Dennis Lalor honored as farmworker’s advocate
Gilroy – Dennis Lalor, executive director of South County Housing Corporation in Gilroy, was honored by the Center for Community Advocacy at its Dia de los Muertos Banquet Sunday, at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas.
Lalor was given the CCA’s Ben Heller Award for Leadership & Courage in recognition of his efforts not only to rebuild dilapidated farmworker housing in the Pajaro area, but to involve farmworkers in the process.
Lalor has been with South County Housing since 1986 and served as its Executive Director since 1997. In his current capacity, has overseen the expansion of the corporation’s service area in Northern California from southern Santa Clara County into San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
In his position, he provides general oversight for all housing development, property management, neighborhood services and housing construction. This involves 100 staff people and a portfolio of more than 2,400 single-family, multi-family and commercial units, plus 2,400 units in development.
Founded 13 years ago, the Center for Community Advocacy (CCA) is dedicated to improving housing and health conditions and opportunities for farmworker and other low-income families. It was established with the express purpose of training farmworkers to help themselves, conducting health outreach and educational programs at labor camps and other housing sites and connecting newly developed farmworker leadership with established political leadership.
Gilroy, Morgan Hill chambers oppose Measure A
Gilroy – The Gilroy and Morgan Hill Chambers of Commerce, along with the Santa Clara County Chambers of Commerce Coalition, are opposed to Measure A, the Santa Clara County Land Use Initiative on the Nov. 7 ballot.
The Gilroy and Morgan Hill Chambers of Commerce are members of the Santa Clara County Chambers of Commerce Coalition, a 20-member consortium representing business interests in the Silicon Valley.
The consortium takes proactive positions on issues that impact the business community in an effort to keep California viable economically. Through the involvement of the participating chambers of commerce in Silicon Valley, the Coalition is a representative voice of more than 10,000 businesses.
The Chambers in the Coalition which formally opposed Measure A are Milpitas, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Santa Clara, San Jose Silicon Valley, Korean American Silicon Valley, and Campbell.
Donations will help the homeless this winter
Gilroy – St. Joseph’s Family Center and Articulate Solutions are continuing their efforts to help keep the homeless in our community warm and dry throughout the winter. Donations needed to help purchase and assemble Winter Survival Kits. The kits will contain items that will be helpful during the cold winter months: water repellent sleeping bags and jackets, backpacks, knit caps and gloves, flashlights and sundries such as toothpaste, socks and soap.
Checks may be written out to St. Joseph’s Family Center. Please mark your check “Winter Survival Kit.” Donations may be mailed to St. Joseph’s, located at 7950 Church St., Suite A, Gilroy, or Articulate Solutions, located at 65 Fifth Ave., Suite 100, Gilroy.
Details: Katherine Filice at 842-2275 or
ka*******@ar******************.com
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Buy a pie, help Gilroy High School Grad Night 2007
Gilroy – The Senior class of 2007 is selling frozen Gizdich pies until Nov. 3 for their Grad Night celebration. Pumpkin pies are $12 and apple or berry pies are $13. The pies will be available for pick-up Nov. 16. Contact any Gilroy High School senior or chairperson Karen Higgins for orders.
Details: 848-4356
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****@ga****.com
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