Residents of Saratoga contributed 10,122 pounds of food to the 12th annual Help Stamp Out Hunger food drive on May 8. Mail carriers pick up canned goods and other food donations on that day as they delivered mail.

"I want to thank everybody for supporting our food drive," said Tony Cortese, president of Branch 193 of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Last year's food drive garnered 5,777 pounds in Saratoga. Overall, Cortese says mail carriers collected 52,000 more pounds of food this year than last year. In 2003, carriers represented by Branch 193 collected 125,596 pounds. This year it was 177,686 pounds.

Cortese credited increased awareness for the rise in donations, which go to Second Harvest Food Bank.

"We're looking forward to doing it again next year," he said.

Tree fall, causing
power outage

An uprooted tree caused a power outage to 15 homes in the Redwood Gulch area, off Big Basin Way, on May 17. Power supply was affected for more than two hours between 2 and 5 p.m., said a PG&E spokesman.

VTA seeks resident
input on traffic

The Valley Transportation Authority will hold a public meeting June 8 to solicit residents' input on transportation issues and problems. VTA representatives will be asking for information and opinions about traffic congestion, transit systems, expanded lanes and interchange improvements, what projects residents would and would not like to see, and any other transportation-related matters. The meeting will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Los Gatos Town Council Chambers at 110 E. Main St.

Seatbelt violators
will be targeted

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's office has warned that it will target seatbelt violators during Memorial Day weekend. The holiday period of May 28­31 includes the National Buckle-Up America week and is also part of the California Seatbelt Compliance campaign.

Saratoga is one of the areas the Sheriff's office will be focussing on.