Former Taiwanese President Tours Cornell (in National News) Youth Commission Report Critical of S.F. Schools (in Bay Area News) Does China Deserve to Host the Olympics? (in Business) Yoshiki Watanabe's Reunion (in A&E) Emil Amok: Your Liberty Interests Affirmed Here (in Opinion)

Summer Celebrations

East Bay Hideaway Livermore, in the past, was a small town everyone whizzed past on nearby freeways, but I just found it a perfect weekend getaway. Among a dozen wineries offering wine tasting tours, the well-known Wente Vineyards stands as the oldest family-owned winery in California, producing 350,000 cases annually, sold to 150 countries. Wente Vineyards has always won acclaim for Chef Kimball Jones’ fine cuisine and its summer outdoor concerts. I recently joined over 1700 patrons rekindling 1960s memories at the Wente Beach Boys concert situated in their natural amphitheater of the valley, where we wined and dined al fresco while enjoying the music. It is no wonder people clamor for tickets to these dinner concerts. The buffet supper wine dinners are superb, service is outstanding, and the lawn setting of the Wente courtyard perfect for listening to world-renowned musicians.

Fourth generation president Carolyn Wente proudly toured us around her hometown where her great grandfather first began the Wente wineries in 1883. Attracting visitors worldwide is the 2-year-old Greg Norman-designed Wente Golf Course which allows golfers easy opportunities to drive (and lose) balls into the hillsides, adjoining grape and olive orchards and its resident rattlesnakes. I marveled at the magnificent views of Livermore Valley seen from hillside holes.

The beautiful Purple Orchid Inn was my ideal stopping place for a respite to Livermore Valley, with its charmingly decorated suites, waterfall swimming area, and dreamy spa delights of herbal wraps and massage therapy. Proprietor Karen Hughes creates a wonderful atmosphere for honeymooners or tourists at her Inn, which has conference space for 29 to 150 patrons. Known for its gourmet cuisine, Purple Orchid was recently chosen as one of the top Inns in North America by Select Registry, and is touted as the world’s largest Lincoln Log building situated among 20 acres of grapevines and olive trees.

Family Fun The Chinese Summer Festival, presented by the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP) of Santa Clara County, will offer a full day of Chinese games, children’s activities, a tour of Ng Shing Gung temple museum, trolley car rides, Asian foods, a display of Chinese antiques, and furniture by Man-U Imports at Kelley Park’s History San Jose location of Senter/Phelan Avenues. Admission is free for this wonderful family event, presented by volunteers dedicated to preserving and promoting Chinese American history. The first Chinese American Webcaster, Lorna Ho of Yahoo!, will be an honored guest for the Festival, as will Miss Asian American 2001 and her Court of lovely ladies. For information, visit www.chcp.org.

’Tis the Season... The beautiful Silver Creek Country Club was the outdoor setting for the recent nuptials between Linda Hong and Piotr Polanowski before over 200 guests. The bride, daughter of Tom and Jenny Hong of Saratoga, greeted her husband’s many relatives who traveled from Poland for the occasion.

Following weddings come babies, so a warm welcome to wee Ms. Hunter Leong, the first daughter of proud parents, former Miss Chinatown USA Dr. Amy Woo and Gary Leong, and grandparents Howard and Wahnita Woo.

Another milestone in life is graduating from college, and that occasion was celebrated by lovely Jacqueline Grover with a festive Crowne Plaza Hotel dinner dance with one hundred guests, including S.F. Mayor Willie Brown.

Honoring... Asian Americans for Community Involvement presented Community Star Awards at their 28th Annual Celebration before 600 guests. Honored that evening were Jerry Huira (Arts), Ben Menor (Public Service), Paul Fong (Education), Chui Tsang (Education), Robert Handa (Media), Cheemin Bo-Linn (Technology), and Naim Nguyen (Youth).