Service League - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's Monthly ...

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Rescue From the Abyss, the Service League Way: Continued the chance to delve into the complexity of a person’s life. We have alumni nights every Wednesday for the women at Hope House, where some of our successful clients come back and volunteer their time. They mentor; they give back. When someone completes their stay with us, we don’t just shake their hand and say, ‘Have a nice life.’ We stay in contact with them and make sure they know we want to be updated on their lives and that they’re always welcome here.” One day, while a stranger looked on, the women in class — mothers and even grandmothers — were engaged in cognitive therapy, being taught about personality types such as directors, socializers and thinkers, and learning about which molds they fit in and the positives and negatives that come with those. Like in a typical classroom, there are the kiss-ups, the cutups, the chatty Cathys and the quiet types. Everyone seems at ease and relaxed instead of closed off and paranoid. Clearly, trust has been built here. “I came here because my life was a mess,” said a woman named Gloria. “I went to another program at first, but it wasn’t suited for me, and a friend of mine told me about this one, and in three days I was admitted here. I like that it’s not a lot of people and we get one-on-one counseling. They’re helping me understand myself and why I need drugs and alcohol and get to the root of my problems.” Ray-Ray, a woman young enough to be Gloria’s daughter, volunteered that in “other places you get more freedom and this is more structured. I prefer the others, but I feel like I’m getting more out of this one, if that makes sense. They really help you get inside your core issues. We have computer classes like Windows and Excel, in case you want to be a secretary or whatever, and later they help you with a job search and they give you tests to show what jobs you’d be good at.” Meanwhile, Tracy, a recovering heroin addict, said, “I told someone the other day that we’re really lucky. A lot of what we get, other people who need it don’t get. We get all these different kinds of training programs, so we’re very fortunate.” How fortunate Tracy and those who follow her, eating in the kitchen where she eats, sitting in the classes she takes, sleeping in the beds she makes, continue to be will depend in part on how successful the fundraiser is. There are 200 seats, going for $100 each, and so far half have been sold. The money won’t do anything one way or another for these women; they’re already here, soaring below the atmosphere, readying themselves for re-entry, to be counted and counted on, bracing for impact. The only question that remains is: How many future lost souls can be saved? www.SpectrumMagazine.net
Nonprofits in the News Rotary Pays Out $72,390 to 10 Local Charities, Hands $15,000 to Local Realtor Money flowed into the coffers of 10 Redwood City service organizations when the proceeds of the sixth annual Redwood City Rotary raffle were handed out and the $15,000 raffle prize was awarded to local real estate agent Brad Shepherd. Since its inception, Rotary’s annual car raffle has netted the local charities $380,000. Ten local nonprofits received a share of the proceeds. Once again, the Police Activities League pulled in the largest share, having sold $25,000 in tickets. Family Connection and Pets in Need sold more than $8,000 each and Rotary’s own foundation received $9,400. Other beneficiaries were the Salvation Army, Kainos Home and Training Center, Boys and Girls Club, Sequoia YMCA, St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room and Casa de Redwood. Rotary Club members, along with volunteers for the participating charities, spend more than half a year hawking raffle tickets. Ticket buyers check a box on each ticket to determine which organization benefits from their bet. “The real secret to the success of this raffle is our sponsors,” said Rotarian Pete Hughes, who chairs the raffle each year. “Our sponsors pay all the costs so that all the proceeds can be given away. It’s a great partnership and they deserve a big thank you,” he added. All proceeds of the raffle go directly to the participating charities, thanks to the generosity of the 19 sponsors, who underwrite all of the raffle expenses. Sponsors are the Danford Foundation, San Mateo Credit Union, Peninsula Park, Dooley Insurance, Pete and Ginny Hughes, Strathdee Design and Development, Bill Nicolet, BKF Consulting Engineers, T&H Building Supply, Roos Dental Care, Wells Fargo Bank, Boardwalk Auto Center, Redwood General Tire, Norcal Waste Systems, attorney Wm. R. Conklin, real estate agent Brad Shepherd, The Baucis Group, Craig Templeton Insurance, Redwood City Saltworks LLC and Peter Liebengood. The first year, the raffle netted $38,000, then $56,000, $61,000, $63,000 and $83,000 in 2007. P.S. The People Speak: Continued just bring jobs to Redwood City. What are we thinking? Jobs and prosperity on the Peninsula are unbelievable! Listen, Redwood City residents, we must progress with the times and let our lovely city grow and allow the building and transition of growth for companies and businesses that would like to make their home here in our beautiful city. I hate to remind all of you of the past, but remember we had the San Francisco 49ers and Marine World/ Africa U.S.A. at one time. But because of our sheer ignorance, we let them get away. Besides, the Redwood City Parks and Recreation Department and Commission should stop worrying about the open space issue and instead concentrate on trying to get the youth basketball leagues and program from being the worst in the entire San Mateo County to possibly being the most well-run youth basketball league, like they happen to have in the city of Burlingame. Because I believe that there should be growth in Redwood City, I am voting “yes” on Measure W — our city’s future depends on it. Francisco L. Anton Redwood City The Spectrum 23
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Page 3 and 4: The Spectrum.AUG.08 Steve Penna Own
Page 5 and 6: P.S. The People Speak: Letters to t
Page 7 and 8: RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood
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Page 13 and 14: News Briefs Escapee Kills Redwood C
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Page 17 and 18: Parties Around Town Thank you for b
Page 19 and 20: Frames by Vera Wang We’ll Pay for
Page 21: done by Continental Caterers; there
Page 25 and 26: Redwood City Pride Meets Redwood Ci
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Page 31 and 32: Volunteer Coaches Needed! Redwood C
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Page 37 and 38: Finance: Strike a Balance Between S
Page 39 and 40: So much more than tires since 1957.

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