News Briefs: County seeks evaluation of chloramine in drinking water (December 08, 2004)

After hearing concerns from San Mateo County residents about the health hazards of using chloramine in drinking water, county supervisors Rich Gordon and Mark Church are asking their colleagues to join them in requesting an impartial evaluation of the disinfectant's effects.

The two were expected to ask the other supervisors to vote with them on December 7 to approve a resolution seeking a formal position on chloramine from the California Conference of Local Health Officers.

San Francisco public health officials are already seeking the same thing; the resolution would add San Mateo County's voice to the request.

Concerns have been raised that chloramine can be harmful to kidney dialysis patients and fish in aquariums, Mr. Gordon and Mr. Church stated in a joint press release.

"We are not saying that chloramine is unsafe. We don't know and therein lies the problem," Mr. Gordon said.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which oversees the Hetch Hetchy water system providing water to 2.4 million Bay Area users, recently switched from using chlorine to chloramine to disinfect drinking water to comply with stricter federal environmental regulations, the release stated.
Atherton man faces securities fraud charges

After a two-and-a-half-year investigation, the U. S. attorney's office has charged Evan Collins -- an Atherton resident and former controller for Network Associates -- with securities fraud.

Mr. Collins, 42, appeared in federal court in San Francisco on November 30 and was released on $500,000 bond, the attorney's office reported.

Mr. Collins is accused of acquiring and selling 30,000 shares of common stock of Network Associates -- now McAfee Inc. -- for $250,000 after having benefited from inside information about manipulation of financial statements during 1999 and 2000.

If found guilty, Mr. Collins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to the attorney's office. His next court date is December 17.

Mr. Collins is also a defendant in a civil suit by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington D.C., the attorney's office reported. -- Bay City News
Post offices open late during the holidays

If you're working overtime on shopping this holiday season, it stands to reason that you might need to hit the post office late as well.

Fortunately, several San Mateo County post offices are staying open late through December 21, including Menlo Park's main branch at 655 Oak Grove Ave. It will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The Palo Alto post office at 380 Hamilton will also have the same opening hours.

People who are using first-class and priority mail to send cards and packages to other states should send them by Tuesday, December 21, to get there by Christmas, U.S. Postal Service officials say. Cards and packages being sent within California should be mailed by Wednesday, December 22.

For more information, go to www.usps.com.
Construction bond on Woodside board agenda

A discussion on a school construction bond measure is planned for the December 8 meeting of the governing board of the Woodside Elementary School District. The board meets at 4 p.m. in the school library at 3195 Woodside Road in Woodside.
Atherton police restart heart of Menlo man

Two Atherton police officers saved the life of a Menlo Park man by restarting his heart with a defibrillator last week.

Responding to a 911 call from a passing motorist, Officers Mario Garcia and Anthony Kockler found Mostafa Daeinabi, 78, of Menlo Park lying unconscious on the shoulder of the road at the corner of Middlefield Road and Palmer Lane at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, said Atherton Police Chief Bob Brennan.

The officers were on the scene within two minutes of the call, said Chief Brennan. After feeling no pulse in Mr. Daeinabi, the officers successfully restarted his heart using the defibrillator carried in all Atherton police cars.

While waiting for the ambulance, the officers administered CPR. Mr. Daeinabi had a "strong pulse" when emergency medical technicians took over, said Chief Brennan.

Mr. Daeinabi was taken to Stanford Hospital, where he was reported to be in critical condition.
Simitian named committee chair

State Senator-elect Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, is to be the new chair of the Human Services Committee. The Senate's President Pro Tem Don Perata announced his appointment to the position last week.

Mr. Simitian represents the 11th Senate District, which encompasses Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley, as well as much of Santa Clara County.

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