Young artists exhibit their work

Gilroy
– Student artists from local high schools will display their
work from now through April 4 at the Emerging Artists 2007
exhibit.
Young artists exhibit their work

Gilroy – Student artists from local high schools will display their work from now through April 4 at the Emerging Artists 2007 exhibit. The Gavilan College Art Gallery is located in the library on the main campus: 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd., Gilroy. Admission is free. For library/gallery hours go to www.gavilan.edu/library.

‘Bradshaws’ perform Ragtime concert

Gilroy – A Ragtime concert featuring “Bradshaws,” the husband and wife duo of Jack and Chris Bradshaw, will be held at 7:30pm Friday at the Gilroy United Methodist Church, located on the corner of Church and Fourth streets. The concert is free and donations will go toward scholarships for Gavilan College graduates going on to become teachers.

Details: 842-4990.

Wine taste during Passport Weekend

Gilroy – Visit family wineries, sample award-winning wines and enjoy VIP treatment as you travel throughout the Santa Clara Valley. Take part in activities planned exclusively for passport holders. Barrel tasting, BBQ’s, winery tours, new Releases, antipasti and music await. Purchase a Taster’s Kit at any of the participating wineries.

The $25 passport fee includes a souvenir wine glass, the new Santa Clara Valley Wine Map and a passport for the event held 11am to 5pm, March 24 and 25 at participating Santa Clara Valley wineries.

Details: 842-6436 or www.gilroyvisitor.org

Hike along on the ‘Path of the Padres’

Los Banos – The staff at San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area will again be leading the popular “Path of the Padres” hikes on most Saturdays and Sundays starting March 3 and continuing through April 29.

These hikes are open to the public, ages 6 and older, by advance reservation only. School group hikes may be arranged for Thursdays or Fridays.

The hike begins at the Los Banos Creek Reservoir boat launch ramp at 8am and returns to the ramp about 3:30pm.

A pontoon boat carries passengers for about 30 to 40 minutes to the west end of the reservoir. Along the way, short stops are made so the hikers can observe wildlife along the shoreline.

The group disembarks at the west end of the reservoir for a five mile round-trip hike. This hike is moderately strenuous and will take about five hours.

Reservations are required for this exciting series of hikes and they will be accepted at the park office starting Monday Feb. 5.

Details: 209 826-1196

Great Plant Choices for Small Spaces

Gilroy – Jeannine Bogard will show you how to utilize small space with terrific plants for your garden from 10:30 to 11:30am Saturday at Garden Accents, 11155 Lena Ave.

Bogard is a horticulturist and writes a column on gardening for the Free Press. All classes are free to the public. Please call ahead to reserve a space.

Details:846-4555

MACSA celebrates Cesar Chávez

Gilroy – The Mexican American Community Services Agency will host a breakfast March 29 at 7:30am to celebrate the life and legacy of labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chávez.

The event will be held at the IFDES Lodge, part of the Gilroy Portuguese Hall, 250 Old Gilroy St. Tickets are $30 and support the MACSA El Portal Leadership Academy, a preparatory charter school accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Students graduating from the school can go on to junior colleges, colleges and universities.

Details: Maria Garcia at 928-1122, ext. 1134, or ga******@***sa.org. Information is also available online at www.macsa.org.

Celebrate stars at Pacheco Park

Los Banos – The public is invited to join local astronomers Saturday at Pacheco State Park Saturday, for an evening of star gazing. Astronomy volunteers will have numerous telescopes available to view the stars, planets, moon, nebula, etc. Viewing will begin shortly before sunset (about 7:30pm) and last until 10pm. Visitors can come any time that evening.

Pacheco State Park is at the top of historic Pacheco Pass. Take the Dinosaur Point exit off of Highway 152, 18 miles west of Los Banos and 22 miles east of Gilroy, and follow the sign. (After exiting south from Highway 152, turn right, going into the park entrance gate.) Visitors are encouraged to bring warm clothing, food or drinks, as no services are available at Pacheco State Park.

The only fee is the $5 state park day use fee per car. If there is any chance it won’t be clear, by noon on Saturday there will be a message on the park answering machine stating if the Star Party is “on” or “canceled due to clouds.” Please call (209) 826-6283 after noon Saturday.

Details: Jennifer Morgan at (209) 826-1196 ext. 222 or Ranger Poole at (209) 826-6283 or write jm***@******ca.gov

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.