Guard Shack Controversy
Fed up with early morning noise and traffic from ongoing construction, residents of one of Gilroy’s newest high-end subdivisions woke up to a new neighbor this week.It’s a manned guard shack that showed up in the middle of the roundabout at the entrance to Meritage Homes’ Heartland housing development.It’s designed to control the flow of construction-related traffic and keep noise levels down in the before-dawn hours.But a city official Tuesday said it must be moved.“I understand why they did this but it’s not in a safe location, so we will ask the developer to move this to a safer spot until they finish construction activities, Rick Smelser said in an email. He is Gilroy’s director of public works and city engineer.The playhouse-size structure was set up on city property, the roundabout island at the corner of West Third Street and Cobblestone Court, just west of Santa Teresa Boulevard and the Village Green senior housing community.A spokesman for C&C Security said Meritage requested the manned booth after receiving complaints from new residents of the $870,000 to $943,000 homes.They’ve complained about pre-dawn noise and traffic from contractors building more new homes in developments that stretch roughly along Hecker Pass Highway west from Santa Teresa to Burchell Road.Chapter 16, section 31 of the city code prohibits loud noise of any kind that disturbs another person in their home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Wayne Spalding, vice president of human resources for the Fremont-based C&C Security, said a uniformed guard arrives early in the morning to make sure no one begins work before 7 a.m.The guard then patrols the neighborhood and construction areas from a vehicle, he said.The project’s new construction manager requested that the guard shack be placed on the roundabout island, according to Spalding.An early morning observer to the area would witness not only the arrival of construction workers, but also large and small trucks loaded with everything from pre-fabricated housing rafters to roofing materials and landscaping equipment and plants.The long, new stretch of W 3rd Street, with at least one elementary school bus stop, also has become the scene of high-speed driving, the almost universal running of the stop sign at Rosemary Drive by residents, construction workers and truck drivers, and numerous incidents of cars and trucks going the wrong way at the roundabout—some trucks doing so because they are too long to negotiate the sharp curves of the roundabout.At the Gilroy Police Department, Capt. Kurt Svardal said the guard shack arrangement between the private security firm and the development company does not involve police, although he said he was “a little surprised” by the location of the structure on the roundabout.Smelser said that while he was unaware of the guard shack until asked about it Tuesday by the Dispatch, builders are legally allowed to take steps to secure their projects and equipment even if it involves city property.“During construction, before the city has fully accepted the construction, the contractor has every right to protect their equipment,” he said.As for traffic and noise associated with building activities, he said, “They have every right to control what is going on during construction; if they want to control construction activity, I can see that,” Smelser added.A spokesperson for the Meritage did not return phone calls seeking comment.
St. Joseph’s Needs Turkeys…Fast!
St. Joseph’s Family Center’s Vicky Martin is hunting for turkeys. The organization feeds 1,000 people for Thanksgiving, but right now has only 90 turkeys. Martin says that when people don’t hear that the organization is behind and in dire straits, they assume the coffers are full. They aren’t. They need another 900 donations by Tuesday. You can drop turkeys off at St. Joseph’s at 7950 Church St #A.
Gilroy falls by one in CCS semis
Gilroy fought back from a two-touchdown hole to take the lead late in the third quarter 20-14, but Soledad’s running back Emanuel Ortega was too evasive for the Mustang defense as he led the Aztecs to a 27-26 victory.
Dozens March for Unity in Gilroy Thursday
More than 50 students, parents and members of the community marched nearly two miles through Gilroy to City Hall Thursday at noon to celebrate unity and diversity, things they said were absent in the campaign rhetoric of President-elect Donald J. Trump.The march, organized by the Student Democratic Club at Gavilan College and including local middle and high school students, started at the old CVS store on First Street and continued along Hanna to City Hall, where the peaceful gathering concluded with speakers and a sharing circle on the complex lawn. As they marched they chanted “Unity through diversity,” “The people united will never be divided” “Hey Ho Racism has got to go.” Noshava Afzao, a Gilroy educational consultant who trains teachers, and wore a hijab said she was there with a flag to accent that liberty and justice “was for everyone.” She worried about how the election would affect that. “There’s a lot of disappointment,” she said. “The election is a wake up call. I thought we lived in a country that had made progress and this just shows how much progress we need to make.”As word spread that students at Gavilan College were planning a citywide walkout, school administrators scrambled to inform high school parents.“Gilroy is a lovely little bubble of people who are not always proactive. We want to acknowledge voices and create a coalition,” said Sarah Najar, Vice President of the Gavilan Democratic Club.An email to Christopher High School parents from Principal Paul Winslow said: “FYI High School Parents: Someone is encouraging students to cut school” and “while we definitely support free speech, the right to assemble peacefully, and the right to express opinion” students who missed school to participate would be penalized and not be able to make up work.Lisa Ruiz, a parent of Gilroy students with special needs, said she received a call from the GUSD the night before alerting her that any absence would be considered unexcused, but felt she needed to come anyways.“I got to be here in solidarity with the minorities in the community and to see what we can do to help to unify everyone not be divided and hopefully we can get together in love.”As people gathered in the parking lot, members of the Gilroy Police Department kept an eye on proceedings. Sgt. Wes Stanford had a team of motorcycle officers charged with making sure the demonstrators were safe walking the mile and a half between First Street and City Hall. The department was notified of the march, but organizers didn’t know they would need a permit. “We want to make sure that it’s peaceful, that they are allowed to voice their opinion and whatever views they have and they get to City Hall in a safe fashion.” Stanford said the city has had sporadic marches over the years with the last one he remembers an Occupy Gilroy march of eight people.The well-behaved crowd began their march up First Street - along the sidewalks and stopping at all intersections, using the crosswalks - the sound of honking cars mingling with chants calling for unity.Iris Cueto, 23, a Gavilan biology major, said “The election is making me feel sad, but it’s also making me feel happy to have youth standing up for their rights. It’s nice to see them out here protesting in a peaceful way.” Holding up a coat hanger poster that read, “Never Again,” Summer Diaz, 18, said: “I believe everyone should have their rights. I believe that women should make their own choice and politicians should stay out of women’s rights. “ When the marchers got to City Hall they were offered bottled water by the student organizers who then thanked the crowd for obeying all the traffic laws and the police for “keeping us safe.” Addressing the group, Dr. Enrique Luna, who teaches history at Gavilan, said “we don’t want to be here, but there is a need.” Thanking the march organizers for putting on the event, he said at times he was both laughing and shedding a few tears during the march to city hall. It’s hard to build a community, it’s easy to destroy a community. And we are here to do the hard work.”
Thai Gutierrez qualifies for state in his first go
BELMONT—In terms of one-year sensations, it doesn’t get better than Thai Gutierrez.
Crime Week: From Shooting to Dog Bite
ShootingA masked bandit with a shotgun shot a 23-year-old man who was parked in a car with a woman at Uvas and 10th Street Friday at 8:15 p.m., police said.The thief approached the car and robbed the couple and then shot the man in the leg. Police are investigating and hoping for leads from the public.Quick response from Gilroy Police officers who used a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, saved the man’s life.“It appears to be a random crime, since we haven’t had anything similar,” said Sgt. Jason Smith. The victim is expected to survive. The only description they have of the robber is that he was in dark clothes and wore a dark mask.Anyone with information is requested to contact Det. Eric Cryar at (408) 846-0335. High speed chaseGilroy Police chased a driver at speeds of up to 100 mph for three miles Saturday and ended up arresting three people.The pursuit started at 8:41 p.m. when an officer spotted a 2001 Honda Accord driving recklessly at First and Wren streets. When he turned on his lights and siren, the car refused to stop.Officers gave chase and finally caught the driver at Cohansey and Monterey Road, when he abandoned the car and ran into a field. They arrested Jeremy Valdez, 26, of Gilroy on suspicion of felony evading, wanton disregard for safety, resisting arrest and driving without a license. Good Samaritans capture suspected thievesFour Good Samaritans who witnessed a group of five suspected thieves running out with items from the Michael Kors store at the Outlets chased them down and were attacked. But it ended well, mostly.The Samaritans, in a Ford F-150, followed the suspected thieves who were in a 2016 Honda Accord, after they saw them running and getting into a car Nov. 2 at 11:24 a.m. according to Gilroy Police.The suspects drove into a dead-end court. The Samaritans stopped their truck in the center divide, intending to call police and get help, when the suspects rammed the truck with their car, triggering the airbags.The suspects ran into a field carrying $4,000 of stolen goods and the Samaritans gave chase catching them and holding them until police arrived.Two of the suspects were adults and three were juveniles. One of the Samaritans and two of the suspects were injured when the car was rammed. All were arrested. They included Alejandro Jacuinde, 18 and David Tomas Puentes, 18.Police Capt. Kurt Svardal praised the Samaritans—“as a citizen”— for following them with the intention of letting police do their job, but warned—as a police officer—that taking action against suspected criminals is dangerous. “They don’t know the crooks,” he said. “They could be armed. You don’t want to have people injured. Our first priority is safety.” Stolen walletA thief stole a wallet from a distracted woman shopping at the Home Goods store on Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. and within minutes used her credit card to buy $2,700 of electronic equipment at Best Buy. Stolen iPhonesTwo suspects distracted a clerk at Walmart while a third broke into a display case and stole eight iPhones worth around $8,000 at 8:45 p.m. Nov. 4. They fled in a rented black Jeep SUV. Child endangermentA woman who was on probation for child endangerment was arrested for driving under the influence at 10:47 p.m. Nov. 5. Anita Acevedo, 22, had a passenger and her 1-year-old son in the car when she was stopped at First and Monterey streets. She blew a 0.2 on a field sobriety test, more than twice the legal limit of .08. Dog biteA woman walking her small dog in the alley between Church and Eigleberry streets was bitten by a Rottweiler at 10 p.m. Nov. 5. When she saw the Rottweiler, the woman picked up her dog and the Rottweiler bit her arm.
Students Plan Walkout for Thursday
Gavilan College students are joining protests across the country with a walkout set for Thursday. The campus Democratic Club is planning to have students leave campus at noon, meet at the parking lot of the new CVS on First Street and head to City Hall, where they will hear speakers.
Challenge V—Calling all Adventurers!
Don't look now, but in the wink of an eye, the holidays will be here. On New Year’s Eve, you will resolve to do a bit more of this and a lot less of that. By mid-January you will likely cast your resolution aside.Instead, consider doing something bold; something that scares you a little and excites you a little; something you are not even sure you can do. Join me on July 15, 2017 to hike to Snow Valley Peak above Lake Tahoe.But I’m not an adventurer, you say. I can’t walk a 13-mile loop or climb 2,500 feet to a 9,213-foot Sierra peak. Balderdash.This is the fifth year I have laid down a summer challenge. Through the winter and spring, we do six local hikes to prepare for a tough ascent of a Sierra peak. Each year, from atop a windswept pinnacle overlooking an airplane window view, a very tired and very proud person tells me that they were sure they couldn’t do it. Don't sell yourself short. You can do it.On the last two challenges, Mount Hoffman and Round Top, the final portions of the climb involved scrambling and rough going that turned some challengers back. This year, the path to Snow Valley Peak is well-marked all the way. But make no mistake; Snow Valley Peak is no pushover. We will meet at 7,146-foot Spooner Summit, the pass on Hwy. 50 that separates the Tahoe Basin from Carson Valley. From there we will walk 6.5 miles and climb 2,500 feet to a jaw-dropping view of Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley.This fall, I visited Snow Valley Peak. The first four miles of the trail climb gently through a landscape typical of the Lake Tahoe Basin. In a bright forest of widely spaced Jeffrey pines and red firs, here and there massive granite boulders that poke through a soft forest floor are strung together by a lacy groundcover thread of chinquapin and manzanita. Two miles from the top, I popped into an open sagebrush landscape with sweeping views across Lake Tahoe on one side and the Carson Valley on the other. Amazing vistas and a steady gale in advance of a coming storm gave me the full summit experience. You won’t be disappointed.Whether it is best to encourage, shame, badger, or beg you, I will do it to get you to take on the challenge. Here is a schedule of the Snow Valley Peak hikes. I will post a detailed schedule at www.facebook.com/RonGettingOut. To receive updates and full directions and details about each hike as it draws near, email me at [email protected]. See you on the trail.
