The Going Native Garden Tour hits Gilroy, the Santa Clara Valley
and the Peninsula today, bringing with it a breath of fresh
air.
The tour, in its sixth year, showcases more than 40 native
gardens. These water-wise, low maintenance and eco-friendly gardens
attract the local wildlife that many gardeners shoo from their
flower beds, including the garden of Gilroy resident Jean
Myers.
The tour offers many gardens, from townhouse lots to several
acre plots.
The tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at various
locations around the Bay Area. Admission is free but registration
at
To have your event listed in the digest, www.GoingNativeGardenTour.org is required.
History group meets monthly
A local history group meets the third Sunday of the month at Barnes and Noble, Gilroy. The 90-minute meetings begin at 2 p.m. There will be candy, a quiz and discussion.
April is Civil War month, and today the group study leader is Joshua Chamberlain.
‘Pinocchio’ comes to South Valley
South Valley Civic Theatre’s Children’s Musical “Pinocchio” continues today at 2 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse.
The performances continue Friday and Saturday evenings through May 3 with Sunday matinee performances at 2 p.m. today and April 27. The show features local youths ages 7 through 13.
Tickets are $18 general and $14 students and seniors, and may be purchased online at www.svct.org
Make a reservation for the Path of the Padres hike
The staff at San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area will again be leading the popular “Path of the Padres” hikes some Fridays and most Saturdays and Sundays through April 27. These hikes are open to the public, ages 6 years and older, by advance reservation only. School group hikes may be arranged for Fridays. School group reservations and general public reservations are now open.
The hike begins at the Los Banos Creek Reservoir boat launch ramp at 8 a.m. and returns to the ramp about 3:30 p.m. A pontoon boat carries passengers for about 30 to 40 minutes to the west end of the reservoir. Along the way, short stops are made so the hikers can observe wildlife along the shoreline. The group leaves the boat at the west end of the reservoir for a five-mile round-trip hike. Here one can see the area where, in the early 1800s, the Spanish padres from Mission San Juan Bautista camped on their way to the Central Valley. This hike is moderately strenuous and will take about five hours.
Participants must be in fairly good physical condition. Because Los Banos Creek is crossed several times during the hike, footwear may get wet. Layered clothing and sturdy footgear should be a priority. Hikers should carry a lunch and a minimum of two quarts of water. The hike traverses country that can be very hot and dry, depending on weather conditions, so a hat and sunscreen are recommended.
Throughout the hike, the natural and historic features of the area are pointed out and discussed by the hike leader. The lunch stop is near the historic “baths,” deep pools in the creek, carved in bedrock, which gave Los Banos its name. As early as 1805 the mission padres and accompanying soldiers washed and rested here at Los Banos del Padre Arroyo, now simply Los Banos Creek.
Participants have the option of taking a side trip up a steep hill for a spectacular view of the Menjoulet Canyon and the proposed site of the Los Banos Grandes Reservoir. The canyon floor is covered with 576 acres of old-growth Sycamore forest.
Reservations are required. To make a reservation, call Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A reservation fee of $10 per person older than 13 and $7 per child age 6 to 12. A family of five may reserve space for two adults and three children for $25. Space is limited. On the day of the hike, an additional day use parking fee of $6 per car is charged upon entry.
Details: (209) 826-1196 or (209) 826-1197.
Gilroy Library celebrates Earth Day
Beginning Tuesday – Earth Day – the Gilroy Library will have reusable book bags available for purchase for $1 each. The woven bags, made from recycled material, will replace the free plastic bags the library has previously provided to patrons for carrying books, DVDs and other materials home and back.
“The premise of a library is really about recycling – sharing and reusing resources in order to reduce consumption,” said Melinda Cervantes, Santa Clara County Librarian. “We continue to look for ways to contribute to a sustainable future.”
Although plastic can be recycled, it is a petroleum product and its manufacture uses oil and energy resources, according to Cervantes. An estimated 100 billion plastic bags end up in landfills where they can take more than 1,000 years to degrade.
To call attention to global warming, the library will also launch on Earth Day an online “research” scavenger hunt with prizes.
Details: gilroyrotary.org. Applications must be returned to the Gilroy Rotary Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 1912, Gilroy, CA 95021 by April 25.
Details: (408) 842-2684
‘The Lorax’ comes to Gilroy
The city of Gilroy Community Services Department and Director Erin Cross present “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss in celebration of Earth Day, starring more than 40 young local actors ages 5 to 13. The performances will be held at 7 p.m. April 25 and 26 in the Gilroy High School Theater. A Saturday matinee will also be held at 2 p.m. April 26.
Tickets cost $8 and can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Gilroy Community Services office.
Details: 846-0449.
Santa Clara Valley wineries present spring celebration
Enjoy a day in the country with the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley at their Spring Wine Celebration from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at Casa de Fruta Country Park. Guests are invited to:
Enjoy new releases and barrel tastings
Savor New York steak, pasta con pesto, green salad, garlic bread and more.
Listen to live music.
Meet local winemakers.
Visit the wine education booth with scents of wine, barrel making and more.
Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased by calling 1-800-548-3813. Group discounts are available. Tickets can also be purchased from any of the participating wineries: Clos LaChance, Cooper-Garrod, Guglielmo, Fortino, Hecker Pass, J. Lohr, Kirigin, Pedrizzetti, Rapazzini, Sarah’s, Solis, Sycamore Creek, Thomas Kruse and Casa de Fruta.
Casa de Fruta is located at 10021 Pacheco Pass Highway, Hollister.
Details: visit www.AllProDad.com.
Landlord and property manager workshop
The City of Gilroy will host a free workshop for landlords and property managers, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at the Gilroy Senior Center, 7371 Hanna Street. The workshop aims to educate landlords of their responsibility to provide and maintain safe, crime-free rental units, inform about the consequences of failing to address rental issues, provide information on time management and community resources and enhance the quality of life in Gilroy’s neighborhoods. The workshop will address issues like crime, drugs, gang activity, abandoned vehicles, loitering, graffiti, overgrown landscaping and changes in population demographics. Refreshments will be provided. Call Community Service Officer Munoz at 846-0524 for details.
Gilroy High prom and grad night fundraiser
Do you have a student that will be attending GHS Senior Prom this year? If so, we urge you to purchase your boutonnieres and corsages from the GHS Sober Grad Night Committee. All proceeds will be going towards the Grad Night event. Corsages cost $15 and boutonnieres are $10. The sale will be going on until Thursday, May 1.
Details and to order: Adrienne Haygood at (408) 898-0081.
Gav presents fine art display
Gavilan College Fine Arts Gallery presents Art Is Essential: The Pajaro Valley Arts Council Member Artists Invitational. Come and enjoy the variety of paintings, sculptures and ceramics now on display at the gallery in the Gavilan College Library, 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard.
The exhibit is on display from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. The free exhibit is closed Saturday and Sunday. It runs through May 9.
Details: 848-4724.
Celebrate 40 years at El Roble
El Roble Elementary will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a day of festivities starting at 1 p.m. May 16 with a parade led by the three “Queens of El Roble,” Roberta Bertero, Patti Littlejohn and Mary Garcia, three women who were some of the first teachers.
A ceremony honoring the anniversary will be held at 2 p.m. to be followed by a carnival from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Admission to the carnival is free and open to the community. The school invites former staff, alumni and the public to celebrate at El Roble Elementary School.
See the 30th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant
Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant is a scholarship pageant. Contestants are judged on personal interview, speech, talent and evening gown. In addition to the selection of Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen, scholarships will be awarded to many pageant contestants.
The Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Pageant is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18, 2008, at the Gavilan College Theater.
Details: 842-1625.
Who’s Your Hero? American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Seeks Nominations for Local Real Heroes Award Breakfast
American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter is calling on Silicon Valley residents, companies and organizations to nominate individuals, who reside or work in Santa Clara County and whose extraordinary acts of courage or kindness make them a hero to be honored at the 2nd Annual Santa Clara Valley Real Heroes Breakfast on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose.
“A hero can be someone who bravely acts in a time of immediate need or someone who simply lives his or her life in a way that shows they care for those around them. Real heroes are ordinary people whose actions demonstrate the potential that is in all of us. If someone is a hero in your eyes, I encourage you to nominate them'” says Honorary Event Chair, Peter Hero, a senior advisor to the CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
Nominations for the heroics act of local residents that took place between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007 for the following categories:
Animal Rescue Hero – An animal that has protected a human or another animal in a time of need, or a person who has rescued an animal from a traumatic situation.
Education Hero – An adult or youth who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others in a school or other educational setting.
Good Samaritan – Adult (21 years old and up) – An adult who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.
Good Samaritan – Youth (Under the age of 21) – A youth who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.
Law Enforcement Hero – A professional law enforcement officer (Sheriff, Police, FBI, Highway Patrol, etc…) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.
Medical Professional Hero – A medical professional (doctors, nurses, EMT/paramedics, hospital/clinic staff, etc…) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.
Military Hero – A member of the armed forces (active, reserve, retired, commissioned or non-commissioned) whose life-saving action during active duty status went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.
Professional Rescuer Hero – A professional rescuer (firefighter, lifeguard, etc…) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.
Workplace Hero – An individual who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others at his or her place of employment or on a job site.
Real Hero Award recipients will be chosen by a selection committee of leading members of the Silicon Valley community. Heroes are selected based on the degree to which their acts of heroism uphold the values of the American Red Cross and leave a lasting and positive impact on the residents of Silicon Valley. All nominees must work or reside in the Santa Clara County; the heroic acts may have occurred elsewhere. Self-nominations are not permitted. All nominations will be subject to further verification and validation. All nominee information will be shared with the Heroes selection committee and the general public with a two-minute biographical video.
Nominations for Real Heroes Awards can now be submitted to the American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter online at www.gilroyparade.com
Class of 1958 plans reunion
The Gilroy High School class of 1958 is planning a 50th reunion, June 27 at Eagle Ridge Golf Club.
Details: 842-5357.
Discover joy of a foster family
Learn about becoming a foster or adoptive parent.
Details: Shelda Reynolds at 846-5028, or at Sh*************@ss*.org,or stop by the Gilroy Family Resource Center, 8833 Monterey Road., Suite. G, Gilroy.
Free table tennis
Enjoy a game of table tennis with seniors 55 and older at the Gilroy Senior Center, 7371 Hanna St.
Details: 846-0414.
Scouting in Gilroy
If you’re interested in Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts, please visit their new Web site at heckerpasswinery.com.
