News Briefs
County installs 'rat-boxes'
People driving on El Camino Real between Santa Clara and Los Altos will soon need to pay more attention to the changing colors of traffic lights. Safety officials and police in Santa Clara County recently announced a $1.45 million plan to curb red light running at seven El Camino intersections including San Antonio Road, Grant Road, Mathilda Avenue, Wolfe Road, Halford Avenue, Lawrence Expressway and San Tomas Expressway.
The county has decided to install 'rat boxes' on many area traffic lights. The boxes, installed on the back of traffic lights, allow public safety officers to see what color the light is without being in front of it where it is harder to catch the offender. County officials hope these 'rat-boxes' will curb the number of those hurt or slain during 'right light' accidents. Since 1996, 24 people have been killed and more than 9000 injured in right-light accidents in Santa Clara County.
This is the second phase of Santa Clara County's efforts to decrease right-light deaths. Rat boxes were installed earlier this year at five intersections in the West Valley. Studies show that red-light running declined at those intersections.
'Falun Dafa Day' declared
Sunnyvale Mayor Pat Vorreiter recently named Oct. 5, 2000, 'Falun Dafa Day.' Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, is an ancient Chinese exercise that is said to improve health, reduce stress and increase energy. This date was chosen because it is the fourth anniversary of Falun Dafa founder Li Hongzhi's visit to Sunnyvale's Ortega Park during his first trip to the United States.
Last Saturday the Falun Dafa practitioners in Northern California held an all-day event to honor this day. The celebrations were held in Ortega Park, which has become a popular practice sight for local practitioners of Falun Dafa. Events consisted of a group practice, exercise teaching, an official ceremony, lunch and experience sharing.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
