The Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender is hosting
the Fresh Start Misdemeanor Record Clearance Program, which allows
county residents convicted of a crime to go back to court and ask
for a case to be dismissed.
Wipe the record clean
The Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender is hosting the Fresh Start Misdemeanor Record Clearance Program, which allows county residents convicted of a crime to go back to court and ask for a case to be dismissed. The program has already processed many expungement applications and expects to assist hundreds more clients before the grant funding this program expires in June 2010. The program does not provide assistance for those with felony convictions and convictions for infractions, such as disturbing the peace or traffic violations. Details: Morgan Hill Public Defender Office, 172275 Butterfield Blvd., Suite B, Morgan Hill, and 201-0500.
A partner in charity
United Way Silicon Valley awarded Gilroy nonprofit Rebekah Children’s Services with its Partner Agency Excellence Award. Rebekah Children’s Services offers children with severe emotional, mental or behavioral issues and their families a wide range of services. Last year, the United Way invested in an agency program that helps parents and adult caregivers more effectively support their children’s development, including children with challenging behaviors and special needs. The agency provided weekly family workshops in English and Spanish, which included two hours of curriculum-based instruction for parents that focused on developing effective parenting skills. As a result of the program, more than 95 percent of participants were more confident in their parenting skills, better able to establish rules for their children, and better prepared to help their children in school, according to the United Way. Details: www.uwsv.org.
Sisters threaded together
Sisters Barbara Heno of Gilroy and Bonnie Hughes of Elk Grove both scored first place awards for their quilts at the 2009 California State Fair in Sacramento. Barbara’s Housewarming quilt won the Division 0193, Class 02. Bonnie’s Starry Night quilt won the Division 0193, Class 05. In addition, Bonnie won a First Place Honorable Mention for her Springtime quilt. Making the wins even more special, 2009 was the first time either sister had entered a quilt in the state fair. Barbara, who runs a long arm quilting business, was not going to enter the competition, but Bonnie called her every day to pressure her to enter. Now, Barbara plans to enter a quilt in the fair every year. Bonnie also plans to pursue quilting.
Striking a chord
Richard Snelgrove came one step closer to becoming a possible future guitar legend when he was crowned the local winner of Guitar Center’s King of the Blues, a nationwide search for the next great undiscovered blues guitar player. On Sept. 30, Richard will move on to compete in the King of the Blues District Finals at Guitar Center San Jose. The national winner will take home $25,000. Guitar Center’s 21st Annual Drum-Off will also start in Gilroy Sept. 24.
