Tonight: Atherton hosts ‘Meet Your Neighbors’

To launch its series of activities in 2012, the Atherton Civic Interest League (ACIL) is hosting a “Meet Your Neighbors” gathering at 7 p.m. Friday, March 30, in Holbrook-Palmer Park.

The event is designed to showcase and introduce various social and community organizations in town, organizers say.

The nonprofit organization is planning additional activities this year in the hope of ramping up community involvement. “Because of recent cuts to government, we wanted to support the power of community involvement in our town,” ACIL co-president John Davey said in a press release. “So we’re starting by providing opportunities for Atherton residents to meet one another and to have fun in Atherton.”

Co-president Cat Mikkelsen added that the organization is “working to put on some good parties this year in an effort to bootstrap good feeling and community involvement.”

The organization is also looking for more volunteers to help with classes and events, and plans to offer activities such as Mahjong, bingo, poker, and resident-hosted cooking classes, said Mr. Davey.

In addition to the March 30 event, the ACIL has scheduled a town block party in the park on May 20; a spaghetti dinner on July 21 to benefit Atherton police and local fire services; a “mixer” on Sept. 20 that will spotlight some of the town’s nonprofits; and an Oct. 4 candidates’ forum, according to the press release.

Residents interested in teaching or taking an ACIL-sponsored class, or in volunteering to organize and host social events can email Mr. Davey at johndavey@sbcglobal.net.

Go to Atherton Civic Interest League to learn more about the organization.