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News From Silicon Valley's Neighborhoods Sleeping Man Campbell--If the Burning Man festival is based on immediate experience, then Daniel Reed's saga has seemingly outrun its course. Reed, 21, was injured in September 1996 when a car ran over his tent, leaving Reed permanently disabled. After the accident Reed sued many different agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, but a federal court ruled on Nov. 2 that the federal government could not be held liable. "Obviously, we felt that they should be responsible," Reed's lawyer said. "But, that's what horse races and ballgames are made of. You have two differing viewpoints." Spray 'n' Steal Cupertino--In the latest of a series of incidents of car-based violence, two suspects carjacked a man by shooting pepper spray into his face from the backseat. The suspects, both wearing dark hooded sweatshirts, made off with the victim's Mercedes, which was last seen on Stevens Creek Boulevard. The sheriff's office is currently following leads. Second Harvest Los Gatos--As sure as Thanksgiving and Christmas fill some people's homes with bountiful food, cheerful decorations and fun presents, the winter holidays fill other people's homes--or, in some cases, their shelters--with a reminder that these same amenities are missing from the holiday season. Second Harvest Food Bank can help with the most sorely missed of these aspects--food--in a number of ways. Directly and through social service agencies throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, SHFB gathers and distributes food to homeless adults and children, and those just barely making ends meet. "I think being hungry hurts more this time of year because our holidays are centered around food as part of the celebration. There's also a dignity issue there as well," says Jenny Luciano, who works at the Food Bank. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]