By Don Frances
THIS IS A TIME of departures, it seems, particularly in the schools.
The avalanche began at the top, with MVLA Superintendent Rich Fischer announcing he’d be stepping down at the end of this school year.
Then two elementary school principals, at Castro and Slater, announced the same last week (see page 1). That’s not to mention the Landels Elementary principal, a temporary administrator whose term ends with the school year.
Then another educator, Mountain View High School Assistant Principal Matt Neely, who moonlights as a city council member, announced earlier this week that he’s leaving to run some crazy school in Europe (also on page 1).
But there’s more. Carol Olson, president and CEO of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, has also announced that she’s leaving her position at the end of June.
This time at least it isn’t an educator. But say it ain’t so, Carol.
For this city’s business community, Carol has leant a steady hand since joining the Chamber nearly 10 years ago. And for the Voice, she has provided a reliable entrée into that community. In a world where glad-handing is commonplace, Carol’s sincerity was always striking.
Her reason for leaving seems standard — to spend more time with her family — until you know the details. By this summer, it seems, Carol and her husband Steve will have adopted a little girl from Guatemala.
“While I do plan to work,” she wrote, “I hope to find something that will allow me greater focus on our family and this transition. Maybe I will even get a real summer vacation!”
Brag, brag. But I sincerely wish Carol the best, and hope she won’t be a stranger when she begins this new phase. …
ALTHOUGH this year’s Run for Zimbabwe Orphans isn’t until the end of the month, “we do have one tiny ‘deadline,'” notes organizer Ellen Clark. “Sign up to run by March 17 and your name goes in the raffle for Zim, the elephant. Zim is 27 inches tall and a person weighing less than 140 lbs. may sit on him.”
That’s either an enticing detail or a caveat emptor, I’m not sure which — but you should sign up soon for the run regardless. Now in its seventh year, this event, and its accompanying Zimbabwe Fair, were conceived by the Clark family to help fight poverty in Africa. Specifically, proceeds go to an orphanage in Zimbabwe.
The race and fair are being held Sunday, March 26 at St. Joseph School on Miramonte. T-shirts are available, and the race is $5 to join. Registration forms and other information are available at www.zimbabweparaguay.org. …
THIS TOWN is loaded with green thumbs, but few are more active than Chris Schriner of Brookside Garden. Schriner, I’m told, is putting together an amazing exhibit at the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show at the Cow Palace.
Described as “a garden out of ‘Indiana Jones,'” Schriner’s walk-through exhibit includes koi ponds, waterfalls, thunder storms, ancient ruins, the works. The Garden Show runs from March 15 to 19, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except Sunday, which closes down at 6:30 p.m.) at the Cow Palace. Visit www.gardenshow.com or call (800) 569-2832 for more info. …
A garden show seems like a decent way to celebrate Arbor Day — or you could just join the city of Mountain View’s celebration, taking place at Pioneer Park this Saturday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you didn’t know, California’s Arbor Day is in honor of the March 7 birthday of the genius horticulturist Luther Burbank. …
I HAD A FINE conversation on the phone the other day with Mr. Aodh Og O’Tuama, frontman of local Irish band Four Shillings Short, who will be conducting an Irish Mass this Sunday at our own St. Joseph’s Catholic Church — and during this conversation I wrote down many details of the event and several of Mr. O’Tuama’s charming Irishisms. Then my computer ate it.
But I can tell you this: Sunday’s Mass, co-celebrated by two Irish priests, will be conducted largely in Gaelic and feature live, traditional Irish music as arranged by O’Tuama, including a 30-voice choir and dancing. Last year, O’Tuama told me, it drew 700 to 800 people from all over the South Bay. It begins at 11:30, and the church is located at 582 Hope Street. …
Don Frances is editor of the Mountain View Voice. He can be reached at dfrances
