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BIKING THROUGH HISTORY ... Students and parents from three Palo Alto elementary schools observed Black History Month last weekend with bike rides that stopped at city landmarks connected to the history of the region's Black residents. Duveneck, El Carmelo and Escondido elementary schools took part in the event, which was organized by parent volunteers. The rides started at each elementary school and culminated at Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School, which was renamed in 2018 in honor of one of the first Black founders of a publicly traded technology company. "This was an amazing opportunity to merge Black history with teaching kiddos bike safety," said El Carmelo parent Rose Mesterhazy, who is the transportation safety representative on her school's PTA. Roughly 60 parents and students participated, organizers said, noting that it was a higher-than-expected turnout, given the rainy weather. The event launched last year as a partnership between El Carmelo and Escondido, expanding to include Duveneck this year. Each school stopped at various locations, including the University African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (a century-old Black church), the Eichler Swim and Tennis Club (Joseph Eichler sold his homes to people of all races in the 1950s) and Stanford's Black Community Services Center (established following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.). "It's important for people not just to associate Palo Alto with Steve Jobs. There's more than that," Duveneck parent Kwanza Price said. "Black people do have a history here. We do belong as much as anyone else."

END OF THE ROAD ... Stanford University senior Avi Gupta ended his run in the Jeopardy! High School Reunion Tournament with a second-place finish in his semifinals match that aired on March 3. The Portland, Oregon, native found himself in second place with $8,600 heading into the Final Jeopardy! round, when the contestants were faced with this question on American literature: "Letters, pocket knives, c rations and steel helmets are among the tangible items referred to in the title of this modern war classic." Clearly stumped, Gupta wrote down "What is Thank You! I love you all." He also drew a heart and ended his response with "Go Card!," which was a reference to the Stanford Cardinals. The correct answer was "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. Gupta, who was the show's 2019 Teen Tournament champion, wagered $1,948 and ended the episode with $6,652. The winner was Jackson Jones, a Vanderbilt University junior who advanced to the finals.

'WE'VE GOT TO STAY NIMBLE' ... Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian is calling for a continuation of the county's vaccine effort, in light of the recent demobilization of county-run vaccination sites, including one in Mountain View. "I wish we were done, but we're not," said Simitian in a Feb. 28 statement. "We've got to keep helping those who need the help, and we've got to stay nimble, so that we can ramp up quickly if the need arises again." Simitian, along with fellow Supervisor Otto Lee, has asked county staff to develop a plan to continue the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to those who want them. Simitian said this could look similar to the county's seasonal flu vaccine program. "The reason the county vaccine program has been so successful is because it's been easy and convenient," Simitian said in the statement. "And while it might make sense to 'ramp down' our existing sites, I think we do need to maintain some level of 'easy access' for the foreseeable future." On March 1, the county's various mass vaccination sites shuttered, with county-administered vaccinations available for existing patients and the uninsured, and only at Valley Medical Center facilities. "(Simitian) suggested that a range of options be considered, including hosting pop-up vaccine clinics and partnering with community organizations to provide vaccines at locations throughout the county," the statement said. In a March 1 tweet, Simitian commended his board colleagues for supporting the proposal.

Comments

Posted by Courtney M
a resident of Leland Manor/Garland Drive
on Mar 10, 2023 at 9:27 pm
Courtney M is a registered user.

In the mention of Avi Gupta’s Jeopardy exit, he wrote “Go Card!,” and the Weekly explained: “…which was a reference to the Stanford Cardinals” (sic)
<Loud Buzzer>
Per Wikipedia, after the Indian mascot was officially dropped by Stanford University President Richard Lyman, upon objections from Native American students and a vote of the student senate.
And, “On November 17, 1981, school president Donald Kennedy declared that the athletic teams be represented by the color cardinal in its singular form.”
That’s right; in its singular form, Cardinal, not Cardinals. It was Cardinal for the very first Big Game, in 1892, it was Cardinal when my grandfather was captain of Stanford’s football (well, more akin to rugby, back in 1909) team. Kennedy was just reaffirming what the Cardinal has always been, singular.

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