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Menlo Park hosts Black Liberation Month celebration on Feb. 8
The city of Menlo Park will host a Black Libration Month celebration on Feb. 8 at the Belle Haven Community Campus at 100 Terminal Ave. from noon to 3 p.m. The celebration will focus on the theme of “African Americans and Labor,” and will celebrate local business owners.
The event will also offer cultural entertainment, free food, youth presentations, musical guests and spoken word performances. The event is free for all participants.
Menlo Park Fire Protection District accepting CERT Academy registrations
The Menlo Park Fire Protection District has opened registrations for its March 2025 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Academy, which provides local residents with hands-on training in disaster preparedness, disaster medical care, first aid, search and rescue techniques and more.
Registration is free, and available until all spots in the course are full. Interested participants must be at least 18 years old to register for the CERT Academy.
The Academy consists of three full-day sessions that will take place on March 15, March 29 and April 12. Participants must attend all three sessions to be certified as a CERT member. Make-up sessions are available.
Membership with the local CERT team is free, but training must be renewed every two years. CERT members are contacted during a disaster incident to help first responders.
Learn more and register at menlofirecert.com/event-5945470/Registration
— Eleanor Raab
Menlo School production of ‘The Wiz‘
Menlo School and the Black Student Union is presenting a winter production of The Wiz at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 5, 6 and 8 at the Spieker Performing Arts Center, 50 Valparaiso Ave. in Atherton. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.
The Wiz is a twist on the classic “The Wizard of Oz,” following Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. The musical features a score with soul, gospel, rock and 70s funk and embraces themes of courage, self-discovery and community.
The production is directed by drama teacher Steven Minning with assistance from assistant director Noelle Lenden, a senior at Menlo School.
“Our goal with The Wiz is to create an uplifting and empowering experience for both our performers and audience,” said Minning in a prepared statement. “It’s a story about resilience and joy, told in a way that celebrates the diverse voices of our community.”
The Wiz is a celebration of Black culture, featuring an all-black cast in its original Broadway musical, which debuted in 1975.
“The collaboration between the Black Student Union and Menlo Drama has been energizing. We’ve got kids from choir, basketball, mock trial, water polo, and even from middle school! It’s a huge cast, and everybody’s bringing the show to life with authenticity and heart,” said Matthew Majalya, who plays the scarecrow.
For tickets and more information, visit menloschool.org/tickets.
All Five welcomes new interim executive director
All Five in Menlo Park welcomed Interim Executive Director Helen Luis while the school continues to look for a permanent executive director. Luis has worked in early childhood education for about thirty years and previously served as All Five’s assistant director from 2019-20. She has also been working with the school to provide guidance in its process of being accredited under the National Association of the Education of Young Children.
All Five asks for the input of stakeholders during its search for a permanent executive director.
— Jennifer Yoshikoshi
