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Community briefs

'Cops that Care' need toys

Police hope 1,700 kids will flock to the police station on Saturday where the auditorium will be turned into the North Pole as Santa Claus greets children and presents are handed out.

Police say they created the "Cops that Care" event because there was a great need to provide for the less fortunate during the holidays.

The Mountain View police department is asking people to donate toys to be given to kids at the event, which is open to kids with a parent and proof of residency in Mountain View. Proof includes, but is not limited to, a driver's license, ID card, school enrollment form or utility bill.

Toys must be new and unwrapped and can be dropped off at the Mountain View police station, 1000 Villa Street from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donations can also be made in the form of gift cards or cash. Make out checks to Mountain View PAL, and note "Cops that Care" on the memo line. For information call Officer Ron Cooper at 650-903-6712.

—Daniel DeBolt

Segways get green light

After being told that Segways caused no accidents on the Stevens Creek Trail during a two-year trial period, the City Council voted unanimously to allow their use last Tuesday.

Segways will continue to be prohibited on city sidewalks. Motor vehicles are prohibited on trails, but the council decided to consider Segways as an exception when resident Richard Roeder, who was using his Segway on the trail to commute to Microsoft, got into trouble with park rangers two years ago.

Nearby cities that prohibit Segways on trails include San Jose, Sunnyvale, Fremont, Los Gatos and Campbell.

—Daniel DeBolt

Give a dog a home

There are so many dogs in shelters right now that Humane Society Silicon Valley is offering dogs for an adoption fee of your choice — though training deposits and licensing fees still apply. The Humane Society has 11 puppies and 55 dogs waiting to be adopted. Agencies such as Silicon Valley Animal Control, the South County Animal Shelter and Palo Alto Animal Services are also facing a glut of canines, officials announced. Foster families are also needed to house the dogs until they find permanent homes.

— James Tensuan