Also in this issue: - The Spectrum Magazine
Also in this issue: - The Spectrum Magazine
Also in this issue: - The Spectrum Magazine
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Cañada College Cont<strong>in</strong>ues on Course to Become a Dest<strong>in</strong>ation for Actors, <strong>The</strong>ater Technicians<br />
K<br />
atie Townsend-Mer<strong>in</strong>o, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Cañada College, has put the pieces <strong>in</strong><br />
place to make the college’s <strong>The</strong>ater Arts Department a dest<strong>in</strong>ation for actors and theater technicians.<br />
This summer, Townsend-Mer<strong>in</strong>o hired veteran theater arts professor Anna Budd to lead the department<br />
and worked <strong>in</strong>ternally to have Mike Walsh return to the <strong>The</strong>ater Arts Department as events coord<strong>in</strong>ator.<br />
Walsh had been work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the college’s Learn<strong>in</strong>g Center.<br />
Budd arrives at the college from the College of the Siskiyous <strong>in</strong> Shasta, where she had been teach<strong>in</strong>g<br />
drama. She is an accomplished playwright and performer; she also has expertise <strong>in</strong> choreographed stage<br />
combat and plans to <strong>in</strong>troduce it <strong>in</strong>to future productions.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re’s no reason Cañada College can’t have one of the premier <strong>The</strong>ater Arts Departments <strong>in</strong> the Bay<br />
Area,” she said. “We have a state-of-the-art theater, support of the college, and Mike Walsh’s technical<br />
expertise.”<br />
Walsh, a veteran of Bay Area theater, started teach<strong>in</strong>g drama at the college <strong>in</strong> 1978. He will provide support<br />
by produc<strong>in</strong>g scenery and light<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong> the spr<strong>in</strong>g he will teach a course focused on the beh<strong>in</strong>d-thescenes<br />
technical aspects that are an essential element of any top-notch theater production.<br />
“I’m very excited about my role,” Walsh said. “Our goal is to make the <strong>The</strong>ater Arts Department a dest<strong>in</strong>ation<br />
program for students.”<br />
Townsend-Mer<strong>in</strong>o said the vision goes well beyond produc<strong>in</strong>g plays with community college actors. This<br />
summer, the college offered a four-day act<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>tensive program <strong>in</strong> association with <strong>The</strong>aterWorks that<br />
quickly filled with students.<br />
“We want to offer young actors exposure to established, semi-professional actors who can expla<strong>in</strong> act<strong>in</strong>g<br />
techniques, the technical aspects, and the bus<strong>in</strong>ess side of theater,” Townsend-Mer<strong>in</strong>o said.<br />
Cañada College President Tom Mohr said the program is important not only for the college but also the<br />
San Mateo County Community College District. “It’s the only community college act<strong>in</strong>g program <strong>in</strong> the<br />
county. Katie has developed a bluepr<strong>in</strong>t for mov<strong>in</strong>g the program forward and I can see the pieces com<strong>in</strong>g<br />
together.<br />
Supporters of the Cañada College <strong>The</strong>ater Arts Department are organiz<strong>in</strong>g a fundraiser to be held<br />
Thursday, Sept. 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Redwood City Women’s Club, 149 Cl<strong>in</strong>ton Street. Tickets<br />
are $20 and <strong>in</strong>clude w<strong>in</strong>e, hors d’oeuvres, and enterta<strong>in</strong>ment by the theater arts students. <strong>The</strong> event is be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
sponsored by Steve Penna and <strong>Spectrum</strong> Magaz<strong>in</strong>e and Capital Mortgage Lend<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
“I am very excited about the direction of the program,” said Lourdes Car<strong>in</strong>i, a Redwood City bus<strong>in</strong>esswoman<br />
who has supported the program <strong>in</strong> the past by organiz<strong>in</strong>g the annual fundraiser. Katie and Tom have<br />
shown a commitment to the program and I th<strong>in</strong>k the pieces they’ve put <strong>in</strong> place <strong>this</strong> summer will truly make<br />
the college a dest<strong>in</strong>ation for young actors.”<br />
For ticket <strong>in</strong>formation call Lourdes Car<strong>in</strong>i at 650-362-2700.<br />
Redwood City Police Activities League<br />
Receives $500,000 Grant<br />
T<br />
he Redwood City Police Activities League (PAL) is thrilled to announce that it is received a<br />
$500,000 grant from Stanford Hospital and Cl<strong>in</strong>ics. This very generous and much-appreciated<br />
grant will greatly assist PAL with its facility costs, expansion of its teen programm<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
<strong>in</strong>stallation of a sound studio for youth use, and provision of enhanced youth programs at the<br />
PAL Community Center.<br />
<strong>The</strong> presentation of <strong>this</strong> grant took place on Monday, Aug. 20, at 3 p.m. at the PAL<br />
Community Center. PAL board members, law enforcement agents and community members<br />
attended and jo<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> thank<strong>in</strong>g Stanford Hospital and Cl<strong>in</strong>ics for <strong>this</strong> generous grant.<br />
“Stanford Hospital and Cl<strong>in</strong>ics clearly recognizes the importance of be<strong>in</strong>g very engaged <strong>in</strong> the<br />
communities they serve,” said Redwood City Vice Mayor Rosanne Foust. “<strong>The</strong>y are a new and<br />
important neighbor <strong>in</strong> the Redwood City community, and <strong>this</strong> generous grant really illustrates<br />
their commitment to help<strong>in</strong>g our youth become responsible adults and creative leaders with<strong>in</strong><br />
our community.”<br />
PAL is a nonprofit community-based organization provid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>tervention, prevention and<br />
alternative programs to at-risk and economically challenged youth <strong>in</strong> Redwood City. PAL<br />
regularly serves over 4,000 children and teens every year, thanks to the great volunteers who<br />
give of their time and energy.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Redwood City PAL Community Center is at 3399 Bay Road. More <strong>in</strong>formation about<br />
Redwood City PAL is available at www.redwoodcitypal.com or by call<strong>in</strong>g 650-556-1650.<br />
Stanford Hospital and Cl<strong>in</strong>ics (www.stanfordhospital.com) is known worldwide for advanced<br />
patient care provided by its physicians and staff, particularly for the treatment of rare, complex<br />
disorders <strong>in</strong> areas such as cardiac care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery and organ<br />
transplants.<br />
Stanford Hospital and Cl<strong>in</strong>ics has begun construction of state-of-the-art outpatient and<br />
medical facilities <strong>in</strong> Redwood City, on Broadway south of Woodside Road. <strong>The</strong> facilities are<br />
expected to beg<strong>in</strong> serv<strong>in</strong>g patients <strong>in</strong> spr<strong>in</strong>g 2009.<br />
.<strong>The</strong><strong>Spectrum</strong>.AUG.07