Local briefs

The Police Department will begin its red light photo enforcement program Monday and will have a 30-day grace period. Beginning May 11, actual $338 citations will be sent to violators.

The exact location of the camera is under wraps. However, police officials said previously that Hillsdale Boulevard and Saratoga Drive had 31 red light violations in a two-hour time frame during an informal study conducted in 2003. Other dangerous intersections the study listed were Tilton Avenue at El Camino Real, with 18 violations in two hours. At 17th Avenue and El Camino Real there were nine violations in an hour. There were 15 violations in two hours at Norfolk Street and Hillsdale Boulevard and five violations at 25th Avenue and El Camino Real in a half hour.

There were 380 accidents due to red light violations in the city of San Mateo between January 2000 and April 2004. In those accidents, 153 injuries were reported, according to San Mateo police.

SFO granted $20 million to update safety systems

SFO was awarded an additional $20 million in federal funds to make improvements to its runways and terminal, U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, announced Friday.

San Carlos and Half Moon Bay airports also received an additional $500,000 for safety upgrades.

The Department of Transportation grant to San Francisco International Airport will go toward widening taxiways to accommodate the new Airbus, runway lighting rehabilitation, security fence installation and terminal improvements so it can handle more passengers and baggage.

San Carlos Airport will receive $285,000 to install a perimeter fence and to repair roads and a drainage system. Half Moon Bay Airport will receive $250,000 to construct an access road, fix a taxiway, install a fence and make other upgrades.

This year's grant is in addition to $15.8 million released for San Mateo County airports last year.

Alleged Jehovah's Witness attacker held to answer

A San Bruno woman accused of yanking a Jehovah's Witness into her home and threatening her with a butcher knife will face a trial for the incident, Superior Court Judge Marie Seth Weiner ruled Friday.

Cathy Infusino, 52, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon for the alleged assault on Christmas Day of 2004.

The victim of the alleged attack testified against Infusino at a preliminary hearing Friday. The defense presented no evidence or testimony.

However, Infusino has claimed that she was the crime victim in the case, according to San Mateo County District Attorney's office. The Jehovah's Witness entered her home with a key and attempted to burglarize the property, according to Infusino's version of events.

The Jehovah's Witness' version of about what happened about 2 p.m. that Christmas afternoon differs from Infusino's version dramatically, according to the district attorney's office.

The 52-year-old Jehovah's Witness was out visiting homes in Infusino's San Bruno neighborhood when she knocked on Infusino's door, believing the home belonged to an acquaintance. Infusino answered the door and the victim apologized for her mistake.

Infusino allegedly then grabbed the woman and pulled her into the apartment. The victim noticed that Infusino had a butcher knife. She pushed Infusino away and escaped with only slight cut on her hand.

Infusino is out of custody on a $10,000 bail bond. She will return for Superior Court arraignment on April 29 at 8:30 a.m.

Mills-Peninsula named great place to work

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center was named the #1 best place to work in the Bay Area among companies with 350 or more employees by the Business Journal publications, CEO Bob Merwin announced Friday.

"This is a wonderful honor," Merwin said in a prepared statement. "It's great to confirm Mills-Peninsula employees are proud of their work and our organization. It's a known fact that happy employees provide better care and service to our patients."

The 100 Best Places to Work competition is sponsored by the Business Times Publication and Deloitte Consulting. Winners are chosen based on employee satisfaction surveys. The competition included more than 400 Bay Area companies, including Catholic Healthcare West, Kaiser Permanente, Clorox, genentech, Sybase, Coldwell Banker and Wells Fargo.

The top five in Mills-Peninsula's category included Stryker Endoscopy, Gordon and Rees LLP, Genentech and Webcor Builders.