The Sequoia High School Speech and Debate Team in Redwood City is seeking individuals, organizations, and businesses to sponsor the team through donations needed to cover supplies, league dues, tournament fees, and coaching expenses.
“These costs are associated with making sure students receive education from top-notch educators and have many opportunities to use the valuable skills that they learn in practices in competitive tournaments against high school students from the Bay Area and the U.S.,” wrote Amir Amerian, student founder and president of the team, in an email.
Amerian, a Redwood City resident and a junior at Sequoia, started the speech and debate team at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year when he was an incoming freshman.
The team’s coaches for the 2012-13 school year are Kyle Vandenberg, a junior at Stanford University and a former top competitor at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, and Jake Ziering, an assistant policy coach for the Stanford Debate Team and also a former top competitor for Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Ill., and the University of the Redlands in Redlands, Calif.
During practices, team members are instructed about public speaking, researching, cases writing, and argument formation, all of which help better their academic performance and prepare them for their college and professional careers. The members also have real practice rounds during practices.
The team is a member of the National Forensic League, the California High School Speech Association, and the Coast Forensic League, which spans from South San Francisco to Monterey.
The National Forensic League is the oldest speech and debate league whose alumni include Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Colbert, and Ted Turner. This league also boasts students with 25 percent higher standardized test scores and 40 percent higher graduation rates.
The Sequoia team has competed at many local Coast Forensic League tournaments and in February the team hosted but did not compete in the first tournament held at Sequoia for the Coast Forensic League, which was attended by 250 competitors, 100 judges, and 25 coaches.
Tax-deductible donations of any amount are welcome. Donors, if they specify, will be recognized on the team’s website https://sites.google.com/site/sequoiaspeechdebate, and on team members’ T-shirts.
Make check payable to Sequoia High School Speech and Debate Team and mail to the team’s facility adviser Kelley O’Hern, Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster Ave., Redwood City, Calif., 94062. For inquiries, email kohern@seq.org.
Curiodyssey at Coyote Point to hold event at shopping center
Curiodyssey at Coyote Point will fascinate children during the Hillsdale Shopping Center’s monthly Kid’s Club event on Sept. 13 when the museum brings “Things That Fly and Why” to Macy’s Center Court at the shopping center, 60 31st Ave., in San Mateo.
Beginning at 4 p.m., children will be able to explore mobile exhibits, and learn about the forces behind the flight of mini-rockets, paper helicopters and gliders. Experts will also help kids build straw rockets to test and take home as a souvenir.
Kid’s Club, a fun and educational after school destination that takes place once a month at the shopping center, is free to kids, ages 12 and younger, who sign up with their parents on-site. All children who join will receive a free backpack, membership card, newsletters, special offers, and more.
For more information, visit www.hillsdale.com or call 650-345-8222.
Rancho Day Fiesta is Sept. 15 at Sanchez Adobe
The San Mateo County Historical Association is presenting the annual Rancho Day Fiesta from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Sanchez Adobe, 1000 Linda Mar Blvd., in Pacifica.
Families will enjoy early California music and participatory dancing, and children will be able to watch demonstrations of bygone trades and craft activities. Rancho-style refreshments will be available.
This year’s event will also debut a new exhibit item, a facsimile carreta, or ox cart. The carreta is a two-wheeled vehicle that was used on California ranchos for hauling items, such as hides and tallow that came from the large cattle herds that roamed the coast’s open range during the Mexican period of California history (1822-1848).
Carol Verbeeck and Bruce Hortter, of California Bound!, built the cart of wood with no use of metal nails, the same way that the original carretas were constructed.
The Sanchez Adobe was the home of Francisco Sanchez, a prominent Bay Area resident and a former alcalde or mayor of San Francisco. His Rancho San Pedro included all of the present-day City of Pacifica.
The Fiesta admission fee is a $1 suggested donation with additional costs for food and crafts. For more information, call 650-359-1462 or visit www.historysmc.org.
Back-to-school book sale to be held in Daly City
The newly established Daly City Public Library Associates is inviting the public to its first-ever Back to School Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Gellert Park Clubhouse next to the library at 50 Wembley Drive between Callan and Gellert boulevards in Daly City. Admission is free.
Books for children and adults, DVDs, CDs, jigsaw and other puzzles may be bought with cash or checks only. Daly City Public Library Associates memberships, which fund exciting programs and new materials, will also be sold starting at $25.
The Daly City Public Library Associates, a nonprofit organization of volunteers and members, raises private funds to supplement public funding of Daly City’s four branch libraries. It also develops community, civic and business support for fundraising, and advocacy and innovative programs to benefit the community.
Al Teglia, president; Paula Stillman, vice president; Joe Kashani, chief financial officer; and Stan Gustavson, secretary, head the board of directors. Library trustee Erlinda Galeon, Library Associates Executive Director Susan Brissenden Smith, and City Manager Pat Martel are ex-officio members.
Serramonte Center and the San Mateo Credit Union have joined community-based organizations and small businesses in supporting the event.
To learn more about the book sales and the Library Associates, visit www.dcpla.org or call 650-224-2356.
American Association of University Women to hold chocolate, wine fundraiser
The San Carlos/Redwood City branch of American Association of University Women invites the public to a Chocolate and Wine Tasting fundraiser from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Casa de Flores, 737 Walnut St., in San Carlos.
Wines from the Lodi region will be featured with chocolate tastings from local chocolate makers. Admission is $15 per person and tickets can be purchased at the door.
The fundraiser is held to support TechTrek, a science and math summer camp program designed for middle school-age girls. For inquiries, call Sandra Cooperman at 650-369-2004.
The public is also invited to attend the AAUW’s annual membership meeting from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Redwood Shores Public Library, 399 Marine Parkway, in Redwood City. Former members wanting to reconnect and those interested in joining are welcome at the free meeting and to enjoy an afternoon tea.
To learn more, call Rose Marie Beuttler at 650-591-2296.
‘The Great Houses of San Francisco’ author to speak at Filoli
Erin Feher, author of a forthcoming book, “The Great Houses of San Francisco,” will give a special presentation from 2 to 3 p.m. Sept. 20 at Filoli, 86 Canada Road, in Woodside.
San Francisco is known not only for its beauty and elegance, but also for its architecture. During its chaotic boom and bust period, the city’s prominent families commissioned great architects to build homes that reflected a myriad of styles and eras.
Feher will introduce the audience to many private architectural treasures, including rare photographs from the Webster Street home of the William Bourn Sr. family. Builders of Filoli, the Bourns also were owners of the Empire Gold Mine in Grass Valley from 1869 to 1929.
The event fee is $25 for members; $30 for nonmembers (includes same-day admission to Filoli to visit the historic house and garden, café, garden shop, and art exhibit. Parking is free.
For tickets or to learn more about Filoli, visit: www.filoli.org or call Filoli weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 650-364-8300, ext. 508.
San Mateo downtown association to sponsor wine walk
The Downtown San Mateo Association is sponsoring a Wine Walk from 2 to 6 p.m. Sept. 29 along Ellsworth Avenue between 1st and 4th avenues.
Live entertainment and 58 varietals from California, Italy, France, Spain and Chile will highlight the event.
“Local restaurants will be providing ‘tastes’ and attendees are encouraged to enjoy some of the eclectic downtown eateries, and stay for dinner after the event is over,” Jessica Evans, the association’s new executive director, wrote in an email. “People are urged to buy their tickets promptly as there are a limited number available.”
Tickets in advance online are $35 per person; at the door, $45; and for a VIP Lounge hosted by 231 Ellsworth at 231 S. Ellsworth Ave., $65, which includes free admission to the Wine Walk. For tickets, either visit www.winewalk.org or call 650-342-5520.
Catholic Worker Hospitality House at St. Bruno’s Church seeks donations
Catholic Worker Hospitality House at St. Bruno’s Church in San Bruno is requesting canned soup, fresh or canned fruit, coffee, creamer, sliced bread, jelly, paper napkins, soup spoons, and money for its ongoing expenses to help those in need.
To donate, call Director Peter Stiehler at 650-827-0706.
Diddalidoo owners sponsor first flower planter among merchants
Bernice and Michael Soon, owners of Diddalidoo, a play center for babies 0 to 4 years old in San Bruno, are the first merchants on their street to volunteer to maintain the newly planted flowers in the planter in front of their store at 544 San Mateo Ave.
The City of San Bruno funded the flowers, the Parks Department planted them, and the Soons have agreed to do the cleaning, watering, and weeding of the planter.
The city’s Beautification Task Force and the San Bruno Chamber of Commerce are soliciting other merchants on San Mateo Avenue (aka The Avenue) to volunteer to maintain other planter boxes along the street.
“There are several points behind the effort,” wrote San Bruno Councilwoman Irene O’Connell and chairwoman of the Beautification Task Force, in an email. “One, it makes the downtown more attractive and appealing; two, it increases the merchant’s awareness of the affects the outside of their businesses have on customers; and, three, hopefully the efforts to beautify the downtown will seep into other areas, making it more alluring to shoppers.”
If any merchant would like to volunteer to maintain a planter with flowers, contact Councilwoman O’Connell at 650-589-9985 or email: ioconnell@ci.sanbruno.ca.us.
Diddalidoo, which opened April 1, has three play areas: one for infants, a second for toddlers, and the third is an open play area. The center also features a quiet room for nursing mothers; a café that sells beverages, foods and snacks; and a boutique where unique gifts can be purchased.
To learn more about Diddalidoo, visit the store or visit www.diddalidoo.com, www.facebook.com/diddalidoo, or call 650-741-9065.
Pedro A. Noguera opens Skyline’s fall semester
Skyline College in San Bruno began its Fall 2012 A Call to Consciousness Lecture Series with keynote speaker Pedro A. Noguera, in celebration of Opening Day that was held Aug. 17 in the campus theatre.
Noguera, the Peter L. Agnew professor at the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University, is also the executive director of the Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, and co-director of the Institute for the Study of Globalization and Education in Metropolitan Settings. He earned a doctorate in sociology from UC Berkeley in 1989 and he also an honorary doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco in 2001.
He is one of America’s most important voices for healthy public education and is also a part-time high school teacher, the author of several groundbreaking books, and a regular guest on CNN and NPR.
“We should focus on how to use education,” said Noguera, an expert on school reform, diversity, and the achievement gap. “We need new ways to keep excellent teachers in our schools. Don’t wait for the government and legislators to take action; you have to take charge now.
“Education is used to determine the equity of our society. We need to educate students so they can go out in the world to get jobs to succeed in the world. We need to learn how to engage students; they only learn if they are taught by teachers who care. We must confront our differences and work together and have a willingness to compromise.”
The 2012 lecture series is open to students, faculty, staff and the community and is made possible by the Center for Student Life and Leadership Development and the President’s Innovation Fund. The next lecture will feature Pamela Cox Otto, president and CEO of Interact Communications Inc. and a multi-generational communications expert, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 25 in Building 6, room 6202, at the college, 3300 College Drive, in San Bruno.
Regina Stanback Stroud, Skyline College president, presented the two seventh annual Skyline Shines awards.
The Center for International Trade Development staff — Director Feyi “Richard” Soyombo, Program Services Coordinator Allison Mello, and Youth Entrepreneurial Program Director Pcyeta Jackson — won the Employee Group award.
They are recognized for many achievements including their investing in California’s economic growth and global competitiveness through industry-specific education, training and services that contribute to a highly skilled and productive workforce.
Under the leadership of Linda Collins, the Career Ladders Project, a nonprofit organization formed by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, received the Community award. Among its many successes during its 10-year partnership with the college, the project provides educational and career advancement opportunities for Californians. This occurs through research, policy initiatives and strategic assistance to colleges and their workforce development partners and by assisting colleges in developing educational programs that let students advance in both education and career.
Faculty Service awards were also presented at the event. Ellen Lowenstein and Marvin Steinberg were honored for 30 years of service; Lavinia Zanassi for 25 years; and Bridget Fischer, May Lee, and Calvin Robinson for 20 years along with a host of 10-year awardees.
If you have any news tips about our county communities, call or fax Carolyn Livengood at 650-355-5533 or e-mail her at: carolynlivengood@sanbrunocable.com.
