Eighteen Gilroy Elks and helpers traveled to the Palo Alto
Veterans Hospital on Sept. 13 and held a barbecue of top sirloin
steak, chili beans, salad, garlic bread and fresh homegrown
tomatoes to more than 300 patients in the spine care, visual
impairment and hospice units. The Gilroy Elks are strong supporters
of our nation’s veterans and subscribe to the Elks creed that
”
So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective
Elks will never forget them.
”
Have charity, will travel
Eighteen Gilroy Elks and helpers traveled to the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital on Sept. 13 and held a barbecue of top sirloin steak, chili beans, salad, garlic bread and fresh homegrown tomatoes to more than 300 patients in the spine care, visual impairment and hospice units. The Gilroy Elks are strong supporters of our nation’s veterans and subscribe to the Elks creed that “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Elks will never forget them.”
County to purchase future park land for $16 million
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to begin the purchase of Rancho San Vicente, a 966-acre parcel on McKean Road in south San Jose. The total cost of the property, which is currently owned by Peninsula Open Trust, is $16.2 million.
The land will be preserved for public park and open space uses, and provides key linkage for recreation trails and wildlife areas. The future park has the potential to connect more than 30,000 surrounding acres of already existing park land, county officials said.
“Environmental protection is one of the highest priorities of the county,” said Supervisor Don Gage, who represents the South County district where the property is located. “The purchase of Rancho San Vicente will help preserve the scenic beauty, protect the natural resources, and create opportunities for more outdoor activities in this area.”
Rancho San Vicente contains rare and valuable soils, and is a habitat for the federally threatened species the bay checkerspot butterfly. Thus, acquisition of the property will be instrumental in securing the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Conservation Plan, which aims to protect threatened animals and plants through land purchases in the area.
Funding for the purchase of Rancho San Vicente will come from the county’s Park Charter Fund, which consists of an annual 1 percent set-aside of county property taxes to be used for the expansion, improvement and management of the county park system.
