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Mon
21 May The International Gem & Jewelry Show San Mateo The International Gem and Jewelry Show is an event that will aim to showcase diverse range of gems, minerals and jewelry item…

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Wed
23 May The International Gem & Jewelry Show San Mateo The International Gem and Jewelry Show is an event that will aim to showcase diverse range of gems, minerals and jewelry item…

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Tue
22 May The International Gem & Jewelry Show San Mateo The International Gem and Jewelry Show is an event that will aim to showcase diverse range of gems, minerals and jewelry item…

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Menlo Park Area News

Northern Californians watch the ring of fire eclipse

Millions in Asia and the western United States including the Bay Area watched as a rare "ring of fire" eclipse crossed their skies early Sunday evening.

The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across Asia early Monday. It then moved across the Pacific and was also seen in parts of the western United States Sunday afternoon.

Viewing parties were held in Reno, Oakland and elsewhere. In some parts of the U.S., special camera filters for taking photographs have been sold out for weeks in anticipation of the big event.

People from Colorado, Oklahoma and as far away as Canada traveled to Albuquerque to enjoy one of the best vantage points at the Petroglyph National Monument, home to one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America.

Members of the crowd smiled and cheered and children yelled with excitement as the moon crossed the sun and the blazing halo of light began to form.

"That's got to be the prettiest thing I've ever seen," said Brent Veltri of Salida, Colo.

Albuquerque city officials had urged residents to go to organized events or watch one of the many live webcasts to avoid damaging their eyes.

The eclipse cannot be viewed with the naked eye or even sunglasses. And solar glasses, which make the sun look like a huge orange disc, are a rare commodity in communities along the eclipse's path.

In Japan, "eclipse tours" were arranged at schools and parks, on pleasure boats and even private airplanes. Similar events were held in China and Taiwan as well, with skywatchers warned to protect their eyes.

The eclipse was broadcast live on TV in Tokyo, where such an eclipse hasn't been visible since 1839. Japanese TV crews watched from the top of Mount Fuji and even staked out a zoo south of Tokyo to capture the reaction of the chimpanzees — who didn't seem to notice.

A light rain fell on Tokyo as the eclipse began, but the clouds thinned as it reached its peak, providing near perfect conditions.

"It was a very mysterious sight," said Kaori Sasaki, who joined a crowd in downtown Tokyo to watch event. "I've never seen anything like it."

At the Taipei Astronomical Museum in Taiwan, the spectacle emerged from dark clouds for only about 30 seconds. But the view was nearly perfect against Manila's orange skies.

"It's amazing. We do this for the awe (and) it has not disappointed. I am awed, literally floored," said astronomical hobbyist Garry Andreassen, whose long camera lenses were lined up with those of about 10 other gazers in a downtown Manila park.

Hong Kong skywatchers weren't so lucky.

Several hundred people gathered along the Kowloon waterfront on Hong Kong's famed Victoria Harbor, most of them students or commuters on their way to work. The eclipse was already underway as the sun began to rise, but heavy clouds obstructed the view.

The eclipse will follow a narrow 8,500-mile path for 3 1/2 hours. The ring phenomenon will last about five minutes, depending on location. People outside the narrow band for prime viewing will see a partial eclipse.

"Ring of Fire" eclipses are not as dramatic as a total eclipse, when the disk of the sun is entirely blocked by the moon. The moon is too far from Earth and appears too small in the sky to blot out the sun completely.

Doctors and education officials have warned of eye injuries from improper viewing. Before the event started, Japan's Education Minister Hirofumi Hirano demonstrated how to use eclipse glasses in a televised news conference.

Police also cautioned against traffic accidents — warning drivers to keep their eyes on the road.

_{Sun, 20 May 2012 20:59:28 -0700}

Alleged distracted driving teen attacked by motorcyclists

A teenage driver was attacked by a group of motorcyclists after he knocked down two motorcyclists on Highway 101 Sunday morning, authorities said.

California Highway Patrol Officer Art Montiel said the trouble began around 8 a.m. when a 19-year-old man behind the wheel of Toyota Prius was shooting video of the motorcyclists as they made their way north on the highway through Belmont.

Montiel said as the teen was recording the video, he lost control of his car, knocking down two of the motorcyclists.

After the accident, some of the motorcyclists attacked the teen, punching him in the head and threatening him with a knife. Montiel said when officers arrived there were about 20 motorcyclists at the scene, including at least two members of the Hells Angels.

The teen was cited for distracted driving. He and the two motorcyclists were treated for minor injuries.

_{Sun, 20 May 2012 20:22:37 -0700}

Community rallies for homeless man critically injured in hit-and-run crash

Dozens of people who live and work in North Beach are rallying around a homeless man who is fighting for his life after being struck in a hit-and-run accident last Saturday.

The family of the victim, 62-year-old Selester "Les" Rowe, flew into town to be by his side and said they had no idea he was living on the streets.

Everyday on her way to work Paulina Krol used to pass a homeless man, Rowe, but Krol said he never asked her for money.

"I would walk by him every day and he would say,'Have a nice day' and there were days when I walked by and I wasn't having a good day and Les would made me feel better," she said.

Krol said Rowe has been homeless for at least five years and she would sometimes bring him food.

"I asked him if he had a place to stay, and he said, 'No.' I asked how much would it cost to come into a shelter and he said '$12,'" she said. "I gave him a 20. He said, 'I don't want your money.' I said take my money. He said, 'I don't need $20, I need $12.' He didn't want to take the extra $8 from me."

A shrine of flowers and get well letters have up piled in the place where Rowe would stand. Last Saturday, at around 11:15 p.m., Rowe was crossing Columbus Avenue and Stockton Street when he was hit by a white SUV that fled from the scene.

Police described the car as a late 90s model white Chevrolet with tinted windows. It has a California license plate with the last two numbers two and four.

Rowe is in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital suffering from brain trauma, broken bones and leg injuries. His family said he is heavily sedated and it's unclear if he will survive.

"I'm really devastated, because we just talked to him, me and my daughter," said La-Creaser Rock, Rowe's sister.

Rowe's sisters and mother flew in from Alabama to be by his side at the hospital.

Rowe's sisters said he graduated from college with a degree in engineering and when they spoke on the phone to him,  Rowe would tell them things were good.

"You have a loving brother, an educated brother went out and did wonderful for himself, what happened," Rock said. "What happened in his life here that made him go this way because he had a home."

The community is pulling for Rowe, who remains unconscious. Krol started collecting donations to help support his family while they stay in San Francisco. Rowe's sister sai d she wants the driver responsible to know people love him.

"He is important to other people, to me, my sister, my brother and the man upstairs," Rock said. "If he didn't he wouldn't be hanging on right now."

The family and the north beach community hopes that driver feels remorse and comes forward. All they can do now is hope Rowe has the strength to survive.

To donate money to help the family who flew from Alabama to be by his side,  visit Citibank and donate to account 42001814260.

_{Sun, 20 May 2012 16:34:18 -0700}

News Source: MedleyStory More Local News Stories