The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded a $3.7 million grant to the city of San Jose to help local police departments install better communications systems to improve their capabilities for interoperability during terrorist attacks and other times of crisis.

The grant to San Jose was among $66.5 million in grants that were awarded to cities across the country by the Department of Justice.

"This grant will enable San Jose and our neighboring communities to work together to save lives and protect property of our residents," says San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales.

The federal funds will pay for wireless same-frequency radios, wide-band receivers and computers that can be added to existing radios and software that can channel together different frequencies onto a common network.

Art program names new leader in Lawnsby

With a background in the high-tech industry, Kerri Lawnsby is going back to her first love of art as the new executive director of Silicon Valley Open Studios. Lawnsby, a professional pastelist and painter, has a diversity of experiences that include leading a chapter of the Society for Technical Communication, exhibiting her art in New York City and launching a Bay Area quilt project in commemoration of Sept. 11.

Silicon Valley Open Studios is held the first three weekends in May annually. Hundreds of artists between the Peninsula region and Santa Cruz invite the public to their studios to showcase their artwork and sell some pieces. The open studios event was first held in 1985 and has grown to an attendance of about 5,000 patrons.

Be a safer two-wheel rider, take a skills class

San Jose is offering a free BikeEd course to help South Bay bicyclists improve their skills and become safer bicyclists on the road.

BikeEd is a national program sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. The city of San Jose Bicycle/Pedestrian Program offers two different courses on Nov. 21­22.

Street Skills is a three-and-a-half-hour class that discusses basic riding safety. Nationally certified instructors will teach bicyclists' legal rights and responsibilities. The class will also cover how to safely change lanes, cross intersections, ride at night, use public transit, and fix a flat tire.

Road 1 is a two-day course that combines the classroom education of the Street Skills class with an additional day that includes on-bike practice. It also includes both written and oral tests.

The Street Skills class will meet at 4 N. Second Street, Nov. 21, at 6:30 to 10 p.m. Road 1 requires attendance at the Nov. 21 class to participate in the Nov. 22 program. This class is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, contact John Brazil at john.brazil@ci.sj.ca.us.