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Limelight Actors’ Theatre brings in “The 39 Steps” for its 23rd production in its fifth season to entertain the folks in the South Valley.Director JoAnna Evans lets loose four kooky, talented characters to play over 100 roles in this Hitchcock murder-spy spoof.Kevin Heath, Roberta Vinkhuyzen, Jason Harris and Bruce Pember with Michael Perry and Brennan Perry as the ever energetic stage hands that keep the show glued together. Everyone’s hysterical timing and delivery is almost flawless.Evans uses a broad brush, painting the four characters and their images of over 100 characters with more than 50 costume changes that transform their persona with a flick of a hat, jacket or wig before your eyes. The timing is intricate and tricky but this nutty group use minimum props and is at times ingenious and adds to the hilarity of the production. Example: Four large trunks double as seats on a train and also act as the roof of the train that the characters use to do a typical Hitchcock chase scene, flapping their coats with flashing lights to give the effect of wind and rain. A bunch of mismatched chairs and a podium create a getaway car, a moveable door, a mock-up window and picture frames become ingenious props that tickle the funny-bone and create a mental picture of what could be next in this off-the-wall adventure that is done completely tongue-in-cheek with a homage to Hitchcock.Evans directs this whacked-out talented group like a conductor performing Fantasia’s "Sorcerer’s Apprentice" in triple time. The energy expended by this entire goofy group is seductive and over the top and leaves the audience pleasantly exhausted.For anyone who is a Hitchcock fan this might be the ticket to lighten up a bit. To those who aren’t familiar with his genius, time to get acquainted. Go and rent the movie then see this show. You will definitely have an interesting experience.Come early around 7 pm, bring your dinner and wine if you like, for an enjoyable evening of fun and tons of laughs.Camille Bounds is the theatre and arts columnist for the Morgan Hill Times, Gilroy Dispatch and the Hollister Freelance. She can be reached at [email protected] “The 39 Steps”Where: The Gilroy Center For The ArtsThrough: May 2Runs: 2 hours and 20 minutes with one intermissionTickets: $20Reservations and information call (408) 472-3292 or visitwww.LimeLightActors’Theater.com  

The slogan of Operation Freedom Paws—”Four paws, two feet, one team”—rings true for veteran Chris Ramirez, a local Marine Corps sergeant who  is now currently suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The nonprofit organization matched him with his service dog, Bobby, last June and provided training support

More than 60 years since its original opening on Broadway, director Kenneth Kelleher presents a strong, fresh, moving production of “The Death of a Salesman” with a superb cast. He wrings every bit of emotion from his actors, impacting the audience by making them feel like they’re part playwright Arthur Miller's story.

Members of the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, Gilroy Unified School District, volunteers from the business community and educators all came together last Thursday and Friday to conduct job interview training workshops for nearly 200 high school seniors.

Working at the car wash

Pinnacles National Park is just far enough away to place it beyond the "Hey, let's go for a hike this afternoon" category. It's more of a "We gotta get down to Pinnacles sometime this spring" place. And often, we don't get around to it.

A local business woman found an innovative way to repurpose an accessory now used by many people and to give back to nonprofit organizations at the same time.Lanyards - thin pieces of cord usually found draped around the necks of students and attached to their school IDs - are  common sights on school and business campuses around the world. An easy way to keep ID cards from being lost, they serve a simple purpose.Gilroy resident Jamie Hernandez had the idea to put them to another good use by creating a lanyard that can serve as a safety tool in emergency situations. In return, the lanyards helped Hernandez in her own time of need when she was recovering from a debilitating illness.“I get migraines and I became paralyzed,” she said. “I was in a wheelchair for two and a half years. Then I got better and I wanted to do something that kept me busy.”Hernandez, who is originally from Morgan Hill, taught herself how to knot and tie paracord to create colorful lanyards, key chains, jewelry and other accessories.Paracord - or parachute cord - is a thin rope made of nylon or polyester most commonly used as suspension lines for parachutes, according to www.paracordplanet.com. For each lanyard, Hernandez uses about 30 feet of paracord 550, which can hold up to 550 pounds. The cord never mildews, according to Hernandez.As a former athlete, she knew the safety value of the lanyards.I did a lot of rock climbing before, but then I got sick,” Hernandez said. “A few years ago in 2007 I broke my hand, so I feel fortunate to be able to do this.”Starting as a hobby, Hernandez’ lanyard creations eventually became a business when her daughter, Jasmine Yanez, was on the Gilroy High School wrestling team. The school lost its funding for buses, Hernandez said, so she sold her lanyards at the Mid-California Wrestling Championship Tournament to raise funds for team transportation. She also made all the first place lanyards for each of the 14 weight classes in the two-day tournament.“It’s rewarding because if (the wrestlers) win first place, they get the lanyard and I’ve seen them around town,” Hernandez said. “We put a dog tag on it with their (place) and their class. To see the kids still wearing it, and using it and coming back for more is good.”Hernandez’ new business endeavor, InkBlossom Designs, became a big hit when her daughter left home to pursue her business management degree at Menlo College in Atherton. Yanez took the paracord lanyards to sell to fellow students. By then, Hernandez had added another safety feature: whistles to use to attract attention in case of emergency.The rest of her family also became involved in the business. Hernandez’ son, Solar, helps his mom by measuring and cutting the paracord before she begins knotting the cords for lanyards. And her husband, Steven Hernandez, is charge of sales and marketing.“My husband is my biggest cheerleader,” she said.  “He saw something I like to do and I’ve made it my own.”As her business grows, Hernandez continues to donate 40 percent of her profits to community organizations. To date, InkBlossom Designs has donated a total of more than $3,000 to the Fallen Hero Memorial Scholarship Fund, South Valley Middle School wrestling and cross-country teams, Santa Clara Valley Wrestling Association, Los Gatos Rugby Club, Pop Warner football leagues and Christopher High School sports.“If I can help bring a smile to someone’s face and help an organization, that’s the best thing for me to do,” she said.But Hernandez’ community outreach doesn’t end with InkBlossom Designs. She also volunteers as an assistant coach at South Valley Middle School and created the school’s annual Sumo Feast Fundraiser with dinner, live music and inflatable sumo suits for wrestling.Her contributions are greatly appreciated by the South Valley Middle School staff.“Ms. Hernandez is always around to lend a hand and is a valuable team player,” Athletic Director Jami Reynolds said.A handy way to keep track of those important items, lanyards serve a simple purpose..But Gilroy resident Jamie Hernandez cm to put them to another good use by creating a lanyard that can serve as a safety tool in emergency situations. In return, the lanyards helped Hernandez in her own time of need when she was recovering from a debilitating illness.“I get migraines and I became paralyzed,” she said. “I was in a wheelchair for two and a half years. Then I got better and I wanted to do something that kept me busy.”Hernandez, who is originally from Morgan Hill, taught herself how to knot and tie paracord to create colorful lanyards, key chains, jewelry and other accessories.Paracord - or parachute cord - is a thin rope made of nylon or polyester most commonly used as suspension lines for parachutes, according to www.paracordplanet.com. For each lanyard, Hernandez uses about 30 feet of paracord 550, which can hold up to 550 pounds. The cord never mildews, according to Hernandez.As a former athlete, she knew the safety value of the lanyards.I did a lot of rock climbing before, but then I got sick,” Hernandez said. “A few years ago in 2007 I broke my hand, so I feel fortunate to be able to do this.”Starting as a hobby, Hernandez’ lanyard creations eventually became a business when her daughter, Jasmine Yanez, was on the Gilroy High School wrestling team. The school lost its funding for buses, Hernandez said, so she sold her lanyards at the Mid-California Wrestling Championship Tournament to raise funds for team transportation. She also made all the first place lanyards for each of the 14 weight classes in the two-day tournament.“It’s rewarding because if (the wrestlers) win first place, they get the lanyard and I’ve seen them around town,” Hernandez said. “We put a dog tag on it with their (place) and their class. To see the kids still wearing it, and using it and coming back for more is good.”Hernandez’ new business endeavor, InkBlossom Designs, became a big hit when her daughter left home to pursue her business management degree at Menlo College in Atherton. Yanez took the paracord lanyards to sell to fellow students. By then, Hernandez had added another safety feature: whistles to use to attract attention in case of emergency.The rest of her family also became involved in the business. Hernandez’ son, Solar, helps his mom by measuring and cutting the paracord before she begins knotting the cords for lanyards. And her husband, Steven Hernandez, is charge of sales and marketing.“My husband is my biggest cheerleader,” she said.  “He saw something I like to do and I’ve made it my own.”As her business grows, Hernandez continues to donate 40 percent of her profits to community organizations. To date, InkBlossom Designs has donated a total of more than $3,000 to the Fallen Hero Memorial Scholarship Fund, South Valley Middle School wrestling and cross-country teams, Santa Clara Valley Wrestling Association, Los Gatos Rugby Club, Pop Warner football leagues and Christopher High School sports.“If I can help bring a smile to someone’s face and help an organization, that’s the best thing for me to do,” she said.But Hernandez’ community outreach doesn’t end with InkBlossom Designs. She also volunteers as an assistant coach at South Valley Middle School and created the school’s annual Sumo Feast Fundraiser with dinner, live music and inflatable sumo suits for wrestling.Her contributions are greatly appreciated by the South Valley Middle School staff.“Ms. Hernandez is always around to lend a hand and is a valuable team player,” Athletic Director Jami Reynolds said.

On April 9, 1865, the American Civil War came to a virtual end with the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia by General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Potomac in the quaint little town of Appomattox Court House in central Virginia. This pivotal capitulation, soon followed by other confederate submissions, brought to an end the most bloody, divisive, and potentially history changing time in our country’s history.

Pintello Comedy Theater pros Jayson Stebbins and Denee Lewis Bohnsack get together to bring in playwright Jack Neary’s gentle and funny “First Night,” an amusing bit of witty theater. The two carry the production under the deft direction of Whitney Pintello.

Last week, Elon Musk announced that the Tesla would soon be able to drive itself. This is so exciting. I mean, for people who own Teslas…which obviously doesn’t include me.