Issue date: August 04, 1999

Loose Ends: Sand Hill Challenge; Lucile Jones Douglass turns 100; groundbreaking for major expansion of Boys & Girls Club Loose Ends: Sand Hill Challenge; Lucile Jones Douglass turns 100; groundbreaking for major expansion of Boys & Girls Club (August 04, 1999)

New toys for the boys

After a lot of grumbling and whining from the participating v.c.'s and other techies about how the first two runnings of the Sand Hill Challenge were timed, the organizers of the soap box derby for big kids have unveiled a new timing system for this year. The third annual race, which raises money for charities serving youths, will be held September 26.

The new high-tech timing system, built by Race America of Santa Clara, will be given a test run on this Thursday (August 5) at 4 p.m. in the parking lot for Addison-Wesley and Mohr Davidow Ventures, 2725 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park. Racers eager for any competitive advantage may watch.

And Challenge Chairman Jayne Williams says there is still room for a few more competitors to join this year's race. Call 365-3180 for information.

Fountain of youth

Lucile Jones Douglass of Woodside turned 100 July 31, after a flurry of dinners with friends stretching out over several days. Though she's still a member of the Menlo Country Club, she says vision and hearing problems have forced her to trade her golf clubs for clubs of another suit -- she spends a good bit of every day playing solitaire, she says. And the secret to her longevity? "Take a drink every day," she says -- Mrs. Douglass prefers a small glass of gin -- "and always tell the truth. Even if you have to shade it a little bit, to make people happy."

New day for youth club

Major expansion and renovation of the Boys & Girls Club in Menlo Park will be kicked off with a ground-breaking ceremony Thursday, August 5, at 11:30 a.m. at the clubhouse, 400 Market Place, in the Belle Haven neighborhood.

The club will be renamed the McNeil Clubhouse in honor of Atherton residents Robert and Carole McNeil, who were major donors to the fund-raising campaign.

The project will add administrative offices and improved recreational facilities to the clubhouse. It's expected to cost $2.6 million, which comes entirely from private and corporate donations. The Boys & Girls Club is a nonprofit organization that provides afterschool recreational and educational programs for teens.