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Coyote Ridge, the hills east of U.S. 101 near Coyote Creek Golf Club, is once again ablaze with native wildflowers. Public tours are offered by docents from the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (www.openspaceauthority.org ). I can tell you from experience that the hike is well worth the sight of the flowers and the breathtaking views of the Santa Clara Valley.

The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley kicked off 2013's wine season with their “Passport Weekend” shindig, and local vintners say they couldn’t be happier with this major open house event that helps market their brand, boosts wine club memberships and allows patrons to meet the faces behind the labels.

With the arrival of spring, grocery store shelves begin to show an abundance of seasonal products. Spring fruits and vegetables appear in the produce section, while grilling displays are assembled in the meat section. However, it is the featured section of kosher foods for Passover that peaks my curiosity.

Created by Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink in 1988, this sometime outrageous, inventive show has developed into a grand franchise with excellent promotion throughout the world in smaller venues, television and concert type offerings. The original creators do not perform, instead seven Blue Men alternate in the three main roles with bald heads painted blue that give off a childish, alien innocence with their antics. It’s all backed up with some interesting special effects and very loud, almost metal rock original music that has the whole theatre vibrating for most of the performance.

Despite all commercial evidence to the contrary, Easter, not Christmas, is the most important holiday in Christianity. Since the Middle Ages, Christians have observed this important time with Passion plays, dramatic presentations of the final events in the life of Jesus of Nazareth: his trial and execution at the hands of the Roman authorities and his resurrection from the dead.

Gilroy’s Robert Guerrero is scheduled to appear on ESPN’s SportsCenter during the 6 p.m. PST show today, Guerrero’s camp announced.

Dear Red Phone,

“Da Mayor” Richie Perez has done many a kind deed to support so many different organizations in this town via his connection with the San Jose Sharks. Now, he has occasion to ask Gilroyans to return his generosity to help his nephew, John Vasquez, battle multiple myeloma, a cancer that starts in the plasma cells in bone marrow. John needs a bone marrow transplant, and the medical costs are soaring. Chef de Gilroy Cuisine Dave Bozzo is handling BBQ meal duties for the Saturday, April 27 fundraising event at Christmas Hill Park which begins at noon. It’s $20 for an adult meal ticket and there will be a raffle, too. Richie and the Vasquez family are asking for raffle item donations. If you have an item, call Bobbie Vasquez at 408-310-5626 and, as they say, pay that Gilroy generosity forward.

The late columnist David Broder called Passover “the finest of all festivals of freedom.” The Biblical story in Exodus of Moses leading his people out of slavery in Egypt has inspired countless people throughout history to seek their own liberation from oppression. Jews observe the anniversary of this event with a special meal called a “seder.” The first day of Passover this year is March 26; since Jewish days begin at sunset, the seder takes place Monday evening. “The purpose of the seder is to tell the story of the Israelites,” said Rabbi Debbie Israel, spiritual leader of Congregation Emeth in Morgan Hill. “It is read from a book called the ‘Haggadah’ (which means ‘the telling’) and is designed to be an experience where participants not only hear the story but live the story, using sight, smells, tastes and sounds.” Because the seder takes place around the dinner table, foods that have deep symbolism are eaten. All participants share food on the seder plate, a large plate in the middle of the table. • Matzah - representing the simple food of slaves. When the Israelites left Egypt, they had to leave in a hurry and the bread had no time to rise. This flat cracker-like food is at the heart of the weeklong holiday, when Jews are not permitted to eat bread or other flour or grains (wheat, barley, rye, spelt or oats), called “chametz” (food made from leavened grain flour).   • Karpas - a vegetable, usually parsley or celery, that represents springtime. The karpas is dipped in salt water, symbolizing the tears of the slaves. • Maror - bitter herbs, horseradish, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery. • Charoset - a mixture usually made of apple, nuts, cinnamon and grape wine, symbolizing the bricks the slaves were forced to use in building the pyramids. • Zeroa - a roasted lamb or goat bone (some use a chicken bone), symbolizing the lamb offered in the temple sacrifice. Vegetarians use a beet, since zeroa is also a symbol of the lamb's blood that was placed on the homes of the Israelites during their last night in Egypt. Wine is also an essential part of the seder meal (though grape juice is permitted) because wine is a symbol of joy. Four cups (or sips from four cups) symbolize God's four promises to the Israelites, as spoken to Moses: "I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm ... I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God." (Exodus 6:6-7) Some families also serve hard-boiled eggs, again symbolizing springtime and the circular nature of life, also representing the festival sacrifice at the holy temple in ancient times. In addition to reading from the Haggadah and eating the symbolic foods, at the halfway point of the seder a delicious dinner is served, including traditional “Jewish” foods such as matza ball soup. As a special service to those who are affiliated with South Valley's Congregation Emeth, the temple is offering a seder matching program. Members who are having a seder are matched with congregants who are looking to participate in a one. Also, Rabbi Israel has offered to teach members who have never led a seder before, guiding them through the rituals of the evening, so that all members have the opportunity to experience this festival of freedom. For more information, call (408) 778-8200 or visit www.Emeth.net.