Opening ceremonies
GILROY
– Gilroy Little League’s Opening Ceremonies will be this
Saturday, starting with a parade at 10 a.m. on the ranch side to
Christmas Hill Park. At 11:30 a.m., there will be games and food.
The Gilroy police and fire departments will be on-hand with
information on safety. The South Valley Children’s
Choir will sing the anthem. Main sponsors of the event are
Safeway, Nob Hill, Dutchman’s Pizza and South Valley Disposal.
Details: Christine at 848-8584.
GHS takes second at lip-sync contest
GILROY – Gilroy High School’s latinas and latinos club earned second place at the finals of the Rotary-sponsored California State Principal Lip-sync Competition Friday. The students performed a choreographed routine to Latino singer Chayanne’s “Torero,” which means bullfighter, while Principal Bob Bravo lip-synced the words.
The students took home $3,000 in scholarship money for their second-place finish among 13 schools.
Earlier, GHS finished second and earned $2,000 at Alisal High School in Salinas.
Highway summit postponed
HOLLISTER – The future of local transportation could take shape as decision-makers from across the region are scheduled to discuss current highway projects and widening proposals.
The meeting is intended to provide decision-makers with the most up-to-date information available from transportation experts about topics such as traffic flow, regional fatalities, current road projects and local highway widening alternatives.
“The whole idea is that it’s been so long since we’ve talked about this, I think we needed an update on the current situation,” Hollister City Councilman Tony Bruscia said. “The highway is a mess. Money is drying up and the state is in a budget deficit.”
Members of the Hollister City Council; San Benito County Board of Supervisors; San Juan Bautista City Council; Caltrans; Valley Transit Authority; Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, and Assemblyman Simon Salinas, D-Salinas, are among those scheduled to attend the April 17 meeting at 2 p.m. in Hollister City Hall. The meeting was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but had to be postponed because of a conflict with Farr’s schedule.
Some of the projects that will be discussed are the proposed widening of Highway 25 to four lanes and a highway project that would run from the Don Pacheco “Y” at the Highway 156 and Highway 152 intersection and continue southwest along the existing Highway 156 to the corner of San Felipe Road and then to U.S. 101.
Comment on courthouse plans
MORGAN HILL – The public will have a chance tonight to review, judge and voice their opinions of the detailed plans for the new county courthouse.
The 80,000-square-foot, two-building justice center is planned for a site between Butterfield Boulevard and the railroad tracks and between the Caltrain parking lot and Diana Avenue, will cost $40 million. It is expected to be occupied by December 2005.
A truce was called between the City Council and Santa Clara County representatives last week when the two sides met to hear detailed plans for the new county courthouse. The original disagreement came to light at the Feb. 19 council meeting where Mayor Dennis Kennedy grilled Alicia Flynn, project manager for the courthouse, beyond the bounds of propriety, according to Carruth. The council had accused the county of proceeding with courthouse plans and ignoring city design considerations.
Kevin Carruth, director of the county’s General Services Agency sent a seven page, closely written letter to City Manager Ed Tewes and the council on March 3, checking off in great detail where he thought the council had misinterpreted county actions and leaned too heavily on Flynn. He offered to attend a council meeting and explain the project himself and answer any questions. Wednesday night was that appearance.
“Isn’t it possible to shake hands and smile at this point and go forward?” asked Councilwoman Hedy Chang. “There is no point in going back – it won’t cure anything.”
“We are more than happy to go forward,” Carruth responded.
Council invites the public to stop by Council Chambers Thursday night at 7 p.m. to view the model, the drawings and to hear the architect’s presentation.
Support Morgan Hill teachers
GILROY – Support Morgan Hill public school teachers by enjoying a meal at Fresh Choice. The restaurant will donate 20 percent of April Fools Day’s receipts of those customers who declare they are supporters of the Teachers Aid Coalition at the register. Teachers Aid Coalition gathers classroom supplies in support of local teachers. Details: Call Fresh Choice, located at the Gilroy Outlets at the Gilroy OfficeMax, at 842-6919.
News Items: Please fax local news items to City Editor Jodi Engle at 842-2206, e-mail to ed****@ga****.com or mail to 6400 Monterey St. Gilroy.
