Free Family Festival fun
There is a free Family Festival being held at the new Indoor
Soccer USA business located at 7588 Monterey Road. The event will
start today at 11 a.m. There will be a video game tournament (Mario
Bros. Smash Melee) for boys and girls ages 7 through 12. There will
be a continuous all day raffle, face painting and a bounce house
for the kids, entertainment including a break dance group from
Merced, a crafts and small business fair and a karoake stage for
the singers in the family. And there will be a new car show
outside. The event is a fund raiser for The Everything Family
Foundation.
Details: 840 5091 or visit our Web site at
Free Family Festival fun
There is a free Family Festival being held at the new Indoor Soccer USA business located at 7588 Monterey Road. The event will start today at 11 a.m. There will be a video game tournament (Mario Bros. Smash Melee) for boys and girls ages 7 through 12. There will be a continuous all day raffle, face painting and a bounce house for the kids, entertainment including a break dance group from Merced, a crafts and small business fair and a karoake stage for the singers in the family. And there will be a new car show outside. The event is a fund raiser for The Everything Family Foundation.
Details: 840 5091 or visit our Web site at www.savegsd.org.
Make a reservation for the Path of the Padres hike
The staff at San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area will again be leading the popular “Path of the Padres” hikes some Fridays and most Saturdays and Sundays starting today and continuing until April 27. These hikes are open to the public, ages 6 years and older, by advance reservation only. School group hikes may be arranged for Fridays. School group reservations and general public reservations are now open.
The hike begins at the Los Banos Creek Reservoir boat launch ramp at 8 a.m. and returns to the ramp about 3:30 p.m. A pontoon boat carries passengers for about 30 to 40 minutes to the west end of the reservoir. Along the way, short stops are made so the hikers can observe wildlife along the shoreline. The group leaves the boat at the west end of the reservoir for a five-mile round-trip hike. Here one can see the area where, in the early 1800s, the Spanish padres from Mission San Juan Bautista camped on their way to the Central Valley. This hike is moderately strenuous and will take about five hours.
Participants must be in fairly good physical condition. Because Los Banos Creek is crossed several times during the hike, footwear may get wet. Layered clothing and sturdy footgear should be a priority. Hikers should carry a lunch and a minimum of two quarts of water. The hike traverses country that can be very hot and dry, depending on weather conditions, so a hat and sunscreen are recommended.
Throughout the hike, the natural and historic features of the area are pointed out and discussed by the hike leader. The lunch stop is near the historic “baths,” deep pools in the creek, carved in bedrock, which gave Los Banos its name. As early as 1805 the mission padres and accompanying soldiers washed and rested here at Los Banos del Padre Arroyo, now simply Los Banos Creek.
Participants have the option of taking a side trip up a steep hill for a spectacular view of the Menjoulet Canyon and the proposed site of the Los Banos Grandes Reservoir. The canyon floor is covered with 576 acres of old-growth Sycamore forest.
Reservations are required. To make a reservation, call Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A reservation fee of $10 per person older than 13 and $7 per child age 6 to 12. A family of five may reserve space for two adults and three children for $25. Space is limited. On the day of the hike, an additional day use parking fee of $6 per car is charged upon entry.
Details: (209) 826-1196 or (209) 826-1197.
Learn Spanish in Zacatecas this summer
Anyone who wishes to learn Spanish or improve their Spanish skills can learn more about the Gavilan College Study Abroad summer program in Mexico at an upcoming orientation meeting. Students attending the orientation will be able to register for the program, and ask questions.
The Zacatecas class will run from June 8 through July 6. Students earn 5 transferable units in Spanish.
Classes are offered at different levels, from beginner to advanced.
The course includes classroom instruction plus local immersion in the Spanish language, with opportunities to visit cultural centers.
Students live with host families and enjoy hospitality, family meals, language practice and exposure to the life and culture of Mexico.
Zacatecas, founded in 1557, is a charming colonial city in the state of Zacatecas, home of the Fenix Language Institute. Instituto Fenix is a language school that hosts students, professionals and diplomats from around the world. The staff has extensive experience in teaching Spanish as a second language.
The orientation will be held at 10 a.m. today in the Humanities Building, Room 105, Gavilan College, 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard, Gilroy.
Details: David Perez, at 848-4842, or www.gavilan.edu/spanish/zaca.html.
Historical society seeking recipes
The Gilroy Historical Society is seeking public participation in the Gilroy Heritage Cookbook Project. All Gilroyans are invited to submit favorite family recipes, whether for main dish, side dish, salad, appetizer, baked goods or desserts for potential submission in this project. If the recipe has a family history or anecdote connected with it, please include that as well. Recipes should contain correct measurements plus preparation method. Baked items should state oven temperatures and baking time. Written recipe submissions, along with senders name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address if possible, may be mailed to the Gilroy Historical Society at P.O. Box 1621, Gilroy CA 95020, or e-mailed to:
in**@ch**********.com
.
Warming communities one sock at a time
Every holiday season, Coldwell Banker offices throughout Northern California add to their holiday charity efforts by supporting local community organizations that collect new or gently used clothing for those in need. Although the holiday season is over, there are still many families that are homeless or just in need of something warm to wear. Specifically warm socks and warm coats are important for the homeless in our local Gilroy community.
Anna Montes and Albert Lambert, Realtors with Gilroy’s local Coldwell Banker office are trying to lend a helping hand by organizing a “Sock-Drive” to try and collect as many new or slightly used pairs of socks or warm coats that will be delivered to the local Salvation Army where Capt. Roberto Viquez will then distribute to local homeless or families in need. The drive began Monday and runs through Feb. 29. Stop by Coldwell Bankers new office location at 8050 Santa Teresa Blvd. Suite 210 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to drop-off donations or at Nob Hill Foods main entrance. Thank you for your help in warming our community one sock or coat at a time.
Details: 781-3396, or 710-2702.
Neighborhood resource meetings
The City of Gilroy Housing & Community Development, Gilroy Police Department Neighborhood Resource Unit, Gilroy Gang Task Force and South County Housing invite the public to attend a series of three free sessions entitled “Gilroy Neighborhood Academy 2008.”
Tuesday, March 11: Thinking “Green” & Let’s Talk Trash – learn the latest recycling facts
Tuesday, March 18: Social Host Ordinance – GPD crackdown on teenage drinking
Tuesday, March 25: Neighborhood Development – how do I start a neighborhood association, who are the neighborhood leaders and volunteers and how do I start a neighborhood watch?
The meetings take place at the Gilroy Senior Center 7371 Hanna St. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. with presentations from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.
Reserve a seat today.
Details: Rachel Munoz 846-0524 or
ra**********@ci.us
Retired teachers meet
The Uvas Valley Chapter of the California Retired Teachers Association will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13 at 1:30 in Gilroy. Betty Wyatt will speak about helpful resources available on such matters as car repair, insurance, health and emergency tips, etc.
Details: 778-1898.
Who’s Your Hero? American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Seeks Nominations for Local Real Heroes Award Breakfast
American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter is calling on Silicon Valley residents, companies and organizations to nominate individuals, who reside or work in Santa Clara County and whose extraordinary acts of courage or kindness make them a hero to be honored at the 2nd Annual Santa Clara Valley Real Heroes Breakfast on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose. The deadline to submit nominations is March 13, 2008.
“A hero can be someone who bravely acts in a time of immediate need or someone who simply lives his or her life in a way that shows they care for those around them. Real heroes are ordinary people whose actions demonstrate the potential that is in all of us. If someone is a hero in your eyes, I encourage you to nominate them'” says Honorary Event Chair, Peter Hero, a senior advisor to the CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
Nominations for the heroics act of local residents that took place between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007 are being accepted in the following categories:
Animal Rescue Hero – An animal that has protected a human or another animal in a time of need, or a person who has rescued an animal from a traumatic situation.
Education Hero – An adult or youth who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others in a school or other educational setting.
Good Samaritan – Adult (21 years old and up) – An adult who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.
Good Samaritan – Youth (Under the age of 21) – A youth who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.
Law Enforcement Hero – A professional law enforcement officer (Sheriff, Police, FBI, Highway Patrol, etc…) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.
Medical Professional Hero – A medical professional (doctors, nurses, EMT/paramedics, hospital/clinic staff, etc…) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.
Military Hero – A member of the armed forces (active, reserve, retired, commissioned or non-commissioned) whose life-saving action during active duty status went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.
Professional Rescuer Hero – A professional rescuer (firefighter, lifeguard, etc…) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.
Workplace Hero – An individual who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others at his or her place of employment or on a job site.
Real Hero Award recipients will be chosen by a selection committee of leading members of the Silicon Valley community. Heroes are selected based on the degree to which their acts of heroism uphold the values of the American Red Cross and leave a lasting and positive impact on the residents of Silicon Valley. All nominees must work or reside in the Santa Clara County; the heroic acts may have occurred elsewhere. Self-nominations are not permitted. All nominations will be subject to further verification and validation. All nominee information will be shared with the Heroes selection committee and the general public with a two-minute biographical video.
Nominations for Real Heroes Awards can now be submitted to the American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter online at www.BeADonor.com. Code to schedule an appointment for the March 13 event is Gilroy, and for the March 18 event Morgan Hill.
Coffee and tunes Friday nights at Sue’s
Sue’ s Coffee Roasting Company presents free entertainment Friday nights. The show take place from 7 to 9 p.m., at Sue’s, 7501 Monterey Road
Friday, see Heather O’Neill, born in Ireland she is very comfortable singing stories and engaging a crowd with her sultry voice. O’Neill’s act is provocative music and comical musings on current events constantly challenging the listener.
March 14, see Calaveras, a mix of Victoria’s soaring, ethereal vocals and hauntingly beautiful fiddle on pure folk ballads and sultry jazz-fusion torch songs, Greg’s energetic and insightful musical treatment of birth, death and everything in between, and Dave’s constantly creative lead-guitar commentary.
March 21, see Hobbyhorse, progressive folk/rock with songs that tell stories inspired by world mythology, love and the adventures of the spirit.
March 28, see Jeff Rolka, While the songwriter originally from Detroit, Mich. continues to explore the themes of love and love lost, his music is more fully realized by the talents of his all-star Bay Area ensemble. “Don’t Blame Me,” “Every Little Thing” and the rocker “3 a.m.,” huge in scope and sound. Recording on a variety of instruments, Rolka seamlessly transitions from Indie to an introspective antique vibe.
Program needs short-term volunteers
Are you looking for a short term volunteer opportunity that is meaningful and fun? The Role Model Program needs adult volunteers to inspire elementary and middle school students to succeed! Time commitment is just one hour a week for six weeks.
The Role Model Program is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering students to achieve their goals, dreams, and learning that education can open the door to a successful future.
Details: 246-0433 or go on-line to www.santaclaracountylib.org/gilroy/forgiveness.html, or write to:
fo*********@li*****.org
.
Applications available for 30th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant
The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association is seeking contestants for the 30th Annual Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant. Contestant applications are available at the Garlic Festival office, 7473 Monterey St.
Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant is a scholarship pageant. Contestants are judged on personal interview, speech, talent and evening gown. In addition to the selection of Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen, scholarships will be awarded to many pageant contestants.
Applicants must be:
A resident of Gilroy, San Martin, Morgan Hill, Hollister, San Juan Bautista or Aromas;
A single female who has never been married and has no children;
A high school graduate by June 2008;
Between the ages of 18 and 24 as of July 2008.
Deadline to submit a completed application is 4:30 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2008.
The Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Pageant is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18, 2008, at the Gavilan College Theater.
Details: 842-1625.
Spring native plant sale
Scores of species of native plants, seeds and bulbs suitable for California gardens are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday April 12, at Hidden Villa Ranch, CNPS Nursery, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills. Parking is free. Speak to experts about lawn alternatives such as native perennials, wildflowers and grasses. Native plant books, posters and note cards. Organized by the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Come early for the best selection; bring boxes to carry purchases home.
Details:
