Local Scene: Support youth soccer in Gilroy
For Gilroy children, soccer is more than just a game—it’s a chance to grow, learn and belong. Gavilan United Football Club (GUFC), founded by Jorge Vargas, launched last summer with a simple mission: to make soccer accessible to every child, completely free of charge.
In...
Religion: A prophet for our time
The Interfaith Clergy Alliance of South County, whose members provide these articles each week, includes Jews, Christians, Muslims and Buddhists. All but the Buddhist share a common scriptural text, what Christians call the Old Testament and what Jews call the Tanakh.
In this, they are...
From My Perspective: Names and numbers matter
The meaning of a name is more important in some cultures than others. In Scripture, the meaning of a name can tell you a lot about a person’s character over their story.
Yahweh (or Jehovah) is the personal name of God in Judaism, derived from...
County sales tax, Prop 50 win big in Nov. 4 election
With 100% of precinct ballots counted, Santa Clara County voters on Nov. 4 overwhelmingly supported adding 0.625% to the county sales tax rate for five years.
As of 10am, the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office reported 200,430 YES votes and 152,850 NO votes,...
Water district removes homeless from Gilroy sites
Valley Water this week evicted about 60 unhoused people from encampments on two of its properties in Gilroy, and homeless advocates say the residents have nowhere else to go.
“We ask the public to understand that if tents, and people, and carts of belongings begin...
Food lines grow as feds suspend food assistance
Food pantries across South County are experiencing unprecedented demand following the suspension of SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown, with lines wrapping around blocks and new families seeking assistance at rates not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Reach Out Food Pantry in...
Betabel node developer changes plans from commercial to housing
The owner of a 23-acre property on Highway 101—where the Betabel Commercial Development proposal has been the subject of an environmental study and lawsuit—recently filed an application to change plans to allow hundreds of new homes.
Property owner McDowell Family Trust and architect Henry Ruhnke...
Humor and heartbreak hit the stage in ‘Fun Home’
South Valley Civic Theatre’s production of “Fun Home” explores how one woman revisits her fractured childhood with a closeted father through the lens of memory, blending humor with heartbreak in a wandering journey through family secrets, missed opportunities and, ultimately, forgiveness and acceptance.
Based on...
Gilroy FFA awarded Chapter of the Year
On Oct. 11-12, eight members from the Gilroy FFA chapter attended a Regional Leadership conference where more than 300 other students, all involved in the FFA, united at the 2025 South Coast Region FFA Chapter Officer Leadership Conference in Hollister.
As an organization, the FFA’s...
Latino Family Fund refocuses grant model
The Latino Family Fund de Gilroy (LFF) this week announced the launch of a new, impact-driven grant model designed to better align with the organization’s mission, strategic plan and the findings of the 2025 Santa Clara County Latino Health Assessment.
This updated approach reflects LFF’s...
