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There are few events so universally ingrained into memory as the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Employees Santa Clara County’s emergency medical services contractor reached a deal with their employer last week that improves safety conditions, increases pay, maintains benefits, protects jobs and allows the employees to plan more time off with their families, according to a press release from the AFSCME Local 4911 United EMS Workers. Members of Local 4911 voted overwhelmingly Friday to approve the new two-year contract with Rural/Metro, with a vote of 89 percent of union members in favor, the press release says. The EMS workers were faced with multiple hurdles to a favorable agreement when they sat down at the bargaining table, including Rural/Metro’s recent bankruptcy filing, the press release says. Paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers and vehicle-supply techs took a strike authorization vote in April and reached out to County leaders to discuss the importance of maintaining EMS standards in the county. “We knew it was up to us to hold Rural/Metro accountable,” said Martine Bustamante, an EMT at Rural/Metro 911. “People’s lives and our safety were on the line.” Samantha Tennison, a paramedic at Rural/Metro 911, added, “Having participation at every level is what makes us strong. We’ve never been this united, and it made all the difference in negotiations.” Rural/Metro has been the County’s EMS provider since 2011. Since then, the company has been criticized for failing to meet the response time standards listed in the contract with the County, who imposed more than $3.4 million worth of fines on the provider from January 2012 to April 2013. 

United Way Silicon Valley’s 211 Santa Clara County today launched an online resource center for veterans that offers the latest information about veterans’ programs and services in Santa Clara County. The 211 veterans’ resource center also provides weekly job openings, news updates, upcoming events for veterans, and videos.

Identity Theft

DEAR ABBY: My daughter "Jenny," her husband, "Bob," and their three dogs live with my husband and me in our home. We live on a fairly busy road. The dogs used to always be leashed when they were taken out. They have now made a habit of letting the dogs out without leashes.

REQUESTS FOR HELP:  Received the following requests for rehoming help:

DEAR ABBY: My brother-in-law cheated on my sister two years ago. He was caught by the private eye his lover's husband had hired. My sister took him back and has been trying to be "the good wife," but he has never really seemed to be sorry or a changed man.

DEAR ABBY: I'm a single woman who has had a string of unsuccessful relationships. When a man is into me, I'm not into him and vice versa.