Due to lack of writers Spinnings will be on hiatus next week, Sept. 20, and two weeks hence, on Oct. 1. We will return as soon as we get the personnel. In the meantime President Bean is working on a work-around deploying already-tasked individuals.

 

Jeff Lowenstein has some member dues in arrears and reminds everyone to pay their dues promptly. Dues collection was to have closed in August, but we're still waiting for some laggards. You can do it at the check-in table before lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Bennett also says it remains problematic whether Bob Campbell can return regularly to his seat at the attendance table; therefore, the attendance committee would like to talk to anyone willing to try to fill Bob's shoes.

 

 

Oct. 4, 6—8 p.m., The Oak Room, San Mateo Main Library

Presented by San Mateo Public Library Foundation

Free Event, Registration Required at http:://how-will-ai-affect-me-now-and-in-5-years.eventbrite.com

 

San Mateo Rotary-sponsored event at the fabulous home of Dave and Nancie Bennett, 2755 Ralston in Hillsborough. Food and dancing to the music of Dave's 13-piece band. $100/person benefits the San Mateo Rotary Foundation. Signups are required; contact Dave Bennett, Dick Bennett or Paul Rogerville.

 

This $50,000 fundraiser is coming up Oct. 21. Volunteers, contributions and sponsorships are very much in need. See Tom Huening for sponsorship details.

 

See Rosemary Azem to obtain your book of 5 raffle tickets for sale to benefit Rotary International. You are always welcome to simply buy the 5 for $200; the expense is deductible as a charitable contribution to the Rotary International Foundation.

 

A few folks got their heads together to figure out how we might honor the memory of long-time member and former San Mateo Mayor Aron Hoffman; the result is a proposal to sponsor a pair of benches and a tree planting in Central Park. Aron will be named in a brass plaque. When the request for volunteers to help defray the $5,000 cost, at $100 a pop, was made, many hands went up. No tally yet, but maybe we'll have it if Spinnings returns.

 

Bob Mendoza and Tony Villanueva recited some of the many tragic facts about the World Trade Center attack that has sent our military on its adventures throughout the world. Bob: 2996 dead, 6,000 injured, 343 firefighters killed. It was the deadliest terror attack in world history. Tony: 19 terrorists devised the attack at a cost of about $250,000, flying hijacked aircraft into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. The elapsed tie of the entire episode, from first crash into the North Tower to the collapse of the South Tower, was a mere 102 minutes.

 

Joan Rosas introduced Katherine Goodman.

No one introduced Tom Mohr, now on his fifth meeting, so I will. Tom Mohr, trustee of the San Mateo County Community College District.

Joan also did a thorough rundown on Measure V on the San Mateo-Foster City School District ballot this November, a parcel tax to make up numerous funding shortfalls in the district budget that will impact sports, science and other subjects the district now offers. 

 

Super Lawyer Nanci Nishimura of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy did a double: $100 to the President's Club for the law firm being named "Super Lawyers" and another $100 just to be able to say how much she respects Angel Riley for all she has done as a service veteran.


 

 

 

A cardiologist known famously as a partner with his father, the now-retired cardiologist Charles Guttas, M.D., Dr. Jeffrey Guttas, Medical Director of Cardiology Ultrasound and the Co-Management Program at Mills-Peninsula medical center, spoke of heart health, diet and taking care of one's self, though some of his advice was surprising.

Best for me: "Only two things have been shown to improve health: Alcohol — in moderation — and coffee, which helps prevent dementia." Check and double-check.

Advice about eating healthy he summed up in a few words: "Eat local, eat fresh and seasonal, as close to the ground as possible."

And, "Food is medicine."

And, "Find balance. It's the ability to re-establish balance that will determine your longevity."

Dr. Guttas brought a lot of common sense to an explanation of the way the body has evolved to work and the way modern living is trying to force it to live.

Stress is part of the fight-or-flight chemistry humans evolved to deal with predator attacks or danger, only now the chemistry can be systemic and prolonged when dealing with worries, jobs, family or the fate of the country. This long-term, low-grade stress often considered the price of modern-day living is deadly and should, and can, be controlled.

"We're hard-wired to overreact to environmental stimulation," he said. "Don't sweat the small stuff."

Rapid shallow breathing tunes up the stress levels. "Reset your breathing, long, deep breaths…message your body to relax."

His first directive is to hydrate. Dehydration is a major signal that things are out of balance. Eat small amounts of food throughout the day. Don't skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast begins the stress cycle.

All nut meats are healthy.

If you're coming down with something, eat potatoes, pasta and load up on the carbs. Cancer patients should not worry about dieting; they need to bulk up and build reserves to deal with the disease.

He also had a few words to say about cardiology.

It has been found that stents and bypass surgery may not do a lot better than medicines in treating heart disease. "They make you feel better, but they don't make you live longer…and diet and exercise are twice as effective as medicine."

Of course, there are times for intervention.

He held up a catheter used to thread tools through the blood stream to the heart and the head, to the head to actually grab and remove blood clots responsible for stroke.

He held up the example of his father, who happily worked until his 80s, as a pretty good model to emulate in all aspects of your life.

"Dad worked because at work he achieved balance."

 

 

 

Thank you Peter Sortwell for the great photos!