Verdant venues in Silicon Valley
In the frenetic whirl of Silicon Valley, any chance for a calming respite is always welcome.
There are two such leafy locations situated almost next door to one another along Valparaiso Avenue in Atherton.
But there is one important caveat for both of them: Weekend visits are preferable. That’s because they are home to three private academic institutions, the Sacred Heart Schools, Menlo School and adjacent Menlo College (which has a main entrance along El Camino Real).
Among them, they embrace a total of 126 acres of lush, tree-shrouded (stately oaks, in particular, are plentiful) land in the heart of one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world.
The beauty of these campuses is stunning. So is much of the architecture, especially the main administration building at Menlo School and the magnificent, renovated, original structure at Sacred Heart Prep, the high school portion of the sprawling Catholic operation.
Those two schools have been in operation for more than 100 years, Sacred Heart since 1898 and Menlo since 1915. Menlo College was founded in 1927 and became totally separate from Menlo School decades later. All of these institutions simply reek of local history.
Generous Rotarians
San Mateo’s ever-generous Rotarians are at it once more. As they do every year at this time, the local service club, one of the largest of its kind in San Mateo County, has awarded another $90,000 worth of valuable scholarships to worthy students at San Mateo schools.
The club members generate those dollars through their extensive, yearly fundraising activities and other means. The money is allocated to deserving middle school, high school and community college students. Financial need is paramount in the process of determining recipients of the awards.
Marine World 50th
It’s been gone from these pleasant climes for decades but Marine World-Africa USA has not been forgotten by its former employees. The sprawling theme park that once graced the northern portion of Redwood Shores was a San Mateo County must-see venue at one time, prior to its closure and move to Vallejo.
This year marks a halfcentury since the enterprise’s founding on the site where Oracle Corp. currently resides. A celebration is planned for Marine World’s 50th anniversary. Burlingame’s Jeff Tateosian is organizing the affair for ex-workers. He can be contacted via email at jefftat@pacbell.net. He awaits your response.
Sour grapes?
It’s no secret that print newspapers are in trouble. Declining advertising and circulation figures don’t lie. But maybe the U.S. Postal Service has come up with a novel way to promote a traditional, paper-heavy business operation: Scratch and sniff stamps. Why not try that with daily newspapers?
This column, in its printed form, could have a fragrant aspect if a scent were properly applied. A prime problem would be choosing the appropriate aroma. More than one reader might well suggest a strong hint of sour grapes.
Metallic rudeness
It finally happened. Even a LimeBike can be rude. I found one tipped over, wet and slightly dented on a Burlingame sidewalk last week. I bent over, lifted up the seemingly abandoned bicycle and was in the process of setting it down gently when, suddenly, a mechanized voice blurted out a command that the rental bike should be unlocked or police would be called.
Excuse me? I was just trying to help. That will be the last time I try to be a good Samaritan for a hostile green and yellow pile of annoying metal.