Week in Review: Jobs, Bonds and Seasonal Spirit

Unemployment rate: The unemployment rate in the East Bay dropped a half a percentage point from October to November, falling to 9.5 percent. Alameda and Contra Costa counties added 4,400 jobs to the payrolls. In Danville, the jobless rate ticked down to 5 percent from 5.3 percent. In Alamo, the rate decreased to 3.5 percent from 3.7 percent.

Spirit of the season: Students at Sycamore Valley Elementary School turned into Santa's little helpers this week. All 25 classes at the Danville school collected gifts to give to students at King Elementary School in Richmond. It was part of the Sister School Program effort throughout the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

School bond measure: The San Ramon Valley school board took the first step Friday morning in putting a school bond measure on the ballot. The trustees approved spending $25,000 for a survey of 600 district residents to determine their support for a bond measure. The survey will be done between Jan. 8 and Jan. 12 with the results given to the board at its Jan. 24 meeting.

Club, home raided: On Wednesday, SWAT teams raided a Danville home in connection with the raid of a medical marijuana club in Newark. Police said $40,000 in cash, weapons and 20 pounds of processed marijuana were found at the home on Victoria Place. A woman was arrested at the house. Three others were still being sought as of this weekend.