If you'd like to make a call to City Hall...
If you've been trying to call City Hall lately, you've noticed a change. Callers trying to reach city offices by dialing 867-3438 are reaching a recording telling them to use a new phone number, 868-1200. Many extensions that used to be routed through a main number can now be dialed directly; for example, the Senior Center can be reached dialing 868-1257, instead of at extension 257 at the old main phone number.
Saratoga Finance Director Thomas Fil said the change was made for efficiency and convenience. "The first reason was to provide for direct access to individuals and departments," he said, "and the second reason was because we wanted to allow for the integration of our new computer system and our telephone system."
Councilwoman Ann Marie Burger said she would like to make residents aware that because of the change to a new system, voicemail messages left for councilmembers late last week were lost. "So, if you called late last week, please call again," she said.
A warning: Keep the pets inside on Oct. 31
The Humane Society of Santa Clara County wants to remind Saratoga pet owners to keep their pets, especially cats, inside their homes over the Halloween holiday.
According to Marcia Mayeda, the society's director of animal care services, cats are often the target for thoughtless or cruel pranks on Halloween because of the mythology connecting cats to the holiday.
"People mistreat black cats around this holiday, either by giving them away as gifts or by torturing or even killing them," she said.
The Humane Society will practice what it preaches--all black and white cats at the shelter adopted between Oct. 25 and Nov. 3 will be held at the shelter to keep them from becoming Halloween horror stories. When the holiday is over, the kitties can go to their new homes.
Free Halloween party for children at Westgate Mall
Little kids in costume are invited to Westgate Mall for a free Halloween Party on Oct. 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. The event features safe trick-or-treating at more than 25 mall stores, free pumpkin treat bags and balloons, face painting and a Halloween magic show at 6 and 7 p.m.
In addition, kids can have their photos taken in costumes. Westgate is covering photo costs, so the $2 donation per photo goes to Second Harvest Food Bank.Westgate Mall is located at the crossroads of Saratoga, Hamilton and Campbell avenues in San Jose.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, October 23, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved