Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How is Palo Alto Adult School reshaping learning for busy local adults?

Be sure to catch Tour Bowman School, for 3 year olds - Grade 6, at Bowman East & West! on the Palo Alto Patch calendar

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Monday January 12th Patch AM
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Hello Palo Alto! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How is Palo Alto Adult School reshaping learning for busy local adults?
  • How will Palo Alto’s boards get easier access to City Council?
  • Who’s just been tapped to lead a key Palo Alto nonprofit?

Also on today's calendar: Tour Bowman School, for 3 year olds - Grade 6, at Bowman East & West! and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Palo Altofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one elevator say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Palo Altofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 64 and low of 39 degrees.
  • Tuesday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 67, low: 41.
  • Wednesday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 68 and low of 41 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Adult School helps provide a lifetime of learning (thecampanile.org) — Palo Alto Adult School is giving local adults flexible, low-cost ways to build skills, from ESL to music and Spanish, often around busy work and parenting schedules. Teachers and staff describe highly motivated students, many of them parents in PAUSD, using free state-funded ESL and other classes to advance careers and connect more deeply with their families and neighbors.
   

2. Around Town: A new era at City Hall (paloaltoonline.com) — Palo Alto is entering a new chapter at City Hall as Vicki Veenker takes over as mayor and the council prepares to streamline how local boards and commissions communicate with them. Outgoing Mayor Ed Lauing was praised for his calm leadership during major debates on housing, transportation and city policy. A Jan. 14 committee meeting will shape how often advisory bodies can get items onto the council agenda.
   

3. People in the News (01/11/2026): appointments, promotions, obituaries (philanthropynewsdigest.org) — A Palo Alto-based nonprofit, the Science Philanthropy Alliance, has named Cynthia M. Friend as chair of its board of directors, highlighting local leadership in global science funding. The broader piece also lists leadership changes at major foundations and nonprofits across the country, from New York to Washington, D.C., and Ecuador.
   

4. NASA Powers Up a Massive Solar Engine for the Moon (scitechdaily.com) — A key piece of NASA’s future lunar space station is being built right now in Palo Alto, where Lanteris Space Systems is assembling the Power and Propulsion Element for the Gateway outpost. This solar-powered spacecraft will generate electricity, drive high‑efficiency thrusters, and support communications for crews orbiting the Moon as part of the Artemis program, laying groundwork for deeper-space missions.
   

📸 Around Palo Alto

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Palo Alto

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📣 Palo Alto Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi Neighbors👋🏼Have fun!
    Today’s searching game for items on the list below the picture. And more items to search in my comments below. (Nextdoor Greater Mitchell Park)
  • Another pretty Sunset by the PA Baylands Sat around 5:30pm.
    A Little chilly but nice that the Sun is setting a little later each day now. (Nextdoor Barron Park)
  • City of Palo Alto, CA posted a job opening for Athletic Director JLS - Middle School Athletics in Palo Alto. Apply here.
  • The Stepping Stones Group, LLC posted a job opening for Paraprofessional / Educator in Palo Alto. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Palo Alto here.

Ok Palo Alto! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I think I’m coming down with something!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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