Short Takes Short Takes (October 19, 2005)

Literate largess for hurricane victims

The reopening of Kepler's Books and Magazines in Menlo Park meant good things for the book lovers near and far -- even readers in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Bill and Kara Rosenberg of Palo Alto won a $500 shopping spree after their names were drawn in a raffle at the bookstore's reopening festivities.

Customers since the 1960s, the Rosenbergs picked up a few books for themselves, and donated the rest to schools in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, to replace books destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

The donation was made through the "Bridge of Caring" project sponsored by Palo Alto school groups.
Let them eat cake

Sweet treats and sweet sounds marked the field dedication for Coach Ben Parks held at Menlo-Atherton High School on Saturday. A group of surprise guests serenaded Coach Parks at the ceremony naming the school's athletic field after him. The Drifters, led by Kelvin Boyd, an M-A student in the 1960s, dedicated an a capella performance of "Please Stay" to Mr. Parks.

Following the ceremony, revelers were treated to cake, courtesy of former San Francisco 49er Ronnie Lott. Mr. Parks was a conditioning coach for Mr. Lott, who was out of town and unable to attend the event.
Things that go oink in the night

Mary Shelley's gothic novel about a man-made monster gets a slight make-over in a porcine production of "Frankenswine" coming to the Atherton Library at 4 p.m. Monday, October 31. Children of all ages are invited to Puppet Art Theatre's loose adaptation of horror classic "Frankenstein" performed by pig puppets. The event is free, and includes Halloween treats. The library is located at 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane in Atherton. Call 328-2422 for information.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.