Local Digest
Highway enforcement increased for holiday
The California Highway Patrol will be stepping up patrols to discourage drunk or reckless driving during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
From 6 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday night, the patrol will have all its available officers on the road, according to the CHP. There will be several thousand officers patrolling the entire state.
Last year during this period, officers arrested 1,670 people for driving under the influence. During this same period, 42 people died in some of the 4,768 accidents that took place.
Highways 152 and 156 construction continues
Valley Transportation Authority road crews will be closing one lane or entire roads on highways 152 and 156 for short periods during the night. The construction, which started Monday morning, will continue until 5 p.m. Friday. Detours will be set up when these closures are in effect.
Due to daytime road work, the speed limit on the highways has also been lowered to 40 mph.
Details: 321-7575
Polenta dinner aids scholarships
A polenta dinner to be held Saturday, at St. Mary Parish Hall, 11 First St., will support youth scholarships for seniors at Gilroy High School. Social hour with antipasto starts at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., diners will enjoy an Italian dinner prepared and served by members and their families. Tickets can be purchased at Gilroy Travel Service, 8352 Church St. Ste. F2; It’s A Grind, 890 Renz Lane; or call 842-5671.
Details: Frank Locicero at 848-0505
GHS fall play hits the stage
Gilroy High School will be holding its fall play 7 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets will cost $5 for students and $7 for adults and will be available next week at GHS and around the community. They will also be available at the door.
The performance, put on by Sara Klopp’s drama classes, is a series of 10 mini plays. Topics include high school life, Romeo and Juliet, the board game CLUE, a Disney movie, and a fairy tale.
Local beekeeper creates a buzz
With his long white beard, twinkling eyes and smiling face, Wayne Pitts may remind many children of Santa Claus, and they wouldn’t be too far off. Pitts, a longtime Gilroy resident, is Santa Claus in Gilroy’s annual Christmas Parade. He is also a rocket scientist at Lockheed Martin Corporation, a former metalshop teacher and a beekeeper.
It was beekeeping that he came to talk about when he visited Mount Madonna School last week. With his trademark “king bee” hat perched atop his head, Pitt, along with several thousand European honeybees, enthralled students.
Students crowded around a small, glass-sided observation hive, listening while the bees contributed a muffled buzzing in the background. The presentation was part of a Guest Experts curriculum devised by teacher P. D. Rohan, in which he and his students invite specialists to come into the classroom, share their expertise and talk about how they use science in their daily lives.
Democrats slated to meet Saturday
The next meeting of the South County Democratic Club is 10 a.m. Saturday, at the San Martin Lions Club, 12415 Murphy Ave.. San Martin. The club will celebrate Cat Tucker’s election to the Gilroy City Council and discuss holiday festivities. There is no scheduled meeting in December.
Details: 782-1017
Give blood and help save lives
Donate blood and save lives from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, at South Valley Community Church Hall, 8095 Kelton Drive and from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at First Baptist Church, Church Hall, 8455 Wren Ave.
Details: www.BeADonor.com or 848-2363, ext. 119
‘Sounds of the Holiday Season’
South Valley Symphony presents “Sounds of the Holiday Season” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16 at Gilroy Presbyterian Church, 6000 Miller Ave., with Gavilan Concert Choir Directed by Phil Robb.
Admission prices are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens age 55 and older, and $10 for students aged 12 to 18. Children younger than 12 will be admitted free with a paid adult admission.
Tickets are available at the door or at:
Porcella’s Music, 7357 Monterey St.
First Street Coffee Exchange, 1211 First St.
www.southvalleysymphony.org/ or www.artsopolis.com
Details: (831) 623-4062.
Send digest items to City Editor Robert Airoldi at ed****@****ic.com.
