AROUND THE BLOCK AROUND THE BLOCK (March 30, 2005)

FERTILE GROUND . . . Palo Alto's spring compost giveaway is in full swing. If you missed last Saturday's fertile free-for-all, you've got a second chance this Sunday, April 3. Palo Alto residents may pick up 1 cubic yard of compost -- six garbage cans' worth -- at the landfill, located at the east end of Embarcadero Road. Residents should bring shovels, containers to carry the compost home, and a driver's license. For information call (650) 329-2655.

HAIL TO THE CHIEFS . . . The College Terrace neighborhood elected some familiar faces to the leadership of its residents' association earlier this month. Kathy Durham will once again head the group as president, with Paula Sandas as vice president. Additional board members include Hollis Radin, Larry Kavinoky, Betsy Friebel, Nicole Thom, Sheila Kothari, John Mark Agosta, Erika Enos and Alexandra McFarland.

GET READY, GET PREPPED . . . The Midtown Residents' Association general meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13 and will focus on emergency preparedness. The association's emergency preparedness co-chairs, Marsha Alper and Terri Bognar, have invited the police department and American Red Cross to present. Topics will also include "Plans for children at school" and "How to develop a plan for your part of Midtown." Doors open at 6:45 p.m. at the Friends Meeting Hall, 957 Colorado Ave. Contact Annette Ashton at midtownnews@att.net for more information.

LEAPIN' LIBRARIES . . . February and March saw two Palo Alto library branches sprout new hours, following staffing shortages that shuttered them one day of the week each last year. In February the Downtown Branch got its Saturday hours back, and College Terrace reopened on Tuesdays starting last week. Book lovers are rejoicing -- but only a little. Both libraries are still closed two other days a week, while Main, Children's and Mitchell Park libraries are open seven days a week.

NO COBWEBS HERE . . . The intrepid Meadow Park Residents' Association has debuted yet another association Web site, this time at www.geocities.com/meadowparkpa/. Unlike some neighborhood groups, which allow their dormant Web sites to develop cobwebs, the Meadow Park group keeps coming back with new addresses and content. Their current site includes a board roster and helpful links to community groups. The association is a few years old and covers the area bounded by Adobe Creek, Grove Avenue, the north side of Charleston Road and Bibbits Drive.

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