Santa in the park
GILROY
– The Gilroy Police and Fire Departments are hosting Santa at
San Ysidro Park, located at the corner of Chestnut and Murray
avenues, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 1:30 to 5 p.m., in the
recreation room. Visit Santa, enjoy free goodies, music and meet
local police officers and firefighters. Pictures
with Santa are only $1. Details: Rachel Munoz at 846-0524.
Santa in the park
GILROY – The Gilroy Police and Fire Departments are hosting Santa at San Ysidro Park, located at the corner of Chestnut and Murray avenues, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 1:30 to 5 p.m., in the recreation room. Visit Santa, enjoy free goodies, music and meet local police officers and firefighters. Pictures with Santa are only $1. Details: Rachel Munoz at 846-0524.
Winter choir concerts
GILROY – The Gilroy High School Choirs will be presenting their annual Winter Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 17 and Thursday, Dec. 18, in the Gilroy High School theater.
Seating will begin at 7:10 and the performance will commence at 7:30 p.m. on both evenings.
The Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Concert Choir, Concerto Delle Donne and the Chamber Singers will be performing. Tickets for the concert are $5 and may be reserved in advance, purchased at the door or at Porcella’s Music, 7357 Monterey Road. Tickets or details: 847-2424 ext. 2288.
This isn’t for the birds
GILROY – Join Ranger Crockett on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 8:30 to 11 a.m., for a shoreline stroll along Coyote Lake at Coyote Lake Park, 10840 Coyote Reservoir Road. See ducks, waders, song birds and raptors. Hear enchanting bird stories, learn fascinating bird facts, sing a bird song and play a fun bird game. Bring a sack lunch, water and binoculars. Dress warm. Program is free; $4 vehicle entry fee is collected. Details or RSVP at 842-7800.
Brownell parents meet
GILROY – The Brownell Parent Club will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17, in the Brownell library at 7 p.m. Meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month. Community participation and input is important and valuable, so don’t be shy to join them. Details: 847-3377.
Comment on EIR
GILROY – The Wal-Mart EIR will be available for public review and comment through Jan. 22.
Interested parties can view a copy of this document at the Gilroy Public Library, borrow a copy from the City Planning Division (open Monday though Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Details: 846-0400.
Host families needed
GILROY – Takko High School students will be making their annual trip to California Jan. 4 through 12. Seventeen students and three teachers will arrive in Gilroy approximately Jan. 6.
Families are needed to host one or more students or an adult chaperone for this week. Being a host family is a great opportunity to learn about another culture while sharing your own, while strengthening the sister-city relationship between Takko and Gilroy. Students will be out and about during the day and interact with their host families in the evenings.
If you are interested in hosting a Takko visitor, please e-mail Wendy Conrotto at ki****@*******ne.jp for details.
Donate used cell phones
GILROY – Donate phones that are less than five years old and the Shelter Alliance will give Community Solutions between 50 cents and $20 for each cell phone. Call Liz Delgadillo at 846-4741 for drop-off locations.
Calling classes of ’68 and ’69
GILROY – The Gilroy High School Classes of 1968 and 1969 are planning a joint reunion for June 26. The committee has been working very hard to locate its former classmates. If you are a member of the GHS class of ’68 or ’69 and have not received a flyer with information regarding the reunion, contact Dan Mitchell (class of ’68) at
847-3160 or e-mail DA*@*****EN.COM or Lynn Hennessee-Cordia (class of ’69) at
842-2383 or e-mail ly*********@*ol.com.
Hospice volunteers needed
GILROY – The Kaiser Permanente Hospice Program at Santa Teresa Hospital, 50 E Main Ave., Morgan Hill, is in need of volunteers for the Gilroy and Morgan Hill area. Hospice volunteers are needed to do home visits to hospice patients and families and/or make bereavement phone calls on a monthly basis. Training is provided. Details: Steve Pankratz or Ken Watkins at 342-6699.
Suite rewards for giving
MORGAN HILL – Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites is offering a special rate for those who support Toys for Tots this season. Through Jan. 8, bring in any new unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more and stay for only $69. Rate applies to rooms with either a single, king or two queen size beds and includes a complimentary Express Start Breakfast Bar. Details: 776-7676.
Soccer directors needed
MORGAN HILL – The Orchard Valley Youth Soccer League is seeking people to fill vacancies on its board of directors. Those interested should send their resume by today’s deadline to OVYSL, P.O. Box 0891, Morgan Hill, CA 95038.
Resumes always accepted
GILROY – The City of Gilroy Human Resources Division is constantly accepting applications for part-time positions for its programs in the Parks and Recreation Division. Program areas include: adult and youth sports, senior center, pre-school, aquatics and special classes. Details:
846-0228.
Perchlorate and water rates
MORGAN HILL – City Council spent Wednesday evening hearing about the need to raise water rates by an additional 6 percent because of a projected $3.1 million shortfall by June 2007. The money is needed to cover operations, capital needs and reserve requirements, Finance Director Jack Dilles told the council.
The shortfall is entirely due to perchlorate costs the city has been hit with since the chemical was found to have contaminated several municipal wells, the sole source of water to most city residents.
The three reserves were rated by a consultant, Dilles said, and classified operational reserves the most important. Councilmen Larry Carr, Greg Sellers and Steve Tate and Mayor Dennis Kennedy said they might prefer spending down stabilization and capital reserves instead of upping the rates so soon after approving a 2 percent raise that goes into effect in April 2004.
Councilwoman Hedy Chang said she would reserve judgment until she has more information. Council also discussed a three-tiered rate schedule for large public and commercial users that would encourage conservation and still cover the city’s costs.
Council will hold a public hearing on the possible rate increase in January.
SHARE food cooperative
GILROY – SHARE is a nonprofit organization that unites the efforts of volunteers to provide access to affordable food and opportunities to improve the community. Participants in SHARE receive approximately $30 per month of meat, fresh fruits and vegetables and other grocery items for $15 plus two hours of volunteer time. Participants can volunteer at SHARE or with any other group.
The host for SHARE in South County is the United Methodist Church, located at Fourth and Church streets. SHARE is non-sectarian. Details: Madri, 848-4090 or Lily (por Espanol), 842-7050.
News Items: Please fax local news items to City Editor Jodi Engle at 842-2206, e-mail to ed****@****ic.com or mail to 6400 Monterey St. Gilroy.
