Local Digest
Donate to Toys for Tots
With the arrival of the 2007 holiday season, Realty World Associates and The Mortgage Net is teaming up with the U.S. Marine Corps to give back with its Toys for Tots drive.
Realty World Associates and The Mortgage Net invite the public to share in the holiday spirit by donating new, unwrapped toys from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Toys can be dropped off at the office location at 752 First St. Get a free photo with Santa. Come hear Christmas carols sung by Gilroy High School Chamber Singers and St. Mary Church Youth choir between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Children’s activities include face painting and Christmas goodies.
Other businesses and civic groups have become drop-off points for the Toys for Tots toy drive. Edward Jones Investments, 7877 Wren Ave., Suite A,; Gilroy Elks Lodge, 2765 Hecker Pass Highway; Gilroy Gardens; and Santa Teresa Dental, 16160 Monterey Road, Suite A, Morgan Hill.
Details: 848-0000
County honors CalWORKs participants
Ten CalWORKs participants were honored for their outstanding achievements, during the 17th Annual CalWORKs Achievement Awards ceremony held this week at a Board of Supervisors meeting. The recognition showcased participants’ accomplishments, in spite of significant personal, social and economic barriers.
“This annual celebration is and inspiring example of how essential County services are,” said Supervisor Don Gage, chair of the board of supervisors and vice chair of the board’s Children, Seniors and Families Committee.
CalWORKs participants honored for their remarkable tenacity in overcoming adversity are Christine Benavides, Olga Cruz, Joseph Gallegos, Denelda Johnson, Phuong Le, Fulber Pliego, Laura Rodriguez, Summer Rodriguez, Joy Smith and Katherine Way.
CalWORKs Employment Services provides thousands of Santa Clara County residents’ relevant job skills, a plan for success and effective tools to prepare public assistance clients for the type of jobs that lead to self-sufficiency. The program assists participants with education, training, career advancement, childcare, transportation, counseling and substance abuse treatment.
County explores prison exit facility
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors created a planning group to study the possibility of establishing a county reentry facility. The facility would provide house inmates that have less than 12 months remaining on their prison term. In turn, this would alleviate overcrowding at other county facilities, Supervisor Don Gage said.
The planning group would determine how many inmates the facility could house and where it could be located, Gage said. Ideal arrangements include expanding existing prisons or building the new facility adjacent to existing county facilities. Because the county owns little land in South Valley and any facility there would be far away from the county’s employees and resources, a South Valley facility would be expensive and therefore unlikely.
Wherever the facility ends up, it will house inmates that are from the area and would provide social services, such as mental health treatment, substance abuse rehabilitation and vocational training, according to a county press release.
Details: Gwendolyn Mitchell, 299-5119
Shop and benefit students
Finish your Christmas shopping at Barnes and Noble Monday through Wednesday to benefit Antonio Del Buono students. A percentage of sales will help fund reading, arts and GATE programs. Free gift wrapping available.
Meet Santa in the park
Santa Claus will hear present requests and spread mirth in San Ysidro Park, between 2 and 4:30 p.m.Wednesday. The event will be held in the recreation room near the intersection of Murray Avenue and Chestnut Street. There will also be goodie bags for the first 450 children. Free pictures with Santa.
Details: 846-0524.
Have breakfast with Santa
Children between 3 and 12 are invited to spend the morning with Santa Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Gilroy Senior Center, 7371 Hanna St. The fee is $12 ($14 for non-residents) to have breakfast, make crafts and take photos with Santa. Seating times: are 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.
Details: 846-0460 to pre-register.
Send digest items to City Editor Robert Airoldi at ed****@****ic.com.
