Community

Recreational boaters hoping to get on the local waterways one more time this summer got an unexpected and unwanted surprise this week as Anderson Lake County Park was officially closed to all vessels.“Due to the projected lowering water levels, Anderson Reservoir will be closed to all vessels effective Monday, August 17,” reads the announcement on the Santa Clara County Parks & Recreation Department website. That notice was posted Wednesday, Aug. 12.A ruptured water pipe near Casa de Fruta on Aug. 1 caused the shutdown of a pipeline from San Luis Reservoir, the county’s main water supply to its water treatment plants, according to Santa Clara Valley Water District spokesman Marty Grimes.“We’ve been using Anderson Reservoir to feed our treatment plans at a much earlier time than we thought we were going to,” Grimes said.County parks had hoped to keep the reservoir open for recreational boat use through Labor Day, but the water was dropping so fast and boats could not be launched based on the water level projections, Grimes added.If the water level reaches around 40,000 acre feet, then boats can’t be safely launched.Before rupturing, the pipe had been transporting water from San Luis Reservoir to the county’s three water treatment plants. When it was shut down earlier this month, the water district began using water from Anderson instead.Repairs to the busted pipe are expected to be complete by Sept 3, Grimes said.Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos is also closed due to low water level, according to the county parks site.

GILROY—For the past 39 years, runners from around the Bay Area and beyond have tested themselves on the steep slopes of Mt. Madonna—and they show no signs of stopping anytime soon.

GILROY—The message on the wreath placed at the grave of former Gilroy Mayor Kevin “Mike” Gilroy wasn’t about the Vietnam War hero’s Medal of Honor nomination, Air Force Cross or his 100 missions, it wasn’t even a personal note to the big-time flyer and small town mayor who died Nov. 13, 2013 and is buried at St. Mary Cemetery off First Street.

Gary Diaz’s eyes get a little wider and his smile a little brighter when he talks about his trip to Cooperstown. As a man who lives and breathes baseball, both as a fan and as a local umpire, visiting the birthplace of the sport was on his bucket list and he got to check it off in unique fashion this summer.

GILROY—Dogs and cats are free to adopt at the San Martin Animal Shelter and others throughout the Bay area on Saturday, Aug. 15 as part of a movement to “clear the shelters,” according to a press release from Santa Clara County. Adoption fees, which normally exceed $90, will be waived entirely to encourage residents to select their furry friends from local shelters and provide them with permanent, loving homes.

GILROY—New Hope Community Church, the fourth seed in the Thursday Men’s EE Softball League Playoff Night, used a pair of one-run victories to come away with the 2015 spring-summer title.

HOLLISTER—Registration has begun for Hollister Little League’s 2015 Challenger Leagues.

VANCOUVER, WASH.—The Gilroy Junior All Stars had an extra day of preparation—and waiting—before their first game in the Junior Western Regional tournament. While they were bouncing on their heels to take the field, the All Stars, representing Northern California, discovered the meaning of the old adage “patience is a virtue.”

GILROY—Hundreds of children and their families descended on Fifth Street in downtown Gilroy for a community event designed to promote a positive interaction between public safety employees and residents. Attendees and organizers alike say it worked, and they are hoping someday the event will grow to include all of downtown.

GILROY—Owners of a new shuttle bus company vowed this week to serve disabled passengers after a former member of Gilroy’s Physically Challenged Board of Appeals fired off a scathing complaint to the city council seeking action.