News Briefs

Church donates $7K to Haiti relief
San Agustin Catholic Church in Scotts Valley collected and sent $7,083.41 to Haiti to help people in the earthquake-devastated nation.
Church members gave more than $6,800 in two collections, and children from the religious education classes had a bake sale that collected another $281 for the cause.
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12, centered about 10 miles southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Spring art gallery opens
The Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center will host an exhibit, titled “Spring Fling,” through June 26, featuring work from more than 30 local artists.
On display are jewelry, glass, ceramics, paintings, prints, baskets, wood, sculptures, textiles and more.
The gallery is open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at the art center, 9341 Mill St., in Ben Lomond. Entry is free.
For information: 336-3513.
County transportation plan set for review
The draft version of the 2010 Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Plan is available for review by the public. The plan establishes a blueprint for transportation projects and funding in Santa Cruz County. It lists which projects will receive money as it becomes available during the next 25 years.
The plan, along with an accompanying environmental impact report, is available at www.sccrtc.org/rtp.html and at many local libraries.
Written comments will be accepted until April 19.
State senator’s contest winners announced
Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, announced three winners of his annual There Oughta Be a Law contest.
Winners were from San Jose and Palo Alto, and their suggestions will be written as bills and have a chance to become law.
The three bills include an easier way to challenge traffic tickets issued by automated red light cameras; a bill to give election officials the ability to modify precinct sizes depending on how many mail-in voters a geographical area has; and a bill that asks for an apology by the U.S. government to Italian-Americans who were put in internment camps or treated unfairly during World War II.