News Digest News Digest (January 30, 2004)

County gets romantic

The Alameda County Clerk-Recorder office, 1106 Madison St., Oakland, will be open Valentine's Day, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, to both issue marriage licenses and perform marriages. The marriage license fee is $79, which includes one certified copy, and the ceremony fee is $50. Both cash and checks are accepted. Interested couples should call for an appointment, (510) 272-6362. Cops working for tips

Pleasanton's finest will be serving the community, but they will be armed with water glasses and menus as the police officers participate in Tip a Cop, a volunteer fundraising effort to raise donations for the Special Olympics. Uniformed officers will take on the role of servers at Chili's Grill, 4801 Hopyard Road, from 6-9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 5, to work for tips that will be donated to Special Olympics. In addition to the officers, dispatchers, reserve officers and explorers will also be volunteer servers.

Funds raised will provide equipment and uniforms for local athletes to compete, as well as help defer expenses for the athletes to compete in regional and international games, said Officer Jerry Niceley. For more information, contact Niceley at 931-5100. Red Cross needs blood donors

If giving blood was one of your New Year resolutions, this is the time to do it. The local Red Cross has put out an appeal for donors to help fill a critical shortage. More than 60 percent of the population is eligible to give blood, but only 5 percent do, according to Sara O'Brien of the American Red Cross' Oakland office. She said one donation of blood may be able to save up to three lives.

The local Red Cross office is located at 5556B Springdale Ave. Those interested in donating can call 1-800-448-3543 to schedule an appointment.

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