Community

Friends and family of John Vasquez, a 46-year-old Gilroy native who was diagnosed less than three years ago with a rare nerve disorder called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, along with multiple myeloma (a cancer that starts in the plasma cells of bone marrow) and monoclonal gammopathy (a condition in which an abnormal protein is in the blood) will host a family barbeque, raffle and fundraiser from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy. 

What many locals will recognize as the cheerful red barn (visible off Hecker Pass Highway, not far from Syngenta Flowers) is opening back up for the season this week.

The El Camino Club, a Gilroy-based nonprofit organization consisting of California Highway Patrol Officers and supervisors assigned to the Gilroy-Hollister CHP Office, recently volunteered several hours of their own time Feb. 28 to pick up trash on the shoulders of Hecker Pass between Burchell Road and Watsonville Road. The group filled up 12 Adopt-a-Higway bags full of trash.

The Central Coast Barnstormers opened the season with a 35-19 loss to the visiting South Bay Stallions on Saturday at Gilroy High.

Despite the overwhelming generosity of the community, the Second Harvest Food Bank has fallen $300,000 short of its “Holiday Food and Fund Drive” target.

District 5 rallied past 50 Shades of Bay Tree 58-55 on Wednesday to improve to 2-0 atop the nine-team Men’s Spring Basketball League at Solorsano Gym.

Everyone knows Gilroy is the Garlic Capital, but did you know this area used to be a prune-producing powerhouse?

Change is germinating for two of Gilroy’s grassroots nonprofits that tout quality produce, teach sustainable practices and promote buying locally.

Robert Guerrero hears it around town.

The Central Coast Barnstormers plan to run a balanced spread offense this season. There should be little doubt about the semi-pro football team’s ability to move the ball through the air.