Notebook: Carol Ivie, Elizabeth Fries are honored Notebook: Carol Ivie, Elizabeth Fries are honored (June 29, 2005)

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors adjourned June 21 in honor of two local women who died recently.

Board Chairman Rich Gordon paid tribute to longtime Almanac photographer Carol Ivie, who died of a heart attack June 5; and Elizabeth Ann Fries, daughter of Dr. James and Sarah Fries of Woodside, who died of breast cancer in Virginia on May 20.

For 29 years, Ms. Ivie was the face of the Almanac in the community as she took pictures of preschools and sports and graduations, of homes and events and nature and, above all, people.

Ms. Fries, who grew up in Menlo Park and Portola Valley and graduated from local schools, was -- ironically -- taken by cancer, when her career as a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia was devoted to prevention and control of cancer. She was 42.
Humane society to pay for pit bull sterilization

Owners of pit bulls and pit mixes in San Mateo County can have their dogs spayed or neutered free of charge and receive $10 for each dog they have sterilized through a new program launched by the Peninsula Humane Society (PHS).

The program was initiated after Nicholas Faibish, 12, of San Francisco, was mauled to death by his family's pit bulls in early June. The dogs, one male and one female, had not been neutered or spayed, according to Scott Delucchi, PHS spokesman.

Sterilized dogs are usually less likely to behave aggressively, said PHS president Ken White.

Sterilization surgeries are performed at the PHS facility at 12 Airport Blvd. in San Mateo, just off U.S. 101, north of Coyote Point Park.

To schedule a surgery, call 340-7025.
Geologists to talk about tsunamis

Tsunamis -- how they work and what threat they pose to the Pacific coast of North America -- will be the topic of a lecture at the U.S. Geological Survey at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 30, in the Building 3 conference room at 345 Middlefield Road in Menlo Park.

Geophysicist Eric L. Geist, oceanographer Bruce E. Jaffe, and geologist Brian F. Atwater will describe effects of the December 26 tsunami that threw 100-foot waves at Sumatra and devastated coasts as far as Africa, and discuss lessons for the Pacific Northwest and central California.

For more information, call 329-5000.
Chat with Simitian at farmers' market

Pick up some plums, soak in the sunshine, and advise a legislator on state law. Residents who think that sounds like an ideal Sunday may wish to stop by the Menlo Park farmers' market on July 10 and schmooze with state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto.

Sen. Simitian periodically holds "sidewalk office hours" to get out in the community and chat with constituents. He'll be in Menlo Park from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the market on Chestnut Street between Santa Cruz and Menlo avenues.

For information about other locations and dates, call Sen. Simitian's Palo Alto office at 688-6384.
Nominations sought for 'Care' awards

Nominations are being sought for the San Mateo County "People Who Care" awards, given to people who make significant contributions to improving the lives of disabled people in the county.

Deadline for nominations is July 8. The program is sponsored by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the Commission on Disabilities.

Nomination forms are available at www.smco-cod.org.

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