Viewfinder: Local Heroes, Charitable Teens and Little Leaguers

With Memorial Day and our local parade behind us, our Viewfinder has a lot in its sights this week. First, Lytton Square, the original town center of Mill Valley, was named for Lytton Barber, an 18-year old Mill Valley resident who is considered the town’s first casualty of World War I. We also visited the large red boulder and a brass plaque in front of City Hall that reads, "In memory of those who gave their lives in defense of their country - dedicated by the citizens of Mill Valley - 1953."

Our Viewfinder captured some other local heroes this week, including search and rescue team members, park rangers, and life guards with the National Park Service, the California State Parks and Marin County Search and Rescue conducting some low-angle rescue exercises on the hill above the .

In downtown, two high school girls celebrated an 18th birthday and a couple of Mill Valley youths held a bake sale to raise funds for the AIDS/LifeCycle bike ride. Halie Kampman of Mill Valley will ride 454 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles as part of the annual AIDS ride. Participants raise funds for critical programs to end HIV and raise awareness that AIDS is still devastating our society. Since its inception in 2001, AIDS/LifeCycle has raised more than $60 million and helped educate thousands of people about HIV/AIDS.

Finally, Mill Valley Little League playoffs have begun and it is still raining in Mill Valley...in June. The A's defeated the Pirates 7-4 at Boyle Park.

And if you missed our massive , we've included some selections from it here.