Last Chance: Taxes (Of Course), Dine Out, Water!

We all do it. Forget to mark our calendars for upcoming Little League sign-ups, prom tickets or local business expos. There are so many events and opportunities in Los Altos that is can be hard to keep tabs on them all.

The following is a list of deadlines coming up. Some will save you money. Some are just for fun. Take a look before it's your last chance.

THE ONLY SURE THINGS IN LIFE...

Tuesday, April 17

 We don't know the day we might die, but we thought we always knew the date for taxes was April 15. Not last year and not this year! It is April 17, as April 15—the traditional tax day—falls on a Sunday and April 16 is a holiday in District of Columbia.

Haven't started? Check out the IRS' webpage for information on how to e-file and any forms you might need. 

PAUSE TO REFLECT

Tuesday, April 17

4 p.m. Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Chambers, San Jose. "Saved by Acts of Righteousness" will feature stories of ordinary people who became extraordinary rescuers, including an appearance by South Bay resident, Tamara Noten. There will also be a special exhibit chronicling the heroic acts of Portuguese Diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes open for viewing April 9-20, 2012.

Wednesday, April 18

6:30 p.m., Women in the Holocaust, at , 26790 Arastradero Road, Los Altos Hills. The South Peninsula Yom Ha'Shoah service will feature song, music, prayer, artwork to commemorate the Holocaust. Free and open to the public. 

BE GOOD TO THE EARTH

Thursday-Sunday, April 19-22:

Shaped By Water Exhibit: Noon to 4 p.m. Catch the last days of this very timely exhibit (increased water bills are going out later this month for many residents) at the . See it before it goes. While some area museums have expressed some interest, it may be many months before it appears again.

Saturday, April 21 

California Native Plants Sale: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. . It's Native Plant Week in California. Scores of species of native plants, seeds, and bulbs for sale. Experts are on hand to speak about lawn alternatives such as native perennials, wildflowers, and grasses, and will conduct classes. You can also buy books, posters, and note cards featuring native plants, plus 10 percent of sales benefits Hidden Villa. The Acterra Native Plant Nursery will be selling locally-native plants. For information cnps_scv@yahoo.com, or call (650) 260-3450. 

Going Native Garden Tour 2012 The free tour is divided into two parts. April 21, gardens in Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto and further north are open. In Los Altos, see the Lyell Street Garden, the Serene Habitat Garden and the Troestler Garden. On April 22, the southern tour includes Santa Clara, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, San Jose, and south. Since all participating nurseries are having includes a swing by the CNPS plant sale above. The deadline for both is simply when they fill up, so don't lag!

AND IN YOUR SPARE TIME ...

Saturday, April 22

Deadline to submit and/or vote for the best Hidden Villa photos in its first-ever Facebook Photo Contest. On May 3, selected photos will appear at the Photography Exhibition at 359 State Street. The photographer with the winning image will receive a CSA membership ($550 value), meaning a box of organically raised veggies every week! This is a contest for votes, so don't wait until the last day. Entrants can submit more than one photo. Don't take photos? This is the last day to vote for your favorite image.

Friday, April 27

Deadline to register in the Los Altos Hills Pathways Run/Walk. It's $5 more for the day of the race, otherwise, and no guarantees for a t-shirt. Sure, you can always just join in the run, but if you want your official race time clocked and a nifty "Run With the Wind" t-shirt, you gotta register via mail, or walk in your registration to , or online. It's $30 for the 5K and 10K run. $10 for the 1 mile run/walk.