Around Town: Junior League raises $90,000 at its 'Viva Las Vegas' gala Around Town: Junior League raises $90,000 at its 'Viva Las Vegas' gala (March 31, 2004)

By Jane Knoerle
Almanac Lifestyles Editor

Elvis was in the building for "Viva Las Vegas," the Junior League of Palo Alto/Mid Peninsula's March 6 gala at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay.

League members dined, danced, posed with an Elvis impersonator, and raised thousands of dollars with both live and silent auctions.

Big bidders included Carrie and Martin Drake of Portola Valley, who snagged a private dinner for six guests to be prepared by Mark Sullivan, chef of the Village Pub, to be held at the estate of the Niebaum Coppola Winery. The Pub's sommelier, Andrew Green, will pair each of the five courses with estate wines.

Sally Falkenhagen of Menlo Park put in the winning bid for a tour of the Mountain View Police Department, an official hat and shirt, a two-hour ride-along in a police cruiser, and a stop for coffee and doughnuts at Krispy Kreme.

Jill Terrill of Menlo Park and Alexia Stjerne of Palo Alto were chairmen of the bash.

Fine Arts Festival

Ninety professional artists will tempt you with their work at Menlo Park's 22nd annual sidewalk Fine Arts Festival to be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 2, 3 and 4, on Santa Cruz Avenue.

Paintings, jewelry, photographs, wearable art, pottery and glassware make the show a perfect place to pick up an Easter gift or Mother's Day present. The annual show is sponsored by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce.

A Persian Legend

Word for Word, a San Francisco-based professional theater company, is coming to the Menlo Park Library at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 3, to present "The Wonderful Story of Zaal: A Persian Legend."

The story, appropriate for all ages, features a baby banished by his father because of his unusual white hair. The child is rescued by a magical bird and grows up in the bird's castle on a magic mountain.

The free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Free van service is available for Menlo Park seniors and people with disabilities. For more information or to hitch a ride, call 330-2512.

Another bunny sighting

The Easter Bunny will likely find a carrot or two when he visits Gamble Garden for a children's Easter party Saturday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There will be an egg hunt, puppet show of "The Enchanted Forest" by Nick Barone Puppets, story time with the Garden Bunny, and face painting. The party, for kids ages 2 to 6, will also include juice and cookies. Cost is $20 per child, with reservations required. For more information, call 329-1356. Gamble Garden is located at 1431 Waverley St., Palo Alto.

Museum garage sale

Like garage sales? Check out the Museum of American Heritage's sale, to be held in the museum's historic garage Saturday, April 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be lots of stuff from the museum's warehouse and some specialty items. You can also catch the museum's free exhibit, "When Radio Was King," at the same time. The museum is located at 351 Homer Ave., Palo Alto.

Festival of Trees

Members of the Peninsula Volunteers really think ahead. They're announcing that their 2004 Festival of Trees, "Flights of Fantasy," will be held November 19 and 20 at the Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos. Last year's festival raised $37,000 for Achievekids, a nonprofit organization serving children and young adults with complex difficulties.

Walking for Ben

"Walking for Ben" is looking for walkers or teams of walkers to collect sponsorships to walk in memory of an Atherton boy who died of leukemia, and to benefit others touched by blood-related cancers.

To remember Benjamin McGovern, who died in 1999 three months before his third birthday, from megakaryoblastic leukemia, his family aims to raise $250,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The effort is spearheaded by his grandfather, Jim McGovern.

"Walking for Ben" will include a 2.5-mile walk and a barbecue at Menlo Park's Burgess Park on May 8. There will be live entertainment, celebrity appearances and a raffle. For more information, visit www.walkingforben.org.

Raise the roof

Rebuilding Together Peninsula, formerly Christmas in April, has launched a fundraising campaign to raise $80,000 to provide low-income homeowners with free roof repair and replacement. Of the 72 projects scheduled for National Rebuilding Day on Saturday, April 24, a total of 29 buildings need new or repaired roofs.

The average cost for roof repair is $15,000. With Rebuilding Together Peninsula's network of volunteers and suppliers, the average cost for roof work comes to $4,500. To find out more, call Julia Hand, 366-6238.

Lend a hand

Organizers at Gamble Garden in Palo Alto are expecting 3,000 visitors at this year's spring garden tour, and they need help. More than 260 volunteers are needed to act as hosts or ticket sellers in the private gardens, or help with the activities at Gamble Garden on Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1.

Those who volunteer before April 23 will be able to purchase advance tickets at the discount price of $25.

This year's tour includes five private gardens in Palo Alto, as well as a plant sale, lunch, boutique, and a silent auction. If you would like to help out, call the Gamble Garden office at 329-1356 from 9 a.m. to noon during the week, or e-mail admin@gamblegarden.org.

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