Short Takes Short Takes (October 13, 2004)

It's a bird, it's a plane...

... It's Atherton Councilman Bill Conwell -- in a plane!

Mr. Conwell tells the Almanac that not only will he pilot one of his vintage airplanes at the Las Lomitas School District's centennial festivities on Sunday, October 17, but that U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo has accepted an invitation to be his passenger.

Check the skies for a blue plane with a smoke trail circling overhead, Mr. Conwell says.

Mr. Conwell will also be on hand to read a proclamation from the Atherton City Council lauding the district. Trustees of the neighboring Portola Valley School District have also extended "hearty congratulations and wishes for another successful 100 years" to Las Lomitas.

No need to cue the orchestra

The sell-out crowd at Woodside's Earth & Art Day applauded Adolph Rosekrans when organizers praised his help in hosting the event at Runnymede Sculpture Farm, but was nonplussed with his two-word acceptance speech: "Go Bears!"

Just say YES at open house

The joy of reading -- what could be a better excuse for a party?

Oh, and the YES Reading nonprofit organization will also celebrate its new site at Selby Lane Elementary School in Atherton during an open house on Wednesday, October 13.

The reading program recently expanded from Belle Haven Elementary School in Menlo Park, starting last month at Selby Lane with 14 volunteer tutors.

Tutors work one-on-one with students to help improve their phonics, reading comprehension, vocabulary and other skills, which may be more difficult in a busy classroom, said Sarah Almy, executive director of YES Reading. Many Selby Lane students getting tutoring also have limited proficiency in English, she said.

The party will take place from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the new reading center at 170 Selby Lane. For more information about YES Reading, go to www.yesreading.org.

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