News Briefs News Briefs (April 14, 2004)

Trish Hooper talk at Kepler's Books

Trish Hooper of Portola Valley will talk about her book, "April in Paris," at Kepler's Bookstore, 1010 El Camino Real (near the corner of Santa Cruz Avenue, in case you don't know), in Menlo Park, next Saturday, April 17, starting at 5 p.m. The book is about raising four children in Paris during the height of the Cold War, and her encounters with plumbers, electricians, caterers, teachers, and NATO diplomats.

Man in critical condition after I-280 accident

Several people were hurt April 8 in a crash that shut down several lanes of Interstate 280 for an hour. California Highway Patrol officers said the accident was caused by a driver on drugs.

Cheryl Fung, 43, of San Mateo was booked into county jail after the crash on charges of driving under the influence, a CHP spokesman said.

Heading southbound, Ms. Fung's Chevy Blazer hit a center guardrail on I-280 south of Farm Hill Boulevard, went into the air, and collided with a minivan driving northbound, the spokesman said.

The minivan's driver, Harold Van Beke Jr., 48, of Hopatcong, New Jersey was airlifted with major head and lung injuries to Stanford Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition Monday.

Ms. Fung and three of the four minivan passengers had minor injuries; an 11-year-old passenger was more seriously hurt, the CHP spokesman said.

Man pleads no contest to animal cruelty

A Menlo Oaks man accused of hoarding mice and rats in dire conditions in his home has pleaded no contest to charges of felony animal abuse, meaning that he could spend up to a year in San Mateo County Jail, the Associated Press reported.

Robert Hollywood, 47, entered his plea on April 9. Although he is developmentally disabled, a judge had found him competent to stand trial.

Authorities said Mr. Hollywood kept 228 mice, 68 rats, five hamsters, two snakes and a cat in his home in the unincorporated area of Menlo Oaks between Menlo Park and Atherton. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6.

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