News Digest News Digest (March 04, 2005)

PETA speaks out

PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, sent an urgent plea to the Alameda County District Attorney urging him to vigorously prosecute John van de Roovaart. He faces felony charges stemming from a Jan. 17 incident in which he allegedly killed a cat and hung its remains with a noose from the railroad trestle on Sunol Boulevard.

PETA is asking that if he is convicted, van de Roovaart be banned for life from contact with animals, plus urged that he be required to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation followed by mandatory counseling.

"Animal abusers are cowards," said PETA Cruelty Caseworker Daniel Paden. "They take their issues out on the most defenseless beings available to them. Alameda County residents have reason to be concerned. According to leading mental health professions and law enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat not only to other animals, but to the community as a whole." Poetry and prose

The Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council and the city are now accepting early registrations and poetry and prose contest submissions for the fourth annual Pleasanton Poetry, Prose and Arts Festival. The day-long event will take place from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, April 16, at the CarrAmerica Conference Center.

Registering and paying for attendance by March 19 will result in significant savings, organizers said, and six different packages are available combining workshops, afternoons and evenings, banquet awards dinner and more. Call Anne Gates at 931-5350, or visit www.pleasantonarts.org., to learn more about packages or entering the poetry and prose contests.

Activities will include poetry and prose workshops, as well as visual arts. The Valley Shakespeare Festival Theater will also present "The Belle of Amherst." Auditions set for Valley Shakespeare Festival

Auditions for teenagers who interested in summer acting internships with the Valley Shakespeare Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Pleasanton Public Library. Adult auditions for this summer's "As You Like It," to be performed at the Retzlaff Winery in Livermore, are March 6 and 7.

Teenagers are also invited to apply for acting, production/design, marketing and administration internships.

To audition for summer acting internships or talk with the director about year-round opportunities, contact Lisa Tromovitch at lisa@valleyshakes.org. or by calling 925-249-0942

Local Democrats open Web site Local Democrats open Web site (March 04, 2005)

The Tri-Valley Democratic Club initiated a Web site this week for its members and others interested in Democratic Party issues. Available at www.trivalleydems.com, the site contains information about the club and its meetings and has a voter registration page. Also on the site is a page for students to express their concerns, a page where members can post current editorial comments, a library page, an archive page and a copy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Mary Beth Acuff, club spokeswoman, said the Web site also included the names and addresses of state and federal legislators, media contacts and links to other Democratic and public interest organizations.

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