News Briefs

Quake rattles region
An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 on the Richter scale shook part of the Central Coast this past weekend.
The quake struck near Hollister on Saturday morning at 2:47 a.m. and could be felt in Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley. No damage was reported.
The temblor was reported by the United States Geological Survey.
The quake took place almost on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the 7.1-magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake, which rumbled through Santa Cruz County and the Bay Area Oct. 7, 1989.
Courts to close monthly
The Superior Court of Santa Cruz County will close the third Wednesday of each month beginning Sept. 16 through June 16, 2010.
The courts will be closed and employees furloughed to help bridge the $393.3 million funding reduction to state courts prescribed in this year’s California budget.
The closure will be treated just like a court holiday for the purposes of scheduling hearings and calculating filing deadlines.
For information: www.courtinfo.ca.gov.
SLV Girl Scouts dance
The Girl Scouts of the San Lorenzo Valley are hosting a dance on Sept. 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Felton Community Hall, 6191 Highway 9, in Felton.
The theme for the dance is Summer Fun, and admission is $5.
The Girl Scouts encourage girls to bring their friends, as co-op troops are forming.
For information: Heidi Harris, 335-251.
Kitten adoption deals
Santa Cruz County Animal Services has decreased the price to adopt cats and kittens until the end of October. Kittens are $60; cats from 1 to 6 years old are $50; and cats older than 6 are $27.50.
“Please consider bringing a kitten or cat into your life,” Animal Services general manager Henry Brzezinski said. “All of our animals are examined by our veterinarian, spayed or neutered, have a microchip, a collar, ID and vaccinations.”
For information: 454-7303 or www.scanimalservices.us.