Valentine’s Day otter tour
Take your sweetheart, friends or family on a nature trip for
Valentine’s Day. See the abundance of sea otters taking refuge in
Elkhorn Slough this winter. Don’t miss this paradise of wildlife.
Two-hour guided tours by boat from Moss Landing. Tours depart at
9:30 a.m. today. Reservations required.
Details: (831) 633-5555.
Valentine’s Day otter tour
Take your sweetheart, friends or family on a nature trip for Valentine’s Day. See the abundance of sea otters taking refuge in Elkhorn Slough this winter. Don’t miss this paradise of wildlife. Two-hour guided tours by boat from Moss Landing. Tours depart at 9:30 a.m. today. Reservations required.
Details: (831) 633-5555.
Comedy night comes to Gavilan
See former Gilroy Unified School Board member David McRae perform, along with a group of comics from throughout the Bay Area, Feb. 23.
They will also hold an open mic session for those looking for a chance to be in front of a live audience. A workshop and auditions will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Gavilan College Theater, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd.
Details:
wi*****@sa*******.com
.
Knights of Columbus crab feed
Residents can feast on crab and support a good cause Feb. 23 during the annual crab feed sponsored by the local Knights of Columbus Council 2469.
The event, at St. Mary Parish Hall, First and Church streets, begins with a happy hour at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
Proceeds benefit the Knights of Columbus scholarships and other charitable activities. Tickets are $35, and are available at the parish office, 55 First St., or by calling Frank Borge at 842-4357 or Sally Villalobos at 848-9865.
No tickets will be sold at the door.
Learn to become a building inspector
Qualification requirements for a career in Building Inspection is at an all-time high. Certification with the International Code Council is looked at by employers as one of the most valuable attributes testifying to the knowledge and effort made by a potential employee. Gavilan College presents a Residential Building Inspection-ICC Certification Exam Prep, Saturdays, Feb. 23 through April 19, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (no class March 22nd). This is a 40 hour course of instruction preparing the participants to pass the International Code Council’s Residential Building Inspector of 1 and 2 Family Dwelling Exam. Passing of this exam will give international certification with a 3 year certification by the ICC.
The class takes place at Gavilan College, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. The cost is $450, plus $89 for materials.
Details: Rosie Armstrong at 847-2514.
Deadline nearing for Gilroy Garlic Festival 2008 art poster entries
The deadline for submitting entries in the Gilroy Garlic Festival’s 2008 Art Poster Contest is 5 p.m. Feb. 29. A $750 prize will go to the entry which is judged to best capture the spirit and essence of this premier food festival. In addition, the winner shall receive 10 posters and one of each souvenir item produced with their artwork. The second place winner will receive $400 and third place $200. The winning entry will be reproduced as a high quality, limited edition poster to be sold at the 30th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, July 25, 26 & 27.
Winners will be notified by March 28. Entry forms and complete contest rules are now available online at www.gilroygarlicfestival.com or from the Gilroy Garlic Festival office, 7473 Monterey Street, Gilroy CA 95020.
Details: 842-1625.
Champagne Sunday at Sue’s
Weaves elements of many popular genres into their uniquely original songs 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29 at Sue’s Coffee Roasting Company, 7501 Monterey St. Their live performances are events. Unstoppably upbeat, the high-energy music keeps audiences on their feet, and they are always invited back. Champagne Sunday loves what they do, and it shows.
Details: 842-4220.
League accepting grant requests
The Gilroy Assistance League is now accepting grant requests for the year 2008. Last year the organization handed out more than $10,000 to various local youth services such as Gateway School, Community Solutions, South Valley Suzuki Music Foundation and others. A formal grant request proposal must be completed and returned no later than Feb. 29. Grant funds are to be used for children and youth services. Funds will be distributed in April 2008.
Details: Forms may be picked up from Starritt Realtors at 7477 Eigleberry St. Completed forms may be returned to the same location or mailed to Patty Giacalone, P.O. Box 2062, Gilroy, CA., 95020-2062.
Gavilan STAR enrolling for acting and TV workshop
Youth ages 8 to 16 are invited to enroll in The Gavilan College STAR program. It is a Saturday morning acting and television workshop. Participants are introduced to performing arts fundamentals through theatre games, improvisational acting and movement exercises. Children design costumes, masks, make-up and perform in front of television cameras. They collaborate and create characters for a TV variety show filled with comedy, fun, music and surprises. The show will be taped in Gavilan’s television studio on the final Saturday, and the program will air on GavTV-18, the Gavilan educational channel.
The program runs from 9 a.m. to noon five Saturday mornings: March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, at the GavTV Studioon the Gavilan College Gilroy campus, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd.
Tuition is $99 for the five Saturday mornings. To register, visit the Gavilan STAR Program website at www.gavilan.edu/star.
Details: 612-2057, or e-mail:
st*****@ga*****.edu
.
County accepting applications to sit on civil grand jury
The County of Santa Clara is accepting applications for the 2008-2009 term of the civil grand jury.
The civil grand jury is part of the judicial branch of government and serves as an investigatory body that examines the operations of city and county government, special districts and school districts. It also has the authority to inspect adult and juvenile detention facilities.
Applications must be Santa Clara County residents and at least 18.
Service gives participants a unique opportunity to contribute to the efficiency of local government. The time commitment is significant – 20 to 25 hours a week. The court is seeking volunteers willing to make the commitment for a one-year term, starting June 26.
Application deadline is March 5.
Details: Gloria Alicia Chacon at 882-2722 or visit www.sccsuperiorcourt.org/jury/gj/html to obtain an application.
Annual fashion show benefits children
The Elks Lodge is holding it’s annual Charity Fashion Show, “In the Japanese Tea Garden,” Saturday, March 8, featuring fashions and accessories from local boutiques and stores. This event begins with no-host cocktails at 11 a.m., luncheon at noon and fashion show from 1 to 2:30 p.m. This event is open to all members, their family, their friends and their guests.
All proceeds benefit the Elks philanthropic efforts to help crippled and disabled children. Tickets will go on sale Feb. 8, for $25 per person. The event takes place at the lodge, 2765 Hecker Pass Highway, Gilroy. Tickets will also be sold after Feb. 8 and may be picked up from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, at the lodge office.
See Joyce or Sandy.
Details: 842-9397.
Learn Spanish in Zacatecas this summer
Anyone who wishes to learn Spanish or improve their Spanish skills can learn more about the Gavilan College Study Abroad summer program in Mexico at an upcoming orientation meeting. Students attending the orientation will be able to register for the program, and ask questions.
The Zacatecas class will run from June 8 through July 6. Students earn 5 transferable units in Spanish.
Classes are offered at different levels, from beginner to advanced.
The course includes classroom instruction plus local immersion in the Spanish language, with opportunities to visit cultural centers.
Students live with host families and enjoy hospitality, family meals, language practice and exposure to the life and culture of Mexico.
Zacatecas, founded in 1557, is a charming colonial city in the state of Zacatecas, home of the Fenix Language Institute. Instituto Fenix is a language school that hosts students, professionals and diplomats from around the world. The staff has extensive experience in teaching Spanish as a second language.
The orientation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 8, in the Humanities Building, Room 105, Gavilan College, 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard, Gilroy.
Details: David Perez, at 848-4842, or www.gavilan.edu/spanish/zaca.html.
Warming communities one sock at a time
Every holiday season, Coldwell Banker offices throughout Northern California add to their holiday charity efforts by supporting local community organizations that collect new or gently used clothing for those in need. Although the holiday season is over, there are still many families that are homeless or just in need of something warm to wear. Specifically warm socks and warm coats are important for the homeless in our local Gilroy community.
Anna Montes and Albert Lambert, Realtors with Gilroy’s local Coldwell Banker office are trying to lend a helping hand by organizing a “Sock-Drive” to try and collect as many new or slightly used pairs of socks or warm coats that will be delivered to the local Salvation Army where Capt. Roberto Viquez will then distribute to local homeless or families in need. The drive began Monday and runs through Feb. 29. Stop by Coldwell Bankers new office location at 8050 Santa Teresa Blvd. Suite 210 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to drop-off donations or at Nob Hill Foods main entrance. Thank you for your help in warming our community one sock or coat at a time.
Details: 781-3396, or 710-2702.
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. The deadline to submit nominations is March 13, 2008.
“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 are being accepted in 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.therolemodelprogram.org.
Tickets for ‘Bach to Blues’ on sale now
Anyone looking forward to a high energy evening of music and dance can reserve tickets for “Bach to Blues 2008.” Now in its fifth consecutive year, is an annual showcase of regional talent, featuring Gavilan College faculty and students and performers from the community. This year’s lineup includes pianist Maria Amirkhanian, guitarist John Garcia, blues vocalist Nate Pruitt with his band, Primary Colors, Art Juncker with the Gavilan College Performance Ensemble, and flamenco guitarist Alberto Marques.
For the first time, the evening will include a performance by dancer Kathryn Waggoner with the Gavilan College Dance Ensemble. In a new tradition, the show will begin with a performance by the winner of the Marian Filice Youth Piano Competition, which takes place the prior week.
The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 7, in the Gavilan College Theater, 5055 Santa Terese Blvd.
Tickets are on sale at the Gavilan College Bookstore, Porcella’s Music, The Music Tree, and Gavilan College locations in Morgan Hill and Hollister.
V.I.P. Seating is $30 (includes premiere seating and a welcome gift), general admission is $15, and seniors and students are $10.
Tickets may be purchased online at
