Your essential guide to today's Alameda happenings ... ideas for future Five Things welcomed by janonpatch@gmail.com.
- Ten days until Halloween, and the spooky events are starting to pile up. The Alameda library takes an analytical approach, appropriately enough, with tonight's talk by a team of paranormal investigators. Doug Carnahan, whose team puts on the Extreme Hauntings Live television show on something called the Paranormal TV Network (who knew?) will talk about their investigations, which have included the U.S.S. Hornet in Alameda. They're seeking more haunted hot spots in Alameda, by the way (hauntings by ex-spouses don't count). This event at the Main Library goes from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- If you golf in Alameda you might want to catch up on the latest issues at the Alameda Golf Commission, meeting tonight at 6:30 at the Chuck Corica Golf Complex on Bay Farm Island. There will be an update on the negotiations to keep the Mif Albright course open, among other things.
- If you see more purple than usual around today, it may be because it's Spirit Day, a day to remember the gay teenagers who have taken their lives because of bullying. The idea of showing support by wearing purple today has spread on Facebook and is now supported by a number of organizations, including the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. For more about the impact of bullying, see the film showing Monday, Oct. 25, at First Congregational Church in Alameda.
- Every birthday gets me that much closer to the AARP envelope in the mail. And yet, there are definitely some benefits to reaching senior status, such as access to the interesting discussions held at Mastick Senior Center (1155 Santa Clara Ave.). Today at 1 p.m. they're hearing about the early history of Bay Farm Island from Eric Kos and Dennis Evanosky, Alameda Sun editors and authors on local history.
- If you know a teen who could use something to read besides the latest vampire romance, tell them about the Alameda library's Teen Read Week. Teens who vote for their top ten favorite books at the Main Library by Saturday are entered into a drawing for a tote bag full of books.
Plan ahead: This weekend is going to be a busy one, so I'm offering a heads-up now for a couple of good family events on Saturday. One is the Growing Youth Project Fall Festival, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ploughshares Nursery (Main Street and Singleton Avenue, across from the ferry terminal). Farm tours, pumpkin carving, barbecue, etc. Kids 12 and under are free. And on the other end of town Otis Elementary is holding its annual carnival. Bring the kids in costume, play some games, check out the haunted house, eat some great home-baked goodies. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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