July 21, 2005

NEWS BRIEFS

Hospice of the Valley receives end-of-life care grant for low-income seniors

Grant will provide care to growing number of Santa Clara County seniors facing life-limiting illnesses
In May, Hospice of the Valley (HOV), the oldest nonprofit hospice, leading provider and educator of end-of-life care and bereavement counseling, received a $10,000 grant from Cisco Systems Foundation’s Impact Grants Program for end-of-life care services and programs for a growing number of underserved, underinsured, low-income senior residents in Santa Clara County.

With funding received from Cisco, low-income seniors and their families will benefit from a comprehensive team approach to end-of-life care. Hospice of the Valley’s dedicated case manager nurses, social workers, home health aides, chaplains and trained volunteers will work together to make this important life passage as comfortable and meaningful as possible.

“We’re very proud to be one of Cisco Systems Foundation’s Impact Grants Program recipients,” said Sally Adleus, executive director of Hospice of the Valley. “Cisco’s grant helps us to continue to provide the high quality end-of-life care we are known for and to reach a growing number of low-income seniors facing a life-limiting illness—making it possible for them to live out their remaining days with dignity and comfort at the close of their lives.”

“The grant will specifically help Hospice of the Valley provide all the necessary components to palliative, comfort care. The immediate benefits for the patients are comfort, symptom and pain management; and for the surviving family, the satisfaction and the knowing that they did everything possible to provide quality end-of-life care for their loved one,” added Pam Williams, Hospice board president.

“At Cisco, we believe in building strong communities in which every individual has access to quality education, the means by which to live, and the opportunity to succeed,” said Sylvia Allen, Cisco Systems’ senior director of corporate responsibility. “As a company, we are proud to support these local nonprofits who share our values, our vision and our goal to build lasting solutions that will improve the lives of those in the community.”

Call Hospice of the Valley at (408) 947-1233 or visit www.hospicevalley.org for more information about their services.

San Jose libraries now accepting library card application, fine payments online

Months of preparations came to fruition late last month when San Jose library officials tripped the switch that allowed potential library users to initiate the process of applying for a library card and paying fine payments online. Web visitors simply log on to SJLibrary.org and follow a list of simple instructions.

New card applicants must bring required identification to the accounts desk at any San Jose library within 30 days to pick up their library card. Youth under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

San Jose libraries also began accepting fine payments online recently. By keeping the introduction low-key, administrators were able to monitor the software to ensure smooth transactions. Users must pay the entire fee for any individual item and there are no refunds. The system accepts all credit cards and debit cards that bear the VISA or Master Card symbols.

“The ability to pay fines with credit or debit cards has been a frequent request of library users,” says Trish Umali, acting access services manager for San Jose Public Library. “Given the high level of interest, we anticipated that our patrons would have little difficulty finding and using the service.” That has been the case for even with little fanfare, the new service collected over $19,000 in the first three weeks of operation.

Users lacking remote access from home or office may still utilize these functions using dedicated e-COMM stations located at all branches of the San Jose Public Library, including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library.

Online library card applications and fine payment are the latest in technological service enhancements that the library has introduced over the past year. Enhancements have included downloadable digital audio books, MP3 audio book CDs, creation of a multi-lingual library catalog interface, and translation of key information on the library Web site.

Commonwealth Club presents lecture by new Homeland Security secretary

In his first public address in northern California, new U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will discuss his agenda for the future of the department, including an emphasis on cyber security, at a lecture on Friday, July 29 at the Santa Clara Convention Center Theater.

The lecture presented by the San Francisco-Silicon Valley Commonwealth Club, “Future Agenda for the Department of Homeland Security,” will highlight the agenda designed to ensure DHS policies, operations, and structure are best organized to accomplish its mission and best address threats—both present and future—that face our nation.

Since its inception in 2002, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has led a unified effort to prevent and deter terrorist attacks in the U.S. with the help of more than 180,000 department employees.

Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m., and the program will begin at 12:30 p.m. (non-meal program.) Tickets are $15, members; $30, non-members; and $45, premium seating (reserved seating in the front of the theatre).

Make reservations at www.commonwealthclub.org/sv.html or call 800-847-7730. Note: No large purses, bags, backpacks, packages, or briefcases allowed. All guests may be subject to search. The Santa Clara Convention Center Theater is located at 5001 Great America Parkway, in Santa Clara.

Santa Clara chapter of the Brandeis University National
Women’s Committee is Chapter of the Year

Jean Marxheimer of San Jose, president of the Santa Clara chapter, accepted the prestigious Chapter of the Year award presented by the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee (BUNWC) at its recent conference.

Awarded to only a handful of the national organization’s 84 chapters, the Santa Clara chapter has demonstrated outstanding efforts to recruit members, raise funds for the Brandeis University libraries, and provide quality educational and community service programs for its members. Started in 1969, the Santa Clara Chapter now has over 660 members hailing from San Jose, Los Gatos, Cupertino, Campbell, Saratoga, and Santa Clara.

The Brandeis University National Women’s Committee has played a pivotal role in the development of Brandeis University into a top-tier academic institution. Part membership and part philanthropic organization, the NWC now has 42,000 members in 84 chapters nationwide. Since its founding in 1948, the NWC has raised $99 million for Brandeis University, the only non-sectarian college or university in the country sponsored by the American Jewish Community.

For more information on how to become a member of the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee, contact www.brandeis.edu/bunwc or call 781/736-4160.

Wedding Faire 2005 set for next weekend at Santa Clara Convention Center

The 17th annual Wedding Faire at the Santa Clara Convention Center will be held next weekend, July 30 and 31.
Organizers promise 150 exhibitors, fashion shows, workshops, and honeymoon giveaways within the center’s 50,000 square feet, which will offer “everything to plan your wedding in one day.” Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.wedding-faire.com or by calling (408) 341-2000 or (800) 445-2545.