Vehicle set ablaze with ‘cocktail’

Gilroy
– A vehicle was set on fire just after 9pm Tuesday on the 7600
block of Church Street.
Vehicle set ablaze with ‘cocktail’

Gilroy – A vehicle was set on fire just after 9pm Tuesday on the 7600 block of Church Street. Police said an unknown suspect threw a “Molotov cocktail” filled with a petroleum-based accelerant to ignite the vehicle. The fire caused minor damage to the vehicle and to the surrounding area. Officers extinguished the fire when they arrived, and are now seeking information about the arson.

Anyone with information may call Detective Mitch Madruga, 846-0350, or leave an anonymous tip at 846-0330.

Dinner dance for paralyzed teen

Gilroy – The Tripp family is holding a formal dinner dance at 7pm Saturday, at the I.F.D.E.S Hall in Gilroy, to raise money for their son Mario Bonfante’s recovery from a BMX bike accident last September.

Bonfante is undergoing continuing therapy at Project Walk, a treatment center in Carlsbad. Saturday is the teen’s 18th birthday. The event will include dinner, a DJ, raffle, silent auction and dessert.

Tickets cost $30 and may be purchased at the door.

Details: 203-6157

Celebrating a river in our backyard

Watsonville – As part of its focus on the Pajaro Watershed – which covers parts of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties and is one of the most endangered in North America – the Mount Madonna School is holding an Environmental Awareness Festival. The public event – held 9:15am to noon at the middle and high school campus, 491 Summit Road, in Watsonville – will feature learning experiences for children and adults. Presenters include Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and Save Our Shores.

Details: 847-2717

College academy open house

Gilroy – The Gilroy Unified School District will host an open house for eighth-graders and their parents to explain the philosophy of and application procedure for the Gilroy Early College Academy.

The meeting will take place May 1 from 7 to 9pm at the Ascencion Solorsano Middle School multipurpose room, 7121 Grenache Way.

The early college academy, which will start with about 70 ninth-graders next year and build during the next four years to become a 400-student, four-grade high school, combines high school and Gavilan College classes in one curriculum. Students graduate with enough college credits to earn junior standing at many state colleges and universities.

Details: Michael Hall, principal, 846-4909

Plant sale at Garden Accents

Gilroy – Join South Valley Fleurs Garden Club at the 5th Annual Plant Sale, from 1 to 4pm, today, and from 10am to 4pm Saturday, at Garden Accents, 11155 Lena Ave. Choose from houseplants, perennials, annuals, succulents, vegetables and herbs. 

There will be speakers and an information table where your gardening questions can be answered.

Don’t miss the “how-to” demonstrations on topics such as repotting African violets and orchids, making floral displays, designing succulent wreaths, ornamental garden tiling and building a greenhouse.

Details: 776-2933, or Garden Accents at 846-4555.

Eat, dance and celebrate

Gilroy – The South Valley Music Makers third anniversary celebration is 1pm, April 28 at the Bradshaws, 1244 Sycamore Court.

Event is a potluck, bring whatever you wish to share in the way of music and food. Due to the volume of people who attend this event, it will begin with 10-minute sets for the experienced players and five-minute sets for the less experienced. When everyone has had a chance to play, the group can go around again.

Details: 842-4990

Flower and rummage sale

Morgan Hill – The Morgan Hill Flower Lover’s Club (including Gilroy and San Martin) present “Flowers R Us” from 11am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road. There will be a flower show, tea room and a plant, bake and rummage sale.

Admission is free.

Sister City dinner, auction

Gilroy – The Gilroy Sister Cities Association is holding an International Dinner and Auction Saturday, May 5 at the IFDES Portuguese Lodge, 250 Old Gilroy St. It begins with a social hour at 6pm. Dinner will be served at 7pm, followed by an auction at 8:45pm.

Donation is $30 per person. Location

Details and tickets: 842 4619 or 842 6501.

Volunteers needed to build trails

Gilroy – Volunteers for Outdoor California need help to build and maintain trails and restore natural habitat. V-O-Cal works in partnership with public agencies and other non-profit organizations and conducts large-scale weekend volunteer stewardship projects throughout Northern California. V-O-Cal and Santa Clara County Parks have joined together for this weekend project May 5 and 6.

Volunteers will construct a section of hike/bike on Valley Oak Trail, build the hike/bike Ohlone Trail and install armored stream crossings on the new multi-use Calaveras Trail. Volunteers can camp for free and will have spectacular views of Coyote Lake. Pre-registration required. Sign up today at http://www.v-o-cal.org.

Details: (650) 298-9774, or e-mail pr**********@*****al.org.

Wind Symphony concert

Morgan Hill – The Morgan Hill Wind Symphony, conducted by Vernon Miyata, presents, “City Scapes” featuring selections of music from cities around the world. The free concert takes place at 2pm, Sunday, May 6 at Guglielmo Winery, 1480 E. Main Ave.

Refreshments available.

Details: Lindsay Drobilisch at (408) 782-2305

Send news items to City Editor Robert Airoldi. FAX to 842-2206, mail to Gilroy Dispatch, 6400 Monterey Road, Gilroy, CA 95020, or e-mail ed****@****ic.com.