Saratoga News

News Briefs

Redwood school student beaten

An 11-year-old Redwood Middle School student was called names, punched, held down and kicked by four other students Dec. 5 at noon on campus. The boy, who suffered minor injuries, managed to get away and run for help. His parents filed a police report, and the students who attacked him were cited, said Redwood's principal, Dick Derby.

The four children involved, two sixth-graders and two eighth-graders, also were suspended from Redwood for two days.

"Scuffles and disagreements do occur at this level of school," said Derby. "But we do have a safe school. This is not the routine."

Water District adopts water supply plan

Santa Clara County's water supply looks good for the next 20 years, thanks to a long-term plan adopted Dec. 10 by the Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors.

The Integrated Water Resources Plan was developed over the last 10 months to maintain water supply into the future. Key elements of the plan are water banking, water transfers, water recycling and water conservation that will be phased into operation through the year 2020.

To receive a copy of the plan, call Jim Fiedker at 265-2607.

City Council seeks comfortable chairs

Saratoga City Council members are uncomfortable on the job, but think they've gotten to the bottom of what is causing their discomfort.

The council agreed at last week's meeting to start using different chairs at their meetings in the Civic Theater.

According to City Manager Harry Peacock, the subject came up when newly elected Councilman Jim Shaw mentioned how uncomfortable the chairs are. Peacock said other councilmembers agreed, and they decided to begin bringing chairs from City Hall's Administration Room over to the Civic Theater for future meetings.

Peacock said staff will look into the cost of replacing the current chairs , but will not plan on spending money on new chairs anytime soon.

Don't drive, don't burn

Harmful particles, so small they can be breathed deeply into the lungs, are at highest levels on cold, still winter evenings.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District wants area residents to cut back on habits that create more of the particles when weather makes them linger in the air, because the particles can cause respiratory and cardiopulmonary diseases if inhaled.

Woodburning and car exhaust are the biggest sources of harmful particles.

The district will announce when the level of harmful particles is dangerously high, to encourage Bay Area residents to avoid fires and driving. Alternatives are gas-burning fireplaces and canceling unnecessary road trips.

A wood-burning handbook by the air district explains the cleanest ways of using fireplaces and wood stoves. For a copy, or to find out if tonight is a "spare the air" night, call (800)HELP-AIR.

Toilet Rebate

The Santa Clara Valley Water District wants to convince residents to install ultra-low-flush toilets.

Those who hook up one of the futuristic johns before the end of the year can get a $75 rebate from their water company, which will be reimbursed by the water district. Call 265-2607.