CALIFORNIA'S FIRST LADY MARIA SHRIVER ANNOUNCED TODAY THE CREATION OF THE CALIFORNIA HEROIC FAMILIES HOLIDAY PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PRE-PAID PHONE SERVICE TO CALIFORNIA'S MILITARY PERSONNEL SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN, KUWAIT AND IRAQ, SO THEY CAN CALL THEIR LOVED ONES AT HOME DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. TO RECEIVE 66 MINUTES OF TALK TIME TO CALL LOVED ONES BACK HOME, CALIFORNIA MILITARY PERSONNEL WILL NEED TO SEND AN EMAIL TO This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . THE SERVICE MEMBER MUST INCLUDE HIS OR HER FULL NAME, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM OR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM LOCATION TO WHICH HE OR SHE IS ASSIGNED, A CALIFORNIA ADDRESS OR CALIFORNIA DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, AND A RETURN EMAIL ADDRESS. AAFES WILL SEND AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR AND FIRST LADY AND A PRE-PAID CARD PIN NUMBER. THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2005. ANYONE WISHING TO HELP OUR TROOPS BY DONATING A PRE-PAID PHONE CARD TO ANY SERVICE MEMBER CAN LOG ON TO WWW.AAFES.COM

AS 2004 COMES TO AN END, SO WILL A LOCAL OFFICE SUPPLY AND GIFT STORE BUSINESS. STATIONERY OUTLOOK, (IN SCOTTS VALLEY) MARKED THEIR 19TH ANNIVERSARY IN NOVEMBER, BUT THE RANSOM FAMILY WILL CONCENTRATE THEIR TIME ON ANOTHER FAMILY VENTURE SOON. THE PARENTS WILL RETIRE AND THEIR SONS WILL DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO THE OLD TIME COFFEE COMPANY, WHICH PROVIDES CORPORATE COFFEE SERVICES IN THE SILICON VALLEY. THE STATIONERY OUTLOOK, LOCATED IN THE KING'S VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER IS OFFERING 60-PERCENT-OFF PRICES STOREWIDE, UNTIL IT CLOSES DECEMBER 31ST.

CALTRANS CREWS WILL BE REPAVEING AROUND THE CLOCK FOR FIVE DAYS (IN SALINAS) STARTING MONDAY, AS PART OF THE HIGHWAY 68 REHABILITATION PROJECT. THE ROADWAY AT THE NORTH END OF THE PROJECT ALONG JOHN STREET (FROM MAIN TO ABBOTT) WILL BE WORKED ON THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST. THE OUTSIDE LANE (#2 SLOW) IN EACH DIRECTION OF HWY. 68 WILL BE PAVED FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE CENTER (#1 FAST) LANE. ONE LANE WILL REMAIN OPEN AT ALL TIMES. SOME BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, MAY BE ACCESSIBLE ONLY THROUGH SIDE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS. THE ENTIRE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE SPRING OF 2006.

STATE SENATOR JEFF DENHAM HAS INTRODUCED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 4, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE NON-PARTISAN. AS THE STATE'S CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS AN ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REMAIN ABOVE PARTISAN POLITICS. BUT, DENHAM SAYS, PARTISAN POLITICS HAS FOUND ITS WAY INTO THE BUSINESS OF STATE ELECTIONS RECENTLY WITH ACCUSATIONS OF TROUBLE AT THE CALIFORNIA SECRETARY OF STATE KEVIN SHELLEY'S OFFICE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY AT LEAST EIGHT DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONS OF CALIFORNIA'S ELECTIONS CHIEF BY STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS NOW SAY THEY MAY LAUNCH A FULL AUDIT OF THE WAY SHELLEY SPENT "HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT" FUNDS. IF DENHAM'S AMENDMENT PASSES, CALIFORNIA WOULD BE THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO HAVE A NON-PARTISAN SECRETARY OF STATE.