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Woodside High School production of “Shrek the Musical”
Woodside High School Performing Arts presents “Shrek the Musical,” which will be performed over two weekends from March 21 through 23 and March 28 through 30. Evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays will start at 7:30 p.m. and matinee performances will begin at 2.p.m. in the Woodside High School Performing Arts Center.
The musical comedy welcomes back four Woodside High School alums including Jasper Anderson, a Los Angeles based artist who graduated in 2010; Rob Harper, who graduated in 2014 and Kim Harvath, a choreographer who graduated in 2004.
This show marks 22 years of theater productions under the direction of Barry Woodruff, director of theater arts at Woodside High School. Woodruff will be taking his final bow after this year as he heads into retirement.
“Barry has been a great source of positive energy, creativity and fun for our students,” said Karen Peterson, program producer and Woodside High School alum. “His retirement is bittersweet. He will be missed, but he has created a great legacy that allows us to continue to create awe inspiring shows in the future.”
For more information about the production visit whsdramaboosters.org.
Filoli haiku contest welcomes submissions
Filoli celebrates the fifth anniversary of its haiku contest, inviting community members to submit their best haikus inspired by the estate’s spring garden. Submissions are due by midnight on April 14 and will be judged by San Mateo Poet Laureate Emerita Aileen Cassinetto.
Filoli invites haikus that highlight “nature’s many generosities and the role it plays as a place for contemplation, joy and healing.”
The top 10 semi-finalist poems will be announced on Earth Day, April 22 and will printed and displayed throughout the garden during the month of May.
Prizes include family, individual and student memberships.
For contest guidelines and submissions visit filoli.org/haiku.
To learn more about the ordinance, visit menlopark.gov/zele.
Menlo-Atherton High School journalism program named finalist for national award
The M-A Chronicle, Menlo-Atherton High School’s student newspaper, has been named a finalist for the National Scholastic Press Association’s Online Pacemaker Award. The Pacemaker recognizes “overall excellence and distinguishes the top student media produced during a school year,” according to the NSPA.
“NSPA is honored to recognize the best of the best,” said NSPA Executive Director Laura Widmer in a press release.
Entries were reviewed by two teams of three judges, with at least two judges on each team needing to agree for an entry to advance.
“We feel honored and grateful to the NSPA for recognizing the incredible work and dedication our staff has put in this year,” Editors-in-Chief Celine Chien and Ben Siegel said in a statement. “Our team of 74 journalists wrote and copy-edited over 400 stories, covering everything from monthly board meetings and elections to sports games and accomplished alumni.”
“I’m incredibly proud of how seriously our staff and editors have taken their responsibilities as journalists. They’re passionate about celebrating our campus and facilitating tough conversations in a responsible way,” M-A journalism teacher John McBlair said.
Out of 125 entries, only 34 publications were named finalists on March 12, 2025, including Carlmont High School’s Scot Scoop. Both the M-A Chronicle and Scot Scoop were finalists last year, though only Scot Scoop ultimately received the award. The M-A Chronicle last won in 2021.
“The judging teams will now continue to study the sites named as Pacemaker finalists on a frequent basis,” said Gary Lundgren, coordinator of the Pacemaker competition.
Winners will be announced on April 26 at the NSPA’s Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.
Menlo Park zero emission landscape equipment ordinance to begin enforcement in July
Starting July 1, 2025, Menlo Park Code Enforcement will start issuing citations to property owners who allow the use of gas powered leaf blowers and string trimmers on their property. The owner, not the user, would be fined by the city. Fines start at $50 and increase with subsequent violations.
Since last July, code enforcement has been sending violation notices to all addresses reported to be in violation. Addresses with multiple violations received calls from the police department, according to a presentation given to the Environmental Quality Commission on March 19, 2025.
Reports of violations are decreasing with 66 reports in February, according to the city. Residents can report violations through ACT Menlo Park or by contacting code enforcement at 650-330-6377.
In addition to outreach efforts, Menlo Park ran a voucher program to assist eligible residents and businesses in purchasing electric equipment since April 2024. Professional gardeners received up to $1,000 and residents and non-gardening businesses received up to $250.
To date, 20 professional gardeners and 74 residents have received vouchers.
For a resident to be eligible, they must have either lived in Bayfront, Belle Haven or a specific part of the Willows, been on government assistance or been over 65.
