M-A High robotics team secures spot in Atlanta
In basketball, a good defense takes teamwork, whether the players are human or mechanical. With that in mind, the Menlo-Atherton High School robotics team talked its way into an alliance with two other front-running local schools at the Silicon Valley Regional robotics competition, held March 16-18 in San Jose.
The Cheesy Poof alliance robots won two semi-final basketball games and two out of three final rounds, which qualifies the team, including M-A, for a spot in the international competition in Atlanta, to be held April 25-27.
NOW names Simitian ‘legislator of the year’
The California National Organization of Women has named state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, its 2005 Legislator of the Year.In its March 30 announcement, the organization cited his willingness to be a strong and persistent voice on women’s issues as a member of the California Senate.
The organization is “particularly impressed with his commitment to quality education for our youth,” said Dr. Kimberly Salter, president of California NOW.
He was also lauded for work on child care, privacy protection and elder abuse issues affecting women.
Sen. Simitian observed that most of his work on women’s issues was “simply a question of fairness and equal opportunity.”
Allowing leashed dogs on trails
The public is invited to discuss the question of allowing leashed dogs on Coalmine Ridge trails in the Portola Valley Ranch neighborhood at a special meeting of the Trails & Paths Committee on Tuesday, April 4.The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Historic Schoolhouse at 765 Portola Road in Portola Valley. For more information, call Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Hanlon at 851-1700, ext. 10.
Creating high-density, livable inner city
Gordon Price, a former city councillor in Vancouver for 15 years, will talk about how to design inner cities to be both high-density and livable on Wednesday, April 6, from 6 to 7:45 p.m., at the Little Fox Theatre, 2209 Broadway in Redwood City.Mr. Price will describe the Vancouver experience and its lessons at The Forum at Redwood City. His title is “Designing the Inevitable: Creating A High-Density and Livable Inner City.”
Tickets are $10 at the door, with no reservations required. No one under 21 may be admitted. Participants are invited to gather for a no-host dinner at a nearby restaurant after the program.
For information call Dan Zack at 780-7363 or e-mail dzack@redwoodcity.org.
T’ai Chi classes
A new quarter of free T’ai Chi classes will be offered by Foothill College at The Sequoias retirement community at 501 Portola Road in Portola Valley.The one-hour classes will be held in Hanson Hall at 1:15 p.m. on Tuesdays, starting April 11. You do not have to be a resident of The Sequoias to attend. For more information, call Carmen Bilant at 851-8844.
A wet month
The rainfall on Cotton Street in central Menlo Park, as of the morning of April 3, was just one inch shy of where it was last year at the same time, according to resident Bill Russ. Mr. Russ’ rainfall gauge measured 20.75 inches for the current rainfall year, which ends June 30. In March alone, 5.9 inches of rain fell.Nevin, Papan, Yee to debate April 12
Three Democratic candidates for the state Senate seat occupied by Jackie Speier will face off at a breakfast sponsored by the Peninsula Policy Partnership on Wednesday, April 12, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., at Dominic’s at Poplar Creek.
In one of the hottest elections in California, three political veterans — former San Mateo County Supervisor Mike Nevin, former longtime Assemblyman Lou Papan, and Assemblyman Leland Yee, D-San Francisco — are battling for the 8th District seat, which extends from San Francisco to Woodside and Portola Valley.
Tickets at $40 each may be reserved by calling 345-8300.
Mike Carr to speak about water on Mars
Woodside geologist Mike Carr will speak to the Peninsula Geological Society about “Water on Mars — What have we learned from the Mars Rovers?” on Tuesday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m., on the Stanford campus at GeoCorner 320-105.Mr. Carr, a Mars expert at the U.S. Geological Survey for many years, was on the team that controlled the two Rovers when they first landed on Mars over two years ago for a 90-day reconnaissance. He has retired; but, amazingly, the Rovers are still returning information.
A social hour at 5:30 p.m. and a dinner at 6:15 will precede the free lecture.
For dinner reservations at $30 each, $5 for Stanford students, contact Janice Sellers at janicemsj@gmail.com, or 510-268-8254.
For more information, search online for the Peninsula Geological Society.
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