Magazine

Courtesy of Kanesha Baynard

New members of the Silicon Valley Black Girl Magic Group assemble with existing members during a brunch and vision board gathering.

When my husband and I became parents, we made a commitment to raise our children with progressive values, a desire to protect the environment, an appreciation for being outdoors and a focus on turning walls into bridges by helping to build inclusive communities. When we relocated to Los Altos in late 2012, we initially thought we had checked all of those boxes.

Matthew Adjemian/Special to the Town Crier

For safety reasons, cats and small dogs should not travel on laps to and from a veterinary clinic – or while en route to other locations. Instead, transport them within a carrier, Dr. Kenton Taylor, D.V.M., recommends.

Trips to the veterinarian can be stressful for pets and their owners. For some dogs and cats, car travel can result in motion sickness, further exacerbating their distress. Planning and preparation prior to travel can make the trip less distressing for all.

Courtesy of Pets in Need

Omar Jimenez of Pets In Need feeds Sadie while Buddy watches.

With the family working and studying at home, and vacations pretty much on hold, the pandemic-induced lockdown may seem like the perfect time for an addition – of the four-legged variety – to the household.

Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity

Volunteers build a home for Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley.

Volunteering is at the heart of many local nonprofit organizations, which often rely on those willing to give their time and resources back to the community. However, the coronavirus pandemic has diminished or at least altered most service opportunities.

Megan v. Winslow/Town Crier file photo

Children meet a goat at Hidden Villa, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the 1920s, Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills has been a hub for wildlife education and exposure to the natural world, inviting schools, families and other members of the public to explore its farm, garden and trails.

Courtesy of Ryan Juran

Decathlon Sports Club’s adventures like a beach run, pictured here in 2019, draw special power from the teenage leaders who graduate from camper to counselor and return to share their traditions and continue to play, in a new role.

“Summer fun” makes a very broad promise, but Decathlon Sports Club’s slogan captures a founding intent that has brought kids together to play for 40 years in Los Altos.