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Blinken: US ‘working overtime’ to confirm reports American among those killed in Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that U.S. officials have received reports that several Americans have been killed in Israel as a result of Hamas’s attacks on the country. In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Blinken said the U.S. is working to verify those reports. “Yes, we have reports that several Americans were killed,” Blinken told CNN’s Dana Bash when asked whether Americans were killed or kidnapped in Israel.“We're working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans, and there again, we're working to verify those reports,” Blinken said. Blinken’s comments come after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in decades Saturday, killing an estimated 500 Israelis, according to reports. Blinken reiterated American support for Israel and described the war as “a massive terrorist attack on Israeli civilians, indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilia...

Saratoga venues host variety of community events

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

Sacred Heart carnivalSacred Heart Parish is hosting a carnival Oct. 13-15 at 13716 Saratoga Ave., with live musical entertainment each day, a community stage, food, amusement park rides and a raffle.Bands include Country Cougars, Blue House, the Megatones, Wandering Acoustics and Tsunami.For a full schedule of events and to purchase tickets, visit https://parish.sacredheartsaratoga.org/carnival.Saratoga Symphony concertThe Saratoga Symphony will perform a free concert Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. at McAfee Performing Arts Center, 20300 Herriman Ave.Pianist Tamami Honma will be the soloist for Piano Concerto in C Major by Ferruccio Busoni. The work, which also features a men’s chorus, was first performed in Berlin in 1904 with its Italian composer as the solo pianist. Conductor Dr. Jason Klein will talk to the audience about the piece before it is performed.No tickets or reservations are needed. Masks are recommended to attend concert. For more information, visit www.saratogasymphony.org.SASCC ...

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose to host Día de los Muertos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

Día de los Muertos at CDMChildren’s Discovery Museum of San Jose is hosting a Día de los Muertos program Oct. 28 to honor the lives of departed ancestors and loved ones. Attendees can create a sand painting with stencils, make cardboard calaveras (skulls) in the Neiman Art Studio, learn about the traditions of Día de los Muertos and take in the larger-than-life skeleton puppets and the calaveras procession led by Teatro Familia Aztlán, which includes a stop at Lupe, the 14,000-year-old “muerto” mammoth.Visitors will be invited to write down the names of loved ones who have passed and say those names aloud, and to bring a personal memento to share on a community altar built for the day and visit an altar created by artist Lissa Jones in the Oaxacan tradition on view Oct. 23-Nov. 2.For tickets and more information, visit https://www.cdm.org/celebrate/community-celebrations/dia-de-los-muertos.Othering and BelongingSanta Clara County wants to be welcoming to everyone. The county’s Offic...

Health fair targets families in Campbell, West San Jose

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

Attendees could get flu and COVID vaccines at the fifth annual Family Health and Wellness Fair hosted Sept. 30 by state Assemblymember Marc Berman in partnership with the Campbell Union School District and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.The event, held at Castlemont Elementary School in Campbell, was intended to serve Campbell and West San Jose after redistricting brought these communities into Berman’s district last year, and to help Berman’s new constituency stay healthy during the school year.Besides the vaccines, provided by Safeway, families could avail themselves of dental, blood pressure, vision and mental health screenings provided by Kaiser, Santa Clara County Dental Society and Pacific Clinics. Casework services were also available, and giveaways included school supplies and backpacks, dental kits and healthy groceries and snacks. Activities for kids included art projects and a bike raffle.Exhibitors ranged from the Alzheimer’s Association and Latina...

West Valley College opens new visual arts building

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

West Valley College is holding a public unveiling of its newest building, which will house the Saratoga campus’s visual arts department.The 20,000-square-foot building, designed by Mark Cavagnero Associates, is part of the community college’s Cilker School of Art and Design, located at 14000 Fruitvale Ave.The building’s construction was funded in part by Measure W, a $698 million bond measure passed by district voters in 2018.“The new visual arts building is the result of a rigorous facilities master planning process with every facet of design focused on increasing student learning and outcomes,” West Valley-Mission Community College District Chancellor Bradley Davis said in a statement. “We can’t express the deep appreciation we have to our local community of taxpayers who showed their support for the college and their shared value in the power of education.”The college is hosting a grand opening celebration on Friday, Oct. 27 at 9:30 a.m. with a land acknowledgement, s...

Cupertino home is a Silicon Valley Clean Energy showcase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

Electric Showcase winnerA Cupertino resident was among the winners of Silicon Valley Clean Energy’s (SVCE) Electric Showcase Awards for his efforts to go electric in his home.All 16 winners were recognized by the Santa Clara Board of Supervisors on Oct. 2.The Sunnyvale-based clean energy aggregator received more than 150 applications for this year’s awards from Santa Clara County residents and small business owners.Many of the winners utilized rebates available through SVCE with state and federal incentives to help cover the costs of upgrading to heat pumps, induction cooktops, electric vehicle chargers and other technologies. Some have begun by replacing older gas appliances as they burn out, while others have gone fully electric.“I was blown away by the simplicity and energy efficiency of the heat pump,” said Amit Butala, the award winner from Cupertino. “The rebates from SVCE made this a no-brainer. I love the smart app that lets me set the water temperature and check for availab...

Sunnyvale Historical Society holding rummage, vintage sale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

Museum holds rummage, vintage saleThe Sunnyvale Historical Society is staging a sale for everyday and vintage items on Saturday, Oct. 14, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., in the courtyard at the Heritage Park Museum, 570 East Remington Drive.A wide variety of items will be for sale, including toys, household and work tools and rare vintage items. All proceeds will benefit the museum.For more information, call 408-749-0220 or email [email protected] gymMiddle school and high school students can come to the Columbia Neighborhood Center on Fridays, 7-10 p.m., to take advantage of free drop-in gym hours.Students will need to bring their school ID and can bring their own sport balls. Basketball can be played every week, volleyball on the first and second Fridays of the month and dodgeball on the third and fourth Fridays.For more information, call 408-730-7800.Safety upgrades at Mathilda and MaudeConstruction is underway at the intersection of North Mathilda and West Maude avenues. Funded...

Cupertino, Sunnyvale schools educate families on Fentanyl dangers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

While Melanie’s Law awaits approval from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Cupertino and Sunnyvale school districts are getting a jump on educating students and their parents about the dangers of Fentanyl.Melanie’s Law, or SB10, was introduced by state Sen. Dave Cortese and passed unanimously in the state Senate on Sept. 19. The bill—named for 15-year-old Melanie Ramos, who overdosed on fentanyl and died in the bathroom of her school—mandates training regarding fentanyl be included in California’s School Safety Plans law.Melanie’s Law focuses on preventing youth fentanyl overdoses through response, training, education and awareness.To that end, the Rotary Club of Cupertino is hosting a community educational program on Oct. 18 in partnership with the Fremont Union High Schools Foundation, the Fremont Union High School District and the Cupertino Union School District. “Fentanyl Poisoning: Real Talk About Fake Pills” will address illicit Fentanyl poisonings and overdoses, which organizers say are res...

AP PHOTOS: Fear, sorrow, death and destruction in battle scenes in Israel and Gaza Strip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

In Israel, a frightened woman runs down the street cradling a young girl in her arms as a car behind her is engulfed in a ball of flames from an unprecedented surprise attack by Hamas militants.In Gaza City, an anguished Palestinian woman embraces the head of a dead man carried by a crowd through the streets after he was killed in retaliation by Israeli forces.The images are just two of hundreds by Associated Press photographers that show the destruction, terror and sadness on both sides of the conflict — and the triumph by some Palestinians who see the attack as a victory. Hundreds have been killed on both sides of the border in fighting that continued Sunday.In Saturday’s early morning assault, a photo shows the smoky trail of rockets from Gaza arcing through the sky against the backdrop of a rising sun. Rockets that struck a parking lot next to a residential building in the Israeli city of Ashkelon torched cars and sent thick black plumes skyward. Israeli security forces used a t...

Blinken: EEUU verifica si hay estadounidenses muertos en Israel o como rehenes en Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:55 GMT

El secretario de Estado, Antony Blinken, dijo este domingo que Estados Unidos está “trabajando activamente” para verificar informes de que varios estadounidenses pueden estar entre los muertos en el conflicto entre Israel y Hamas, así como informes de que podría haber algunos rehenes estadounidenses.Los combatientes de Hamas lanzaron el sábado un ataque contra Israel a través del sur del país. El ataque en curso ha matado a cientos de personas y los combatientes de Hamás han tomado como rehenes a varios civiles y soldados.“¿Sabe el gobierno en este momento si había ciudadanos estadounidenses entre los muertos o entre los tomados como rehenes?” Kristen Welker, de NBC News, le preguntó a Blinken.Blinken dijo: “Tenemos informes de que varios estadounidenses pueden estar entre los muertos. Estamos trabajando muy activamente para verificar esos informes. De manera similar, hemos visto informes sobre rehenes y, nuevamente, estamos tratando muy activamente de verificarlos y con...