Art & Wine Program IN THIS ISSUE
SEPTEMBER 2, 2011 VOLUME 19, NO. 33
INSIDE: WEEKEND | PAGE 18
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MountainViewOnline.com
ZIP code trumps genetic code COMMUNITY HEALTH FORUM AT GOOGLE HAILS MOUNTAIN VIEW AS EXEMPLARY By Daniel DeBolt
Will new plan save the burrowing owls? By Daniel DeBolt
A
s Mountain View’s population of burrowing owls is dwindling, and authorities are being prodded to approve a new plan to save
them. Despite a successful breeding season this year, it appears that the owls are barely hanging on. Every breeding pair was successful for the first time since
New CEO for El Camino TOMI RYBA WILL BE PAID NEARLY $700,000 A YEAR By Nick Veronin
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l Camino Hospital announced that it has selected a new president and CEO. Tomi Ryba will take the helm of the Mountain View healthcare organization effective October 5. Ryba has an extensive background in healthcare administration, a statement from the hospital said. Most recently, she served as president of United Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. The hospital board’s decision to appoint Ryba was unanimous,
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according to a statement released Aug. 25. Ryba will be paid a base salary of $695,000, according to Einarson. That’s $62,660 more than former CEO Ken Graham’s $632,640 annual salary; Ryba will have the opportunity to earn a 20-percent annual incentive bonus, or about $139,000. More than 50 qualified candidates from all around the country were found, board member Patty Einarson wrote in an email to the Voice. “The decision was challenging, as there were so many strong candidates to
the city began to keep track in the 1980s — just three pairs of owls hatched a total of 10 eggs. The number of young this year at Shoreline Park is less See OWLS, page 13
choose from,” Einarson wrote. However, the board ultimately felt that Ryba was the best candidate. “She has 150 Tomi Ryba percent of the board’s support.” Among Ryba’s many bona fides, El Camino board chair John Zoglin cited her “legacy of operationally strengthening and developing hospitals, ultimately taking them to the next level of revenue growth and excellence in patient care.” Einarson wrote that she and the rest of the board “are confident See CEO, page 11
Anthony Iton, senior vice president of healthy communities for The message of a city- and the California Endowment. county-sponsored event at When Iton was Alameda Google this week was quite County’s public health officer, he clear: where you live plays a and his staff began researching larger role in your health than death certificates over a 45-year you might think. period and found “pockets of The “Community Forum on concentrated premature death” Healthy Communities,” orga- where people died 20 years earnized by Santa Clara County lier than average. Iton says many Supervisor Liz Kniss, packed a of the factors leading to premaGoogle conference room with ture death are under the control several hundred of local governattendees Tuesment policies: day morning. land-use planThe event was ‘This is not something ning that move held at Google’s officials have thought schools out of Crittenden walking disLane campus to tance from stuabout as within highlight some dents’ homes, a healthy features lack of access to their realm.’ at Google, where parks and trails, MIKE KASPERZAK employees ride streetscapes colorful bikes that discourage between buildwalking and ings and eat the healthiest of bicycling, and neighborhoods foods in on-site cafes. At the that are like “food deserts” with start of the event, attendees took poor access to grocery stores a walk on the adjacent stretch with healthy food. Other factors of the Stevens Creek Trail, and included access to good jobs. later took breaks for stretches and When it comes to your health, quick aerobic exercises. Olympic “your ZIP code is more important soccer champion Brandi Chastain than your genetic code,” Iton said. attended and spoke in support of “Give me your address and I’ll tell public health programs. you how long you will live.” City Council members LauIton noted that healthier comra Macias, Tom Means, Mike munities tend to be densely Kasperzak, Margaret Abe-Koga populated, in order to economiand Jac Siegel attended, as did cally support the grocery stores police Chief Scott Vermeer, the and other services that would city’s community development be located nearby. It is for this director, Randy Tsuda, and Kev- reason that rural areas, such as in Woodhouse, assistant to the Fresno, have high rates of obesity, city manager. Iton said. Ironically, residents If City Council members were of these agricultural areas have unaware of their power when less access to healthy fruits and it comes to the health of the vegetables, Iton said. city’s residents, it was made clear See HEALTH FORUM, page 11 Tuesday by keynote speaker Dr.
GOINGS ON 23 | MARKETPLACE 24 | MOVIES 21 | REAL ESTATE 26 | VIEWPOINT 16