A LAWSUIT FILED BY SANTA CLARA COUNTY, AGAINST CASA DE FRUTA, HAS BEEN SETTLED. ALTHOUGH IN COMPLIANCE NOW, THE SUIT ALLEGED THAT CASA DE FRUTA HAD VIOLATED STATE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AT THEIR GAS STATION (OVER A 5 YEAR PERIOD). OF THE 105 THOUSAND DOLLARS (CASA DE FRUTA AGREED TO PAY), 80 THOUSAND DOLLARS WILL BE PAID IN CIVIL PENALTIES AND INVESTIGATIVE COSTS. THE OTHER 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS WILL BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LAND TRUST, TO HELP OUT THE PAJARO PROJECT (WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE PAJARO RIVER WATERSHED IN SOUTH SANTA CLARA COUNTY, AND WESTERN SAN BENITO COUNTY.
THE PAJARO PROJECT SEEKS TO PROTECT THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR, MAINTAIN THE FLOOD PLAIN, AND PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE UPPER PAJARO RIVER AREA.
THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF C.S.U.M.B. WILL BE WORKING IN PARIS SOON, AS UNESCO'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR EDUCATION. HIS LAST DAY AS PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL HERE WILL BE JUNE 14TH. 59-YEAR-OLD DOCTOR PETER SMITH TOLD KSCO NEWS HE WASN'T LOOKING FOR WORK, AND WAS HAPPY HERE, BUT WAS NOMINATED FOR THE NEW JOB, AND THE CHALLENGE IS TOO GOOD TO TURN DOWN. HE WILL OVERSEE A STAFF OF 190, WHO WORK IN 56 FIELD OFFICES WORLDWIDE. DOCTOR SMITH SAYS HE FEELS VERY WELL PREPARED FOR THE NEW JOB, BY THE WORK HE HAS DONE HERE AS PRESIDENT. HE ALSO SAID HE IS EXTRAORDINARILY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT EVERYONE HAS DONE FOR HIM IN HIS JOB AS C.S.U.M.BS LEADER, AND SAYS THE SCHOOL IS OFF TO A TERRIFIC START.
