Carolyn Livengood column: Kids club offers themed attractions

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 8, 2008 | by Carolyn Livengood

Serramonte Center Kids Club is a free, fun, safe, social and educational after-school destination for children ages 12 and under. It is held one Tuesday a month at 4 p.m. through November at Serramonte Center Grand Court, located at Serramonte and Gellert boulevards in Daly City.

Club events include festive, interactive performances with singing, dancing, games, crafts and learning opportunities such as music, culture, art and even etiquette.

The Tuesday themes will be "Back-to-School Song & Dance Revue," Aug. 19; "Harvest Festival," Sept. 16; and "It's Like, Halloween! Stage Show," Oct. 21.

The Nov. 14 theme is "Santastic Santa's Fantastical Musical Revue." Be sure to note that in November the club is held on a Friday at 6 p.m.

All kids who sign up will receive membership cards good for discounts throughout the shopping center, birthday gifts, and free tote bags. Registration is open to all students who sign up on site with their parents.

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Spruce it up -- The entry deadline for the Annual San Bruno Beautification Awards, sponsored by the city of San Bruno's Beautification Task Force, is 5 p.m. on Aug. 22.

The awards are designed to recognize the efforts of residents and businesses to improve and maintain the physical appearance of San Bruno. All San Bruno residential properties, schools and commercial- industrial properties are eligible for the contest, which focuses on exterior improvements. You may nominate your own property.

Categories are single-family residence (curb appeal); group project; commercial-industrial property; improved residential property (completed between August 2007 and August 2008); and xeriscape (low water use or drought-resistant landscaping).

Properties may not win in the same category two consecutive years.

Applications, with instructions, are available at the San Bruno city clerk's office or Planning Department at City Hall, 567 El Camino Real; Public Library, 701 Angus Ave. West; or Senior Center, 1555 Crystal Springs Road. You can also visit www.sanbruno.ca.gov and search for "Beautification Awards."

For questions, call Vice Mayor Irene O'Connell at 650- 589-9985.

Nominations may be submitted on the Web site or faxed to 650-589- 7801. They can also be delivered in person or mailed to the city clerk at City Hall, 567 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066.

Awards will be presented at the Oct. 14 City Council meeting at the San Bruno Senior Center.

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Crocheters wanted -- Godfrey of South San Francisco, who is a member of the local American Association of Retired Persons No. 3156 at the Magnolia Senior Center, is seeking volunteer crocheters who are willing to crochet much-needed lap blankets for South City AARP to distribute and deliver to elders in various convalescent hospitals.

She is willing to provide and deliver the yarn to anyone in San Mateo County who is willing to help. If you can assist, contact Lorraine Godfrey at 650-589-5548 or othermom@flash.net.

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The great outdoors and more -- More than 40 women and men, from 16-year-olds to people over the age of 65, will take to the trails Sept. 5-7 to help end relationship abuse in San Mateo County.

The event, "Take a Hike! '08," will benefit local nonprofit Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse, the only comprehensive domestic violence services agency in the county.

On the three-day, two-night event, hikers will explore and camp in the amazing Pinnacles National Monument near Hollister. A $55 registration fee will help defer the cost of transportation, food, camping gear and a team of experienced guides.

Trail hounds and novice hikers are welcome. A variety of trail options will enable participants to choose their own levels of challenge. Each hiker will receive support and guidance before the event on hiking and camping as well as raising $1,500 for the nonprofit.

Founded in 1978, CORA provides a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing, support, legal services, advocacy and teen support services annually to more than 6,000 women, men, and families whose lives have been affected by experiencing or witnessing violence.

"I cannot express how incredibly healing this experience has been," said one of last year's participants after completing the three-day hike. Right then she decided to open up about her painful abusive past and to be "silent no more."

Corporate sponsors include the Bohannon Foundation; Borel Private Bank & Trust Co.; Comcast; Corey, Luzaich, Pliska, de Ghetaldi & Nastari; Hansen-Crawford Family Law Group; John & Reva Segall; Lucky Chances Casino; Mills-Peninsula Health Services; Mollie Stone's Markets; the San Mateo County Association of Realtors; and Wells Fargo.

For more details or to donate, e-mail Natasha Guest at natashag@corasupport.org, call 888-321-2672 or visit www.corasupport.org.

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Showing appreciation -- The Rotary Club of Millbrae recently held its annual Appreciation Luncheon to honor eight community members who have helped the Rotary Club with various community projects. Rotary President Nancy Palmer and Rotary Club Service Chair Tom Dawdy made the presentations.