Community Notebook Community Notebook (December 05, 2001)

Half Moon Bay holiday

Merchants and others in the Half Moon Bay community are planning an "old fashioned home town Christmas on Main Street" on Thursday and Friday, December 6-7, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Stores along Main Street will greet shoppers with wine, cheese and hot apple cider while Santa takes orders from children. An old fashioned fire truck for the children, and horse-drawn carriage rides will be available.

On Friday, there will be a parade of children decorated in lights. The Half Moon Bay High School Band will perform. Following the parade, children are invited to spend time at the Ted Adcock Community Center.

To sign up children for the parade, call Sylvia Blum at the Half Moon Bay Park and Recreation Department, 726-8297. For more information, call the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce at 726-8380.

Singer at Menlo Pres

Christian singer Jana Alayra will give a Christmas "breakfast talk," and offer some songs, Tuesday, December 11, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.

The children's singer will direct her story, entitled "The Greatest Gift," to moms. She will speak about "what it means to live in faith despite major crises in her life," according to the church.

The program begins at 9:30 a.m. in the church's Fellowship Hall, 950 Santa Cruz Ave. Doors open at 9 a.m.

Admission is $10, and registration is requested _ call Julia Zanutta at 321-1579.

There will also be a free children's program for kids 3 months old through kindergarten, with advance registration.

Toys for Tots drive

For the 15th year, Coldwell Banker Northern California is joining forces with the U.S. Marine Corp in the Toys for Tots campaign. Coldwell Banker offices will serve as collection centers until December 21.

New unwrapped toys may be brought to Coldwell Banker's Menlo Park offices at 1000 El Camino Real, Suite 150, and 930 Santa Cruz Ave.

Members of the Marine Corps Reserve will pick up the toys and deliver them to charitable organizations and social welfare agencies in the area. Over the past 53 years, Marines have distributed more than 225,000,000 toys across the country.

Talent Crew performs

The Talent Crew, which includes children attending local schools, will present "Into the Woods" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 7, 8 and 9 at the Palo Alto High School Theater.

The hour-long show is a "mixed-up series of fairy tales" with music by Stephen Sondheim. It is the story of a baker and his wife who journey into the woods in search of a cow, a red cape, a pair of golden slippers and some magic beans to lift a curse. Along the way they encounter many fairy tale figures.

The production is directed by Tara Rolle, who is a UCLA drama student. Students from local schools taking part include: Monika Fowle, Laurel School; Cameron Rowland, Nils Gilbertson, Russell DeSandre, Darby Rosenberg, JJ McGhee, and Savannah Lindsey, Encinal School; Kelsey Fowle, Myles Rowland, Kendra Gilbertson, Carson Rosenberg, Hillview School; and Devon Davey, Jennnifer Connet, Julia Crager and Pardis Farhadian, Menlo-Atherton High School.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children. For performance times and tickets call Tara Rolle at 575-4773.
Blankets for Afghan refugees

The Foundation for Global Community, in cooperation with the Afghan Coalition and the American Friends Service Committee, is collecting blankets and sleeping bags to send to Afghan refugees.

Donors should bring clean blankets and sleeping bags in good condition to the Foundation for Global Community, 222 High St. in Palo Alto. Checks for purchasing and shipping blankets, made out to the American Friends Service Committee, may be sent 65 Ninth St., San Francisco, 94103-1401. Donations will be accepted through December 31.