THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS A DELEGATION OF NATIONAL AND STATE LIBRARY LEADERS, WILL BE ATTENDING TONIGHT?S ?SAVE SALINAS LIBRARIES? MEETING. MICHAEL GORMAN, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE A.L.A., SAYS HE HAS HIGH HOPES THAT THINGS CAN BE WORKED OUT SO THE 3 SALINAS LIBRARIES CAN NOT ONLY SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE. THE MEETING IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 6:30 P.M. THIS EVENING, AT THE MADONNA DEL SASSO PARISH HALL. THAT?S LOCATED AT 320 LAUREL DRIVE IN SALINAS.

AFTER 6 YEARS, A LOCAL NON-PROFIT HAS FINALLY SECURED THE TITLE TO A 14 ACRE-PARCEL OF LAND. ESCROW CLOSED ON THE HISTORIC REDMAN HOUSE, WHICH IS A VICTORIAN MANSION ON WATSONVILLE?S OUTSKIRTS. THAT MEANS THE REDMAN FOUNDATION IS NOW READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FIRST PHASE OF THE BUILDING?S RESTORATION.

ALTHOUGH THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 75 THOUSAND DOLLARS, THEY WILL BE HOLDING A SERIES OF FUNDRAISERS, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS TOMORROW. IT WILL BE A SILENT AUCTION, AND WILL BE HELD AT THE AT COAST COMMERCIAL BANK ON GREEN VALLEY ROAD IN WATSONVILLE.

A MAJOR STATE AND FEDERAL CRACKDOWN ON UNSCRUPULOUS MARKETERS OF WORK-AT-HOME SCAMS HAS PRODUCED RESULTS. ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL LOCKYER TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT 200 OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL OR CIVIL VIOLATIONS OF FRAUD AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS, IN AN ENFORCEMENT SWEEP, KNOWN AS PROJECT BIZ OPP. FLOP. CONSUMERS ARE BEING WARNED TO BE WARY OF TELEVISION, RADIO OR NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS THAT PROMOTE CAN?T-MISS ?BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES? THAT WILL BRING THEM LOTS OF MONEY IF THEY BUY A PRODUCT AND RESELL IT TO THE PUBLIC. IN THE CALIFORNIA CASES, THE DEFENDANTS DEFRAUDED VICTIMS OUT OF MORE THAN $250,000. IN MANY CASES A LIFETIME OF SAVINGS WAS WIPED OUT. CALIFORNIA EFFORTS TO FIND THE FRAUDULENT MARKETERS WERE JOINED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN 13 OTHER STATES, THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND THE U.S. POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE.

A FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY 1 EARLY THIS MORNING. 1 PERSON HAS BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD, WHILE 2 MORE WERE AIRLIFTED TO STANFORD MEDICAL CENTER, AFTER THE 3:46 A.M. ACCIDENT (JUST NORTH OF STATE PARK DRIVE) IN APTOS.