy Zittin has worked as a biological illustrator for textbooks and a field guide for the National Museum of Natural Sciences of Canada. Over the past twenty-seven years, she has been active in the California artistic community.

Frog’s Tooth Vineyards of Murphy’s, California will be presenting samples of varieties of their worthy wine. The vineyard has won competitions such as the West Coast Wine Competition.

The Biltmore Hotel and Suites, located near Great America and the Santa Clara Convention Center, is hosting a series of Art in the Atrium shows
The artwork will only be available to see on Thursday night, March 25. It is a fine opportunity for relaxation and complimentary cultural appreciation.


Suzy Paluzzi is a freelance writer. She may be contacted at jomarch06@yahoo.com