Two small fires quickly extinguished
Gilroy – Firefighters responded to two small fires Wednesday, about 12 hours apart.
The first occurred in a house at 7265 Dowdy St. shortly after 8 in the morning. No one was in the house at the time, firefighters said, and the fire appeared to have been started by something that was left too close to a floor heater. The heater was not on at the time, but the firefighters said the pilot light was likely the ignition source.
The fire was extinguished in about 10 minutes and damage to the home was confined to the floor surrounding the heater.
Later Wednesday, fire crews extinguished a 30-foot palm tree that caught fire in front of a home on Fillipelli Drive at about 8pm. It was unknown how the flames started, which a nearby resident said started in the middle of the tree. The fire was contained to the tree and did not damage any homes, but firefighters kept a close eye on the embers that fell from the tree onto nearby roofs.
Motorcycle class offered at Gavilan
Gilroy – Gavilan College Community Education Department, a State certified provider of the California Motorcycle Safety Program approved by the California Highway Patrol, is offering a basic course in riding a motorcycle.
Training is designed primarily for beginning and inexperienced riders. The course includes six hours of classroom and 10 hours of on-cycle instruction.
Classes are offered every Thursday evening, Saturday and Sunday year around.
Successful completion is now required by the DMV for any rider younger than 21 seeking his/her first California motorcycle license.
Registration fees are $198 for students 21 years and over and $150 for students under 21 years of age.
Details: Gavilan College Community Education office at (408) 874-2514 or at: www.gavilan.edu/ce
St. Mary School
open house
Gilroy – Parents interested in enrolling their child in Kindergarten at St. Mary School are invited to an open house Jan. 26 from 6:30-7:30pm in the Kindergarten classroom.
Principal Christa Hanson and Kindergarten teacher Bobbi Green will answer questions about the program and other information specific to the registration process for 2005-06 will be presented. Prospective students must be age 5 by Dec. 1 and must have attended at least one year of pre-school.
Open house for parents interested in enrolling their child in Grades 1-8 will be held Feb. 1 from 10am to noon.
Registration for the 2005-06 school year will be held Feb. 26 at noon in the gym, 15 First St.
Details: 842-2827.
ICF dinner benefits local students
Gilroy – The Italian Catholic Federation Branch 28, Gilroy will present our fifth annual Polenta Dinner Jan. 29 at St. Mary Church in Cullen Hall, 11 First St. All proceeds benefit ICF charities including scholarships for local students.
Take out available after 5:30pm. Bring your own containers. Dinner will be served from 6 to 8pm. Donation $12 for adults and $5 for children younger than 12.
For tickets call Pat Cordich (408)842-6065 or Emma Moretti (408) 842-0145.
Send news items to City Editor Robert Airoldi. Fax to
842-2206, mail to Gilroy Dispatch, 6400 Monterey Road, Gilroy, CA 95020 or e-mail ed****@****ic.com.
