Election volunteers needed for June
Gilroy – The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters is looking for dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers to work at the polls in the June 6 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Volunteers are particularly needed to work in the south part of the county, including Gilroy and Morgan Hill.
Volunteering is a great way for voters to serve their communities and get involved in the democratic process. Election officers will earn $85 or more for volunteering.
About 3,300 volunteers will be needed to staff 805 polling precincts across the county. Election officers are responsible for setting up the polling place, processing voters and providing assistance as requested. In addition to serving a day at the polls (usually 6am to 9:30pm), they also must attend a three-hour training class.
Details: 299-POLL
Downtown flea market is a go
Gilroy – Antique dealers, produce stores and a variety of other downtown business owners will hold outdoor flea markets despite major construction along Monterey Street. The events, held on the first and third Saturdays of the month through October, will rotate between two parking lots off Eigleberry Street, between Fourth and Sixth streets, from 8:30am to 3pm.
Details: www.downtowngilroy.com.
Gilroy Cannery oral history today
Gilroy – Five former workers and owners of the Gilroy Cannery will weave tales of tomatoes and tin cans for the public today from 3 to 5pm, at the old cannery site, 111 Lewis St. as part of the Gilroy Cannery Oral History Project. A “Walk of History” exhibit will display photos, artifacts, and transcripts of oral histories.
The Gilroy Oral History Project documents the stories of workers in the bustling food processing industry in Gilroy between 1914 and 1997. Gavilan Community College history professor Leah Halper and student Crystal Lombardo helped collect the oral histories.
South County Housing plans a 200-unit mixed-use development on the 13-acre site, formerly occupied by the Filice and Perrelli Cannery. The event will be held in conjunction with the demolition of remaining cannery buildings to memorialize the transition. The project will become part of a permanent collection within the development.
Donate food, help stamp out hunger
Gilroy – Bay Area letter carriers will team with the public to “Stamp Out Hunger” today in the nation’s largest one-day food drive. For the 14th year, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ (www.nalc.org) Food Drive means thousands of local postal workers will collect nonperishable food donations as they traverse their mail delivery routes. Residents can help by putting a bag of healthy, nonperishable food near their home or business mailbox today.
Details: (866) 234-3663 or www.2ndharvest.net.
Mothers in Touch looking for others
Gilroy – Mothers across the nation and throughout the world are investing an hour every week to pray for their children in Moms In Touch International groups.
The purpose of this international, interdenominational ministry is to encourage mothers and others to meet and to pray regularly for their children and the school they attend.
Their vision is that every school in the world would be covered with prayer.
There is one MITI group (two moms), specifically praying for Solorsano Junior High School and Gavilan College.
Details: www.MomsInTouch.org or Suzanne Bulle at 847-8804.
Health groups endorse Measure A
San Jose – Four Santa Clara County health groups are backing a half-cent sales tax increase residents will decide June 6, as part of efforts to sustain services in the face of a $160 million budget deficit.
The latest endorsements come from four San Jose-based groups: the Council On Aging Silicon Valley, the Health Trust, the Indian Health Center Of Santa Clara Valley, and Live Oak Adult Day Services.
County officials are desperate to bring in funds to sustain hospitals, social services, and a host of transportation needs, though many voters worry that up to half of the tax revenues will get funneled toward efforts to extend BART rail service to San Jose.
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
