March 3, 2005

NEWS BRIEFS

Wedding related pictures found near park

While out on a morning run on Saturday, Feb. 26, an Almaden runner found several 4 X 6 pictures scattered along Meridian Avenue between Redmond Avenue and Jeffrey Fontana Park. The pictures appeared to be from an outdoor bridal rehearsal along with a few inside gift opening shots. “I know if I lost these precious pictures, I’d sure like to get them back,” says the runner. If these pictures are yours e-mail the Times at newsroom@timesmediainc.com or call 494-7000 x216 to retrieve them.

ABA celebrates March Madness with mixer at Britannia Arms

Tired of the winter doldrums? Celebrate (or stir up) March Madness and the hope of spring with the Almaden Business Association at its second mixer of 2005. This after-hours event is open to members and non-members alike and is being held from 5:30-7:30 on Thursday, March 3 at Britannia Arms of Almaden, 5027 Almaden Expressway, near Almaden Expressway and Highway 85. The Almaden Business Association is a chapter of San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Tickets purchased at the event will be $10 for non-members and $5 for members. To RSV: e-mail redelarosa@yahoo.com or call (408) 828-1983. You won’t want to miss this great opportunity to mix and mingle with other Almaden business people and representatives from the community and San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Through this mixer the Association will continue to build on its theme for 2005, “Six Degrees of Connection.” The theme reflects and guides its goals and purposes to strengthen the connection between ABA member businesses to the Almaden community at large, including service organizations, other ABA businesses, the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and Almaden businesses not familiar with the ABA.

The Association meets the first Thursday of every month. To encourage the “Six Degrees of Connection,” the Association alternates its meetings with evening mixers every other month with morning business meetings. The April meeting will be at 8 a.m., Thursday, April 1, at a location to be announced. The business meetings may include speakers on topics ranging from business-building ideas to legal and operational information of general interest to the membership.

For more information about Almaden Business Association, go to www.almadenbizassn.org or contact Cathy Spielberger Cassetta at 408-979-0231, 2005 Almaden Business Association president.

Bay Area family seeking donations for baby in need of life-saving transplant

Eleven month old Isabelle (Bella) Kuba is the focus of a fundraising campaign to assist with her medical expenses. The Menlo Park infant was diagnosed with Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome, and doctors at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto have recommended a life-saving kidney transplant. Bella’s father Martin will donate one of his kidneys to his daughter. Local volunteers hope to raise approximately $60,000 to assist Bella with her transplant-related expenses, including expenses her father will have as Bella’s kidney donor.

Volunteers are needed to assist with raising funds for Bella’s transplant-related expenses. Individuals and groups interested in more information can contact campaign manager Lindsay Bramel at (949) 887-9745 or Lisa Otsuka at (408) 746-3086. The family has asked for fundraising assistance from the Children’s Organ Transplant Association in Bloomington, Ind., which is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding families and communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients.

If you are interested in making a donation you can offer a secure credit card donation online at www.cota.org or you can make a tax-deductible donation in person at any Wells Fargo Bank branch location using account number 7089386101 or mail it to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, 2501 COTA Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403. Checks or money orders should be made payable to “COTA for Bella K.”