Around Town: Portola Valley PTA honors 11 Around Town: Portola Valley PTA honors 11 (April 20, 2005)

Eleven volunteers in the Portola Valley School District will receive Portola Valley PTA honorary service awards at a reception on Thursday, May 5.

The recipients are dedicated, enthusiastic and tireless, say PTA co-presidents Ellen Moore, Sandy Lee, Cathy Carlson and Sallie DeGolia.

This year's honorees are: Linda Benevento, Sandy Boyce, Maryann Derwin, Susan Evans, Cynthia Gibbs, Jon Goulden, Jayne and Mark Mordell, Connie and Bill Ring, and Lenora Yuen.

They have led the PTA; chaired the Portola Valley Schools Foundation's gala and fundraising activities; taken charge of the Parent Education series, hot lunch, and staff-appreciation programs; and coached sports team.

The reception will be at the home of Stephanie and Fred Harman, at 25 Hidden Valley Lane in Woodside, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Every two years the PTA recognizes outstanding contributors to young people in the school district and community.
HHS secretary to speak at Stanford University

Mike Leavitt, the new secretary of health and human services, is scheduled to visit the campus of Stanford University to talk about the future of health care, including drug safety and health information technology.

President George W. Bush appointed Mr. Leavitt to lead HHS after naming him in 2003 to head the Environmental Protection Agency. He is also a former three-term governor of Utah.

Mr. Leavitt's talk is part of a School of Medicine forum beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the James H. Clark Center on Thursday, April 21. The center is at 315 Campus Drive west, adjacent to Stanford Hospital.
Auditions afoot for youth orchestra

It's audition time for young musicians wishing to join the Peninsula Youth Orchestra.

Musicians with one or more years of instrumental music experience can audition for the San Carlos-based group, which has five orchestras at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Advanced musicians can also audition for chamber ensemble classes.

Auditions are scheduled for April 20, 21 and 22 from 4 to 9:30 p.m. at the John Gill School at 555 Avenue Del Ora at Jefferson Avenue in Redwood City. For a brochure and application form, call 325-7967 or go to peninsulayouthorchestra.org.
Workshop on how to win grants

To help members of the nonprofit community and government agencies decipher the intricacies of the grant-seeking process, the Children's Health Council will host the "Grantsmanship Training Program" from April 25 through April 29.

Registration is limited to 30 and the program fee is $825. Fifty-percent scholarships may be available to organizations with annual operating budgets under $300,000.

For information, call the Grantsmanship Center at (213) 482-9860. For local information, call Linda Plount at the Children's Health Council, 617-3814.
Recyclers, rebuilders team up in April

What could make you thirstier than building a house on a hot day? That's why a partnership between Rebuilding Together Peninsula and the BFI waste company seems pretty darn logical.

During National Rebuilding Day on April 30, when 78 home-building and renovating projects will be completed for low-income residents, BFI will provide recycling bins for beverage containers.

For more information, go to www.rebuildingtogether.org.

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