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Saratoga Sampler
Community docs honored by county medical association
By Mary Ann Cook
DOCTORS LAUDED: Two doctors on the staff of Community Hospital of Los Gatos were recently lauded by the Santa Clara County Medical Association for their exemplary contributions to the association and the community--ophthalmologist Arthur A. Basham and neurologist Harmeet Sachdev.
Basham was cited for teaching neuro-ophthalmology at VMC and Palo Alto VA, and in providing free surgeries in multiple missions to Asia. He served as chief of the medical staff at Community Hospital and on the boards of the Community Health Library and The Valley Foundation.
His awards include the Humanitarian Award in 1994 from SCCMA, Humanitarian Physician of the Year at Community Hospital in 2004, and the Paul Harris Medal from Rotary International in 2005. For SCCMA, Basham has served as councilor, secretary and on the executive and finance committees.
For nine years he has been a delegate to the CMA. Basham was described as selfless, sage, and caring by his award presenter, Dr. Martin Fishman.
Sachdev was honored for having established the first stroke center in Santa Clara County at Good Samaritan Hospital. He set the standard and is now a recognized leader nationally in treatment of stroke--a highly regarded educator/lecturer and published author in this field, said Dr. Donald Prolo, introducing him at the awards dinner.
Just 12 days after tPA was released for treatment by the FDA in 1996, Sachdev used the new infusion on a 44-year old with acute paralysis on one side and loss of speech. He then watched as the patient regained his strength and speech. Sachdev thus became convinced of the new medicine's effectiveness when used within three hours of a severe stroke. Together with Dr. Arthur Douville, in a few months' time he had developed protocols and put together a team. There are now six stroke centers in Santa Clara county.
Dr. Tatiana Spirtos, a gynecologist at Los Gatos Community, was the 2005-06 SCCMA president.
PYT ALUMS TURN THE TABLES: You can take actors off the stage to go to college, but they'll return in the summer to teach. That's the scenario at Peninsula Youth Theatre, where Stephanie Ringstaff, a Scribbs College sophomore, has formed an alumni group for PYT for the first time.
The alums presented a Cabaret Night in Sunnyvale recently, a fundraiser of song and dance numbers. It was the first production of the fledgling group. Other alums will teach drama to elementary school students enrolled in PYT summer camps. One of the camps will be in Saratoga.
Local alums coming back to teach include Blythe Faxon and Chip Kraemer of Saratoga and Kendall Bartlett of Los Gatos. Kraemer will be assistant stage manager of the summer production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
KINDERGARTEN FORUM: Kenneth Wesson, an expert on the neuroscience of learning, was the speaker at the summer session of Kindergarten Forum, hosted by Betty Peck. Internationally known, Wesson focuses on establishing brain-considerate learning environments.
Who would have guessed water is a major factor in brain-considerate classrooms? Other tips include naps and classroom breaks every 20 minutes to think and process the information under discussion. As for having ever-present water, the brain is 80-85 percent liquid, and water assists electrical impulses, i.e., thinking.
Promoting a climate where learning is always fun is the main thrust of the Wesson message. Wesson speaks to educators from preschool to college level on such topics as emotional intelligence, early brain development, the neuropsychology of prejudice, diversity in learning and curriculum development.
ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT: A special group exhibit featuring scenes of Saratoga is on tap for the Artist Wall in the library for September-October. The display will celebrate Saratoga's 50-year anniversary as a city.
The deadline is Aug. 16, and photos or slides of the work must be received by 5 p.m., addressed to Library Art Committee, c/o Dolly Barnes, Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070. Contact is Betsy White at 408.867.6126, ext. 3817.
WELCOME CLUB: The Cupertino West Valley Welcome Club is one way to contribute to your community, and the club is seeking new members. This woman's philanthropic group raises money for local charities, and has a smashing social edge, too. Interest groups include bridge, books and a cinema circle.
Meetings are held monthly at local restaurants along with a program or activity. Officers are Evelyn Meyer, president; Bobbi Battaglia and Marie Bottarini, first VPs; Charlene Nelson, Betty Rinaldi, Barbara Souza; Marge Wagner and Bev Wyss, second VPs; Lillian Harley, third VP.
Others are Cay Curtis, secretary; Wilma Lee, treasurer; Marion Hegeman, newsletter; Carrie Tarleton, publicity. Battaglia and Souza live in Saratoga, Hegeman in Los Gatos. Others hail from San Jose, Cupertino, Sunnyvale--in short, from all over the Bay Area. For more WVW information the contact is Harkey at 408.252.1529.
Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.
