Susan Yerkes: Spurs sure won't be the only Tex-Americans in Paris today

Timely Art

2003-09-08
San Antonio Express-News

Susan Yerkes: Spurs sure won't be the only Tex-Americans in Paris today

San Antonio Express-News

Web Posted : 10/08/2003 12:00 AM

When the Spurs play the Memphis Grizzlies in Paris today, there'll be some grassroots support for the home team on hand. Tickets for the Paris pre-season game have been sold out since June, but S.A.'s Laura Berg will be among only 14,000-plus lucky fans who get in, thanks to the Rotary Club and Spurs honcho Peter Holt. Laura, who graduated from Alamo Heights High School in May, has been in France since August as a Rotary Exchange student, living with a host family in La Rochelle, on France's west coast. Her dad, S.A.'s Jim Berg, just happens to be the current leader for Rotary District 5840, which includes the largest club in the world, the Rotary Club of San Antonio. Jim tells us that Holt managed to get three of the hard-to-find tickets to the Paris game so that Laura and her French hosts could drive to Paris and attend the game. While Jim Berg's connections certainly helped get his daughter get in the Spurs game, you should know that any 15-to-19-year-old high school junior, senior or — like Laura — graduate can apply for Rotary fellowships given each year to young folks in this 44-county Rotary district. Those chosen can study for either a six-week summer session or a full year abroad, in countries from Europe to Australia to Japan. 'We give out about 25 Rotary scholarships in this program each year, but it could — and should — be more,' Jim Berg says. Most recipients probably won't get Spurs tickets in the country of their choice, but they will get an incredible experience. Want to know more? Call the Rotary Club of S.A. at (210) 222-8242, or check out www.rotary.org/programs/youth_ex/. Bon voyage! Timely art We always knew that S.A. artist Chuck Ramirez was hip, but how did he manage to swing a Paris exhibition at the same time the Spurs are the toast of the town? Through S.A.'s Finesilver Gallery, as part of Paris' big FICA show today through Monday. Ramirez's gig is one reason Paris native Olivier Bourgoin, owner of Blum Street Cellars and Starlight Garden, is heading for his hometown this week. But the Spurs' game is the icing on the gateau (cake). Animal lovers You've seen the billboards around town for the Animal Defense League's big Oct. 25 gala, 'Puttin' On the Petz.' Even before the 25th, animal lovers can attend a special event at the Twig Book Shop that also supports the Animal Defense folks. From 2-4 p.m. Saturday, S.A. photographer Susan Hofker will sign the first sale copies of her 2004 'For the Love of Animals' calendar. All proceeds, of course, benefit the Defense League's caring work for S.A.'s abandoned and abused dogs and cats. Sophia's outranked SBC exec Jerry Fuentes is one of S.A.'s most eligible singles. But some friends wondered about 'Sophia,' the name he gave his beloved Harley-Davidson. Who was the real Sophia? Fuentes insisted there was no 'mystery woman' — he simply loved the name of the ancient goddess of wisdom. Now Fuentes has put the matter to rest. He's engaged to S.A.'s Mona Henarie. And he says he's not changing his motorcycle's name. Susan Yerkes' column appears Wednesdays and Sundays in S.A. Life. Got a hot tip? Call her at (210) 250-3542, or e-mail syerkes@express-news.net. Cheers!

10/08/2003

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