Community

GILROY—This year’s Leadership Gilroy class was tasked with creating an event that not only benefitted the community but involved it, too. The 2015 group took the challenge one step further and tackled a growing problem in Gilroy: domestic violence and human trafficking.

 Give your used belongings that you don’t need anymore a “second chance” at a series of garage sales, recycling and donation events throughout South County starting Sept. 12.The annual Second Chance Week starts with the citywide Gilroy Garage Sale Sept. 12 and 13. It ends with a similar weekend event in Morgan Hill Sept. 19 and 20, according to city staff.“Each day of the week is dedicated to making people aware of different ways to reduce, reuse and recycle,” said Morgan Hill Environmental Services Assistant Andi Borowski.Events include:—Universal Waste Awareness day Sept. 14: Properly dispose of consumer electronics, batteries, fluorescent lighting and other devices that contain mercury. Locations include Johnson Lumber and Ace Hardware in Morgan Hill; Westside Recycling, 16290 Railroad Ave. in Morgan Hill, and Pacific Recycling, 5895 Obata Way in Gilroy; and the Santa Clara County HHW program for mercury containing devices (call 408-299-7300 for details).—Freecycle Day Sept. 15: Freecycle helps reduce waste by connecting people who are throwing away unwanted items with others seeking the same items. There are freecycle groups in both Morgan Hill and Gilroy. Visit trashnothing.com and click “Join Now” to sign up.—Donate Coats for Kids and Adults Too Day Sept. 16: Bring your children’s gently used coats to the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, or Gilroy City Hall, 7351 Rosanna Street. The coats will be donated to underprivileged children and their parents, according to city staff.—Second Sight Day Sept. 17: Bring your old eyeglasses to Gilroy City Hall or the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. The Lions Club will give your eyeglasses a second chance to serve someone less fortunate.—Recycle your Cycle Day Sept. 18: Do you have a used bicycle to donate? Drop it off at the Morgan Hill Corp Yard, 100 Edes Court, or Sunshine Bikes in Gilroy, 311 First Street. Bicycles for children and adults will be accepted. Donors are asked to donate bicycles that are functional and can be easily repaired by a mechanic, free of rust or corrosion and clean enough that you would accept it as a gift.To register your garage sale for either of the Gilroy or Morgan Hill garage sale weekends, visit secondchanceweek.com. Applications are due no later than Sept. 4 for the Gilroy garage sales, and no later than Sept. 11 for Morgan Hill participants.A full list of participating garage sales will also be posted on the website before the events.Second Chance Week is sponsored by the cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy, as well as Santa Clara County. For more information call (408) 310-4169.BOXSecond Chance WeekDonate items or find gently used goods that you need at the following events during South County’s Second Chance Week:Sept. 12 and 13: Gilroy Garage Sales.Sept. 14: Recycle your electronics on Universal Waste Awareness Day.Sept. 15: Freecycle Day connects people with items they no longer need with others who can use them.Sept. 16: Donate used children’s and adults’ coats.Sept. 17: Donate your old eyeglasses.Sept. 18: Recycle Your Cycle Day.Sept. 19 and 20: Morgan Hill Garage Sales.More information: Visit secondchanceweek.com or call (408) 310-4169.

GILROY—A growing hub of outlet stores in the East Bay stands to challenge one of Gilroy’s revenue-generating powerhouses: the 145-store Gilroy Premium Outlets.

GILROY—HD Auto Glass held off Recology 12-10 to improve to 3-0 in the Men’s Fall Softball League standings at Las Animas Veterans Park Sept. 1.

GILROY—For the 26th consecutive year, Gilroy’s elementary school-aged children can take a break from the summer heat and hone their art skills at free workshops Saturday. Kids Discover Art, which includes 15 workshops ranging from Japanese origami to caricature drawing and pastel painting, takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the grassy area just south of the Gilroy Library and north of Gilroy City Hall. Children ages 5 through 11 are invited to participate.

On Aug. 22, five local teens obtained the rank of Eagle Scout—the highest in the Boy Scouts of America program. Aakash Vashee, Richard Carini, Garrett Pipkin, Nestor Lopez and Daniel Fisser were all promoted to Eagle Scout during a ceremony at the Gilroy Elks Lodge. Each scout needed at least 21 merit badges and to complete extensive services projects to be eligible for promotion. Photos by Andrew Marquez for the Dispatch.

GILROY—The Bash Brothers moved to 2-0 atop the Wednesday Men’s Fall E Softball League with a 17-8 nod over the Expos at Las Animas Veterans Park.

GILROY—More than 100 people turned out for the 40th annual Mt. Madonna Challenge Aug. 22. Runners came from as far away as Flagstaff, Ariz., but it was the locals who took home the lion’s share of the race’s awards.

GILROY—ACT needed nine innings to trim No Soup 4 You 4-3 in the Thursday Men’s EE Fall Softball League opener at Las Animas Veterans Park.

GILROY—A small group of pro-life demonstrators picketed the Gilroy Planned Parenthood facility Saturday to protest the organization’s selling of body parts of aborted fetuses, an issue that has made national headlines for weeks, since video tapes of the alleged practice surfaced.