🌱 Patch AM: Will Menlo Park finally welcome its long-neglected West Menlo Triangle neighbors?

Good morning to you Menlo Park! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Will Menlo Park finally welcome its long-neglected West Menlo Triangle neighbors?
• Need city answers fast? Meet Menlo Park's new AI helper.
• Which Menlo Park investor is backing the next wave of defense tech?

Also on today's calendar: Diaper Drive and 8 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the Buffalo say when his son left? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Low clouds breaking, with a high of 81 and low of 59 degrees.
• Monday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, temps: high: 78, low: 58.
• Tuesday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 77 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• This 'neglected' Bay Area community has spent 12 years trying to join the city next door (sfchronicle.com) — Residents of the unincorporated West Menlo Triangle have spent 12 years pushing to be annexed into Menlo Park, hoping for safer streets, sidewalks, and city services they already rely on. Menlo Park officials recently waived application fees, but financial strains, tax negotiations, and state housing pressures still complicate whether the city will finally bring this neighborhood into its borders.
   

• 'Laurel' is the City of Menlo Park's new virtual assistant (inmenlo.com) — Menlo Park residents can now get 24/7 help with city services from "Laurel," a new AI-powered virtual assistant on the city's website. Accessible from any device and supporting over 70 languages, Laurel helps users quickly find information on services, events, meetings, and resources tied to City Hall on Laurel Street.
   

• How Silicon Valley just might save America from the growing drone threat (fortune.com subscription) — Menlo Park–based venture firm Mayfield just added a new partner, highlighting how local investors are helping fund the latest wave of defense, AI, and climate-tech startups. The broader piece looks at Silicon Valley companies racing to counter the growing global drone threat and lists major new venture deals across the tech sector.
   

📸 Around Menlo Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Menlo Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday August 28
• Diaper Drive →
  SAN CARLOS ROTARY CLUB,
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday August 24
• Back to School Night - TK and Kinder
  Walter Hays Elementary MP Room
  5:15 pm
Tuesday August 25
• LEGO Tuesdays!
  Downtown Branch Library 270 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  4:00 pm
• Paly Choirs Adv. Vocals Auditions (New & Callbacks)
  Palo Alto High Palo Alto, CA 94301
  4:10 pm
• Back to School Night
  Addison Elementary School, 650 Addison Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  5:15 pm
Wednesday August 26
• Couch to 5K →
  800 Middle Ave, Menlo Park
  8:30 am
Thursday August 27
• Paly Pep Band - Home Game
  Palo Alto High Palo Alto, CA 94301
  6:00 pm
Friday August 28
• External Event: Flamingo Chick Storytime
  Downtown Branch Library 270 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  2:00 pm
Sunday August 30
• STC @ Menlo Tavern →
  Menlo Tavern, 100 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
  11:00 am
Tuesday September 1
• Family Storytime
  Children's Library 1276 Harriet Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  10:30 am
Wednesday September 2
• PVI Luau →
  800 Middle Ave, Menlo Park
  4:00 pm

📣 Menlo Park Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday August 23
• Tai Chi with Nelson Ng
  Palo Alto City Library 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
  10:00 am
• Menlo Summer Polo Academy →
  Menlo Polo Club, 190 Park Ln, Atherton
  10:30 am
• Santa Clara University Women's Soccer vs Pitt - Pups at the Pitch
  Santa Clara University Santa Clara, Calif., Stevens Stadium - Buck Shaw Field
  12:00 pm
• Tech Workshop: Media, Information and AI Literacy
  Mitchell Park Library 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
  1:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Menlo Park PatchAM possible:

• RowCal - San Jose — (408) 620-5366

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
  Snowy was LOST on August 21, 2026 in Menlo Park, CA 94025 near Van Buren Rd & Berkeley Ave Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to… (Nextdoor Flood Triangle)

• Rosewood Hotels & Resorts posted a job opening for Public Areas Attendant in Menlo Park. Apply here.
• Dribbler posted a job opening for Private Soccer Coach in Menlo Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Menlo Park here.

🗞 Nearby News

East Palo Alto

• 'Poised for growth': A brief history of Woodland Park (paloaltoonline.com)
• California appellate court overturns pimping, trafficking conviction of East Palo Alto man (mercurynews.com)
• Suspect in deadly East Palo Alto motorcycle hit-and-run arrested in Central California (cbsnews.com)

Atherton

• Atherton Police to conduct driver's license & DUI checkpoint on August 22 (inmenlo.com)

Stanford

• Art for All Family Day, Fall 2026 (stanford.edu)

Ok Menlo Park! 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: Bison! (Thank you Judy M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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