‘Celebrating the Muse’ at CSMA

A major new string quartet by award-winning Los Altos composer Sondra Clark, “Celebrating the Muse: Seven Homages to American Composers,” will premiere 7 p.m. April 1 at the Community School of Music and the Arts (CSMA), Finn Center at 230 San Antonio Circle in Mountain View, in a special event sponsored by CSMA.

The work was commissioned by Robert and Sue Larson of Los Altos Hills to celebrate the school’s new Tateuchi Hall.

In addition to Clark’s premiere, the program will include Mozart’s Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 546 and Beethoven’s Quartet in C major, Op. 59, No. 3. Tickets may be purchased at 917-6800, ext. 335, by e-mail at dmarshall@arts4all.org at the door.

Run for Zimbabwe orphans

Los Altos resident Ellen Clark is again combining running and philanthropy by hosting the seventh annual run for Zimbabwe orphans Sunday at St. Joseph School in Mountain View.

Proceeds from the event will benefit a Zimbabwe orphanage that supports 85 children, from infants to 18 years of age. Many, she said, have been abandoned and orphaned by parents stricken with AIDS.

For more information on Run Zimbabwe or to participate, visit www.zimbabweparaguay.com or e-mail zpclarks@sbcglobal.net.

‘Wild Cat Adventure’ returns

A “Wild Cat Adventure” presentation featuring five live wild cats from Leopards, Etc. is schedule 2 p.m. April 2 at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills.

The program is sponsored by the Wild Cat Education and Conservation Fund. The goal of the Wild Cat Education and Conservation fund is to educate the public about the decreasing population of wild cat species around the world and to provide funding for worldwide wild cat conservation projects.

Cats on display may include a cougar, African leopard, cheetah, king cheetah, snow leopard, ocelot and Siberian lynx.

Each cat is shown on the stage as information about its habits, habitat and survival issues is shared. Individuals will learn what they can do to help save these animals from extinction.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12. To reserve tickets, call (707) 874-3176 or e-mail leopards@leopardsetc.com.

Nature calls at Hidden Villa

Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills is seeking volunteer farm/nature guides to introduce schoolchildren to farm animals, to explore the vegetable garden and to hike in the wilderness area. Guides are needed for school tours Tuesday through Friday mornings, and for the general public on weekends. Training is provided.

For more information, call Nayna Patel at 949-8655 or visit www.hiddenvilla.org.

Red Cross offers free preparedness classes

The Palo Alto Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has scheduled a series of classes on earthquake preparedness 7-8 p.m. April 4, May 11 and June 12, 400 Mitchell Lane, Palo Alto (call for directions).

The classes will address the questions: How prepared are you for the next earthquake? Do you have all your emergency supplies ready? Do you know what you should do in the event of one happening?

To register or for more information, call 688-0418 or visit www.paarc.org.

While drop-ins are welcome, advance registration will ensure sufficient materials for everyone who attends.

‘Empty Bowls’fund-raiser April 23

Community Services Agency (CSA), the social services safety net for thousands in Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, has scheduled its 15th annual “Empty Bowls” soup fund-raiser 4-6 p.m. April 23 at the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mountain View.

“Empty Bowls” is a collaborative event involving CSA, local churches, the Orchard Valley Ceramic Art Guild, whose potters donate bowls, and local restaurants that provide the soup. Proceeds benefit the CSA Alpha Omega Homeless Services program, which now replaces the Rotating Shelter program.

The new program, more in alignment with the county’s Housing-First initiative, will provide services for the homeless in the area.

The Central Seventh-day Adventist Church is located at 1425 Springer Road, Mountain View

The $15 tickets include a bowl (for your soup), soup, salad and bread. For more information and tickets, e-mail bonnie_nunke@msn.com.