In Brief

Time for Ag Woman of Year nominations
SALINAS
– Ag Against Hunger will recognize a woman who has contributed
significantly to the success of the tri-county agricultural
industry at the 15th annual Ag Woman of the Year luncheon at
Paraiso Vineyards in Soledad on Wednesday, June 4. Nominations for
this award are now being accepted; forms are av
ailable at http://www.agagainsthunger.org/news.htm and due by
April 18.
All Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties service,
nonprofit or trade organizations are welcome to submit a nomination
for Ag Woman of the Year.
Ag Against Hunger is a nonprofit agency providing fresh donated
produce to food banks in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito
counties, then statewide and out-of-state when the fresh produce
needs of local food banks are satisfied. Since 1990, area growers
and shippers have donated over 140 million pounds of fresh fruits
and vegetables to help feed the hungry.
Reservations for this event are $50 per person and table
sponsorships are available. For more information visit
http://www.agagainsthunger.org or contact Ag Against Hunger at
755-1480.
Time for Ag Woman of Year nominations 

SALINAS – Ag Against Hunger will recognize a woman who has contributed significantly to the success of the tri-county agricultural industry at the 15th annual Ag Woman of the Year luncheon at Paraiso Vineyards in Soledad on Wednesday, June 4. Nominations for this award are now being accepted; forms are available at http://www.agagainsthunger.org/news.htm and due by April 18.

  All Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties service, nonprofit or trade organizations are welcome to submit a nomination for Ag Woman of the Year.

  Ag Against Hunger is a nonprofit agency providing fresh donated produce to food banks in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties, then statewide and out-of-state when the fresh produce needs of local food banks are satisfied. Since 1990, area growers and shippers have donated over 140 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to help feed the hungry.

  Reservations for this event are $50 per person and table sponsorships are available. For more information visit http://www.agagainsthunger.org or contact Ag Against Hunger at 755-1480.

Sacred Heart eighth graders hold car wash

HOLLISTER – Sacred Heart Parish School eighth graders will hold a car wash Saturday, April 12 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sunnyslope Medical offices. A bake sale will be held during the wash. All proceeds will go towards covering the cost of their graduating class Legacy Gift. For more information, call Jonene at 637-9113.

Gavilan College launches event Web site

GILROY – Local residents can now check out cultural, entertainment and sporting events happening at Gavilan College thanks to the launch of a new Web site, Gav Arts and Events. The site will serve as a guide to all of the performances, exhibits, sporting events, special events, lectures and other activities that are open to the public. Cultural events are offered through programs in music, theater, dance, television, fine arts and special events. To view the site, go to the Gavilan College home page and click on Gav Arts and Events, or go directly to http://www.gavilan.edu/pio/GavArts.html.

Free forestry institute available to California teachers

PLUMAS COUNTY – California kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers are invited to apply for a free week-long summer program called the Forestry Institute for Teachers (FIT). The program allows teachers to gain a deeper understanding of forest ecosystems’ relationship with natural resources that humans use for water, timber and recreational activities, and what teachers learn becomes the basis for lessons in environmental science, physical science, social science, biology, forestry, history and language arts.

Interested teachers must complete and return an application form found on the FIT Web site at http://www.forestryinstitute.org. For more information, call Heather Morrison of the Northern California Society of American Foresters at 1-800-738-8733 or via email at nc***@mc*.org.

Fleurs Club to hold annual fundraiser

GILROY – The South Valley Fleurs Garden Club will hold its annual fundraising plant sale at Garden Accents/Grass Farms in Gilroy at 11155 Lena Ave, off Masten Avenue Sat., April 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The club supports national and regional garden clubs as well as many local community and charitable activities such as the fire safe garden maintenance for the Hollister Fire Department, maintenance of the Gilroy Senior Center planters, planting and maintenance of the butterfly garden in Morgan Hill and holiday flower arrangements for local convalescent homes. The club also provides plants, pots, people and soil for Planting Day at the Live Oak Adult Daycare. For more information, call 408-842-7804.

Library purchases project vehicle

HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Free Library is launching its newest program, the “Family Learning Center on Wheels,” which will be available to people throughout the county. Mobile library programs will include children’s story times, adult literacy tutoring, nutrition classes and access to computers. The library will be working with First 5 San Benito and other county and community-based organizations to help plan for future needs and developing a skills training program.

The 32-foot mobile center will be on display on Tuesday, April 15 from 3-7 p.m. during the library’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Social and Open House, kicking off the local National Library Week celebration. The library is located at 470 Fifth St., next to the San Benito County Office of Education. For more information, call 636-4107.

Relay for Life captains to meet

HOLLISTER – A team captains meeting for the 2008 Relay for Life charity event will be held Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in the back room of Paine’s Restaurant, 421 East St. This month’s discussion will be on cancer control month. The next meeting will be held Thursday, May 22. Relay for Life 2008 will be held Aug. 1-2.

Autism Awards Banquet

HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Autism Parents Club members are accepting nominations for the 2008 Autism Awards Banquet at Las Palmas Restaurant, 449 San Benito St., Friday, April 18 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and proceeds will fund training, conferences and grant proposals for teachers and parents.

Nominations are due today and can be submitted online at www.autismparentsclub.com or sent to 605 Calais Court, Hollister, CA 95023. Award winners will be notified April 14.

Other events include a screening of the film “Autism: The Musical” Friday, April 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Scatina residence, 256 Lesley Lane. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please RSVP to Vicky at 801-4996.

HeArt of CASA fundraiser tickets on sale

HOLLISTER – The inaugural HeArt of CASA, a benefit silent auction and open house for CASA San Benito (Court Appointed Special Advocates) will be held Saturday, May 10 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club from 2-6 p.m. Locals are invited to the event or to sponsor the program. Tickets are $50 per person and admission includes a light dinner. Tickets are available at Drapoel/Teezers, Fortino’s Total Home Furnishings and Serene Home.

CASA is a nonprofit organization working with children in the juvenile dependency system. These children have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect and are placed in foster homes, group homes or with relatives and friends. CASA recruits and trains volunteers to work with these children during what is often a difficult time in their lives. For more information about the event, sponsorship or to be a volunteer contact CASA’s Program Manager Sangeetha Ramanujam at 637-4992.