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As school bells again ring and kids with backpacks make their way across campus, beautiful singing waifs through the air at Gilroy's high schools. Thanks to two newly hired, energetic and enthusiastic music specialists, the choral program that retired teacher Phil Robb spent 30 years building into one of the best in Northern California is alive and well and will continue to be one of our city's great assets.

As Gavilan College prepares for its 100th birthday in 2019, historian Leah Halper is looking for interested parties who attended the college to contribute their memories to a Gavilan College Centennial archive and oral history project. Of special interest are those who attended San Benito...

There is no doubt that gun ownership is very controversial these days. The anniversary of the Newtown massacre and continued gun violence across the country have led to calls for tighter regulation of firearms, such as the recent legislation passed in Sunnyvale. Others counter that their Second Amendment Constitutional rights not be tampered with.

One of the most difficult things about a drought is that we don’t know when it will end. Our stormy December was followed by a bone dry January. We had some rain in February, but no one knows what the rest of the winter will bring.

PEBBLE BEACH - Carrying a one-stroke lead into the 14th hole on

South County public officials and business people want everyone to know that Santa Clara Valley is a premier international wine region.The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley, Santa Clara County, cities of Morgan Hill and Gilroy and both cities’ chambers of commerce hailed the newly labeled Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail as a victory for tourism and the business community as a whole at a grand opening ceremony Aug. 22. “The wineries here are internationally award winning wineries,” said Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Mike Wasserman, who represents South County on the board. “Our wineries are one of the best kept secrets in the South Bay, but it won’t be a secret much longer,” Wasserman continued. “There is no need for anyone to go outside of Santa Clara County if you want to enjoy wine.”The ceremony was held at Guglielmo Winery in east Morgan Hill, and was attended by about 50 representatives of the different organizations that organized the Wine Trail and members of the media. The SCV Wine Trail is a “collaborative effort” by the public and private sector to install permanent wayfinding signs on the shoulders of county roads directing motorists to the more than 20 wineries and vineyards in the WSCV association, according to WSCV President and Guglielmo Marketing Director Greg Richtarek. At Friday’s press conference, Richtarek specifically called out Morgan Hill resident Jon Hatakeyama and Morgan Hill Cellars winery owner Mike Sampognaro for coming up with the Wine Trail idea.Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to sanction the Wine Trail with more than 70 signs pointing wine tasting visitors and residents along the route that extends from north Morgan Hill through San Martin to south Gilroy. This summer, the county’s roads and airports department began installing the signs. “Many other wine regions already enjoy the significant boost in tourism enhanced by a clear, attractive signage,” Richtarek added. “It’s gratifying to have long overdue and proper recognition for the Santa Clara Valley.” Gilroy Mayor Don Gage quipped at the press conference, “If you aren’t living down in South County, you’re suffering.” The ribbon cutting ceremony kicked off a Wine Trail Celebration Weekend, Aug. 23 and Aug. 24, with barrel tastings, barbecues, winery tours, special discounts and music at wineries along the Wine Trail. Guglielmo Winery, which was founded in 1925, is the oldest continuously family owned and operated winery in the region. Guglielmo brothers Gene, George and Gary shared this history and offered tours at the Aug. 22 Wine Trail kickoff event. Tickets for the weekend events are $40 each, and can be purchased at participating wineries and the Gilroy Welcome Center. For more information, go to www.santaclarawines.com. 

The Central Coast Barnstormers (5-1) bounced back from their