-PDBM/FXT
County rolls out new emergency text alerts Santa Clara County introduced a new, easy-to-use text message number to help residents receive emergency alerts in the event of a disaster. The initiative was prompted by last week’s 9.0-magnitude earthquake off the northeast coast of Japan that caused a tsunami and killed thousands of people there before traveling across the Pacific Ocean and briefly elevating surf levels along parts of the California coast. In 2009, the county launched AlertSCC, a regional automated emergency notification tool that provides instant safety informa-
tion to residents in the event of an emergency or disaster via text message, e-mail, or home or business phone using 411 and 911 databases. But because so many people are becoming more reliant on their cell phones, the county today announced a text number, 32075, to reach more members of the community. The feature also benefits residents who have a language barrier. According to David Figueroa Ortega, Mexico’s consul general in San Jose, with the 32075 text number, it is not necessary to provide a name or house number but
only the word “alertscc,� a street name and a ZIP code. Residents will receive messages notifying them about the location of shelters, for example, where to get medical assistance and food, and areas to avoid because of street closures and downed bridges. To sign up for the feature, either text 32075 or visit www.alertscc. com. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and local officials announced the text message feature at a news conference in San Jose on Monday, March 14. —Bay City News Service
N OBITUARY
Joe D. Archibeque, Mountain View educator Joe D. Archibeque, an educator and counselor at Graham Middle School in Mountain View, died March 3. He was 94. Born in Durango, Colorado in 1916, Archibeque was a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Navy. He graduated from San Diego State University with a master’s degree in social sci-
ences and earned his counseling credentials. He was a resident of Belmont since 1973. During his 16-year tenure at Graham Middle School, he filled the role of teacher, counselor, baseball and volleyball coach, and school board member. He taught public speaking, drama, history and Spanish. During the summers, he worked in public relations at Idyllwild
School of Music and the Arts. In his free time, he loved to read, paint and write, his family said. Archibeque is survived by Modrite Archibeque, his wife of 38 years; and two daughters, Melissa and Nicole. A memorial service was held March 12 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Belmont. Donations may be made to schoolforce.org or mvef.org.
LARRY’S
JAPAN RELIEF
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the humanitarian organization and be charged to their cellular phone account. Residents may also give to the Mountain View Buddhist Temple, which is organizing a fundraising drive of its own. Glenn Kitasoe, president of the temple, said that there are many Japanese people living in Mountain View and throughout the Peninsula, and that for some of the temple’s congregants, the disaster hit very close to home — literally. “Most of us have family ties — either relatives or some acquaintances in Japan,� said Kitasoe, a Buddhist of Japanese decent. “Luckily, most everyone in the temple has family that was either not affected or they are OK.� Because of those ties, and simply because, as a religious organization the temple frequently does humanitarian work, Kitasoe said the Mountain View Buddhist Temple will be accepting donations that will be sent to help the Japanese recovery effort. “Whether they are Buddhists, or any religion,� he said of those impacted by the Japanese disaster, “there are people in need and we would like to help.� The temple is asking for donations during its Sunday services and will accept donations from anyone in the community. Kitasoe said checks should be made out to the Mountain View Buddhist Temple. Information is available on the temple’s website, www.mvbuddhisttemple.org. When the temple stops collec-
tions on April 20, they will pool the money and send it to the Buddhist Churches of America, headquartered in San Francisco; the Buddhist Churches of America will in take all the money from its member temples throughout the country and send the funds to help the Japanese people. Although the northeastern coast of Japan suffered major destruction, much of the southern part of the country — including Mountain View’s sister city, Iwata, — was not hit nearly as hard. In fact, a group of students from Iwata, scheduled to arrive in Mountain View on March 17 as part of an exchange program with the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, have not cancelled their trip as a result of the quake. Iwata, which is located in the Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan, sits roughly 350 to 400 miles from the quake’s epicenter, about 100 miles south of Tokyo. “There wasn’t nearly the amount devastation in Iwata that northern Japan felt,� said William Blair, an English teacher from Mountain View High School and head coordinator for the Iwata visit. However, another local Japanese exchange program, between middle schools in Palo Alto and Tsuchiura — a Palo Alto sister city located about 200 miles north of Iwata in the Ibaraki Prefecture of Japan — cancelled their trip after a 6.0 magnitude temblor rattled their city on March 11. They were scheduled to arrive in Palo Alto on March 12. V
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â– MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE â– MARCH 18, 2011
The City of Mountain View will be ushing the water system south of Cuesta Drive in April, 2011. Flushing helps to maintain water quality by removing accumulated sand and sediment from water lines. Signs and barricades will be posted in neighborhoods the day before ushing begins. Flushing south of Cuesta Drive is anticipated to be complete by May 15, 2011. If you would like more information about the City’s water system ushing program or have questions or concerns while City personnel are in your neighborhood, please contact the Public Services Division at (650) 903-6329 or visit the City’s website at www.mountainview.gov.