Lynne Gurley led the first Saratoga historical walking tour of 2004 on April 4, and Willys Peck will lead the next on May 2. The 60- to 90-minute walks begin at 2 p.m. at the Historical Museum on Saratoga­Los Gatos Road across from Federated Church.

Museum docents lead tour-goers up Oak Street and back down Big Basin Way, visiting historical homes, the Madronia Cemetery and other landmarks along the way. Tours are led the first Sunday of every month from April through November.

For more information, or to book private tours, call Linda Hagelin at 408.867.3763.

Senior center will
host luncheon

The Saratoga Senior Center will host a pledge luncheon on May 6 from noon to 1 p.m. There are no tickets being sold, as executive director Genie Dee said the event is a no-pressure attempt to educate people about the center and offer them an opportunity to make pledges of support. For more information, contact the center at 408.868.1257.

Retail occupancy
is on the rise

Danielle Surdin, Saratoga's economic development coordinator, announced at the March 30 meeting of the Saratoga Business Development Council that retail vacancies in Saratoga, particularly in the Village, are filling in. She said there are only three unoccupied retail sites in the Big Basin Way area, and only a few in the Gateway commercial district on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. Though she said there are more office vacancies, there has been an increase in home-based businesses.

County fair entries
being accepted

The 2004 Santa Clara County Fair is now accepting exhibit entry forms. Entries may be judged in the categories of floriculture, agriculture, home arts, junior exhibits, junior livestock and small animals. For information on registering, visit www.thefair.org or call the exhibits office at 408.494.3134. Entries for the Aug. 6­8 fair must be postmarked or delivered to the office by July 1.