Help support a fallen rider
Gilroy – Mario Bonfante, a Gilroy native, had his promising AFM/AMA Road Racing career cut short by a tragic bicycle accident, which broke his neck and left him paralyzed. Mario and his family are now faced with the challenges ahead. You can help.
Mario is an active member of a youth Bible study. Members of his group came up with the idea to hold a raffle to raise the funds needed to care for him through rehabilitation.
There will be five prizes announced at the raffle drawing Feb. 12: First prize is $1,000, second prize is $750, third is $500, fourth is $250 and fifth is $100. Raffle tickets are available for $10 each at High Gear Powersports, 7661 Monterey St.
Details: 842-9955
Exhibit portrays experience of loss
Gilroy – An exhibit of visual art showing work that each of five accomplished artists has produced after suffering personal loss, “Passing Through: Life, Love, & Loss,” is generating a good deal of conversation on the Gavilan College campus.
Jane Edberg, a long time instructor in the Art Department at Gavilan, has curated a show that is in turn sobering and uplifting, and details the emotional impact that we all will surely experience on suffering the loss of a loved one. These artists have poured much of their lives into this work and the intention is that the exhibit will help people to begin to think about the inevitability of the issues raised. The art displayed ranges through ceramic sculpture, oil painting, photography and installation. The artists will speak at the opening reception.
The opening reception is scheduled for 5 to 6pm today in the Library building . The display can be seen through Dec. 15. Admission is free.
Holiday food baskets for families
Gilroy- The Salvation Army will receive applications for Christmas and Thanksgiving food baskets for low-income families who have not applied elsewhere until Friday at the Salvation Army. There will be a food and toy drive Dec. 21.
Learn cemetery history on tour
Gilroy – Join in and enjoy the monthly historic walking tour 10am, Saturday. The tour will visit Old St. Mary Cemetery, which contains the graves of John Gilroy, Jose Maria Amador and the famous “Irish Corner” with the impressive monuments of Catherine O’Toole Murphy Dunne and her family. Meet in front of the Serra Cottage at 7950 Church St. at 10am.
Details: 842-8494
Get ready for the holidays at faire
Gilroy – Get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays with handmade crafts from local people. The faire will be held at St. Stephen’s Church, Friday and Saturday.
Details: Anne 874-7520 or Bobbie 831-623-4522
ICF scholarship breakfast
Gilroy – Branch 28 of the Italian Catholic Federation presents its semiannual scholarship breakfast Sunday morning. A breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee will be served from 7:30 to 11:30am in Cullen Hall at St. Mary’s Parish.
All proceeds benefit scholarship programs and other ICF charities. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Donation $5 adults and $3 children younger than 12.
Details:842-6065 or 847-1331
Thanksgiving treats for the troops
Gilroy – Help send carefully packaged treats with a hug from home. The Operation Interdependence Community Event Packaging of Thanksgiving day treats for troops will be held from 2 to 5pm, Sunday, 8075 Camino Arroyo.
Operation Interdependence sends packages along with letters to a platoon of 50 troops, no one is left out and everyone counts. Donations of snack size jerky, sunflower seeds, assorted nuts and more are welcome.
Details: Susan at 847-3079 or Karen at 848-2630.
South County Cal-SOAP College Fair
Gilroy – South County Cal-SOAP invites students of all ages and their parents to its second annual College Fair, 4 to 6 pm Nov. 9 in the Gilroy High School gym. No reservations are required and the event is open to all community members. Raffle tickets will be given to each person in attendance upon receipt of their evaluation of the event.
Details: 846-7504
Weekend voting now available
San Jose – Santa Clara County voters will be able to cast their ballots early for the November General Election at the Registrar of Voters’ office Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 3pm. The Office of the Registrar of Voters is located at 1555 Berger Dr., Building 2, off Old Oakland Road in San Jose.
Details: www.sccvote.org or call toll-free (866) 430-VOTE [8683]
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.
