Hecker Pass closure begins Monday
• Gilroy – Get to the beach this weekend. The 40-day closure of
U.S. Highway 152 just past the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz county line
will begin Monday, according to a spokeswoman with the California
Department of Transportation.
Hecker Pass closure begins Monday
• Gilroy – Get to the beach this weekend. The 40-day closure of U.S. Highway 152 just past the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz county line will begin Monday, according to a spokeswoman with the California Department of Transportation.
Hecker Pass Highway, the major route between Gilroy and the coast, will remain closed for 40 calendar days, or until mid-September. A $1.5 million Caltrans widening project is forcing the closure to expedite construction on about a half-mile stretch of the highway.
The purpose of the project is to improve safety on that portion of the highway by widening existing traffic lanes and shoulders. No new lanes will be added. Other upgrades include a concrete barrier along the inside of a narrow curve, a new guardrail, and landscaping on what will be a steeper slope of the hillside.
Traffic will be re-routed to Highway 129 south of Gilroy, and signs alerting drivers will be located in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.
Exercise for the symphony
• Gilroy – South Valley Symphony is holding their 30th Annual Mt. Madonna Challenge Sunday, August 28.
The challenge includes a 6K Walk and Race as well as a 12K Mt. Madonna Challenge Race. The cost is $24, which includes a cap and T-shirt for registration before Aug. 14.
Stop by the Chamber office for an application or register online at www.active.com or www.theschedule.com.
Proceeds benefit the South Valley Symphony’s Christmas Concert.
Details: Bill Flodberg at 683-4683.
Walk historical Fifth Street
• Gilroy – Walk through seven decades of history on cool, leafy Fifth Street Saturday. Three National Register buildings and some of Gilroy’s finest architecture will be described by members of the Gilroy Historical Society. Meet at the Gilroy Museum, 195 5th St. at 10am.
Reservations for the free tour are appreciated by calling the museum at 848-0470.
Back to school concerts at outlets
• Gilroy – The Premium Outlets will be hosting Concert on the Plaza and Music & Movement for Kids during their back to school sales event, today, through Sunday.
Concert on the Plaza will feature two local teen bands, Novice and Expose the Flaw who will be performing live, original music on Saturday, from 3 to 5pm in Building C parking lot in front of Nautica and Hugo Boss.
Bay area musician and children’s entertainer, Mr. David will be also be performing unique music and catchy kids tunes in Building B, between Carter’s and The Children’s Place Outlet on Friday and Saturday, from noon to 1pm and on Sunday, from 2 to 3pm.
Gilroy Premium Outlets is located at the Leavesley Road exit on Highway 101.
Details: www.premiumoutlets.com/gilroy.
Red Cross blood drive Thursday
• Gilroy – The community of Gilroy will host their regular American Red Cross blood drive from 1:30 to 6:30pm Thursday, Aug. 11, at First Baptist Church, 8455 Wren Ave.
To make a life-saving appointment to give blood, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit www.BeADonor.com. In order to give blood, you must be 17 years or older, weigh no less than 110 pounds and enjoy general good health. Walk-ins are welcome.
Bring a driver’s license as American Red Cross blood donors are required to provide identification before donating blood.
The preferred identifiers include a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, or a Red Cross blood donor card.
Enjoy an evening under the stars
• Almaden – The Sky is Falling at Calero County Park Aug. 11 from 8:30 to 11:30pm. Come spend an evening under the shooting stars with a park ranger and learn about Perseus (great hero of mythology), whom this meteor shower is named after. Bring a blanket or chair and a flashlight with red lens.
Details: 268-3883.
San Martin car show fundraiser
• San Martin – The San Martin Neighborhood Alliance will be hosting their 3rd Annual “Happy Days in San Martin” car show fundraiser on August 20, 11 am to 5pm at the San Martin Country Park.
In addition to displaying at least 150 cars, they will have food vendors and live entertainment. The event drew 2,000 people last summer.
Details on SMNA or their events: visit www.smneighbor.org.
A ghostly and spooky adventure
• San Jose – Ghost Stories and Star Hike at Santa Teresa County Park’s Historic Bernal Ranch Aug. 12 from 7:30 to 9:30pm. Discover Ohlone legends, tales of buried treasure and stories of the night sky.
Reservations required, ages 10 and older call 226-5453.
Get a job with the CCC
• Sacramento – Interested in leading, instructing and mentoring young people while restoring wildland some of the most beautiful parts of California?
The California Conservation Corps is holding an open exam for two levels of its Conservationist civil service staff.
Exam applications must be completed and submitted to the Corps, postmarked by Aug. 15.
Conservationists serve as the “backbone” of the CCC, leading teams of young people.
They restore fish and wildlife habitat, maintain trails and campgrounds and respond to floods, fires and other natural disasters. A Conservationist II is usually a project coordinator or corps member orientation trainer.
Details: www.ccc.ca.gov or call the CCC at (916) 341-3188.
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.
