The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will hold a
series of public meetings to receive feedback on VTA’s
”
Common Sense Service
”
plan.
VTA to Hold Series of Public Meetings
San Jose – The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will hold a series of public meetings to receive feedback on VTA’s “Common Sense Service” plan. The meetings began Monday in San Jose and additional meetings will be held throughout Santa Clara County.
The public meetings are designed to gather public comments on the proposed plan, which is posted at www.vta.org. Visitors to the Web site are able to provide comments in electronic form if they are unable to attend a meeting.
The remaining meetings are scheduled as follows:
From 3 to 6pm, today, at Gilroy City Hall Council Chambers, 7351 Rosanna St.; from 3 to 6pm, Thursday, May 31, at Campbell Community Center Activity Room, 1 West Campbell Ave.; from 3 to 6pm, Thursday, June 5, at San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St.
Details: 321-2300, hearing impaired TDD at 321-2330.
Supervisors Impose $30 Appeal Fee
San Jose – At the recommendation of Santa Clara County Supervisor Pete McHugh, the Board of Supervisors established a $30 fee to challenge assessed values, becoming the fourth county in the state to impose such a fee. County Assessor Larry Stone opposed the fee, saying “charging a property owner a fee for what ultimately may turn out to be an over assessment is unfair.”
“There is a reason 54 counties have decided not to impose a fee,” Stone said. ”
Stone was concerned that the fee does not allow for refunds when the assessor’s value is incorrect. In Santa Clara County, 31 percent of all assessment appeals are adjusted lower and nearly half are withdrawn by the property owner.
“I dislike the idea of charging a taxpayer when ultimately the property owners’ opinion of value may be correct and our assessment incorrect,” Stone said
On May 15, the office mailed 450,000 assessment notification cards, informing taxpayers of their preliminary assessed value. That notice advised taxpayers that there was no charge to challenge the values. “Taxpayers will be confused by the Board’s swift action,” Stone said.
July 2 is the first day to file an appeal of the 2007-08 assessment roll and it will also be the first day of the new filing fee.
Details: Clerk of the Board at 299-5001.
Elks Raise Funds to Help Disabled Youth
Gilroy – More than $ 2.7 million has been contributed this year by members of Elks Lodges throughout California and Hawaii to be used in treating children with disabilities.
Wayne L. Weller, Exalted Ruler of Gilroy Lodge, Lodge No. 1567, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, contributed $20,405.07 which was raised by the members of the Lodge.
“We are pleased and proud that members of our local Elks Lodge were so generous with their dollars and time in this important undertaking,” Weller said.
All of the funds are devoted solely to providing vision screening and therapy treatment to children with a broad range of disabilities. Without the Elks supported donations, many of these children would not receive such treatment.
The year-long fund-raising campaign is capped by a ceremony at the annual Elks Convention when representatives of lodges from throughout California and Hawaii present their donations to Major Project and Elks Association leaders.
The raising of funds to aid children with disabilities is one of the many philanthropic and patriotic projects which mark the Elks’ contribution to the community.
Come Watch ‘The Skin of Our Teeth’
Gilroy – The Gilroy High School spring play “The Skin of Our Teeth” will show tonight, Friday and Saturday at the Gilroy High School theater, 750 W. 10th St. All shows begin at 8pm and tickets cost $7 at the door.
The play was written by Thornton Wilder and directed by Ethan Stocks. The play follows the Antrobus Family ‘s encounters with disasters that threaten to end the human race. They narrowly escape an ice age, a great flood and a nuclear holocaust by “the skin of their teeth.” While trying to save themselves and humanity, they must deal with issues ranging from murder and adultery to family relations and social consciousness. The show is sometimes hilarious and often heartbreaking, but always engaging, Stocks said.
Volleyball Team Rates Top in Section
Gilroy – The Central Coast Section announced that the Mount Madonna School boys volleyball team has the highest collective grade-point average of all varsity teams. The 11 boys – who have a 3.815 average – are the fifth volleyball team to earn this status since the league started recognizing teams in 1996. The team was named top of the section in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005.
Caballero Set to Visit Gilroy
Gilroy – Assemblymember Anna Caballero is holding her first coffee meeting in Gilroy since joining the state Legislature in Sacramento as Gilroy’s representative. The event is open to the public at It’s a Grind Coffee House, 890 Renz Ave., Gilroy (near Lowes) from 10:30am until noon Saturday.
Bring questions and concerns about legislative issues affecting Gilroy’s schools, the local economy and environment, housing, growth, and the community as a whole.
Wal-Mart Grant Awards Announced
Gilroy – The Wal-Mart Community Advisory Board announced the grant recipients for 2007 Wal-Mart Grant Program benefiting local non-profit organizations.
They are: St. Joseph’s Family Center’s Senior Shuttle $2,500, South Valley Symphony’s Concert Series $2,000, City of Gilroy’s Public Art Project $2,000, City of Gilroy’s Summer Concert Series $2,000, Gardner Family Health Network, Children’s Enrichment $1,000, and New Hope Community Church $500.
Awards will be presented May 28 in a special ceremony at the Gilroy Memorial Day Family Fun Day Celebration. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, to be held at 1:30pm at the Christmas Hill Park Gazebo area.
Details: Vern Parker at 848-8161.
South Valley Orchestra Performs
Gilroy – The South Valley Youth Orchestra and Preparatory Strings will perform a free spring concert at 7pm, Tuesday, in the Gilroy High School Theatre at 10th and Princevalle streets, and will be conducted by Joey Fortino and Lori Franke.
Details: www.svyomusic.org, or 778-6905.
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.
