By Cherry Blossom Festival set for this weekend
The 17th annual Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival will be celebrated from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, at Memorial Park on Stevens Creek Boulevard, across from De Anza College. The festival is held in honor of Cupertino’s sister city, Toyokawa, Japan, and its gift of 200 cherry blossom trees.
The festival features Japanese entertainment, arts and crafts, cultural exhibits and demonstrations, foods and beverages, and a special area for children’s activities and hands-on crafts.
Every year, eighth grade students are chosen to visit Toyokawa, and students from Toyokawa are guests of Cupertino families. At 11 a.m., Saturday, Cupertino Mayor John Statton will introduce the students traveling to Toyokawa.
Arts and crafts booths located throughout the park will feature paper sculptures, pottery, jewelry, Japanese antiques and paintings, among other items.
Parking at De Anza College requires eight quarters for the parking machines.
Community Service Award luncheon
The 37th annual Community Service Award luncheon to honor this year’s recipients, Roy Lave and John Mandle, will be held May 3 at Michael’s at Shoreline located near the Shoreline Golf Course in Mountain View.
No-host cocktails start at 11:30 a.m. and the luncheon starts at 12:30 p.m. Lunch is $25 and reservations are required.
Mail a check to the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, 345 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos 94022 or call 949-9115.
Orchard Heritage groundbreaking
The Orchard Heritage Blossom Faire 2000 is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 13, to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit in Sunnyvale. The exhibit is expected to be completed this fall.
The groundbreaking event is scheduled to take place at the Sunnyvale Center Arboretum and Gardens at Orchard Heritage Park, 550 E. Remington Drive. It will include food from Armadillo Willy’s and Baskin-Robbins, music by the Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers and the Waybacks, orchard tours and children’s activities. For tickets, call (408) 739-5004.
Rape crisis center services
April is Sexual Assault and Child Assault Awareness Month. The Rape Crisis Center of the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula provides the following services: a 24-hour hotline for rape/sexual assault crisis counseling; individual and support group counseling services; and self-defense classes.
For more information, call 494-0972.
Stanford archivist speaks in Los Altos
Lecturer Margaret Kimball, archivist of Stanford University, will be the featured speaker at a lecture tonight sponsored by the League of Women Voters and Los Altos Library. The talk is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Program Room of the Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road.
Kimball will speak on the origins and development of the Stanford University plan from 1885 to 1906. This program is part of the league’s study of community sustainability with focus on classic concepts of space and design.
Hospital staff talent show
Physicians and staff members at El Camino Hospital plan on showing off their other talents for “Center Stage,” scheduled for 4-6:30 p.m., May 7, at SGI (formerly Silicon Graphics), 1600 Amphitheater Parkway, Mountain View.
The afternoon of entertainment is a fund-raiser for the El Camino Hospital Foundation. Tickets are $25 each and can be ordered by mail through Friday: Center Stage/Community Relations, 2500 Grant Road, WIL214, Mountain View 94040. After Friday, tickets can be purchased in the Community Relations office, on the second floor of Willow Pavilion, 2480 Grant Road.
For more information, call 988-7703.
Los Altos reading enrichment
The Los Altos Recreation Department will be offering a series of reading enrichment programs for readers from age 4 beginning the fourth week in June.
The summer reading programs for children will focus on developing phonics and reading comprehension.
For older students and adults, the focus will be on developing reading speed and fluency, while also improving comprehension, retention, study skills and vocabulary. Tuition varies by program level. For more information or to register, call (800) 756-7447.
Friends of the Library spring book sale
The Friends of the Los Altos Library will hold their spring used book sale the weekend of May 5-7 at the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos.
The Friday sale, for members only, is open from 7-9 p.m. Family memberships are available at the main library for $5. The sale is open to the public 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.
On Sunday, books will be sold by the bag, with bags available at the door for $2 each.
All proceeds from the sale go to the library. Cash must be used for all purchases.
Composting basics revealed
A Composting Basics Workshop is being offered 10 a.m. to noon, May 13, at the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos.
The class is conducted by certified master composter volunteers. Attendees can purchase a low-cost composting bin at a countywide bin sale location following the workshop. Pre-registration is required for this free class.
For more information, call (408) 299-4147.
History House docent trainings
The Los Altos History House museum will be holding docent trainings from noon to 4 p.m. on May 3, 6, 7 and 13. For more information, call Marge Stewart at 967-1353 or Richard Yellin via e-mail at pnewman@stanford.edu.
Romance author to lecture
Los Altos resident Susan Edwards, author of the “White” series of romance novels, will speak at the Timeless Romance conference, which will be held Friday through Sunday at the San Jose Wyndham Hotel.
For more information call (888) 715-1115, e-mail NCOCHRAN@prodigy.net or visit the Web site: www.amulya.net/RWA.
Deer Hollow Farm tours
The Friends of Deer Hollow Farm will hold tours of the farm 10 a.m. to noon, May 20, June 17 and July 15. The tours will be free, but donations will be appreciated. To make reservations or to learn more about the tours, call 965-FARM.
Admiral talks to American Legion
Retired Adm. Paul Peck will be the featured speaker at the next meeting of American Legion Post 558, 7:30 p.m., May 3, at American Legion Hall, 347 First St., Los Altos.
Peck’s talk will cover two areas of interest: sea power, readiness issues in today’s U.S. Navy; and military organization in a time of extraordinary prosperity.
Peck’s naval experience began in 1944 after graduating from high school. He has a distinguished career including service during the Vietnam War. While commanding Carrier Group 3, Peck was in tactical command of fleet exercises with the navies of Japan, Korea, the Republic of China, Singapore and Australia.
He also was officer in technical command during the Persian Gulf. He retired from the Navy in 1978.
MV yard sale scheduled
Residents are invited to participate in the fifth annual Community Yard Sale May 13 sponsored by the city of Mountain View.
This event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rengstorff Park, 201 South Rengstorff Ave. A limited number of sale spaces are available at $17 per space with table; $5 per space without table.
No new or handmade items are allowed for sale.
To register, call the recreation department at 903-6331.
