Gilroy Gardens has specially decorated its theme park in a Middle Earth theme, with numerous scarecrows modeled after orcs, hobbits, dwarves, and other favorites from J.R.R. Tolkein's magical series, "Lord of the Rings". Details: www.gilroygardens.org.

More tracks, more service

The South County Caltrain Improvement Project funded by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is underway for future double tracking and capacity improvements. The project aims to increase Caltrain service capacity and improve safety by constructing a second set of new railway track along the Caltrain railway corridor and various intersections from Tilton Avenue in Morgan Hill to Blanchard Road in south San Jose. The focus of this construction work is on utility relocation.

Current project activities include potholing, open-trenching and directional boring. Although there are no scheduled road closures, flashing signage, lane delineators and traffic cones have been placed along Monterey Road for the safety of the travelling public and the construction crews.

Most of the construction effort will be completed within the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way. It is not expected to generate significant community impacts, with the exception of activities surrounding the construction site and at the grade crossings. The impacts at grade crossings will be restricted to lane closures for both the utility relocation and civil construction, which includes mostly grading, retaining wall and crossings improvements. However, UPRR will temporarily close grade crossings and detour traffic for a day or two to install trackwork. These closures are expected in late 2011 and early 2012.

The total budget of the South County Caltrain Improvement Project is $61 million, which includes the $13 million it costs for the utility relocation phase of the work. Work for the utility relocation consists of two segments. The first segment is the northerly five-mile segment, scheduled for completion about February 2010. Utility relocation in the southerly three-mile segment will start about March 2010 and is schedule for completion by August 2010.

Details: 321-2300 or www.vta.org.

Text a librarian

In the fast-changing world of communication, people have more options than ever in how to get in touch with one another. Some prefer in-person, others are comfortable with the phone or email. But for a growing number, text messages are the preferred way to connect. Recognizing this trend, Santa Clara County Library has now introduced a text messaging reference service that allows patrons of Gilroy Library to use their cell phones to ask a librarian a question about almost anything and receive a quick reply. The service is available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers should send their questions to 66746 and start their question with the keyword "know." Questions can run the gamut from inquiries about library services to general reference questions about any subject - the capital of Cambodia, an explanation of how the Electoral College works, the number of teaspoons in a cup. Details: santaclaracountylib.org.