The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, is seeking volunteers to serve on the 2004­05 civil grand jury.

Thomas Hansen, presiding judge, has announced that residents who have lived in this county for one year and who are United States citizens 18 years of age or older, may apply for service. The one-year term will begin on June 24.

The civil grand jury is the county's investigative body and is an arm of the court.

The major function of the grand jury is to carry out its civil watchdog responsibilities by examining all aspects of county and city government and special districts, including school districts.

Grand jury service requires a significant amount of time from June 2004 through June 2005—approximately 20 to 25 hours per week, and frequently more.

Anyone interested in more information or in obtaining an application for the Civil Grand Jury should call Gloria Alicia Chacon, executive assistant to the Grand Jury, at 408.882.2721 or visit www.sccsuperiorcourt.org/jury/gj.html.

The deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 6.

Court civil cases now online

Santa Clara County Superior Court officials have announced that information about pending civil and family court cases, including court calendars, is now available on the Internet.

The information can be accessed at www.sccaseinfo.org.

Case information can be located using a date range, case number, case title, party's name, attorney's name or court department number. The website is updated daily at 7 a.m., according to the court clerk's office.

Certain types of cases protected by confidentiality laws, including adoptions, juvenile dependency and delinquency, confidential paternity and recent unlawful detainees, do not appear on the website. And information about cases that have been sealed by a judge is not available.

Officials hope to expand the website to include information about traffic cases in September 2004 and criminal cases in June 2005.

Residents can find out
why helicopter is flying

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office routinely receives emails and phone messages from concerned residents, inquiring why a helicopter is flying around their neighborhood.

The sheriff's department has an arrangement with the San Jose Police Department's helicopter unit to provide air coverage seven days a week throughout the county.

In addition to special assignments, the helicopter, which is called STAR 1, may help ground units on traffic enforcement stops and calls for service.

To find out why the helicopter is in a neighborhood, call the 24-hour non-emergency number 408.299.3233 as the activity is occurring.

Guitar, sitar duet comes to Sunnyvale

String instruments from different parts of the globe are coming together Feb. 6 and 7 at the Sunnyvale Community Theater, 550 E. Remington Dr.

The Ancient Future Sitar and Guitar Jugalbandi, which in Hindi means "music for two," brings together pioneer guitar player Matthew Montfort and sitar player Ustad Habib Khan for two nights of harmony and innovation.

Both shows are at 8 p.m. For tickets or information call 408.733.6611.

S'vale preschool
holds open-house

Parents interested in enrolling their children in Sunnyvale Parent Preschool for the fall are encouraged to attend the school's open house presentations, Feb. 9 to Feb. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

The school, where children and their parents learn and explore together, is for students ages 2 to 5 years.

The school is located at 1515 Partridge Ave.

All interested parents are encouraged to stop by or contact the school at 408.736.8043.

Annual Indian dance contest at Flint

The Sikh Student Association at UC-Berkeley will hold one of the biggest college bhangra (an Indian dance) competitions in the nation—Dhol Di Awaz.

With more than 2,000 people attending every year, Dhol Di Awaz will be held Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at DeAnza's Flint Center.

Teams from across the nation will come for the chance to win.

For more information, see the website www.dholdiawaz.com.