To look at her, you wouldn’t think that this 62-year-old science teacher
was a gambling woman. But this summer, she gambled with her health. Her immune
system already weakened by Lymphoma, she pursued a risky adventure—a visit to
her daughter in Chile and a decades-old dream to tour Inca ruins and the upper
Amazon region of Peru. A day after returning, she developed symptoms of blood
poisoning, and died of septic shock on July 30. Her death was sudden for us all.
Carolyn had been pondering retirement. Up until now, Carolyn’s professional
life was dedicated to education. In 1968 she earned a B.S. in Biology from
California State College, Hayward, and then acquired a secondary teaching
credential from San Francisco State. Her early teaching career brought her to
schools like James Lick Junior High School in San Francisco and, later, Russell
Middle School in Milpitas.
When her daughters began their own schooling, Carolyn’s teaching experience
fueled her interest in Lakeside School District, a small one-school district in
the Santa Cruz Mountains. First, she volunteered at the school, leading Girl
Scout groups and organizing science laboratory experiments. Then, in 1984, she
joined with other concerned parents to pressure the school board to improve the
academic programs and bring a more dynamic and challenging science curriculum
into the school. On this platform, she was elected to the school board, and
served several years. During this period, the school opened a library, developed
the Life Lab program (gardening), and initiated participation in the Yosemite
Institute science camp and a nautical living history program affiliated with the
National Park Service.
After a hiatus spent raising young daughters, Carolyn stepped back into the
teaching role in 1995 at Russell Middle School, where she taught her favorite
grade and subject: 8th grade physical science. We all knew she had an 8th-grade
sense of humor, and shared her students’ interest in everything from saliva to
rockets. In 2000, Carolyn was named Russell’s Teacher of the Year.
Carolyn loved her students, and loved to explore new and better ways to teach
science. She had been contemplating a new career in landscape design—a field
in which she could exploit her passion for gardening, style and what she called
a “modest talent” for drawing. However, she hadn’t decided to retire yet
from teaching, and was looking forward to another year at Russell.
She spent her free time reading, gardening, watching old movies, petting
cats, going to the ocean and exploring the wonders of the natural world. We
loved her sense of humor and pie-making ability.
Carolyn Standish was born to James and Doris Gibson in Watsonville,
California, and grew up in Castro Valley. Since 1980 she had lived in Castle
Rock State Park with her husband, Miles. She is survived by her husband, Miles;
her mother, Doris; her sister, Elaine; and two daughters, Skye and Sierra.
A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held at Hakone Gardens between 5
p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15th, her 63rd birthday. The family
suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society.
In our ongoing effort to get some semblance of control over speeding
motorcycles, we are posting the phone number to use to report motorcycles that
are speeding or exhibiting other abhorrent behaviors (e.g. too loud). If
you witness a motorcycle that is operating outside the law, please call the CHP
reporting line at:
800-TELL CHP (835-5247)
The SSA Bulletin Board is now online. This is intended for the use
of SSA members and other residents of our mountain community. You can use the
bulletin board to talk to other residents about what's happening in your neighborhood,
announce events of local interest, look for lost pets, or whatever. If this sounds
interesting to you, visit the bulletin board here
or click on "Bulletin Board" on the button bar on the left.
It was reported at the August 19 SSA board meeting that there have been a several burglaries in the area around Page Mill Road/Skyline as well as the Las Cumbres
area. Keep an eye out for suspicious activity!
A Yahoo group has been formed for South Skyline. To join the South Skyline email group, send a
BLANK
message to:
SouthSkyline-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
No subject line is needed.
The subject of Barricade Fire Gel came up at an SSA meeting a year or two ago, at that
time it wasn't being distributed in California. There may not be a local distributor, but
it is sold on the Internet at Barricade
International. The cost is $199 for the basic kit with 3, 1 1/4-gallon bottles and
$150 for refill kits of 4 bottles (they recommend one bottle for 500-700 square feet of
wall). I just ordered (and received) the kits. The only caveat I have is that I'd like to
have asked them to ship UPS, they defaulted to FedEx at ~$60. Otherwise I'm happy with the
service.
~Ken Smith
Back at that time the local distributor was Allstar
Fire Equipment in Hayward. They now offer a number of alternative materials, so you
may also want to check in with them for the latest info.
Expect mid-June to be near the time for whacking YST. If you are
trying to reduce YST on or around your property, you should be getting ready. We
have collected information on the noxious weed commonly referred to as
Yellow Star Thistle. We now have a quick primer on
it, and numerous links to agencies and groups that have studied it and/or have
programs for eradicating it.
Several things are happening with
regard to high speed internet access. First, we have accumulated a little over 150
residents along Skyline that are keenly interested in getting high speed internet
access. This has gotten the attention of several providers. For more detail on
this; see our SSA Broadband Status Page.
