Top Stories: June 30, 2009

By Staff (Jun 30, 2009 )

On Writing Poorly…
“It was a dark and stormy night …” The opening line of Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s novel “Paul Clifford” has been parodied by everyone from Ray Bradbury to Snoopy. It was also the inspiration for San Jose State University's, Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, now in its 27th year.

The rambling sentence that won this year’s competition, reads: “Folks say that if you listen real close at the height of the full moon, when the wind is blowin' off Nantucket Sound from the nor' east and the dogs are howlin' for no earthly reason, you can hear the awful screams of the crew of the "Ellie May," a sturdy whaler Captained by John McTavish.” The author is David McKenzie, 55, of Washington.

Though Bulwer-Lytton also coined the phrase “almighty dollar,” the contest’s website states that the winner will only receive a pittance. Perhaps it is some consolation for the aspiring author to remember that “The pen is mightier than the sword,” as Bulwer-Lytton reminds us. Read More at KCBS.

R&D Tax Credit on State Budget Chopping Block
Silicon Valley CEOs are frustrated by limits on the R&D tax credit being planned by the State to help resolve its $24 billion budget deficit. High tech companies have used the tax credit to claim losses from the testing of new processes and technologies as expenditures. Loren Kaye, president of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education, called limits on the tax credit “terrible mismanagement.”

While startups will not be affected by the limit, Neil Shroff, managing director of Orion Capital Group, said that tax increases such as this will encourage more mature companies to seek more hospitable environments to engage in R&D. State legislators believe that the limits will increase the state’s general fund by $1.3 billion over the next two years. Read More at the Business Journal.

Police Identify Dead Hiker
Police have identified the woman whose body was found Sunday at Santa Teresa County Park, 10 miles south of San Jose. Linda Fradkin, 57, of San Mateo, was on a hike group organized by Table for Six, a dating service that frequently arranges social activities in the park. Hike organizer Julie Piva says that the hike ended at 3:30, but Fradkin apparently decided to continue on her own, as many other members of the group do. Her body was discovered by a mountain biker three hours later. There were no signs of trauma on the body, and police investigators believe that the 106 degree heat was a likely cause of her death.

The 1,627-acre Santa Teresa County Park, located at the southern end of the Santa Teresa Hills, is a popular spot for hikers, just minutes away from downtown San Jose. In addition to 18 miles of hiking trails with stunning views of Almaden and Santa Clara valleys, the park is also home to a golf course and equestrian staging area. Read more at the SFGate.com and KNBC.

Toddler Who Drowned in Family Pool Identified
San Jose police have identified a 17-month-old toddler who drowned in his families swimming pool last week as Derek Ayala. The death has been ruled an accident and no one will be charged. Read More the Mercury News.

Like a Candy in the Wind…
Joseph Schmidt Confectioners, a Bay Area landmark, will be closing its San Jose and San Francisco stores for the very last time. Joseph Schmidt, a European-trained baker and confectioner, opened his first store in San Francisco in 1983. With walls lines with chocolate sculptures, it was a veritable Candyland for the connoisseur of fine chocolate. Its signature egg-shaped truffles did for local tastes in sweets what Napa Valley did for wine. A second store was opened in 2003 in San Jose’s Santana Row.

Schmidt’s was recently acquired by Hershey’s, which has decided to close the stores. The San Jose branch, located at 356 Santana Row, will shut its doors for the last time today at 5:00 pm. Those desperate for one final taste of the Bay Area’s finest chocolate can visit the San Francisco store, which will close tomorrow.

Joseph Schmidt will be employed by Hershey’s. Workers at the store and the local factory will be laid off. Read More at KNBC.

Man Rescued from Ventilation Shaft
Fire crews were called to a county building on North First Street in San Jose yesterday to rescue a worker who fell down a ventilation shaft. The victim, Raul Banderas, fell through a hole in the shaft, injuring his back. According to the fire department, it took two hours to extract Banderas, who was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Read More at KLIV.