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Published on 08/31/1998 All articles from this issue

Rancho ready to rock this Friday

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

The 10th annual "Rock Back the Clock" family street dance, hosted by the Rancho Shopping Center merchants, will be held 6-10 p.m. this Friday. Proceeds from the dance will benefit the Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade held in downtown Los Altos in November.

Music by Steve Wozniak's A Sound Investment, will feature dancing with Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti," Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" or Jerry Lee Lewis's "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On."

Steve Wozniak's A Sound Investment will offer music of the 1950s and later to get dancers of all ages on their feet.

"This one of the truly family entertainment events in the area," said Dave Leary, owner of Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza. " You can be 50 years old and act like a kid or be a 5-year-old kid and act like a grownup. It's a fun event for the entire family."

Marie Backs, Festival of Lights Parade Association president, said the Rancho Merchants Association turns over more than $5,000 each year from the event to help pay the cost of putting on the annual Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade in downtown Los Altos. This year's parade is set for Nov. 29.

Rock Back the Clock is one of two major fund-raisers for the parade. The other is the Los Altos Antiques and Collectibles Faire, set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 20, in downtown Los Altos.

"We look forward to this annual event because it exposes Rancho businesses to the neighborhood. We work the food booths so we can talk to our customers away from the store," said Dick D'Oliva, of Just For You Florist.

Food booths feature Clarke's burgers, hot dogs and ribs, Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza and Chef Chu's Chinese chicken salad. Andronico's Market will provide beverages.

Kevin Sawyer, president of Rancho Merchants Association and chairman of the event, said classic cars of the period will be featured at the event. Costume and dance prizes also will be included.

"We expect more than 2,000 people will attend the event because each year it becomes more popular as a place to bring the family," Sawyer said. "It's the only street dance in Los Altos."

Admission is $5 per person. No young people under 18 will be admitted unless accompanied by a parent or other adult.

Rancho Shopping Center is located on Foothill Expressway at Springer and Magdelena Road in Los Altos. Rock Back the Clock will be held around the Oak Tree Stage across from Rancho Auto Service. Tickets will be available at the event and no advance reservations are needed.