Saratoga News

News Briefs

Interfaith Thanksgiving community service set

The 31st Saratoga Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service will be held on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 12770 Saratoga Ave.

Preacher at the 10 a.m. service will be the Rev. Judith Stone, new pastor of Grace United Methodist in Saratoga.

The service is sponsored by the churches and synagogue of Saratoga and is a time of singing, prayer, scripture and thanksgiving. The service will be followed by a fellowship time with refreshments for all who attend.

A choir composed of musicians from the hosting congregations will furnish special music under direction of Barbara Day Turner, director of music at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

Sponsoring congregations for this service are: Ascension Roman Catholic Church, Congregation Beth David, Grace United Methodist Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, Saratoga Federated Church, Saratoga United Presbyterian Church, Westhope Presbyterian Church and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

Ruby, Hunter return to SUSD board

Cindy Ruby and Jill Hunter will serve another four years on the Saratoga Union School District elementary-school board. Because Hunter and Ruby ran unopposed, the district extended their terms.

Ruby, current board president, will serve a second term on the five-member board, and Hunter will serve a third term. The board is responsible for determining policy and managing the budget for Saratoga's elementary schools, including Redwood Middle School.

Two elected to the LGSJUHSD board

Voters on Nov. 5 elected Lorrie Wernick and Jackie Schmidt-Posner to the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District board with nearly identical vote counts.

Each trustee will serve a four-year term.

Wernick received 9,030 votes (33.4 percent), and Schmidt-Posner tallied 9,029 votes (33.4 percent).

Candidate Lynne Woodruff Bauer captured 5,144 votes (19 percent), and candidate Cassandra Huston earned 3,810 votes (14.1 percent)

Wernick, a Los Gatos resident, expressed enthusiasm about her election.

Schmidt-Posner, also a Los Gatos resident, said she is "delighted to have the opportunity to serve."

the schools and the district."

Baby, it's cold outside...

The Humane Society of Santa Clara County is looking for few good blankets.

As Saratogans begin unpacking their winter linens, the Humane Society is hoping residents will consider donating spare blankets or towels to use for lost or stray pets brought to the shelter.

The items provide warmth, security and comfort to the animals that end up in the shelter's unfamiliar environment.

The nonprofit Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley is the largest animal shelter on the West Coast. To donate a towel or a blanket, drop by the shelter at 2530 Lafayette St. in Santa Clara.

For information, call 727-3383.

City Council OKs fee increase for weed abatement

The Saratoga City Council on Nov. 6 approved a 43 percent fee increase levied on some property owners to pay for Santa Clara County's weed-abatement program.

"We haven't raised costs since 1983," Lisa Brown, Santa Clara County's weed-abatement supervisor, told the council. "We need to raise costs in order to make up a deficit that has been created."

The weed-abatement program is designed to reduce potential fire hazards by removing excessive brush and debris from properties identified by county inspectors as having a problem. Brown said that notices are being sent to residents this month. If the owner takes no action, the county will begin weed abatement in March, Brown said.

The average cost per parcel in Saratoga will rise more than $75, from $179.18 to $255.51. Brown said the new fees are competitive with the cost of a private contractor to perform the same work, which is an option for property owners who don't choose to do the work themselves.

This year, 681 parcels were inspected, and 79 were abated. Projections for next year are similar.