Nominate those with ‘spirit’
GILROY – Gavilan College is now accepting nominations for its 2008 Community Spirit awards. Three sets of awards will be presented in San Benito County, Gilroy and Morgan Hill. In each community, one individual, one business and one organization will be recognized. Anyone is invited to submit a nomination.
Nominations will be accepted through Friday, Aug. 22. Nomination forms and criteria, as well as a list of past winners, are available online at http://www.gavilan.edu/pio/Community_Spirit_Awards.html. For more information, call 408-848-4724.
Time to give blood
HOLLISTER – The American Red Cross will hold its monthly Hollister blood drive Thursday, Aug. 7 from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church hall. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or go to www.BeADonor.com (code: HOLLISTER) to schedule an appointment.
Toilet giveaway scheduled
HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Water District will give away free new toilets Saturday, Aug. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon at the water district office, 30 Mansfield Road. This program is for replacing toilets older than 1992 and for customers of the city of Hollister, the Sunnyslope Water District, the city of San Juan Bautista and Zone 6 of the San Benito County Water District.
Customers must bring a copy of their water bill and photo identification to receive a toilet and return their old toilets to the water districts after they have been replaced. For more information, call 637-4378.
HDOG holds inaugural meeting
HOLLISTER – The Hollister Dog Owners Group will hold a membership meeting Wednesday, July 30, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the San Benito County Free Library, 470 Fifth St. Anyone interested in joining the group is invited to attend. For more information, go to www.HollisterDOG.org.
Immigration forum available
HOLLISTER – San Benito County League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) will present an immigration forum featuring former Hollister resident Paula Solorio tonight at 6:30.
Solorio now works in San Francisco as an immigration attorney and is recognized as one of the region’s foremost authorities on immigration matters.
The forum will take place at the YMCA center at 339 Fifth St. in Hollister.
Topics will cover how to apply for citizenship, immigrant rights, how to inform yourself on immigration services, immigrant assistance organizations and crimes affecting immigrants.
Further information is available at 673-2009
Pinnacles reopens climbing routes
PAICINES – Rock walls subject to climbing and off-trail hiking closures for protecting nesting falcons and eagles at Pinnacles National Monument are now open.
Four prairie falcon nests successfully produced nestlings, 12 of which fledged. Golden eagles, American kestrels, red-shouldered, red-tailed, sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks produced young at the monument. Of special note was a peregrine falcon nest at Hawkins Peak, which produced three young birds.
This year marks the 22nd year of raptor monitoring at Pinnacles.
