This week, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors announced the retirement of Phyllis Perez, the clerk of the board. Perez will retire on Oct. 3.
"I can hardly believe it's been almost 43 years since I began my career with the County of Santa Clara," Perez said. "So much has been accomplished and I know it could never have happened without the support, trust, leadership, inspiration and loyalty of my bosses, my colleagues and my staff. I am deeply grateful to have worked alongside each of them."
Perez has served the public with dedication and distinction. She began her county career as a secretary in the Office of the County Executive on Dec. 5, 1965. Over the next 14 years she also worked in county Animal Control and the Social Services Agency. In 1979, she became the assistant clerk of the board and in 1993 the board of supervisors appointed her as clerk of the board.
As the assistant clerk, she played a major role in establishing the training program for office professional-level staff that still continues today. In the last ten years, she extensively incorporated new information technology into the clerk of the board's operations. In 2002, the county implemented KEYBOARD, the fully automated board agenda process. She also developed the board's policy manual, the new board member handbook and a boards and commissions handbook.
Perez currently belongs to California's Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Association where she has served as secretary, treasurer, vice president and president.
She has also contributed to the community in several other capacities. Perez has served as a board member and chairperson of the Board for Next Door: Solutions to Domestic Violence. She is also a former member of the County Hispanic Roundtable Group and the Almaden Valley Women's Club.
Perez graduated summa cum laude from San Jose State University with a degree in communications and a minor in business. She continues her association with the school as a member of the San Jose State Alumni Association and San Jose State Spartan Foundation. She has also served as Chairperson of the San Jose State Communications Forum.
Oriental Fruit Fly infestation discovered
An infestation of Oriental Fruit Fly was discovered on Aug. 18 in the City of Santa Clara. Three flies were trapped in a residential neighborhood northeast of Lawrence Expressway and Stevens Creek Boulevard. The identification of the insects was confirmed by California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). According to state protocol, the California Secretary of Agriculture will issue an emergency proclamation authorizing the immediate implementation of an eradication program.
The planned eradication program began on Wednesday and will involve the technique of "male attractant" using ground-based, spot treatment applications of insecticide and a feeding attractant lure. The treatment is applied as small, compact disk-sized spots on inanimate objects such as street trees and utility poles. Because of the lure, the male fruit flies are attracted to these application sites and die from feeding on the mixture. The treatments are applied at heights that are typically inaccessible to the public.
CDFA workers will treat an area of approximately 10 square miles as part of this eradication effort. The treatment area is roughly bounded by El Camino Real on the north, San Tomas Expressway on the east, Englewood Road on the south, and Blaney Avenue on the west.
Oriental Fruit Fly is an exotic insect pest found throughout much of southern Asia. Currently, the distribution of this pest in the United States is restricted to the Hawaiian Islands. Oriental Fruit Fly is a pest of over 230 kinds of fruits and vegetables including citrus, grapes, stone fruits, pome fruits, avocado and tomato.
Infestations of Oriental Fruit Fly likely result from the introduction of contraband fruit. In the past few months, this invasive pest has also been found in the counties of Los Angeles, San Diego and Alameda.
Morgan Hill Toastmasters receives "Select Distinguished Club" honor
The Morgan Hill Toastmasters group recently received the Select Distinguished Club honor for its local activities in public speaking and leadership development.
The award was presented by Toastmasters International for the period of July 2007 through June 2008. The activities that earned the local chapter this distinction included hosting a Toastmaster area speech contest for the region from Monterey, Santa Cruz and the South Bay at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center.
The local chapter also reached out to other local organizations, such as the Morgan Hill Rotary Club, Kaiser Permanente and the Morgan Hill Downtown Association to help support their efforts through community leadership programs. The members of the Morgan Hill Toastmasters not only reside in Morgan Hill, but also Gilroy, San Benito County and South San Jose.
"One reason why the Select Distinguished honor is important to our club is because it demonstrates how we have grown as a leadership and public speaking organization and are able to pull together to accomplish our goals," said Nellie Jorge, who served as president of the Morgan Hill Toastmasters during the club's last year-long period. "Together we can accomplish anything."
The Morgan Hill Toastmasters is a group of people seeking to become more comfortable with speaking in public and enhancing their leadership skills. The members range from homemakers to local executives, and everything in-between. The Morgan Hill Toastmasters meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at the BookSmart Bookstore at 80 E. 2nd St. in downtown Morgan Hill. For more details, call Harry Albert at (831) 623-2495.
Man arrested in connection with sexual battery
Gilroy - A 22-year-old man was arrested early Friday morning after he pinned a woman to a wall and demanded sex, police said.
Mario Cardosa-Martinez, was arrested about 1:45 a.m. on suspicion of false imprisonment, brandishing a replica firearm and making criminal threats.
The incident began when Cardosa-Martinez asked to speak to a woman in the 7600 block of Eigleberry, police said.
As they were speaking, Cardosa-Martinez made sexual advances toward the woman, though she was able to fend off those advances, police said. He pinned her to a wall then demanded sex, and threatened to kill her if she refused, police said. She was able to escape after she was pushed down.
Two males who also reside at the home and who are friends with Cardosa-Martinez, confronted him. Cardosa-Martinez ordered one of them to his knees and threatened to kill him. Other residents were able to call the police for assistance.
Anyone with information may call the Gilroy Police Department at 846-0350. Parties wishing to remain anonymous may call 846-0330.
Labor Day travel slumps
High gas prices, the looming uncertainty of the nation's economy and embattled airlines raising rates and adding fees have dampened the spirits of holiday travelers for a third consecutive national holiday weekend.
According to the latest AAA travel survey, just over 4.3 million Californians are expected to travel 50 miles or more this Labor Day weekend, an overall 1.4 percent decrease from last year.
The agency predicts more than 3.5 million Californians will be taking to the roads and highways to reach their weekend destinations, a 1.8 percent decrease.
This year's travel forecast survey projects that the average Californian household will be spending up to $826 during Labor Day weekend, with as much as $177 spent on fuel, accounting for almost 20 percent of estimated total trip spending.
"We are definitely noticing a significant downward trend in travel this year," said Cynthia Harris, spokesperson for AAA of Northern California. "But even as Californians face steep increases in travel expenses, they continue to put a high value on travel in their lives and find resources for quick getaways with family and friends."
Chamber sponsors child car seat safety check
Join the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and the California Highway Patrol, for its "Child Car Seat Safety Check" Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and the California Highway Patrol are teaming up to offer this free service that will be open to the community.
The chamber will hold the event outside its office located at 90 E. Second St., at the corner of Second and Depot streets.
The service is offered by CHP Officers and non-uniform employees who have
been certified as child safety seat technicians. Technicians' certification is done through Safe Kids Worldwide in conjunction with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Details: 779-9444.
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