Vendors wanted
GILROY
– Vendors are wanted for Rebekah Children’s Services Annual
Spring Festival, Carnival and County Fair. The events will be held
on April 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 290 I.O.O.F. Ave.
Details: 846-2140.
Bonfante job fair
GILROY – Bonfante Gardens Theme Park will open hiring for its 2003 season beginning this weekend, when officials will accept employee applications and conduct interviews during a job fair on the park grounds.
The one-day-event is open to the general public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the park, located off state Highway 152 west of Santa Teresa Boulevard.
Bonfante managers hope to hire nearly 700 seasonal, part-time workers or “associates” for this summer’s season, making it the top employer of youth in the South County.
Positions range from ride operators and food vendors to landscaping and maintenance employees to the entertainment-oriented, including those who want to wear one of the park’s fuzzy character costumes. Management opportunities are available.
“We’re looking for people with all skills,” said Bonfante spokeswoman Nicole Koebrich.
Applicants should come prepared for an interview and be ready to fill out a job application with social security number and other information. The company will be hiring on-site. Applicants must be 15 or older.
For those who can’t make the job fair, the park’s human resources department will also be accepting applications daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting this weekend. Applicants will be directed to the park’s gymnasium after they arrive at the security gate.
For more information, call 840-7100 or visit www.bonfantegardens.com on the Internet.
‘Tip-a-cop’ at chevy’s
GILROY – The Hollister-Gilroy area of the California Highway Patrol is having a “Tip-A-Cop” at Chevy’s Restaurant on Thursday, March 6 from 4 to 9 p.m. The event is a fund raiser for Special Olympics of Northern California. Officers will assist servers and solicit “tips” as donations for Special Olympics in addition to those given to the regular food servers. Donations go to support the costs of uniforms, competitions and training expenses of all Special Olympians in the Northern California region. Details:
848-2324.
Charity fashion show
GILROY – The Gilroy Elks Lodge #1567 is holding its annual charity fashion show on March 8 at 11 a.m. All proceeds benefit handicapped children. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through March 5 at the Gilroy Lodge, 2765 Hecker Pass Highway or by calling 842-9397.
Support GHS journalism
GILROY – The Gilroy High School journalism department is holding a garage sale Saturday, March 8 to raise funds to send students to this year’s Journalism Education Association’s conference. The sale will take place starting at 7 a.m. at 1487 Lupine Court. Those interested in making donations to the journalism department or purchasing advertisements in the school newspaper, The Free Press, can contact advisor Elizabeth Baker-Chapman at Gilroy High School at 847-2424. For details about the garage sale, call 848-3922.
Garlicky group of poets
GILROY – The Garlicky Group of Poets is holding its monthly poetry reading on Saturday, March 8 at 3:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Gilroy Public Library, Rosanna and Sixth streets. Public participation is welcome, and the event is free. Details:
779-4999.
Sounds of a brass band
GILROY – The South Valley Symphony is bringing back the “British style” Pacific Brass Band to perform at the Gilroy High School theater on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are now on sale at Porcella’s Music and California Music Company in downtown Gilroy and Snappy Photo located at 785 First Street. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors age 55 and up and $7 for students age 12 to 18. Bandmaster Gonzalo H. Viales C. and Associate Bandmaster Howard Miyata will lead the 35-member band. The repertoire of the band consists of traditional brass band music, as well as American folk songs, rags, marches and selections from musical theater. Details:
842-3934.
Tax assistance available
GILROY – Free income tax assistance is now available in Santa Clara County through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. VITA helps elderly, low-income, the disabled and non-English speaking taxpayers fill out simple, basic Federal tax forms such as Forms 1040-EZ, 1040-A, 1040, and the basic State tax forms 540-EZ and 540-A. Many VITA sites offer free electronic filing (e-file) for a faster refund. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Program offers free tax help, usually at senior centers in the community. For the nearest TCE site, call the IRS toll-free 1 (800) 829-1040, the Franchise Tax Board at 1 (800) 852-5711 or Tax Aide at 1 (888) 227-7669. Bring this year’s Tax Package, plus wage and earning statements (Form W-2) from all employers, any interest statements received from banks, etc. (Form 1099), a copy of last year’s tax return and any other relevant information concerning 2002 income and expenses. Also bring valid social security numbers/or IRS-issued individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) for themselves, a spouse and any dependent children. Help is available at the Gavilan College Library building, room 101-A, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd., Wednesdays from 5 to 8:30 p.m. through April 9. Spanish assistance is available. Call 848-4790 for an appointment.
Gala Auction and Dinner
GILROY – Pacific West Christian Academy will hold its sixth annual Spring Gala Auction and Dinner on Saturday, March 15. The event will be held at San Juan Oaks Country Club in San Juan Bautista. The school has recently purchased two acres in Gilroy with the goal of moving within three years, and needs help to make the move a success. Local businesses are encouraged to donate items for the Gala Auction. Details: 847-7922.
Donate used cell phones!
GILROY – Community Solutions is holding a cell phone drive throughout Gilroy and Morgan Hill. The Shelter Alliance will give Community Solutions between 50 cents and $20 for each phone collected, which will be used to pay for clothing, shelter, food, children’s toys, diapers and other needed supplies. In Gilroy, cell phones are being collected at Safeway at 905 First St., Cellular Universe at 1205 C First St. and Community Solutions at 6980 Chestnut Ave. Please donate phones that are less than five years old. Details: 846-4741.
Wanted: Your TV shows
GILROY – Local TV station Community Media Access Partnership is putting out a call for tapes from independent producers, videographers and filmmakers to help fill its four channels. Entries can be any length, though standard broadcast times are preferred, and can be supplied on SVHS, Sony-compatible mini-DVD or DVD. Program submission paperwork is available online at www.mycmap.org/tapes.html or at CMAP’s lobby (L 139), located next the TV station at Gavilan College, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd., Gilroy. For more information, visit their Web site at mycmap.org or call
846-4983.
Backpacking adventure
MORGAN HILL – Henry Coe State Park is holding three sessions for beginning and intermediate backpackers. There will be a classroom session on Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. followed by a 5-mile backpacking trip on March 22 and a four-day trip April 10 through 13. To sign up or to get more information, contact Bill Workman at bw******@*******om.com (preferably) or 842-8373.
Donate used cell phones!
GILROY – Community Solutions is holding a cell phone drive throughout Gilroy and Morgan Hill. The Shelter Alliance will give Community Solutions between 50 cents and $20 for each phone collected, which will be used to pay for clothing, shelter, food, children’s toys, diapers and other needed supplies. In Gilroy, cell phones are being collected at Safeway at 905 First St., Cellular Universe at 1205 C First St. and Community Solutions at 6980 Chestnut Ave.
Donate phones that are less than five years old. Details: 846-4741.
Called to serve?
GILROY – Is one of your loved ones being deployed to the Persian Gulf in preparation for a possible war as tensions continue to rise between the United States and Iraq? The Dispatch would like to know. Call Jodi Engle at 842-6400 ext. 272.
Tickets for ‘Zoot Suit’
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA – Sold-out performances of El Teatro Campesino’s “Zoot Suit” prompted a third extension. Tickets are now on sale for the performances which will take place through March 30. Per-form-ances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. with matinees on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. On March 30, a special performance will be held in honor of Cesar Chavez’s birthday (March 31) and to raise funds for remodeling the El Teatro Campesino playhouse. Ticket prices for this event are $50. Tickets for “Zoot Suit” are priced from $12 to $20. The Playhouse is located at 705 Fourth St. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can also be charged by phone at
(831) 623-2444.
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.
