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Lafayette Today ~ January 2014 - Page 25
August 2014 Acalanes High Welcomes New Principal
Serving the Lafayette Community
By Fran Miller
Passionate, energetic, caring and smart – these are traits used repeatedly by Allison Silvestri’s friends and work associates when asked to describe the new Acalanes High School principal. Silvestri succeeds former principal Aida Glimme who has moved to the district office as Director of Education Services. Allison Silvestri Silvestri established herself as the top candidate for the demanding position after a rigorous evaluation process that included stakeholder panel interviews, performance tasks, and interviews with the executive cabinet. “Allison is very perceptive of the needs at Acalanes High School, will maintain the high quality programs, and can effectively lead the efforts for continuous improvement,” says John Nickerson, Acalanes Union High School District Superintendent. “She listens, collaborates, problem solves, and is passionate about every aspect of high school education.”
See Principal continued on page 18
Volunteers Needed for Event to Help Bay Area Homeless Veterans in September
Organizers of the East Bay Stand Down (EBSD) 2014 are in the final stages of planning a major initiative to help up to 450 homeless and displaced veterans and their families, and are looking to recruit over 2,000 volunteers to help. This large-scale community program will take place at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton from September 11 - 14. Concerned citizens with various skills and abilities are needed to support the operation of the four-day “tent city.”
All veterans live at East Bay Stand Down for four days.
“Stand Down” is a term used during war to describe the practice of removing combat troops from the field and taking care of their basic needs in a safe area, and this same concept has been successfully used to provide assistance to veterans who are in need. Many of these veterans are suffering from physical and mental injuries, sometimes both, suffered while in service to our country. A wide variety of voluntary positions are still needed, especially priorto the start of EBSD for physical labor in setting-up and maintaining the
See EBSD continued on page 21
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CARDA teams train for helicopter operations. Photo courtesy of CARDA.
California Rescue Dog Association: Barking up the Right Tree By Jody Morgan
Founded in 1976, California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) is the largest search dog organization in the US. Highly motivated handlers teamed with high-drive canine partners make CARDA the standard-setting model for rescue dog operations throughout the country. An all-volunteer, non-profit organization available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist local, state, and federal agencies, CARDA has participated in 4,057 searches in the past 13 years. From 2000 through May 2014, CARDA volunteers served 103,835 hours and drove their personally owned vehicles 1,582,482 miles to support search and rescue efforts. Estimating expenses at $0.56/mile and time at $25/hour, CARDA contributed $3.34 million in aid to California Public Safety Agencies during that time frame. The value of lives saved and peace of mind restored is incalculable. CARDA volunteers are devoted to the success of each mission and totally disinterested in individual recognition. In a large Area Search, such as when a hiker goes missing, each rescue team is given a sector to cover. The job is to find any trace of human presence. Success means missing no clues, but not necessarily finding the subject who may never have passed through that particular space. Trailing, whether in an urban or rural setting, begins with a scent article specific to the subject. An Alzheimer’s patient often travels the same path through a neighborhood daily. Discerning the freshest trail is important. Has a runaway teen hopped public transportation? Trailing teams investigate BART stations and bus stops to determine whether the subject has been present there. Area Search dogs typically operate off-leash, while Trailing dogs work on long leashes. What happens when CARDA is called to assist? Eric Sheets, CARDA Program Manager reports: “CARDA dispatchers know the unique qualifications of each team. They have the experience to ask the right questions so that they can call out the most appropriate teams that are closest to the requested search location.” The call out to Feather Falls, for example, demanded a team capable of repeatedly dangling beneath a helicopter to search the Volume VIII - Number 8 treacherous terrain of rugged canyon walls. 3000F Danville Blvd #117 After arriving at the scene, Sheets and his Alamo, CA 94507 Australian Cattle Dog “Seven” took six trips Telephone (925) 405-6397 on the short haul line to reach remote loFax (925) 406-0547 cations. Trained to submit when picked editor@yourmonthlypaper.com up and put in harness, “Seven” stayed Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher focused on the task. The opinions expressed herein belong to the and do not necessarily reflect that of LaEach mission is different. Because writers, fayette Today. Lafayette Today is not responsible CARDA is contacted for assistance when for the content of any of the advertising herein,
See CARDA continued on page 20
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