SOME OF AN AWARD WINNING LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER?S WORKS ARE CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY IN WATSONVILLE. SENTINEL PHOTOGRAPHER SHMUEL THALER?S PICTURES (OF THIS YEAR?S MAVERICK?S BIG WAVE CONTEST) CAN BE SEEN AT THE BAY PHOTO LAB IN THE WATSONVILLE SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER ON MAIN STREET. BAY PHOTO IS OPEN FROM 9 A.M. UNTIL 7 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, FROM 10 A.M. UNTIL 5 P.M. SATURDAY, AND FROM 11 A.M. UNTIL 5 P.M. ON SUNDAYS.

FREE DOG BEHAVIOR/TRAINING SESSIONS ARE HELD REGULARLY FOR SELECTED DOG OWNERS IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY. PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESCUED A DOG FROM A SHELTER (OR RESCUE GROUP) ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE SESSIONS, WHICH ARE HELD IN THE LIVE OAK SENIOR CENTER, THE FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (831) 475 - 1580.

A CONTROLLED BURN IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE TODAY (FROM 9 A.M. UNTIL 2 A.M.) IN MONTEREY COUNTY. BY CLEARING OUT THE BRUSH THE INDIAN SPRINGS BURN THE DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF WILDFIRES THERE LATER IN THE YEAR. THE SMOKE FROM THIS CONTROLLED BLAZE IS EXPECTED TO BE VISIBLE FOR SEVERAL MILES FROM THE ACTUAL BURN SITE.

THE STATE ASSEMBLY HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED ASSEMBLYMAN JOHN LAIRD?S LEGISLATION AB - 983. THE BILL WOULD EXTEND (BY TWO YEARS) THE PILOT PROGRAM CURRENTLY IN PLACE IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, THAT PROVIDES LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS WITH DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. AB - 983 NOW MOVES TO THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION.