Local Digest
Water district to pay interim CEO $126,000 for six months
The Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors Tuesday approved an employment agreement with interim Chief Executive Officer Olga Martin-Steele that will pay her $126,000 for six months.
Martin-Steele’s start date is Jan. 14. She was appointed last week to fill a vacancy created when CEO and general manager Stan Williams’ announced that he will retire Jan. 31.
Martin-Steele will not receive benefits, but her compensation includes payment in lieu of them, as well as payment for relocation expenses.
Before accepting the job, Martin-Steele serves as chief deputy director for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. She was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Caltrain Holiday drive brings in thousands of toys
In conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program and the Salvation Army, the Caltrain Holiday Train received a total of 4,179 donated toys and books and nearly $1,900 in cash donations from visitors to the stations. An estimated 18,000 children and adults came out to see the spectacularly lighted train, which visited nine train stations between San Francisco and Santa Clara. Kids got a chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, Frosty and other holiday characters and to enjoy music provided by a Salvation Army band and on-board choruses.
County employee receives national award
Norma Doctor Sparks, the director of the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services, was named one of the 100 most influential Filipina women in the U.S.
Sparks was honored for her work in government policies and laws. A native of Hawaii, Sparks received the award from the Filipina Women’s Network during the 5th Annual Filipina Summit in Washington, D.C.
Sparks runs the operations of the 700-employee DFCS and is credited with initiating programs for improving child welfare services. She previously worked at the American Management Systems and was an administrator with state agencies in Hawaii.
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