News Digest News Digest (November 11, 2005)

Santa arrives at Stoneridge Saturday

Santa Claus will arrive at Stoneridge Shopping Center at 9 a.m. today, officially marking the start of the Christmas shopping season. His usual special chair has already been placed in the Enchanted Garden in the mall's Grand Court, awaiting Santa's arrival. The event will be celebrated with the Radio Disney X-Treme Team, festive holiday crafts, caricature portraits and a magician to greet children 12 and under.

Stoneridge Marketing Director Diana Jan-Coelho said those special holiday moments that children are with Santa can be captured on camera from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and to closing time on Sundays until the mall closes on Saturday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve. Essay contest honoring MLK

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is accepting entries for their annual Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest until Monday, Nov. 14. The contest, open to high school seniors with a 3.0 GPA or higher, awards two $750 scholarships to the two essays that best expand on the theme, "Expanding Our Awareness: Diversity in a Global Society." Essays should be 750 words or less, typed and double-spaced and must be accompanied with the student's transcripts and approved by an English instructor. Each school may submit up to four essays. Winners will be notified Dec. 16. Contact LLNL's Work-Life Center at 422-9543 for more information. Baddest Cat, Baddest Dog

Towne Center Books is hosting a contest to find the Baddest Dog and the Baddest Cat in the Tri-Valley. Entries will be taken until Monday, Nov. 14 at closing. The winners will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 15. The winning dog and cat will have their photos posted on the book store's website. The cat will receive a Feline Groovy Mug and the baddest dog will get the Dog Party Collar. To enter:

* Bring a picture of your bad cat or bad dog to Towne Center Books before closing on Nov. 14.

* Photos of all entrants will be posted in Towne Center's front window.

* Stop in and vote

The contest sponsor says, "Let's give Walter (The Farting Dog) a run for his money, enter your pet today!"

E-mail a friend a link to this story.