By Tips for growing rhododendrons
The DeAnza Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society will meet at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 17, at the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. John Hixson, a rhododendron grower in Watsonville, will discuss “How to grow Rhododendrons,” their cultures and some “do-gooders” in our area. He will also talk on “sudden oak death” as it relates to rhododendrons.
In addition, there will be a plant raffle, silent auction and refreshments. For more information, call 851-1313 or 941-1674.
Halloween window painting contest
The 38th annual Halloween Window Painting Contest, sponsored by the City of Los Altos Recreation Department, in cooperation with the Los Altos Village Association, will be held Oct. 25-27. The contest is open to all fourth- through eighth-grade students. Applications can be obtained from the Los Altos Recreation Department, 97 Hillview Ave. Completed application forms must be received by 5 p.m., Oct. 17.
For full contest details, call 941-0950.
Local heroes of open space
The “Heroes of the Peninsula Open Spaces” exhibit is on through Nov. 4 at the Los Altos History Museum.
Since 1972, Santa Clara County has been acquiring public access land purchased with property tax funds. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District presently has 26 Open Space Preserves encompassing approximately 46,500 acres of land. The exhibit will address common questions, such as “What is open space?” “Why is open space important?” “Who made open space happen?” and “When did open space begin to be preserved?” It concludes with “What can I do to help preserve open spaces?”
For more information, call 948-9427 or logon to www.losaltoshistory.org.
Hidden Villa seeking farm guides
Hidden Villa Farm in Los Altos Hills needs volunteers one morning a week to guide the nearly 20,000 schoolchildren who are expected to visit the farm this school year. Volunteer times are Tuesday to Friday mornings, for a minimum of two hours.
For more information, call 949-8643.
Challenges of being a Silicon Valley mother
The Los Altos-Mountain View Branch of the American Association of University Women will meet at 10 a.m., Oct. 20, at Foothills Congregational Church, 461 Orange Ave., Los Altos. The speaker, Alison Diggelen, founder of siliconmom.com, a non-commercial Web site for mothers in Silicon Valley, will discuss “Motherhood: The Challenges and Rewards of the High Tech Era.” The meeting is open to the public. Admission is $5. For reservations or information, call 941-8363.
At home with Princess Diana
The Mountain View Library’s Author! Author! Series meeting at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 18, will feature author Susan Maxwell Skinner’s multimedia presentation of her years in the Buckingham Palace press corps, assigned to covering the daily activities of Princess Diana and her family. Copies of her books, including her latest, “Diana, Memory of a Rose,” will be available for signing and purchase. For more information, call 903-6337.
Music for Minors holds workshop for teachers
Music for Minors will present “Gems for Teaching Music,” a workshop for teachers taught by Joanne Hammil, 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, at the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. Participants will learn a variety of songs, games and exercises for teaching the elements and joy of music to children in grades K-6.
Music for Minors is a non-profit organization founded in 1975, whose mission is to nurture in children a lifelong love of music. Cost for the workshop is $15 general; $10 students. To register, call 941-9130.
Stanford Hospital seeks interpreters
Stanford Hospital is seeking volunteer interpreters to work with patients at Stanford Hospital and clinics. Speakers of all languages are welcome. An application and interview are necessary before training begins Saturday. For more information, call 723-6940.
Talk on Steuben glass Oct. 22
The Glass & Decorative Arts Club of Garden House (formerly Glass Club) will meet Oct. 22 at the Garden House in Shoup Park, Los Altos. The subject is “Jade: Colors of Steuben Glass.” For more information, call Karen Emerzian at 917-4367.
