LEAGUE CHAMPS … When Don Austin first joined the Palo Alto Unified School District as superintendent in 2018, he recalled having to make a difficult announcement – Henry M. Gunn High School would have to cancel a football game because they didn’t have enough players, he said at a school board meeting on Tuesday. “But look at us now,” Austin said. “10 and 0, that’s quite a feat.” The varsity football team went undefeated for the time since 1971 and is on its way to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 after defeating Jefferson High School 28-7 on Nov. 7. After the win, players, decked out in orange jerseys and black face paint, ran across the field and celebrated with their coach of three years, Dethrick Slocum, who is also a Special Education teacher. Last year, the Titans only won three games and the year before, they didn’t win at all, so this year’s sweep was a major turnaround. Gunn will play Sequioa High School in the Central Coast Section Championships on Friday, 7 p.m. at Sequioa’s home field.
THURSDAY THANKS … The monthly Cal. Ave. street festival 3rdThursday is back this month with its second annual ThanksCaring, where nonprofit organizations making a difference in the Palo Alto community are set to be celebrated alongside free activities and live music. This Nov. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. will feature three local bands – The Charged Particles, The Wandering Acoustics and Duoviolingo – as well as a photo booth, a gratitude token craft activity hosted by Pacific Art League and free food sampling sponsored by Stanford Research Park. “The monthly 3rdThursday themes are designed to connect our community in so many ways,” wrote 3rdThursday Producer Carol Garsten in a press release on the event, which listed 16 participating nonprofits, including groups like Avenidas, Youth Community Service, Rise Together Education, Magical Bridge and more. “This month local non-profits will share stories of how they uplift our community,” Garsten wrote. The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of 3rdThursday, and other sponsors include The city of Palo Alto, Stanford Research Park, The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, La Boheme Restaurant, Zareen’s Restaurant, Provident Credit Union and Community Fans. “With their hard work and dedication, the … non-profits participating in ThanksCaring make our community a better place,” wrote Charlie Weidanz, CEO of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce. For more information visit: 3rdThursday.fun or email [email protected].
