Reacting to recent headlines about child abductions and molestations, the city of San Jose is considering better availability of local sex offenders' records.

San Jose City Council members are tentatively scheduled to look at the city's handling of Megan's Law at the council's Nov. 4 meeting. According to Vice Mayor Pat Dando, the council will examine a plan to place on the Internet photographs, residential block numbers and descriptions of crimes of the 32 "high-risk sex offenders" who live in San Jose. "Those 32 are the most likely to re-offend," Dando says, adding that "high-risk" is defined as those with at least one sexual offense and other criminal offenses.

The Megan's Law registry is currently available at community policing stations—at Westfield Shoppingtown Oakridge for Almaden residents—but Dando says placing some of the records online will allow for better supervision of children. "If [the plan] does happen, it will be one of the few in the state," she says.

The agenda and time will be finalized closer to the date of the meeting, and is available online at http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/agenda.htm.


Benazir Bhutto to speak in San Jose

The YWCA in Santa Clara Valley will present its 13th annual Professional Women's Luncheon (PWL) on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. This year's keynote speaker will be Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan.

The Professional Women's Luncheon, with a reputation as the most powerful nonprofit luncheon in the valley, is the YWCA's major fundraiser. The funds are used to support the organization's community programs and services that annually serve more than 25,000 women and families in transition.

The YWCA in Santa Clara Valley expects to seat more than 2,000 people this year and exceed last year's contributions of $440,000.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Guests may attend by calling the YWCA and making a contribution to the YWCA in Santa Clara of at least $150. For more information, contact Cynthia Zbin at 408.295.4011 x216 or czbin@ywca-scv.org.


Workshop on bulbs for spring gardens

The Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens will be hosting a seminar on planting and growing bulbs on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 to11:30 a.m., that will help backyard gardeners enhance yards and gardens. The class will discuss soil preparation, site selection and the wide variety of bulbs available to ensure success for spring gardens, as well as how to "force" bulbs into bloom for the holidays.

The class costs $8 for Friends' members and $10.00 for non-members. Space is limited. For more information, call 408.298.7657.