News Digest News Digest (December 17, 2004)

Calling Santa

Santa Claus is taking a break from his North Pole toy workshop to make a special television appearance at the CTV studio located at First and Bernal streets. He will be taking telephone calls during a live broadcast from 7-9 p.m., today, Dec. 17, on CTV 30. The call-in number is 462-3030, and visitors are also welcome to visit Santa in person. For directions to the studio, visit the CTV 30 Web site, www.tv30.org. Museum online

Fans of the Museum On Main Street now can keep up to date on its programs by visiting its new Web site, www.museumonmain.org. So far the site has information about its exhibits and its 2005 Lecture Series. When the site is completed, it will have details about the volunteer opportunities available at the museum and ideas on how local residents can contribute to this valuable community resource. Blankets for Kids

New fleece blankets made by Pleasanton volunteers of Blankets for Kids are now being distributed to abused, neglected and at-risk children at the Calico Center in San Leandro. The Calico Center provides a caring, supportive environment to interview children and facilitate a response to child abuse. Interviews are taped so children do not have to repeat their stories for other authorities or the courts. Children removed from their homes remain at the center for no more than a day while social workers assess their needs and try to find the best placement.

Blankets for Kids was founded last year by Jo Molz and her daughter Marcy in an effort to help in some small way a few of the 300,000 abused and neglected children in the United States. The group also gives blankets to Tri-Valley Haven and Shepherd's Gate shelters and to the Police Departments in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin and San Ramon.

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