SANTA CRUZ CITY WORKERS REPLACED 16 STRANDS OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA YESTERDAY. THAT AFTER A VANDAL (OR VANDALS) SNIPPED THE STRANDS, JUST A WEEK AFTER CITY WORKERS FINISHED HANGING THEM (IN THE SYCAMORE AND CHERRY TREES) DOWNTOWN.

A DOG WAS RESCUED AFTER IT FELL ABOUT 25 FEET DOWN A CLIFF NEAR LONG MARINE LAB. THE BOXER-MIX, NAMED RIO, SUFFERED A BROKEN LEG. ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY HURTING, SHE WAS STILL WAGGING HER TAIL AFTER THE WHOLE ORDEAL.

3 PEOPLE WERE INJURED YESTERDAY, AFTER A DRIVER SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES TO STOP AN ARGUMENT THAT WAS TAKING PLACE BETWEEN HER PASSENGERS. 29 YEAR-OLD LISA MURPHY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON HIGHWAY 101 NORTH OF LOCKWOOD. 27 YEAR-OLD MONTEREY RESIDENT SUNNY PERKINS (WHO WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT) SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES WHEN SHE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. 28 YEAR-OLD BERKELEY RESIDENT CHRISTOPHER HORN SUFFERED MODERATE INJURIES. BOTH PERKINS AND HORN WERE AIR-LIFTED TO SAN JOSE MEDICAL CENTER, WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO MEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. MURPHY WAS ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF FELONY DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

THE WATSONVILLE-BASED GRANITE ROCK COMPANY RECEIVED SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR THEIR CHARITABLE EFFORTS. DURING A LUNCHEON ON MONDAY (AT THE INN AT SPANISH BAY), THE 13TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY AWARDS TOOK PLACE. AT THE LUNCHEON, GRANITE ROCK WAS RECOGNIZED AS OUTSTANDING CORPORATE PHILANTHROPIST. INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND BUSINESSES IN BOTH SANTA CRUZ AND MONTEREY COUNTIES WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AWARD. GRANITE ROCK WAS CHOSEN FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS INCLUDING THEIR MATCHING FUNDS PROGRAM. COMPANY EMPLOYEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO DONATE TO CHARITIES BY DOUBLING DONATIONS WHEN THEY ARE MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR BY THE COMPANY. LAST YEAR ALMOST 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS WENT TO CHARITIES THROUGH THE PROGRAM.