by Ernesto Morales
Laura Wells
The OASIS Program, which offers mental health services to seniors, gained national recognition.
Recently, two high-level geriatric mental health organizations, The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation and the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry awarded the OASIS Program the GMHF/AAGP Deidre Johnson Award, a $10,000 grant for its outstanding service to the community.
The OASIS Program, which has been around for over 20 years, has provided at-home mental health services to older adults dealing with multiple health issues, such as complex medical conditions, substance abuse and other challenges.
The San Mateo organization will receive its award on March 5th when they get recognized at the AAGP Annual Meeting in Georgia.
Oakland resident to run for Governor
An Oakland resident held a kicked off party to announce her intentions to run for Governor for 2010 as member of the Green Party.
Laura Wells, 62, spoke to a group of people at La Estrellita Restaurant in Oakland on Feb. 1, where she discussed, among other things, her plan to fi x the state’s fi nancial mess, universal healthcare, the environment, education, and job growth.
Wells, a former fi nancial and business analyst, is an expert in stock, bonds, pension funds, and real estate. In 2002, Wells received 420, 000 votes, the most by any Green candidate, when she ran in the partisan statewide race.
Latin American airlines AVIANCA, TACA merge
In a move to provide its passengers more and better services, Colombia’s AVIANCA Airlines and El Salvador’s TACA Airlines officially merged operations. Airline offi cials plan to create the largest and most comprehensive passenger and cargo networks in Latin America, with the hope of offering more destinations from its hubs in Bogota, El Salvador, San Jose de Costa Rica, and Lima.
AVIANCA and TACA produce nearly $3 billion annually. The airlines currently fly to over 100 destinations worldwide, including 75 cities within Latin America.
Roberto Kriete, newly elected president of theboard of directors for the joint venture, said the merger adds to the vision the airlines are seeking.
“This joint work will allow us to consolidate the integration spirit that has always inspired our presence in the commercial aviation,” said Kriete.
