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Throughout the course of its celebrated history, Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs (GYHS) has served a variety of purposes. It was a place to buy alcohol during Prohibition, a place to dry out from drinking too much and a refuge for Japanese families who had been interned during WWII.

An eye-popping splash of Chinese culture will light up the nights at Gilroy Gardens from mid-July through the Thanksgiving holiday when the theme park debuts “Lumination,” a one-of-a-kind attraction designed specifically for the location.The exhibit will be open nightly from July 16-Aug.14, then can be seen Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from Aug. 16-Nov. 27, and is expected provide an enormous boost in park attendance.“We're projecting an additional 200,000 visitors, in addition to our regular attendance, which is 400,000 to 450,000 each year,” said Barb Granter, who is in her 12th year as general manager of Gilroy Gardens. “But even if that number turns out to be on the lower end—50,000 to 70,000 new visitors—it will still be a tremendous win for our park, and a huge economic boost for the city of Gilroy.”Each “Lumination” light sculpture will be composed of hundreds, and sometimes thousands of individual pieces, including traditional, hand-crafted silk lanterns, porcelain plates and tiny glass bottles filled with colored water, all assembled into intricate, individual sculptures.About 100 Chinese artisans and technical staff are doing preliminary work on the display in Zigong, China, and preparing materials for shipping. Another team of 40 Chinese designers, carpenters, welders and electricians will travel with the materials to Gilroy, then live on site at Gilroy Gardens for approximately six weeks to construct the exhibits.“We actually have enough space in some unused buildings to house that crew at the park,” Granter said. “They'll bring their own chef, who will cook breakfast, lunch and dinner. All of the workers speak Mandarin—they don't speak English—so we'll have translators on site, and they won’t really integrate into the community while they’re here. And they’ll rent a huge tent, which is where they’ll build most of the exhibits."The light sculptures have been custom-designed for Gilroy Gardens’ 25 acres, winding along pathways, arching over buildings, reaching around and over trees, and integrating with the park’s waterways.Attractions will include reproductions of historic Chinese landmarks and legends (the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, Terracotta Warriors), a 120-foot-long, smoke-breathing dragon, the mythical hooved creature known as the Qilin, and pandas playing in a bamboo forest. A water display will depict carp jumping over ornate Chinese gates.The exhibit will include an artisan marketplace and a troupe of live performers from China. Gilroy Gardens also has converted one of its restaurants into a Chinese restaurant to honor the event.“They've done similar exhibits in North America in Toronto, at the Texas State Fair, and at the Tampa Zoo, which is where I first saw it,” Granter said. “They design every exhibit specifically for the property, because every venue is a different size and shape.“It's actually pretty impressive during the day, because the silk is so pretty, but you can’t see it in daylight without realizing that you have to come back at night,” she said. “You really need to see it at dusk, and watch it light up as the sun sets. It’s absolutely spectacular when these things come on.”That aspect of the exhibit is expected to provide a significant boost to the park, which typically makes its money during daytime hours. Now guests will have a reason to visit Gilroy Gardens after dark.Granter says the company that produces “Lumination” receives a percentage of the gate while the exhibit is up, so Gilroy Gardens is assuming no financial risk.“All we need is attendance,” she said.

There’s not much to Gilroy’s premiere nightclub, the District Theater, from the outside—no marquee, no lights, not much to mark it as an entertainment spot in the center of downtown.Then, when you walk in, there’s a long hallway that looks like it might lead to some kind of warehouse.But, at the end—Lights! Camera! Action!—there are lasers, a purple-glowing bar, a big stage, a 20-foot TV screen and a $50,000 sound system that fills the room’s 300 capacity. It looks as cool as any club you’ll find in San Francisco, New York or—gasp—San Jose.Owner Darin Dixon, 44, celebrated the club’s first anniversary in April and he has big plans for bringing more music and entertainment downtown, something locals say is sorely lacking.In his first year Dixon has brought some famous musicians to Gilroy: Pete Escovedo and his daughter, Sheila E., country artist James Wesley Prosser and Santana singer Tony Lindsay.He’s also staged events including a fight between Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi, had karaoke, line dancing, blues, disco and rock. The District, rebuilt on the site of the old Gaslighter Theater, is a bright light in our small city.“I love seeing the reaction of people who come here for the first time,” said Dixon, while hosting a Chamber of Commerce grand opening earlier this month. “We have zero curb appeal out front and a long hallway. The natural expectation is that we are a small place. When they get to the back, they have that shock and awe expression. They see that DMX lighting, the fog machines, the lasers, all the colored lights and the theatrics.”Besides a range of entertainment that includes an open mic night on Wednesdays, country DJs, and the Chicano All Stars, Dixon leases the space for parties and gatherings, including Mount Madonna High School’s Prom. It can even be used for seminars. The ceiling is high enough to fit a kids’ bounce house and host a weather-proof birthday party.Dixon put his money where his heart is, spending $100,000 to remodel the hall and a year to get it all done.The next step in his entrepreneurial evolution is relocating his music store, the Music Tree, which he has operated for the past decade in Morgan Hill, to Gilroy, where he lives. The store rents and sells instruments and gives lessons. Dixon’s goal is to incorporate both businesses by having students study music at the Music Tree, then perform shows across Monterey Street at the District.The District has one of only three dance permits in town, along with Old City Hall, the Longhouse and the Tequila VIP Lounge.“Gilroy kind of rolls up the sidewalks at night, especially during the week,” said Jane Howard, who runs the Gilroy Welcome Center and has been trying to spread the word about entertainment. “Our visitors are looking for something to do at night.”Around town there are regular live cover bands at the Milias Restaurant (7397 Monterey Rd.), karaoke at the Old City Hall (7400 Monterey Rd.), a summer outdoor Fifth Street music series every Friday night and events at area wineries. One of them, Clos LaChance has a Sunday afternoon music series of local acoustic performers. Sarah’s Vineyard has music every Friday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring local acoustic performers from Memorial Day to Sept. 30. Fortino has a music series that includes a show by local favorite, Isaiah Pickett on May 20.

“Gilroy is a shopping destination,” said Jane Howard, executive director of the Gilroy Welcome Center, a nonprofit that promotes the city as a tourist destination.“It’s regional, it’s international and as for the Outlets, they are pushing now to get more of a local flavor to it,” added Howard.A draw for tourists, visitors from more than 15 countries came to the Gilroy Premium Outlets in 2015.Tour groups coming to the Outlets can include from 15 to 300 guests at one time, with each person receiving a welcome packet.An economic impact study currently underway found that shopping is the number one reason people come to Gilroy.“From a marketing perspective, we oftentimes do lead with shopping,” added Howard.The Outlets continue to lead the way, generating more sales tax revenue for the city than any other group.Heather Roach, director of marketing for the Outlets, said they look forward to continued success.“The Outlets’ big focus now is to promote the center to local shoppers and find out what Gilroyans want,” she said.Roach, who also serves on the Welcome Center’s board of directors, said she regularly goes out to ask shoppers what they would like to see at Outlets.“One of the exciting things about The Outlets,” she said “is the mix of retailers.”High-end retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue and Michael Kors offer discounts, making them accessible to range of shoppers, she said, while sporting brands like Adidas, Nike, Puma and Under Armor are also very popular.And for that sought-after millennial consumer?“Charlotte Russeand Forever 21 are fun and exciting retailers for the up and coming millennial group,” said Roach.The Outlets now have 145 stores and this year has seen some changes.Popular retailers Michael Kors, Converse and Skechers expanded to nearly twice their original size. Tommy Hilfiger combined with Tommy Kids into one large family store.And Steve Madden, the brand that brought the world chunky platforms in the ’90s, is expected to open a store in Building A before summer.Gilroy Premium Outlets is also the site of the only Lululemon Athleticaoutlet store in Northern California.Now local shoppers can finally afford a pair of those ubiquitous yoga pants without breaking the bank.Other exciting additions to the Gilroy Premium Outlets over the last couple years include Kate Spade and Abercrombie and Fitch.Gilroy Premium Outlets hold special events throughout the year. Its two most popular are the Halloween Spooktacular and month-long Mission Pink program. During the month of October, shoppers can purchase a coupon book for $10 redeemable at participating retailers. The cost of the coupon book is tax deductible and the $10 is donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in support of breast cancer awareness activities.The Outlets’ Halloween Spooktacular invites local children to trick-or-treat at participating retailers. The first 500 costumed children receive a goodie bag at the Outlets’ management office.Coming in May are the Mother’s Day Weekend Sales, which include special giveaways and special retailer offers as well as light bites and refreshments for shoppers.

After 32 years in the auto industry, Leonard Harrington, owner of Gilroy Nissan and Gilroy Hyundai, has seen fortunes rise and fall, but with low gas prices and a fleet of economical cars that are made for the everyday commuter, the future is bright.

Growth, growth and more growth. Possibly more than any other member of the Gilroy City Council, Cat Tucker has had to ponder the impacts of growth in Gilroy and surrounding communities. She served as vice chair of the Gilroy General Plan Advisory Committee and chaired the board of LAFCO of Santa Clara County. In this Q&A, Tucker talks about how LAFCO decisions impact South County cities and how Gilroy can maintain its identity as it continues to grow.

Top civil rights and sexual harassment attorney Gloria Allred sued Gilroy’s school district Thursday for negligence and failing to safeguard a 15-year-old high school girl from a teacher’s lurid sexual taunts even after her mother complained.The lawsuit presents publicly for the first time the explicit nature of some of the text messages Gilroy High School chemistry teacher Doug Le is alleged to have sent to the girl in October 2014.It was filed in Santa Clara County Superior court on behalf of the girl and her mother, Celest Benn of Gilroy.San Jose Police arrested Le, 25, on April 26 on suspicion of enticing minor boys by dressing as a woman and asking them for nude photos, according to the lawsuit and police.Le resigned from his teaching position April 29, some 18 months after Benn first alerted school officials to his behavior and the danger to her daughter and others.Le also coached track and was a student mentor and advisor at GHS, according to the suit.At a Thursday press conference in front of the Gilroy Unified School District offices on Arroyo Circle, Allred would not speak aloud all of the words in the texts, using a single letter at one point instead of the word for the male genitalia.They were, however, listed in the lawsuit as follows, with some editing: “You suck d . . . Yeah your whore mouth can fit whole apples in there . . . You’ll die alone . . .” and another about defecating on the teenager.The suit alleges the district and high school’s failure to prevent and stop Le’s behavior more than a year ago harmed the girl and that stopping and reporting him then might saved as many as 500 minor boys from Le’s advances.It calls Le’s and the district’s behavior “outrageous and extreme” and alleges also that the district knew that “Le had engaged in dangerous and inappropriate conduct, both before his employment [by GUSD] and during that employment.”Allred also claims that the district violated state law by not reporting what they knew to the proper authorities.Benn at the press conference read a prepared statement in English and Spanish that said, in part, “I am disgusted that the district did not do enough to protect my daughter. She had to leave her friends, her classes at Gilroy High School that we had moved cross country for her to attend.” Her daughter transferred from Gilroy High School to Christopher High School, but Allred said Le’s harassment of the girl continued even after Benn reported his behavior to school officials.Benn has said she tried to meet with GHS principal Marco Sanchez and district superintendent Debbie Flores the day after learning of the texts, but they refused to see her. It was only after she threatened to go to the media that the district looked into the matter, she said.Le was “slapped on the wrist,” Allred said, and was allowed to continue teaching and his sexual harassment of minor students.The suit was filed “to hold the school district accountable for the harm they have caused her and our family,” Benn said.Vicki Barone, a GHS English Learners teacher, said she helped train Le to work with English Learner students in his advanced placement, biomedical courses.At the press conference, she told Allred that Le was classified as a temporary, or non-permanent, employee, and later said those employees can be let go at any time.“Yet this guy ends up back, that is weird,” she said.Barone accused the district and high school of being more interested in its wrestling program and advanced placement classes than in doing the right thing.“Kids are being harmed,” she said, adding that when she emailed colleagues at GHS about the Thursday press conference she received hostile responses.When two women spoke at Wednesday’s school board meeting in defense of principal Sanchez, who is widely respected in the community, some in the audience applauded them.The district, in a statement read at both the Wednesday board meeting and Thursday press conference, claims it took all the action it could against Le and that while unacceptable and unprofessional, his behavior was not criminal and did not rise to the level of dismissal.The lawsuit alleges Benn’s daughter “has suffered and continues to suffer great pain of mind and body, shock, emotional distress, physical manifestations of emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self-esteem, disgrace, humiliation and loss of enjoyment of life.”The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages, including punitive damages.

After two and half years of haggling and wrangling red tape, a group of Gilroy activists can claim victory in an ambitious barn rescue that secures for future generations a very large piece of the city’s past to use and enjoy: the old Henry Miller red barn at Christmas Hill Park.

A mural at South Valley Middle School has got back its tiger and a local family’s story has come full circle.

Rounds of applause echoed from the Community Room of Gilroy Library on April 30, where the first FixIt Clinic in Santa Clara County took place.