Community

Diana Chan/Special to the Town Crier
More than 60 people participated in Julia Wetzel’s recent Line Dance Social.

The ballroom at the Sunnyvale Community Center was recently filled with more than 60 people dancing to upbeat music – led by longtime Los Altos resident Julia Wetzel, organizer of the annual Line Dance Social.

Wetzel’s students and dancers came from throughout the Bay Area and beyond, with some traveling as far as Sacramento to attend the event.

Town Crier File Photo
Santa Claus, a popular presence at the Festival of Lights Parade, will ride in an updated sled this year.

This year’s Festival of Lights Parade is scheduled 6 p.m. Dec. 1 in downtown Los Altos. The long-standing tradition, now in its 42nd year, has a shiny new attraction – Santa’s sleigh has been refurbished.

After nearly 20 years in service, and with a stable of reindeer in support, the sleigh underwent a makeover. Grants from Los Altos Community Foundation, the Rotary Club of Los Altos, The Grimm Family Fund and the Koster Family enabled parade organizers to update the sleigh, enhancing the parade’s grand-finale Santa appearance.

History Museum extends gadgets exhibition

The Los Altos History Museum has extended its exhibition “Gadgets Galore! Transforming the American Household” through Nov. 10.

The display highlights how gadgets from alarm clocks to coffeemakers, cellphones and cameras originated and came to play an integral role in daily life.

Courtesy of Stuart Calhoon
New and vintage Corvettes – such as this rare 1963 Grand Sport – are expected to line Main Street in Los Altos Sunday. The 43rd annual Corvette Spectacular will feature approximately 165 Corvettes. The event is among the largest of its kind in the region.

Santa Clara Corvettes’ 43rd annual Corvette Spectacular is scheduled 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday on Main Street in Los Altos.

Billed as one of the largest all-Corvette car shows in Northern California, the event will feature approximately 165 Corvettes and is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees.

Sept. 27

Los Altos Village Association’s Beer Stroll, 6-9 p.m. on Main and State streets in downtown Los Altos. Tickets are $40. Information: downtownlosaltos.org.

Sept. 28

“Food Worth Celebrating,” 4-7 p.m. at Hidden Villa farm and wilderness preserve, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills. Information: hiddenvilla.org.

Zoe Morgan/Town Crier

Tom Myers, second from right, honors Community Services Agency’s “Hometown Heroes” award winners – from left, Curtis Church, Shion O’Connor, Mary Prochnow and Mallory Burke.

In recent years, the Bay Area housing crisis has become a top public policy issue at both the state and local level. However, it isn’t just on the minds of politicians and government officials – nonprofit groups are seeing the crisis firsthand.

At Community Services Agency’s annual “Hometown Heroes” fundraising breakfast Sept. 12, the group’s staff told the assembled crowd about the challenges and changes CSA is dealing with in the local community, including a spike in homelessness.