ABOUT 12 HUNDRED PEOPLE TURNED OUT FOR SATURDAY?S GRAND FINALE OF THE 8TH ANNUAL VALLEY OF THE WORLD WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL IN SALINAS. SATURDAY?S EVENT, WHICH SHOWCASED MONTEREY COUNTY WINES AND FOODS, WAS HELD AT THE NATIONAL STEINBECK CENTER. ROTARY PRESIDENT MARK KENNEDY SAYS THE EVENT HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY EACH YEAR. THE MONEY RAISED BY THIS EVENT WILL MOSTLY GO TOWARDS AREA CHARITIES THAT THE ROTARY CLUB SUPPORTS, ALTHOUGH 20 PERCENT OF IT WILL GO TO THE STEINBECK CENTER.

WILLIE NELSON WILL BE IN THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ TONIGHT. HE WAS QUIETLY BOOKED INTO A SOLD OUT SHOW AT THE CATALYST ON PACIFIC AVENUE. THE MAIN DANCE HALL AT THE CATALYST IS 5000 SQUARE FEET, NOT INCLUDING BALCONIES, AND CAN HOLD ABOUT 800 PEOPLE.

SACRAMENTO LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR CHANGES TO MAKE THE CALIFORNIA MILITARY RELIEF FUND MORE USER FRIENDLY. THE FUND WAS SET UP TO GIVE FINANCIAL HELP TO THE FAMILIES OF ACTIVATED NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS, BUT A RECENT STUDY FINDS ONLY 3 FAMILIES USED IT IN 2005. 7,000 SOLDIERS WERE ACTIVATED FOR DUTY IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN AND OTHER LOCATIONS, AND 55 PER CENT OF THOSE FAMILIES REPORTED A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN INCOME. BUT ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL GUARD'S DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, THE PROGRAM IS TOO RESTRICTIVE. HE SUGGESTS THAT RELIEF BE ISSUED SOLELY ON NEED, NOT MATHEMATICAL FORMULAS.

THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ HAS FUNDING AVAILABLE TO ASSIST LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS WITH REPAIRS. THE FUNDS COME FROM THE STATE CALHOME PROGRAM, AND CAN ALSO BE USED TO HELP FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS WITH THEIR PURCHASE. THE FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED ON PROPERTIES LOCATED IN 2 SPECIFIC CENSUS TRACTS WITHIN THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ. APPLICANTS MUST EARN 80 % LESS THAN THE MEDIAN INCOME. LOCAL RESIDENTS CAN FIND OUT IF THEY QUALIFY, BY CALLING THE SANTA CRUZ HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION AT (831) 420-5109.