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Measure B, the proposed half-cent sales tax for Santa Clara County transportation, will generate $6.3 billion, plus an estimated $3.5 billion in possible matching funds over a 30-year period.

The bizarre events of December 2015 will be long etched in Gilroy’s political history. Mayor Don Gage stunned the city by resigning without warning a year before his term ended, effectively handing the reins to his political ally, Perry Woodward. The handoff allowed Woodward to run as an incumbent—but not before the duo pushed through approval of a massive farmland annexation that would have, along with other planned developments, made Gilroy one of the Bay Area’s biggest cities—a sprawling urban mass of 120,000 residents, more than double the city’s population today.

It’s called the Sport of Kings and evokes scenes of languishing Pierce-Arrows and Long Island blue bloods straight out of The Great Gatsby.

The Loma Fire, west of Morgan Hill, in the Santa Cruz Mountains is now 74 percent controlled and has destroyed 4,474 acres. 

Americans love a good redemption story, and Gilroyans are being asked to draft a new version of this parable by electing Craig Gartman to City Council in November.One of eight candidates who are vying for three council seats, Gartman served on the council before, from 2001 to 2010. However, it is not his long tenure on the dias—Roland Velasco has served longer—that is raising eyebrows among Gilroy’s electorate, but his misdemeanor grand theft conviction in 2011.Gartman did not want to speak on the record about the conviction for illegally withdrawing money from a local Memorial Day parade committee, which he chaired.Reports from 2011 said the majority of a special fund was used for Memorial Day activities, but a two-year investigation by the District Attorney’s office found that Gartman had misused a portion of those funds, totalling $8,632.00.Gartman was ordered by the court to perform 200 hours of community service and to pay restitution, which he satisfied in December 2011. He also received two years court probation.Gartman paid $6,500 to the Gilroy post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in addition to a previous payment of $2,500 in November 2010.The monies were paid to the VFW because the parade fund was pretty much defunct by that time, according to a former prosecutor on the case.Gartman’s community service was completed at the Goodwill of Silicon Valley.For Gartman today, this episode is in the past and he wants Gilroyans to focus on his ideas for the city he represented first on the Planning Commission, then for nine years on the City Council.“I want to talk about issues that are important to the election,” said Gartman, who advocated for the Sunrise fire station and the sidewalk repair program when he was last on the council, during an interview outside Fifth Street Coffee in downtown Gilroy.Among those issues are increasing communication between the council and the electorate, prioritizing more infill, small-scale development and bringing ideas to Gilroy that he gleaned from other communities in which he has lived.“I would love to see Gilroy get into the 20th century [sic] with a lot of the automation that is available via the internet,” said Gartman, explaining that residents should be able to use technology to do things such as easily report a pothole or a city light that has gone out.Being off the council and living elsewhere—Gartman returned to Gilroy in 2014 after moving with his family for his wife’s job to Portland, Maine, then to Dallas—has also given him a unique perspective on the relationship between a city council and the community it represents.“I know what happens when you do policy and plans,” said Gartman, who more recently has been able to observe and appreciate the community’s side.Recalling the furor that erupted over the 721-acre Rancho Los Olivos housing proposal that was approved by City Council last December after it had been rejected by the Planning Commission, Gartman said while he understands the frustration of those who started the urban growth boundary campaign, he does not support Measure H.“Encasing the city for 20 years is dangerous,” he said, “Because you are very limited in what you can do.” He said the measure, which allows for open space, schools, affordable housing, and an allotment of 50 acres per year of general industrial to be brought into the boundary or redesignated, is too restrictive.“You are kind of tying your hands,” he said. Plus, he added, holding an election to get the boundary amended by voters would cost the city each time.Gartman would like to see the Downtown Specific Plan updated, which was adopted while he was on the council in 2005, and get the city to prioritize small-scale development and infill.“We need to establish what that policy is and pass it down to the community development department so when someone wants to develop five or less housing units, they get fast-tracked. We’ve had fast-track before and it worked real well.”He added: “Local developers hire local plumbers, electricians, tradesmen, to come in and do the work. Where large developments from big corporations bring people in from all over California.”Overall, Gartman said he wants to bring his ability to listen to all sides of an issue to a third term on the council.“Someone needs to be on the council who is actually turning an ear to the people,” he said.

GAVILAN COLLEGE, CA - The United States Department of Education yesterday announced that Gavilan College will be a recipient of $4,737,455 in federal funding for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education through the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HIS) STEM Program. The college learned of the award during a visit by a Department of Education officer, who was on campus to review the progress of the two prior grants. President Kathleen Rose said: “While touring campus he shared the news of the award of the STEM grant that will allow Gavilan to continue to focus our efforts on student internships, expand the math lab, and position students for science transfer programs with our partner institutions.” The grant to Gavilan College is for an initiative titled “Strengthening Hispanic STEM Students: Comprehensive Support, Guided Pathways, Renewed Learning.” It’s purpose is to increase transfer and degrees among Hispanic, low income, and first generation STEM students. One of the ways this will be done is by increasing support for these students. The college will use STEM funds to create an equipped, centralized STEM Support Center. The grant will also ensure that STEM students have access to a STEM counselor, and that prospective students and their families are receiving good information about STEM education and career options through outreach to the local communities. The Summer Bridge program for pre-freshmen and a Transition Academy for second year students will help STEM students transition from high school to college, and then from Gavilan College to a university. Another goal for the grant is to strengthen STEM pathways to transfer. This will help students navigate the many choices before them, and plan their educations to achieve their goals. Gavilan College will be developing “STEM Guided Pathways,” which will be streamlined program maps and articulation agreements with San Jose State University, creating a clear pathway from Gavilan College to a bachelor’s degree in the sciences. The third component of the grant is to renew STEM teaching and learning opportunities. Students and faculty will be able to participate in an inclusive STEM culture through the STEM Support Center. Faculty will also pilot new techniques and high-impact practices in their instruction.  Students will have access to accelerated remedial math and English and supplementary instruction in their introductory STEM classes, as needed, and continued access to student research internships in collaboration with SJSU faculty. “We are thrilled to be able to continue this important work, showcase the stellar work of our faculty, and leverage the relationships with our industry and community partners through internships and apprenticeship programs" said Dr. Rose. This award follows two prior STEM grants to the college, from 2008-2010 and from 2011 - 2016. The three grants combined have brought a combined $14,310,789 in federal funding to the community. Fran Lozano, Gavilan College Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences said: “STEM I provided much-needed science equipment; STEM II helped create indoor and outdoor instructional spaces, including the Native Garden and Arboretum; and STEM III will give us a STEM Support Center where students can congregate, hear lectures, study, share experiences, and grow in the subjects they love.” According to Dr. Rose, “This is yet another reason for the community to come see what is happening at Gavilan College today!” 

Tuesday mid-afternoon is not the typical time for shopping. Compared to the packed weekends, weekdays offer a less hectic shopping environment. With no hassle for parking spots and no mile-long lines, weekdays are the perfect time for fashionistas to do some highly efficient shopping.

A fast-moving fire helped by remote topography, low humidity and hot weather, scorched 1,500 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains along the Santa Cruz-Santa Clara County border 11 miles west of Morgan Hill. It has burned one house and threatens 300 others.