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Around Town: USGS holds open house

Only once every three years does the U.S. Geological Survey hold an open house, and one is coming up on Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the USGS Menlo Park headquarters at 345 Middlefield Road.

Hands-on exhibits and presentations will illustrate the variety of projects USGS scientists work on, including research on earthquakes, water quality, volcanoes, coastal and marine geology, mineral and energy resources, geography, and the San Francisco Bay ecosystem.

USGS scientists will be available to answer questions.

There is no admission charge. Parking is available but visitors are encouraged to walk or bicycle to the event. Pets will not be allowed unless they are service animals.

All exhibits will be wheelchair accessible and handicapped parking will be available.

Limited food service will be offered each day.

Mystery Readers

Dr. William M. Gould of Portola Valley will discuss his two books, "A Little Score to Settle" and "Three Boys Like You," at the Mystery Readers meeting at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, in the downstairs meeting room at the Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. in Menlo Park. A dermatologist with offices in downtown Menlo Park, Dr. Gould is also a jazz musician, as well as an author.

At Maker Faire

The Sequoia Gem and Mineral Society, which has its lapidary shop at Little House in Menlo Park, will have a booth at the Maker Faire on Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, at the San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive in San Mateo.

Lapidary describes both the artist and the hobby of cutting, polishing and engraving precious and non-precious stones. By using grinding and polishing wheels, a lapidary can create a piece of rock to be used in jewelry.

Lapidaries also make clocks, stone boxes, bookends, paper weights and more. Pieces cut can include agates, jaspers, whale bone, jade, minerals and fossils in all colors from all parts of the world.