Democratic Coalition featuring local officials
The Peninsula Democratic Coalition is sponsoring two events, each featuring a well-known state political figure.
State Treasurer Phil Angelides, a gubernatorial candidate, is scheduled to speak 7:15 p.m., Thursday, at the Los Altos Youth Center. The Youth Center is located at 1 North San Antonio Road in the Civic Center. The event is free and open to the public.
State Senator Joe Simitian will discuss events in Sacramento at a luncheon scheduled noon, Saturday, at Chef Chu’s, 1067 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. The cost is $17. To reserve a place, call 948-8259.
Birdhouse Bash helps Child Advocates
Child Advocates is hosting its annual spring fund-raiser, the 2005 Birdhouse Bash, 2-5 p.m., Saturday, in the gardens of a Los Altos home featured in the second annual Los Altos History Museum Spring Home & Garden Tour.
More than 100 handcrafted birdhouses created by local artists, designers and foster children will be displayed throughout the garden and sold to the highest bidders.
Child Advocates works with abused and neglected children in the Santa Clara County and San Mateo County foster care systems.
Tickets are $60 per adult, $20 for children 3-14. For more information, call Susan Bartlett at (408) 573-5674 or log on to www.cadvocates.org.
Mars expedition subject of talk
Astronomer Nathalie Cabrol will give a nontechnical, illustrated talk on “The Mars Exploration Rover Mission: A Year of Exploration and Discovery” 7 p.m., tonight, in the Smithwick Theater, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, in Los Altos Hills. The talk is part of the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series.
For more than a year, two robot rovers named Spirit and Opportunity have explored our neighbor planet Mars, sending back remarkable pictures and detailed information about its surface. Cabrol, a member of the science team for the Mars Exploration Rover mission, will report on the ongoing work of the rovers and some of the discoveries they have made about the past and present of the red planet. The event is free and open to the public.
Parking on campus costs $2. For more information, call the series hotline at 949-7888. No background in science is required for this talk, which should interest fans of both astronomy and robotics.
MV arts festival this weekend
Mountain View’s A La Carte & Art Outdoor Festival is scheduled Saturday and Sunday along Castro Street in the downtown area.
The festival will feature an array of attractions, including live music, a juried art show with 250 craftspeople exhibiting, food, wine and microbrews, a farmer’s market and activities for children.
Nine bands will perform traditional favorites in a range of styles from rhythm and blues, to jazz and rock ‘n’ roll.
Festival hours:10 a.m. to 6 p.m., each day. Admission and parking are free.
MV library turns 100
The Mountain View Public Library celebrates its 100th birthday with a series of events scheduled throughout the spring and summer.
The library will feature displays depicting its history, talks by local authors, a reunion for storytime alumni and a birthday party Sept. 24.
The community is invited to share their memories of the library in a commemorative album that will be housed in the library’s History Center.
For more information, call the reference desk at 903-6337.
American Legion seeks funding for programs
American Legion Post 558 of Los Altos is raising funds for a new Legion baseball program in Los Altos and Mountain View and a new community emergency preparedness program. The Legion will accept checks and stock donations payable to American legion Post 5589, P.O. Box 126, Los Altos 94023. Contributions are tax deductible.
For more information, call Ken Girdley, finance officer, at 961-1819 or e-mail kengirdley@yahoo.com.
Hidden Villa accepting car donations
Hidden Villa is accepting car donations. All proceeds provide scholarships for summer camp and the Hidden Villa Environmental Education programs for K-6 grade classes. For more information, call 949-8659.
