ADD meeting and potluck
Gilroy – The Association for Developmentally Disabled, which serves South County, will have its quarterly potluck and general this evening.
The potluck begins at 6pm, and the general meeting will be at 7pm at Hope Services, 8855 Murray Ave. The meeting’s topic will be respite care and $500 grants are available for agencies serving the developmentally disabled.
Details: Tamara Merrill, (831) 662-1998 or Susan Jones, (831) 636-3271.
Visit Scarecrow Alley and Pumpkin Patch
Gilroy – More than 30 one-of-a-kind scarecrows designed, created and maintained by local organizations will welcome visitors along Scarecrow Alley at Bonfante Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Highway (Highway 152), through Oct. 30. Families can select and purchase pumpkin inside the park or play in a children’s hay maze.
Details: www.bonfantegardens.org.
AAUW presents election forum
Gilroy – Joan Bolster, of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women, will present an election’s forum at 7pm, Thursday, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 651 Broadway St., to better educate voters on Propositions 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80.
As a non-partisan organization, it neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate, although it sometimes supports or opposes ballot measures, based on positions on issues it studies.
Since 1881 AAUW has been a leading voice promoting education and equity for women and girls.
Details: 842-6943.
Reception for Henry Miller exhibit
Gilroy – The Gilroy Historical Society will present a wine and cheese reception for history buffs at the Gilroy Museum, 195 Fifth St., at 6 p.m., Thursday.
The museum is celebrating history month by expanding its exhibit on Gilroy’s famous cattle king, Henry Miller.
At one time, Miller owned 1.5 million acres in California, Oregon and Nevada.
The silos on Highway 101 just south of Highway 25 were part of his headquarters at the Bloomfield Ranch.
Elizabeth Barratt, a local historian, will speak on the Las Animas Partition suit, the largest land suit ever brought in the history of the state involving Miller and Massey Thomas.
The suit affected most city property resulting in hundreds of changes to property lines and ownership.
Details: 848-0470.
Neighborhood groups present forum
Gilroy – United Neighborhood Associations, a Gilroy-based organization representing more than six neighborhood groups, is sponsoring a Gilroy City Council candidates forum 7 to 9 pm, Thursday at the Gilroy High School Theater.
Participats will read questions for candidates Charlie Morales, Robert Dillon, Craig Gartman, Peter Arellano and Dion Bracco.
Details: 375-0924.
Volunteers needed for cycling event
Gilroy – One of the last regional cycling events in the Bay Area is coming Saturday and volunteers are still needed to help with the event.
The Bonfante Harvest Ride will host hundreds of serious cyclists as well as young children who will pedal through Bonfante Gardens before it opens to the public.
Volunteers are needed to help cheer cyclists at the Gilroy Hot Springs, Gilroy Outlets and Spina Farms location as well as inside Bonfante Gardens to help with registration, check in, bike management and more.
Volunteers receive an all-you-can eat rider meal and admission to Bonfante Gardens after their shift.
Details: 682-4700.
GHS choirs present fall concert
Gilroy – The high school choirs will present their annual fall concert at 7:30pm, Wednesday and Thursday, at St. Mary Church, 11 First St.
Doors open at 7:10pm. There will be a $3 admission fee at the door. Parking is behind the church.
More than 150 students participate in the school’s choirs. The 65 voices of the women’s chorus will begin the concert both evenings. They will be followed by the concert choir and the 48 members of the men’s chorus.
The last part of the concert includes the award-winning Concerto Delle Donne and Chamber Singers.
Last year the Chamber Singers and Concerto Delle Donne were awarded gold first-place honors at the Heritage Festival in San Diego.
The Chamber Singers also placed fifth in the prestigious Golden State Choral Competition. The choirs are recognized throughout the state for their excellence in singing.
The event will be the first public performance for the choirs, which are under the direction of Phil Robb, who has been directing the school’s choirs for more than 20 years.
Thursday’s guest choir will be the combined middle school choirs under the direction of Carol MacDonald.
This is MacDonald’s debut performance in the Gilroy area. She previously directed children’s choirs in San Jose and Santa Clara, and is now directing the Gilroy middle school choirs as well as the Gilroy Unified School District elementary honor choir.
Details: 847-2424.
Cheerleading competition at Bonfante
Gilroy – The second annual Cheerleading Competition will be Oct. 23 in Bonfante Gardens Events Plaza with youth, Pop Warner, junior high and All-Star cheerleading squads competing.
The event is free with park admission.
Details: United Spirit Association at 1-800-886-4872 or www.usacamps.com.
Investment Management Seminar
Morgan Hill – Zacks Investment Management will sponsor a seminar from 1 to 2pm Wednesday at the Morgan Hill Community Center, Dunne Avenue and Monterey Street in the Madrone Room.
Reservations required. A $10 reservation fee includes light lunch/refreshments.
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.
