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San Ramon ObserverAugust 18, 2008 7:00 PM

 

 

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New Life Saving Heart Attack System

(San Ramon Regional Medical Center Press Release)

 

A new heart attack response system being implemented in Contra Costa could save or improve the lives of hundreds of people a year.  Contra Costa Health Services’ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will oversee the September 8, 2008 launch of the STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) System. A high-risk heart attack can be reversed by specialized cardiac procedures that are best given within 90 to 120 minutes of the heart attack victim’s first sign of chest pain.

 

The nationally recognized STEMI System is designed to allow paramedics to rapidly identify and transport high-risk heart attack victims to specially equipped hospitals.  San Ramon Regional Medical Center is one of only five hospitals in Contra Costa County with this equipment and training. 

 

“During a heart attack, a clot blocks the flow of blood to the heart and heart muscle begins to die.  The sooner treatment is started the better the chance of preventing or limiting damage to the heart. This new System will set a new standard for cardiac care in our county,” said Dr. Joe Barger, EMS Medical Director.   “We at EMS are training and equipping our paramedics to recognize STEMI heart attacks and to notify STEMI Receiving Centers quickly, but it’s critical that anyone with heart attack symptoms call 911 immediately.  It could make the difference between life and death.”  Heart attack symptoms include discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

 

 

Public Hearing on Valley Vista Senior Housing

(8/15/08)

 

The Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on changes to the plans for Valley Vista Senior Housing on August 19, 2008 at 7 pm.  The applicant has asked to have parking spaces almost cut in half from 115 to 62.  The size of the building would be increased from 80,682 to 91,242 sq. ft. and retaining walls could be increased over five feet.

 

 

 

Arts Foundation Grants for 2008

 

The San Ramon Arts Foundation awards grants to individuals and organizations both public and private that provide artistic endeavors for the benefit of the residents of San Ramon.  The Foundation’s mission is to "Encourage, Support, and Promote the arts within the City of San Ramon and the San Ramon Valley."  The San Ramon Arts Foundation has awarded the following organizations in San Ramon grants for the year 2008:

 

  • San Ramon Valley Schools Instrumental Music Department’s Low Brass Day
  • Children’s and Adult’s Productions at the Community Centers
  • Summer Concerts in Central Park
  • Youth Symphony
  • San Ramon Community Theater.

 

 “We are pleased to be able to support these organizations and individuals who provide San the residents with opportunities to view, hear and experience the arts,” said Mark Ballock, President.  Please visit the San Ramon Arts Foundation website www.sanramonarts.org to learn more about the foundation and the above projects and how to become involved in the arts.

 

Council Meeting Recap

(8/12/08)

 

The August 12, 2008 City Council meeting may have set a record for shortest council meeting, clocking in at only 15 minutes.  Mayor Wilson was in Sacramento and Vice-Mayor Livingstone was on vacation.  So Councilmember Dave Hudson chaired the meeting. 

 

No one spoke in public comment and there were no special presentations.  Even the TV30 cameras were absent.  So the Observer is the only news source covering this meeting, what little there was of it.

 

The Council voted 3-0 on all items in the Consent Calendar.  Transportation Manager Lisa Bobadilla gave a report on the Growth Management Compliance Checklist, which is required for Measure C transportation funds.  Councilmember Perkins asked if the requirements for Measure J funds are the same.  Bobadilla said that except for Measure J requiring voter approval of the city's Urban Growth Boundary, which was included in the vote on the General Plan, the requirements are not significantly different.  The Council voted 3-0 to approve the checklist. 

 

After the meeting the Council met in Closed Session to discuss facts and circumstances that might result in litigation with the City Attorney.  The Closed Session lasted about five minutes and no action was taken.  The Council adjourned to celebrate Councilmember Scott Perkin's 55th birthday with strawberry and razzleberry pies from Marie Callender's.

 

 

 

San Ramon Celebrates 25th Anniversary

 

 

The City of San Ramon is celebrating  it’s 25th anniversary with a free concert on Sunday, August 17, 2008 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Ramona Park located at 6330 Murdock Way, off of Windemere Parkway in San Ramon.  A highlight of the event is live entertainment by the 80’s cover band Night Fever. In addition, there will be free anniversary cake, a visit from the Sam Ramon Crow mascot, historic tractors from Forest Home Farms and displays about the City’s history. People are encouraged to bring a picnic dinner. There will be beer, wine and soft drinks for sale. For more information, call (925) 973-3287.

 

 

ABC7 Listens in San Ramon

(7/30/08)

 

New Director, Kevin Keeshan, from ABC7 TV News, held a meeting in City Council Chambers to listen to story ideas from residents and groups in San Ramon.  Bob Goldstein of the Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley described how his organization raises money every year to give it away the next year.  This Kiwanis chapter covers Dublin to Alamo and meets every Thursday at noon at the Round Hill Country Club in Alamo.

 

Carol O'Keefe described the annual "She's All That!" Conference sponsored by the Soroptimist International of San Ramon Valley.  This is a one-day event held every February for girls 11 to 13.  It began five years ago with 100 attendees, and has grown to 400 this year.  It is the only event of its kind in the San Francisco Bay area.  Keeshan was interested in this story as a possible segment on the afternoon magazine show, View from the Bay. 

 

A spokesperson from End Hunger Now described events in September to be held in Concord and Fairfield that provide food for all of Contra Costa County.  Last December ABC7 covered End Hunger Now's Christmas food drives in local supermarkets, including the Safeway in San Ramon. 

 

Keeshan told the audience of about 20 people that they could nominate someone from the community for ABC7 Salutes.  According to the ABC7 News website, "ABC7 Salutes profiles the unsung heroes of communities from around the Bay Area. The weekly segments, airing every Friday on ABC7 News at 6, feature individuals or organizations that are working to make life better for the world around them. If you know any people or organizations that would be good candidates for our Salutes, send us an e-mail online. Be sure to include your name, phone number and e-mail address."

 

 

 

City Center Timetable
(7/18/08)

Here's an abreviated development schedule for the new City Center that was presented by Alex Mahran, President of Sunset Development, at the June 24, 2008 City Council meeting.

 

·       Site plans and engineering will be completed for the lots on the South side of Bollinger by the end of 2008.

·      The architectural design of Plaza with the hotel, retail and residential units on the North side of  Bollinger will be submitted to the City for approval in March of 2009. 

·      Construction of the office buildings on the South side of Bollinger will begin in 2010 along with the new City Hall to the West. 

·       The first Office Building will open in December of 2010.

·       The City Hall will open in December, 2011.

·       The whole project will be completed by November, 2012. 

 

The project is estimated to bring in $4-6M a year in new revenue. The Council and Sunset Development will hold a Public Workshop this fall to go over the financial terms and conditions for the City Center Project. 

 

 

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Many of you who regularly check the Observer find that I do not update it every day.  Unlike a daily newspaper I have no staff of reporters out gathering information and writing stories.  I try to update the Observer when something important happens in the City, usually after a City Council meeting or other City meeting where some issue has been decided or proposed.  New menu items will have arrow-1_e0.gif next to them. Changes, corrections, or additions to a story will be shown in red.  By request we are now putting the date of the article underneath the title. 

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Editor & Webmaster
Rosalind Rogoff

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