News Briefs News Briefs (November 03, 2004)

PV litter collectors sought for Saturday

A litter-free Portola Valley is the game plan for Saturday, November 6, when the town will ask volunteers to spend the morning cleaning up playing fields, school yards and streets.

To participate, meet at 9 a.m. in the multi-use room at Town Center at 765 Portola Road. The town will provide disposable gloves, litter bags, refreshments, and a shuttle to transport volunteers to and from clean-up sites.

Colli Umbri to close Dec. 17

"It has nothing to do with the economic situation," says Denina Morgan, owner of the specialty shop Colli Umbri at 2087 Avy Ave. in West Menlo Park. "I'm burned out."

For the past eight years Ms. Morgan has sold handmade Italian artifacts in Colli Umbri (Italian for "hills of Umbria"). In addition to Italian ceramics and Venetian glassware, the shop is known for its handmade textiles, pewter, wood, alabaster and paper products.

Ms. Morgan is now living in Sausalito and is completing a course in interior design. She says she is ready to explore new career options. "I wouldn't trade the experience for anything," she says. "I've met some wonderful people."

A storewide sale is under way with all merchandise discounted. The store closes Friday, December 17, and will also be closed during the Thanksgiving holiday. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Rules on reporting 'unusual occurrence'

In response to the death earlier this year of a patient undergoing cancer treatment at the county hospital due to errors in his treatment, San Mateo County Supervisor Mark Church is proposing new rules regarding the reporting of "unusual occurrences" at county health-care facilities.

A proposed ordinance requiring health-care employees to immediately report unusual occurrences to their supervisor -- who would then begin a notification process that would culminate at the county manager and Board of Supervisors levels -- will be introduced to the supervisors on December 7, Mr. Church said.

The proposed ordinance defines an "unusual occurrence" as an "unexpected event involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof. Serious injury includes loss of limb or function."

The reporting of these occurrences is now voluntary for employees, and there is no policy in place to shield an employee from reprisal if he or she reports an incident. The proposed ordinance would protect employees who report incidents from reprisals.

The patient who died from medical errors was being treated at the San Mateo Medical Center.

Caltrain plans to drop Peninsula Pass

A public hearing on Caltrain's plans to drop the Peninsula Pass that allows pass-holders to use other Bay Area transit services, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, November 4, at the Caltrain administrative offices at 1250 San Carlos Ave. in San Carlos.

The agency proposes to replace the Peninsula Pass with a discounted sticker for Muni service costing $35 -- $10 less than the Peninsula Pass.

Public comment on the proposal will be accepted at the meeting, or over the phone at (800) 660-4287. More information is available on the Web at Caltrain.com.

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