Pedal power Pedal power (January 20, 2006)

By Don Frances

WE'RE ALREADY impressed when our residents go to fancy schools like Yale. But how about when they ride 4,000 miles across the country on a bicycle in order to raise money for Habitat for Humanity?

Daniel Weisfield and Laura Hess, both Yalies and both from Mountain View, are planning to do just that this summer as part of the Habitat Bicycle Challenge. Now in its 12th year, the Challenge will call on 90 college students to pedal across this great land of ours -- braving flat tires, steep hills and hot days, and earn $250,000 in the process to build homes for the underprivileged.

"I am very excited to be biking across the country this summer to support such a good cause," wrote Hess, a 2002 graduate of Mountain View High School. Both she and Weisfield still have time to prepare, and I suggest they hit the exercycle right away. God speed, kids, you're doing your country, your hometown, and Jimmy Carter proud. ...
PUT ON your bib and break out your checkbook, it's time again for the Rotary crab feed.

"This is our major fundraiser of the year," organizers say, which is reason enough to go. Never mind the Rotary Club's many good deeds around the world. Instead, consider the local beneficiaries -- CSA, CHAC and the Rotacare Clinic, to name a few.

This year, the Mountain View Rotary's annual Crab Feed and Silent Auction will be held Jan. 28 at the Mountain View Buddhist Temple. As always, the event features Dungeness crab and that old standby, the silent auction, where guests can bid on various objets d'art knowing their tax-deductible purchase will go to a good cause. To make a donation or purchase tickets, call Linda Fellers at (925) 426-6792. ...
WHO'S THE CAD who named the Mountain View/Los Altos Soccer Club's under-14 girls team the Nightmares? Was it you, Dianna Heeb?

Whatever the case, the Nightmares are holding an open tryout this Sunday, Jan. 22, from 1:30-3 p.m. at Rosita Park in Los Altos. There, new coach John Franco will pick his squad for the coming spring and fall seasons. Girls must be born after Sept. 1, 1991 to compete. Call Heeb at (650) 967-2778 for details.

P.S.: The same club's under-9 and under-10 girls teams are also holding tryouts this weekend and next. Call Nitin Parekh at (650) 967-4646 or Aurora Dreyer at (408) 398-1308 for more information.
Don Frances is editor of the Mountain View Voice. Send any items, tips, nods or feedback to dfrances@mv-voice.com.

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