State of the County Event on February 6
Join me, my colleagues on the Board and Board President Joe Simitian at the 2018 State of the County event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6, in the Board Chambers, 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose, following the Board of Supervisors meeting. Refreshments will be served after the speech. Click here to register for the free event.

New Agricultural Preservation Task Force Seeking Applicants 
If you are interested in the future of agriculture in Santa Clara County, consider applying for a seat on the new Agricultural Preservation Task Force, which was created by the Board of Supervisors to guide the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Plan. The eleven-member task force will meet for six months, and I and Supervisor Mike Wasserman will serve as co-chairs. We will each appoint four members, and the County Executive will select the ninth member.  Click here for an application. For more information, call our office at 408-299-5030.

Register Your Mobile Home Without Fees, Tax Penalties
Thousands of residents who acquired a mobile home or manufactured home but never received the necessary title to the property have the opportunity to properly register their homes during the Fee and Tax Waiver Program events happening through January 24 in San Jose.  Owners can avoid paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars in state and local taxes, fees and penalties under the limited time program. For more information on the program and details about the San Jose events, visit registeryourmobilehomeca.org or call 800-953-8456.

Meetings Planned on County Airport Updates
Santa Clara County Roads and Airports Department is hosting public meetings to discuss the process for updating the business plans for the Reid-Hillview and San Martin Airports, and to seek feedback from airport users, surrounding neighbors and the public. The meeting concerning the San Martin Airport will be 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, January 25 at the San Martin Lions Club, 12415 Murphy Road, and the Reid-Hillview Airport meeting will be 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, at Hank Lopez Community Center, 1694 Adrian Way, San Jose. For more information, visit www.countyairports.org or view the current business plans in chapter 5 of the master plans: Reid-Hillview Airport Master Plan or San Martin Airport Master Plan.

State DMV Issuing Real ID cards now
The State Department of Motor Vehicles has begun accepting applications for new driver’s licenses and identification cards that can be used to board domestic flights or enter secure federal facilities.  Current California driver’s licenses and ID card will continue to be accepted at airports and federal facilities until October 1, 2020. But after that, residents 18 and older will need a Real ID card, a passport or other forms of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration. Visit dmv.ca.gov for details.

Vacancies on County Boards and Commissions
Santa Clara County would like you to consider applying for a seat on one of our Boards or Commissions. For residents of District 3, there are vacancies on the Health Advisory Commission; the Moscow Sister-County Commission; the Hsinchu County, Taiwan, Republic of China Sister-County Commission; Parks and Recreation Commission; and Senior Care Commission. Click here for more information on these commissions and application forms.

Superior Court Seeks Grand Jury Members
The Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County, is seeking volunteers to serve on the 2018-2019 Civil Grand Jury. Grand jurors have the independent authority to examine all aspects of county and city government, school districts and special districts. The Civil Grand Jury is also empowered to inspect adult and juvenile detention facilities. Applicants must have lived in the County for one year, be U.S. citizens and 18 years old or older.  The deadline to apply is March 29, 2018.  The one-year term begins on June 21.  For more information and to apply, visit scscourt.org, call 408-882-2721 or email CGJ@scscourt.org.

Super Guadalupe River Run
Earn your game-time guacamole on the Guadalupe! In partnership with San Jose Water Company, the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy will kick off Super Bowl Sunday with the Super Guadalupe River Run on Sunday, February 4, 2018, at 9 a.m. The event features a 10K and 5K walk/run and a Kids’ Fun Run for children 12 and under.  Proceeds will benefit Guadalupe River Park Conservancy’s programs. For more information and to register, visit www.grpg.org or contact Leslee Hamilton at 408-298-7657.

Applications Sought for New Americans Fellowship Program
The County Office of Immigrant Relations invites current DACA recipients to apply for a 10-week paid internship with the New Americans Fellowship program during the summer of 2018. Fellows work on a research or community engagement project focused on immigrant integration. They are placed at a County agency, department, Board office, or participating non-profit organization. Applicants must have a currently valid DACA and Employment Authorization Card, and be an undergraduate, graduate student or recent graduate.  The deadline to apply is March 1. Click here for more details and to download and application.

Save the Date for Hop ‘N Vine
Tickets are on sale for the Hop ‘N Vine festival, which will be from 2 to 7 p.m. on March 10 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, featuring Santa Clara Valley wineries and breweries and celebrating the County’s agricultural heritage. (In the mid-1800s, there were more vineyard acres in Santa Clara Valley than anywhere else in California.) Tickets allow you to enjoy 12 tastes, nibble on lite bites and hear notable speakers within the wine and beer making community. Visit hopenvinesj.com for more information and tickets.

Flag Raising to mark African American History Month
The Silicon Valley NAACP will host the 7th annual African American History Month Flag Raising on Friday, February 2, at the San Jose City Hall West Plaza and Rotunda.  The ceremony will begin at 5 p.m., followed by a reception.  The U.S. and Pan-African flags will be raised, and Robert L. Harris will be the keynote speaker. For information, contact rose.dhallwal@sanjoseca.gov or call 408-535-4901.

Learn about Birds, Tides and Levees During Tour
Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful is planning a tour of the Coyote Creek Watershed, a 3.5-mile hike along the Mallard Slough in the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the Environment Education Center, 1751 Grand Boulevard, Alviso, San Jose. The event, which is free and open to all ages, will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 27. Click here for more information and to register. The event is also hosted by the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society.

Registration Open for Health and Housing Summit
Join 140 leaders from government, health care, nonprofits and housing organizations at the Silicon Valley Center for Nonprofits Health and Housing Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, February 2, at the Texas Instruments Conference Center, 2900 Semiconductor Drive, Santa Clara. This year’s Health and Housing Summit will provide updates on the status of housing and health care at the federal, state and local levels, and our response to potentially devastating benefit cuts facing our community. State Senator Kevin de Leon will be the keynote speaker. Click here for more details and to register.