Community Notes Community Notes (March 24, 2004)

Almanac Holiday Fund donors are honored

Over the years, contributors to the Almanac's annual Holiday Fund have funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into local organizations that help kids and families deal with social and economic problems.

On March 10, one of those organizations said thanks in a public way. At its annual breakfast, Youth and Family Enrichment Services -- formerly Youth and Family Assistance -- honored Almanac publisher Tom Gibboney and the Almanac with a "very special thank you."

This year YFES received $18,000 from the Almanac's Holiday Fund, reported Executive Director Bob Rybicki. Over the last decade, more than $100,000 in direct donations and matching grants have supported its programs that help county youth and their families through crises.

YFES operates more than a dozen programs for runaway and homeless youth, substance-abuse prevention, and crisis intervention.

"We thank Tom and the Almanac for continuing to support youth and families in San Mateo County," Mr. Rybicki said.

Geologist talk: art forgery, related geologic topics

What can a background in geology bring to bear on solving a crime of art forgery? Where did painting rank among hazardous occupations back in the days before the invention of the wheel?

The public can expect answers to these and other questions from geologist and mystery writer Sarah Andrews -- author of "Colors from the Earth" -- in a 7 p.m. lecture at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park on Thursday, March 25.

The free event is part of the USGS evening lecture series and will be held in Conference Room A in Building 3 at 345 Middlefield Road in Menlo Park. Ms. Andrews will be on hand after the lecture to sign copies of her book, which will be available for purchase. For more information, call 329-5000.

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