Twisters Kids in Mountain View invites kids ages 3 to 12 to enjoy an exciting evening of fun from 6-9:45 p.m., Saturday, at Twisters, 2639 Terminal Blvd., Mountain View.
The evening will feature dinner, indoor rock climbing, gymnastics, trampoline, arts and crafts, and games.
Cost is $25 with advance reservations; $28, at the door; and $5 off for a second family member. Space is limited. Twisters is a nonprofit organization. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Twisters Kids Scholarship Fund.
For more information, call 967-5581.
UCSC Extension holds 'Career Nights'
The University of California at Santa Cruz Extension program will hold "Career Nights" from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m., Jan. 5-30, at De Anza College in Cupertino and at its sites in Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Milpitas.
The sessions are intended to provide prospective students an inside look at the extension's career programs, which include early childhood education, business administration, technical writing and communication, education therapy and others.
Attendance is free. For a list of times and locations, call (800) 660-4991.
Lip reading classes at Foothill college
Whether you have a hearing aid or not, you may sign up for lip reading classes through the Foothill College Adaptive Learning Division. Registration is ongoing and latecomers will be welcome. Classes start meeting at various weekday and evening times from Jan. 6 at sites in Cupertino, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto and Portola Valley. Lessons are designed to improve speech understanding and communication, and provide information to help manage hearing loss. They are taught by a certified, licensed audiologist.
Sign-ups are encouraged the first week to ensure enough students are enrolled to continue the class.
For more information, leave a message at 949-7672.
'Spirit of Mulan' essay contest
Victory Press is sponsoring "The Spirit of Mulan" essay contest in conjunction with the release of its historical biography of ancient China's heroine.
Participants between the ages of 7 and 15 must write a 100-500 word essay on the subject of "The Spirit of Mulan." Entries are due by Jan. 18, 1999. The grand prize winner will receive $100 plus publication of the essay. The book is currently on display at De Anza College.
Participants must submit their essays along with their name, date of birth, phone number, address and name of school, to "The Spirit of Mulan Essay Contest," at 543 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey 93940.
Tom Baer fund enters second year
The Tom Baer Teachers of the Future Fund was created last year to honor the legacy of Tom Baer, an outstanding teacher and administrator who died from cancer in August 1997. Launched in October 1997, the fund raised $46,000 from more than 300 donors last year. These efforts culminated last May in the awarding of two $1,000 scholarships. The recipients, Kalpna Mistry of Mountain View High, now at the University of California at Berkeley and Steven Puccinelli of Cupertino High, now at Cal Poly, both plan to become high school teachers.
The fund begins year two with the goal of increasing the endowment to $75,000. Two $1,000 scholarships will again be awarded to two students in the communities where Baer worked and lived, schools in the Fremont Union High School District, Mountain View High and Los Gatos High. The fund increased last year's endowment goal of $50,000 to $75,000 to maintain the value of the $1,000 scholarships over time and to provide an additional $1,000 scholarship to recipients when they enter a teacher credential program.
Donations to the fund are tax-deductible. Checks should be made payable to the Fremont Union High School Foundation and mailed to Tom Baer Teachers of the Future Fund, PO Box 215, Los Gatos 95031.
Clothing needed for holiday drive
The Los Altos-Mountain View Parent/Teacher Association Council will hold its annual Holiday Drive in support of the Mountain View-based Community Services Agency through today.
The drive will benefit about 950 needy families in Mountain View and Los Altos. Collection boxes will be placed at local schools. Needed items include: new pajamas in sizes for newborns to age 12; new toys, dolls, games, Lego blocks, balls; repairable children's bicycles. Teen items needed include toiletries, gift certificates, grooming supplies, radios and watches. Grocery scrip, money donations and food items are also needed. All gifts should be unwrapped and in gift-giving condition. Toy and pajama distribution to families began last Saturday. Food items are distributed year-round.