New equipment to help rural crash victims
Thanks to a $307,000 grant from the Office of Traffic Safety,
the South Santa Clara Fire District will have better vehicle
extrication equipment and training in the rural and suburban areas
of Santa Clara County. The district, along with various fire
departments, including Gilroy Fire, is dedicated to lowering the
number of people seriously injured in traffic accidents with this
training and modern rescue equipment.
New equipment to help rural crash victims
Thanks to a $307,000 grant from the Office of Traffic Safety, the South Santa Clara Fire District will have better vehicle extrication equipment and training in the rural and suburban areas of Santa Clara County. The district, along with various fire departments, including Gilroy Fire, is dedicated to lowering the number of people seriously injured in traffic accidents with this training and modern rescue equipment.
“We do all we can to prevent vehicle crashes, but when they happen we have to do all we can to get the injured to the hospital as fast as possible. This equipment and training will help accident victims better survive that all-important first golden hour,” said Office of Traffic Safety Director Christopher Murphy.
Rotary gives away $30,000 in charitable gifts
The Rotary Club of Gilroy handed out its charitable giving grants to deserving members and groups of the community on Tuesday. Most of the Rotary’s fundraising throughout the year goes toward these grants. The top recipients received $2,500 each and included Gateway School, the City of Gilroy Youth Commission, the Las Animas School Violin Program and the Las Animas Home and School Club. A total of $30,150 was given away.
Causes that received money
City of Gilroy Community Serv Department – $1,200
City of Gilroy Community Serv Department, after school – $1,000
City of Gilroy Community Youth Center – $1,000
City of Gilroy Community Youth Commission – $2,500
Community Solutions, renovate therapy rooms – $1,500
Gateway School – $2,600
Gilroy Police Dept NRU, PROUD/Anti Drug-Gang – $500
GHS Grad Night – $1,000
GHS ASB – $2,000
GHS Special Education – $1,500
GUSD, PAR – $500
GUSD, Antonio Del Buono Elementary School – $750
GUSD, Glen View Elementary School – $1,500
Las Animas School Violin Program – $2,500
Las Animas School Home & School Club – ¢2,500
Main Street Media Group LLC, newspapers to schools – $500
Odd Fellow Rebeckah Childrens Home – $600
South county preschool – $1,500
SV Symphony Orchestra – $1,000
St Joseph’s Family Center – $2,000
Teri Davis Patane Memorial Horse Camp – $2,000
Jay Baksa selected as ICMA Range Rider
Retiring Gilroy City Administrator Jay Baksa has been selected to represent the Monterey Bay Division of the prestigious Range Rider Program of the International City/County Managers Association. Range Riders are key members of the ICMA Member Relationship Team. Baksa will join 88 other Range Riders in 24 states. Baksa, who retired earlier this year after 24 years as Gilroy’s City Administrator, will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the program. The primary purpose of the program is for respected, experienced city management professionals to give back experience and knowledge to local government management professionals. “I hope to give back to this wonderful profession in the manner that my predecessors did for me and my peers,” Baksa said. Range Riders are unpaid volunteers, though certain expenses related to the program are reimbursed. The Monterey Bay Division includes Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties.
Students support charitable causes
Gilroy High School’s Interact club met Friday Jan. 18 to discuss some of their ongoing community projects. Interact is a Rotary sponsored service club for young people ages 14 to 18. The program gives young people an opportunity to participate in fun, meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills and meeting new friends.
The club held a benefit concert Nov. 9, 2007 and $500 was raised. This money will go towards fund-raising efforts to help with building a school in Ghana, sustainable farming in Panama, and TB testing in Tibet.
Interact has also been involved in local community projects. They recently received the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s “High Five” award. The club helped the chamber with decorating the Christmas Trees in the chamber atrium, and also with wrapping presents for Santa.
The members also helped at the Gilroy Rotary’s “Winter Ball.” For their assistance, Interact received $200 that will go towards their fund-raising efforts.
Details: Debbie Hoey at 309-1179.
Puzzle lovers poised to converge at MH library for second annual event
Silicon Valley may have become synonymous with computer chips and the dot-coms, but some local hobbyists may just be making a dent in the stereotype.
Armed with sudoku and crosswords, they’re coming back to Morgan Hill on Sunday, Feb. 3, when the Silicon Valley Puzzle Day takes place at the city’s library. Puzzlers 8 years and older can compete in tournaments and win prizes. Last year, AIM provided a $100 savings bond and Fry’s Electronics donated almost a dozen gift certificates, from $25 to $50 each.
There will also be opportunities to watch those who are really good at what they do.
“We think we’ll draw Sudoku and crossword puzzles enthusiasts from all over the Bay Area to Morgan Hill,” said event co-chair Lisa Pampuch.
A handful of “puzzle gurus” will be on hand. New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz will provide the puzzles for the adult crossword tournament.
Puzzle Day, which will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main St., divides tournament participants into youth (ages 8 to 15) and adult (16 and older) divisions. The event is free to attend to watch. A $5 donation is suggested for tournament participants.
Details:
