Saratoga News

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Operation Reindeer seeking donations

The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross needs residents' help with Operation Reindeer, a program in which more than 75 needy families in the West Valley area receive boxes filled with food and gifts.

Operation Reindeer has been in Saratoga and Los Gatos for more than 20 years and is a joint effort of PenWest and the West Valley Advisory Committee of the American Red Cross. Checks can be made out to Operation Reindeer ARC and mailed to the American Red Cross at 2731 N. First St., San Jose, 95134.

Council approves traffic study request

The Saratoga City Council approved a request Dec. 9 for proposals for a traffic study to be conducted in the Prides Crossing area of Saratoga. The council is seeking ideas from traffic and planning engineering consultants for how to handle increased traffic along residential streets in the area--including Miller Avenue and other streets between Highway 85, Cox Avenue and Prospect Road--and how to create guidelines for determining when other areas are in need of "traffic-calming."

The search for a consultant stems from complaints by Miller Avenue residents, who have said that traffic volume and speeds have become dangerous since the opening of Highway 85 in 1994.

Council touches on massage ordinance

A draft for a new massage-establishment ordinance that would create a strict permit process for people and businesses wanting to engage in the practice of massage within the city was discussed by the Saratoga City Council Dec. 9. No decisions were made, but the council plans to revisit it Jan. 13.

The city already has an ordinance for such businesses, but the new ordinance is more thorough, calling for a physical exam and annual practical exam of massage practitioners by a local physician. Practitioners can forego the exams if they have completed 300 hours of education and training at a recognized school and passed the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage, which must be taken every four years.

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