News Digest News Digest (January 06, 2006)

New postal rates in effect Sunday

Starting Jan. 8, your 37-cent stamps will be obsolete. The U.S. Postal Service is adding 2 cents to the price of a stamp on a 1-oz. letter in its first rate increase since 2002. In addition to the new 39-cent stamps, all postal rates will increase 5.4 percent across-the-board. For example, it will now cost 24-cents to mail a postcard, up from 23-cents; a half-pound Express Mail package will cost $14.40, up from $13.65; Money Orders (up to $500) will be $.95, up from $.90; and it will cost $2.40 to mail a Certified letter, up from $2.30. Seasonally sad

Those who've experienced the death of a loved one may be finding the holiday season particularly tough. Hope Hospice Children and Family Grief Support Services has new classes starting later this month. Beginning Jan. 26, children ages 5-17 and those ages 9-12 will meet for eight weeks at Hope Hospice, 6500 Dublin Blvd., Suite 214, and the teen group begins Jan. 25. The orientation for parents and guardians will be from 7-8:30 Jan. 24. There is no fee, but donations are welcome. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 829-8770. Youth Music Festival auditions

At 6 p.m. Thursday Jan. 26, the city's Civic Arts department will hold auditions for the Fourth Annual Pleasanton Youth Music Festival. The auditions are by appointment at the Amador Theater at Amador valley High School, 1155 Santa Rita Road. Although no bands will be included this year, vocalists, instrumentalists and vocal groups under the age of 18 are encouraged to participate. The competition is open to Pleasanton youth only. A future rock band revue is being researched. To schedule an audition appointment, call Mark Duncanson at 931-3481. The Festival will take place at 8 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Amador Theater.

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