It's time to get down and dirty for the 2003 Coastal Clean-Up Day, sponsored by the Creek Connections Action Group. Volunteers are needed on Sept. 20 to help beautify creeks throughout Santa Clara County, including Saratoga's Wildcat and Calabazas creeks and the Los Gatos Creek at Vasona County Park. Interested volunteers should report to the desired creek site at 9 a.m. and dress accordingly in comfortable shoes. Sunscreen application is advised. Creek supplies and refreshments will be provided.

In the previous year, more than 1,200 volunteers showed up and collected 30,000 pounds of trash from 25 sites, of which 325 pounds of trash and 300 pounds of recyclable items were found at the creeks in Saratoga. Close to 162 volunteers gathered approximately 2,750 pounds of trash from the Los Gatos Creek. For more information about the event or for more listings of creek sites, call 408.265.2607 ext.2238 or visit http://www.cleanacreek.org.


It's Sister City membership time

Residents who belong to the Saratoga Sister City organization have until October to renew their memberships. Fees range from $25 for basic individual membership to $40 for a family package and $50 for organizations. Members in the club meet on a quarterly basis and take part in a number of Japanese-related events, including meetings with special guest speakers and yearly trips. The club will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with its sister city in Muko, Japan, in the coming year. Currently the club has 210 members. Those interested in joining can contact the committee's chairwoman, Aki Okuno, at 408.867.4297.


Academy accepts interested youths

Applications for the West Side Substation's annual Teen Academy program are due on Sept. 14. The academy is open to students in the Saratoga, Prospect and Cupertino high schools. Interested youths can pick up applications at their schools or call Deputy Eileen Phares at 408.868.6600.