Death Likely a Gilroy Suicide
Gilroy – Police responded to a suicide call in northwest Gilroy on Sunday, Sept. 3, at 2:30pm. The 48-year-old female suicide victim was found in her home with a fatal gunshot wound. Although the incident is being investigated as a possible homicide, police believe it was a suicide. Further information about the incident will be revealed once the actual cause of death is confirmed by autopsy reports.
Meet an Outhouse Archaeologist
Gilroy – Local outhouse archaeologist Mark Huddleston will speak at the Gilroy Library, 7387 Rosanna Street, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 7:30pm. Huddleston, a local sign maker, will bring the bounty from his most recent local area excavations. He has been excavating old outhouses for nearly 40 years, since he was ten years old.
An outhouse archaeologist finds treasure and learns about history through other people’s personal refuse. Before 1890, there were few city dumps so outhouses became a household dumping ground for non-recyclable waste such as glass. Before the Civil War, crockery or ceramics was used for food storage but shortly thereafter disposable glass bottles and containers became commonplace.
With the advent of indoor plumbing, Gilroy established a city waterline in 1892, and by 1920, most outhouses were gone. However, their hidden artifacts remained buried, including old glass bottles, marbles, porcelain doll heads, crockery, china, coins, and gas lamps.
Details: 842-8207 or visit the library Web site at http://www.santaclaracountylibr.org/gilroy .
Arts group asks Council for $700,000
San Jose – Several arts groups facing financial shortfalls sought millions of dollars in bailouts from the San Jose City Council last week, with at least one group saying a lack of funds could mean closing its doors. American Musical Theatre San Jose asked city officials for $1.5 million on Wednesday, a day after the city council indicated it may give the San Jose Repertory Theatre a $1 million loan. Without the money, the musical company may have to shut down, said CEO and executive producer Michael Miller.
Miller blamed weak ticket sales, a drop-off in subscriber renewals, lower-than-expected donations and a $1.7 million deficit for the group’s fiscal woes. Councilwoman Nora Campos reiterated her request on Friday for a $700,000-a-year increase in city funding for the financially troubled Mexican Heritage Corp., a Latino arts and cultural group that runs the Mexican Heritage Plaza. Since the plaza opened its doors in 1999, the group has repeatedly lost money, and temporarily stopped almost all programming last year to ease a cash crunch.
Arts Alliance Meeting Postponed
Gilroy – The Gilroy Arts Alliance membership meeting originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 30, will be postponed due to scheduling conflicts.
Taste of Morgan Hill Coming Soon
Morgan Hill – The September 23 and September 24 Taste of Morgan Hill, presented by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, returns with tradition and even a change or two. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Morgan Hill.
Arts and crafts and commercial products will be on Monterey Road, and entertainment and bands will be performing at Third and Second Streets. And begun in ’05, the “real taste of Morgan Hill” returns with food provided by local restaurants, caterers and nonprofit organizations.
The longest tradition, the Taste of Morgan Hill Custom and Classic Car Show will be making its seventeenth appearance between Fourth Street and East Dunne Avenue. A “Kids Zone” will be located behind the Granada Theatre and on Second Street.
Call the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce at 408-779-9444 or email mn*****@********ll.org for additional information.
Free Seminar on Feeling Younger
Gilroy – “The Five Secrets to Looking and Feeling Younger” will be presented by the Doctors’ Speakers Bureau. The guest speaker will be Robert W. Kovacs, D.C. The Seminar will be held Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 7 pm at the Gilroy Puublic Library. Please RSVP to (408) 848-3666.
Details: www.doctorsspeakersbureau.com.
Concert Choir Begins New Season
Gilroy – The Concert Choir at Gavilan College is ready to begin the new season . Registration is now open for the Gavilan College Concert Choir which begins its fall semester on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The Gavilan College Concert Choir is under the direction of Phillip Robb. It meets every Tuesday evening from 7:30 pm to 9:45 pm at the Gilroy High School choir room. The choir is open to all singers, college-age and above. Reading music is helpful, but not required.
This fall, the choir will be rehearsing John Rutter’s “Gloria,” and a collection of other seasonal music for the holidays. Singers who are interested may register at the Gavilan College Registrar’s Office or pick up materials on September 5, the first night of class.
Details: Phillip Robb at the GHS music office (847-2424, ext. 2288).
Send community 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
