A CARMEL HIGHLANDS MAN IS AMONG THOSE NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR THIS YEAR. FILM COMPOSER ALAN SILVESTRI HAS HAD 3 OTHER NOMINATIONS, AND ALL OF THEM WORKING WITH TOM HANKS. SILVESTRI, WORKING WITH MUSIC PRODUCER GLEN BARD, WROTE "BELIEVE" FOR THE ANIMATED CHRISTMAS MOVIE "THE POLAR EXPRESS." THE FILM STARS AN ANIMATED VERSION OF HANKS, AND IS BASED ON THE AWARD WINNING CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS BOOK. IN IT A BOY'S FAITH IS REWARDED ONE CHRISTMAS EVE WHEN HE'S AWAKENED BY A STEAM TRAIN THAT PULLS UP IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE, AND TAKES HIM AND OTHER CHILDREN TO THE NORTH POLE. OTHER SILVESTRI OSCAR NOMINATIONS INCLUDE MUSIC FROM "FORREST GUMP" AND "CASTAWAY."

EARLY THIS MORNING, SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED A 100 MILLION DOLLAR PROPOSAL, TO BUILD A CONTROVERSIAL HOTEL EXPANSION IN THE AREA OF THE SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK. THE 4 TO 3 VOTE MEANS THE 163 ROOM HOTEL (THAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS THE DREAM INN) ON WEST CLIFF DRIVE CAN BE TORN DOWN, AND A NEW 260-ROOM HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER (AS WELL AS A 6-STORY PARKING GARAGE) COULD BE BUILT. THE PROPOSAL WILL HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

A POLICY SUMMIT, CALLED "GO FOR HEALTH" WILL BE HELD IN APTOS FRIDAY. THE LOCAL CRISIS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH POLICYMAKERS AT TEMPLE BETH EL, LOCATED AT 3055 PORTER GULCH ROAD IN APTOS STARTING AT 9 A.M. MARY LOU GAYKE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNITED WAY IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, SAYS CONGRESSMAN SAM FARR, AND ASSEMBLY MEMBERS JOHN LAIRD AND SIMON SALINAS WILL SERVE AS CO-HOSTS FOR THE EVENT. THE SUMMIT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POLICYMAKERS TO DISCUSS THE UNPRECEDENTED RISE IN CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

IN AN UPDATE TO A PREVIOUS STORY, KSCO NEWS HAS LEARNED THAT THE 13-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO BROUGHT A GUN TO PACIFIC GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL , WAS THE SON OF A SEASIDE POLICE OFFICER. THE BOY BROUGHT A .25-CALIBER SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL AND AMMUNITION CLIP TO SCHOOL, BUT ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS, IT WAS NOT THE OFFICER'S SERVICE REVOLVER. IT WAS A GUN FROM HIS FATHER'S PERSONAL COLLECTION. THE 8TH GRADER SHOWED OFF THE GUN TO SCHOOL MATES, AND ONE CHILD PASSED THE INFORMATION ON TO HIS PARENTS WHO ALERTED AUTHORITIES. SINCE THE INCIDENT INVOLVES A POLICE OFFICER, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE IS NOW HANDLING THE INVESTIGATION.