Around Town: Workshop explores African-American family history Around Town: Workshop explores African-American family history (October 06, 2004)

Exploring family history is the order of the day at a workshop on African-American genealogy planned for Saturday, October 16.

The event, which takes place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Menlo Park, is free and open to the public. The workshop runs from 1 to 5 p.m., with an open house at the church's Family History Center from 5 to 7 p.m. A gospel music concert will follow.

The church is located at 1105 Valparaiso Ave. To register for the event, call 462-1067 or email nancyhaight@yahoo.com.

Arts and crafts blanket Menlo during festival

Your house is missing something. It must be a hand-carved stone vase, or a knit sweater with an ancient Celtic manuscript design.

That's how you may feel while strolling down Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park from Friday, October 15, through Sunday, October 17. The annual Sidewalk Arts and Crafts Fall Fest is coming to town, and along with it about 100 artists and craftspeople.

Other creations for sale will include photography, paintings, ceramics, sculptures and wearable bath towels for children.

For more information, call the event sponsor, the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, at 325-2818.

Golf challenge at Sharon Heights

The 17th annual Peninsula Golf Challenge, a benefit for the organization, Friends for Youth, will be held Monday, October 11, at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club.

The tournament, with a noon shotgun start, will be followed by an awards dinner and auction. Prizes will be awarded to the top six individuals and fivesomes. There will be a car ready to drive away for a hole-in-one.

Friends for Youth, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, works to create mentoring relationships for youth. For more information, call Friends for Youth's Executive Director Becky Cooper at 368-4464.

Renaissance art comes to Menlo Park Library

Residents hoping for a taste of Europe can attain it on two levels on Tuesday, October 12: through a lecture on Renaissance art, and from the Italian pastries being served that evening.

Francesca Rushing, a photographer and teacher of art history and humanities, is scheduled to speak at the Menlo Park Library on the art featured in Sarah Dunant's historical novel "The Birth of Venus." She will also show slides of the artwork.

The novel takes place in 15th-century Florence and centers on a 14-year-old girl aspiring to become an artist.

Organized by the library's book discussion group, the event begins at 7 p.m. in the lower-level meeting room at 800 Alma St. All are welcome at the free program, regardless of whether they have read the book or not.

For more information, call book group leader Lauren John at 533-4088.

Animal tracking talk in Woodside

Animal tracking expert Tom Lindsay will discuss how footprints and other animal signs can be useful to hikers in a talk on Sunday, October 17, at Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road in Woodside.

Sponsored by the Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks, the presentation will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event is open to adults and children age 7 and up. Refreshments will be served. To RSVP by October 8, call Ellen Schutte at 851-2660 or e-mail friends@parksupport.org.

Norwegian heritage celebration set

Vigeland Lodge, Sons of Norway, will hold a celebration of Norwegian heritage on Friday, October 15, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Highland Community Club at 1664 Fernside St. in Redwood City. Soup supper and Norwegian deserts will be available for a charge. There will be cooking demonstrations, craft exhibits and live music. For more information call 591-6994.

Animal stories, crafts for children

Children are invited to participate in the program, "Animal Signs" -- stories and crafts for children focused on how animals have been important to Californians -- on Saturday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the San Mateo County History Museum, 777 Hamilton St. in Redwood City. A related museum exhibit, "Best Friends," centered around pets, runs from October 15 to October 30. Admission will be free on October 16. For more information, call 299-0104.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.