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.

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.

A FORMER MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY STILL WANTS HIS JOB BACK. LOUIS PARKER LOST HIS POSITION IN 2002 AFTER HIS ASSAULT RIFLE ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED, AND HIT A SHOP OWNER. THE RIFLE WAS IN ITS BAG (BROUGHT IN FOR EMBROIDERY), WHEN IT HIT SHOP OWNER DONALD INGALLS. HE IS STILL RECOVERING FROM THE INCIDENT. EARLIER THIS YEAR, AN ARBITRATOR RECOMMENDED PARKER GET HIS JOB BACK. BUT THE MONTEREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DECIDED TO FOLLOW THE SHERIFF'S RECOMMENDATION, NOT TO ALLOW PARKER'S RETURN TO THE FORCE. AN INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE SAID, THE INCIDENT WAS AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING.

SOME FUNDS ARE COMING TO AN AREA NON PROFIT, THANKS TO TITLE X ESTABLISHED BY PRESIDENT NIXON. PLANNED PARENTHOOD MAR MONTE IS GETTING $84,000 TO EXPAND SERVICES AND EDUCATION FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. THE GRANT MONEY WAS AWARDED BECAUSE OF UNMET NEEDS IN THIS AREA.