News Briefs
Post office to hold annual food drive
Saratogans are encouraged to leave out canned foods and dry goods for their U.S. Postal Service mail carriers May 11 in addition to any outgoing letters they may have.
May 11 is the annual National Letter Carriers Association food drive, and Saratoga's mail carriers will be participating by picking up food placed in paper bags at the street curbs on that day. The carriers will take the food back to the post office, where it will be picked up by Second Harvest Food Bank later that weekend, said Postmaster Curtis Jewell.
According to Jewell, many Saratogans have participated in the food drive over the years, providing food to those in need during the summer months-when food bank pantries tend to go empty more frequently than during the holidays. He is hoping for a similar response this year, but asks that participants not donate any perishable items or food stored in glass containers.
Portable skatepark purchase approved
Saratoga's youth will have a whole new challenge this summer: trying out the city's new portable skatepark.
The city council on May 1 approved the purchase of the $20,685 skatepark, which will be available to Saratogans when school gets out for the summer. Recreation director Joan Pisani said that her staff ordered the park May 2, with delivery expected to take about a month. The city will hold a grand opening June 17 at the civic center.
The staff is still identifying locations for the weekly rotation of the park throughout the summer, Pisani said. A complete calendar will be available, as well as required release of liability forms, on the city's website in the next few weeks.
Candle warning from county fire
While candles may be popular and attractive sources of light, they still need to be treated as potential fire hazards.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department is reminding residents to follow some basic safety techniques to reduce the risk of fires caused by candles. Last year, 11 fires in the county last year were caused by candles-five of those fires started in teenagers' bedrooms.
"On a national level, there's a huge increase in fires caused by candles," department spokeswoman Christie Moore said. "We're feeling it locally, too. And it's easily preventable."
The department is asking residents to make sure that burning candles are not within a foot of anything flammable, to not leave burning candles unattended, to make sure wicks are trimmed to prevent high flames and intense heat, to extinguish flames before they get too close to their holders and to not allow children or teens to have candles in their rooms.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
