A Day without Driving

Park your cars and pull out alternative wheels for “A Day without Driving” on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) Mountain View team is sponsoring the event in support of “Clean Air Day.”

To mark the occasion, SVBC Mountain View is asking people to walk, roll or use public transportation to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Participants will hopefully gain more appreciation of our town as well as a heightened awareness of the importance of bettering public transportation in the Bay Area,” said Bayaan Mengerink, an event organizer.

Looking to collect feedback on people’s experiences, Mengerink plans to write a report that will identify certain streets that the city can improve on to help pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit users.

The day also will feature a raffle of prizes donated by partners that includes bike lights, t-shirts and $50 gift certificates. Registration for the event is free and available online through Eventbrite.

$100-a-Day Film Screening and Panel Discussion

Wrongfully convicted of a crime he didn’t commit, Rick Walker spent 12 years in prison before he was released. He dedicated the remainder of his life working to help people wrongfully incarcerated and advocating for policy reform.

A documentary and panel discussion about this remarkable story is being held on Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 6-8 p.m. at the Mountain View Center for Performing Arts.

The event will kick off with opening remarks by Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian who, as a state Assembly member, authored a bill to expedite compensation for Walker. After the film screening, a panel composed of legal experts and policy reform advocates will dive into a discussion about wrongful incarceration and will provide updates about what is happening with public policy initiatives since the assembly bill passed 20 years ago.

The two-hour event is free to the public and tickets can be reserved online through the Mountain View Center for Performing Arts.

Volunteer for Compassion Week

Looking to volunteer but not quite sure how to do it? Compassion Week is about to kick off its annual event with more than 100 service projects to choose from, that can be done at home or on-site with other like-minded volunteers.

The event, which runs from Oct. 7 through Oct. 15, is open to all ages and abilities and is focused on building a strong, compassionate and empathetic community to help others in need.

Since 2012, more than 21,000 volunteers have participated in Compassion Week, supporting more than 85 nonprofits. This year, volunteers can participate in a wide range of service activities: from assembling hygiene kits, to preparing meals, making scarves and writing cards; to beach clean-up days, reading stories, repairing buildings, and much more.

Compassion Week will start with a special event on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9-10:30 a.m., that features a ceremony and panel discussion, “From the Heart of the Community: Nurturing Locally-Sourced Solutions,” at the council chambers at Mountain View City Hall.

Nonprofit leaders and local dignitaries, including Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian and San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller, will share ideas for how people can get involved in their respective communities. The event will host a series of volunteer opportunities afterwards at the Mountain View Civic Center Plaza.

Compassion Week is coordinated in partnership with local faith communities, the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation, Freemont Bank and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian.

More information about Compassion Week, including opportunities to register for service activities, can be found online at compassionweeklosaltos.org.