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GILROY

Las Animas Elementary School recently won a coveted state award

Council tells staff to drop idea of 4-day work week despite

They have photographed for the mayor, the city, the chamber, the

Cathy McCarthy Carli died September 19, 2008. Cathy, the loving wife of Alessio and devoted mother of twins Alessia and Catia, was a woman of talent and a tower of strength. She was an award winning graphic designer and an advocate for children with special needs, especially those with Down Sydrome. Cathy, born in San Francisco and the daughter of Chris and Rose McCarthy (deceased), both natives of Ireland, was proud of her Irish heritage, but she was even more proud of her Italian-born husband and her Irish-Italian-American daughters. For every life Cathy touched, a soul was nurtured and made that much the better for knowing her. Her sisters, Marian (McCarthy) Shaffner and Maggie (McCarthy) Bell, will miss her dearly, as will her sister-in-law, Anna Carli, her mother-in-law, Tina Carli, and her father-in-law Elpidio Carli, all of Sienna, Italy. Her brothers-in-law, Dave Shaffner and Kurt Bell, and her nephews, Stephen Shaffner and Brendan and Kevin Bell, will never forget the joy that was our Cathy. She will be remembered by all who knew her, especially by her loving cousins in America and in Ireland, her dear friends from Presentation High School, her friends from San Francisco, Paris, Sonoma and Hollister, the artists she worked and painted with and by anyone who was able to work, play, paint, or share a glass of wine with her. In lieu of flowers, a trust fund is being set up for Alessia and Catia. Friends are invited to a memorial Mass and a celebration of Cathy's life on Friday Sept. 26th at 1:30 P.M. at the Old Mission San Juan Bautista 2nd & Mariposa Streets, San Juan Bautista. Memorials may be addressed to Carli Children Trust Fund c/o Grunnagle Ament Nelson Funeral Home 870 San Benito St., Hollister or left with the mortuary staff at the service. Visit: www.grunnagle.com for service information and condolences.

Police are looking for three suspects who allegedly shot at two men — injuring one — while driving west on Spring Avenue the night of June 20.Authorities think the shooting, which followed a verbal argument between two groups of men, was gang-related. The suspects “should be considered armed and dangerous,” according to a June 24 press release from MHPD.  Morgan Hill police responded to the area of Spring Avenue and Monterey Road about 11:14 p.m.  June 20 to investigate a report of shots fired, according to the press release.As officers arrived they found two victims, including a 25-year-old Gilroy man who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso and arm, police said. The second victim, a 29-year-old Morgan Hill man, was not injured. Officers provided the Gilroy man with first aid until fire and paramedics arrived, according to authorities. The man was later transported to a local trauma center for emergency surgery and continued care. He remains in “serious but stable” condition and is expected to survive. During the investigation officers learned an argument began between the victims and another group of males just behind Mr. Hong’s Chinese restaurant, 16745 Monterey Road near the intersection of Spring Avenue, police said. The two victims attempted to walk away from the altercation, but the two male suspects continued to taunt and yell at them. As the victims were walking westbound on Spring Avenue, the two male suspects entered a gray four-door sedan which was driven by a Hispanic female, police said. The young woman drove the vehicle westbound on Spring Avenue, and stopped abruptly near the victims. At that point multiple gunshots were seen and heard coming from inside the vehicle, police said. All three suspects fled the scene and were last seen in the area of Spring and Del Monte avenues, according to the press release. The suspects were later identified as Francisco Diaz, 22, Nicolas Young, 21, and Deja Marie Ayala, 21, police said. All three suspects are from Gilroy. Police identified the suspects through previous “police contacts in Gilroy and Morgan Hill” and video surveillance of the area where the June 20 shooting occurred, according to Morgan Hill Police Sgt. Carson Thomas. The suspects are still on the run and should be considered armed and dangerous, police said. Anyone with information about this incident can contact Morgan Hill police at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.

GILROY—With three suspects accused of the Feb. 16 slaying and robbery of Gilroy’s Robert Heiser behind bars, one piece of the puzzle remains missing. Isabella Aurora Chaidez, a 17-year-old San Jose woman wanted in connection to his murder and at least one other violent crime in the Bay area, is still on the lam, according to Gilroy police.

Readers wrote in regarding my column of two weeks ago, which