December 16, 2004

NEWS BRIEFS

New support group offered by Hospice of the Valley

Hospice of the Valley offers a new art and movement grief support group for those experiencing grief and loss. Art and movement combines art therapy and the gentle movements of T’ai Chi Chih (pronounced tie-chee-cha) geared specifically to the tasks of grief. Open to all losses, the six-week session begins Jan. 19 and runs through Feb. 23 on Wednesday evenings 6 p.m-8 p.m. at Hospice of the Valley, located at 1150 S. Bascom Avenue, Suite 7A, in San Jose. No previous art or T’ai Chi Chih experience needed. In addition, there are ongoing loss-specific groups for adults and age-specific groups for children and teens.

For information and pre-group interview, call Hospice of the Valley’s Bereavement Department at (408) 947-1233 or email request@hospicevalley.org or visit www.hospicevalley.org. For information on Tai Chi Chih, visit www.taichichih.org.

About Hospice of the Valley
Celebrating 25 years of caring, Hospice of the Valley (HOV), the oldest nonprofit, public benefit hospice in Santa Clara County, has provided compassionate end-of-life care and bereavement support for over 20,000 people since 1979. HOV provides in-home visits, including nurse case management with 24-hour, seven-day-a-week on-call service; expert pain control and symptom management; a family-centered plan of patient care which embraces comfort and support; an interdisciplinary team approach, including medical, social, psychological, spiritual, volunteer and bereavement services for the family; a Children’s Grief Counseling program; and more.

Los Altos Hills resident gets scammed by man posing as personal trainer

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is looking to contact SHON THOMPSON, a white male, 42 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall, 200 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes, and in very good physical condition for questioning regarding his personal training business.

Thompson ran an ad in a local newspaper selling personal physical training. The business was called Champion Trainers. A female Los Altos Hills resident called Thompson for his services. During a meeting at the victim’s home, Thompson claimed that he had a “multi-million dollar business” and was running a “million-dollar ad campaign.” Thompson convinced the victim to write him a check for $995.00 (a discounted rate for the holidays) for future training.

About nine days later, Thompson sent a letter to the victim claiming bankruptcy. Thompson hasn’t been heard from since. All attempts to locate him have failed. His business address was a post office box in Los Altos; the phone number on the advertisement was a disconnected cell phone. Thompson had been staying at a local Residence Inn.

Thompson has had similar complaints in the Orange County, Calif. area.
Other businesses associated with Thompson are: Elite Trainers, Top Trainers, Maximum Fitness, and Model fitness.

There are no current charges pending on Thompson. Please contact Detective Robert Bosworth at (408) 868-6632 if you have any information regarding Thompson.

SJPD reminds community to be safe this holiday season

The holiday season is here, and with it comes happiness, joy and the inevitable Silicon Valley rush hour. As the days get busier, we sometimes forget to take special care of our loved ones and ourselves. Unfortunately, theft and victimization prevail during this joyous season. The following are some prevention tips to help you have a safe holiday.

When shopping:
- Take a friend with you (safety in numbers).
- Do not overload yourself with shopping bags. Take some back to your car, lock them in your trunk and return to the stores.
- Pay by credit card or check.
- Be alert with your children. Should they get lost, teach them to immediately go to a store clerk or security guard.
- Women should carry their purses diagonally across your body.
- Men should place their wallets in your front pants/jacket pocket.

In your car:
- Keep your car in good running condition.
- Make sure to always have at least half a tank of gas.
- Park in well lit areas or near the entrance.
- Keep all valuables locked in the trunk.
- Always be alert when approaching and leaving your car.

In your home:
- Keep valuables and presents out of sight (away from the windows/doors)
- Do not open the door to unexpected guests or strangers.
- Keep all doors and windows locked even if you are leaving for small amounts of time.
- When going on trips or out for the evening, use automatic timers and lights.
- Immediately after Christmas, mark new gifts with your CA I.D. number

Have a safe and happy holiday season and remember, don’t drink and drive.

Source: San Jose Police Department