Colton Heath Prater was born Jan. 18, 2007 at Hazel Hawkins
Memorial Hospital in Hollister to parents Brandon and Melissa
Prater of Hollister. He weighed 9 pounds, 9.02 ounces.
BIRTHS
Colton Heath Prater
Colton Heath Prater was born Jan. 18, 2007 at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister to parents Brandon and Melissa Prater of Hollister. He weighed 9 pounds, 9.02 ounces.
Ayva Renea Fosdick
Ayva Renea Fosdick was born Feb. 7, 2007, at Good Samaritan Hospital to parents Melana Renea and Robert James Fosdick of Hollister. She weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces.
Anni-Arie Delana Omoyemwen Omoigui
Anni-Arie Omoigui was born March 23, 2007 at Los Gatos Community Hospital to parents Eghosa and Cherece Omoigui of Morgan Hill. She weighed 9 pounds 7 ounces.
Aydria Michelle Maquinalez
Aydria Michelle Maquinalez was born April 6, 2007 at Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy to parents Sarah Beserra and Henry Maquinalez Jr. of Gilroy. She weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces.
Naomi Piaza Centeno
Naomi Piaza Centeno was born March 17, 2007 at Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy to parents Veronica Piaza and Ruben Jr. Centeno of Gilroy. She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces.
ENGAGEMENTS
Alegre/Lauria PHOTO
Aimee Alegre, daughter of Ernie and Cora Alegre of Hawaii, and Tony Lauria, son of Tony and Judy Lauria of Morgan Hill, announce their engagement.
Aimee is a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines. She is a 2001 graduate of the University of Hawaii with a B.A. in communications.
Tony is a signature release engineer for Juniper Networks. He is a 1993 graduate of Live Oak High School and a 1998 graduate of Oregon State University with a B.S. in business administration.
The couple plan to marry Oct. 27, 2007.
Sim/Rodriguez PHOTO
Ashley Elizabeth Sim, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Sornberger of Hollister, and Wilfredo Peña Rodriguez, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tomas Rodriguez of Hollister, announce their engagement.
Ashley and Wilfredo are both 2003 graduates of San Benito High School and have made their home in Surprise, Ariz. Ashley will attend Northern Arizona University in the fall to continue working on her teaching degree. Wilfredo works as a lead H.V.A.C technician.
The couple plan to marry April 12, 2008 in Cabo, Mexico.
Torbitt/Simoni
Sara Torbitt, daughter of Craig and Diana Torbitt of Santa Rosa, and Eric Simoni, son of Don and Pat Simoni of Morgan Hill, announce their engagement.
Sara received a B.S. in in computer science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and is currently a Web Programmer at CSU Monterey Bay. Eric attended Live Oak High School and a B.S. in business IS from CSU Fresno and a Masters in management and information technology from CSUMB. He is currently the Director of Information Systems at CSUMB.
The couple plan to marry Sept. 15, 2007, in Maui.
HONORS
Ruth Pachec
Ruth Pacheco, from Gilroy, moved to San Francisco to attend the California Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu. The program included 12 months of classes and three months of externship. Ruth graduated on April 14, 2007, with an Associate’s Degree in occupational studies in culinary arts during a ceremony held at Nob Hill Masonic Center.
Ruth was offered a job with the Hyatt doing the Culinary Management Program and will be a sous chef upon completion of the program. She thanks her parents, Auntie Rosie and her family and friends for their support.
Alan Patrick Dronek
Alan Patrick Dronek earned his Eagle Scout rank on March 21, 2006. While in scouting, he earned 23 merit badges, held four leadership positions and earned nine special awards. His Eagle project was constructing a fence around a retention pond at Ed Levine Park in San Jose. Dronek continues to be involved with Troop 730 as an adult leader.
Dronek graduated from Live Oak High School in 2006 and now attends West Valley College where he is pursuing an AA degree in Theatre Arts. He plans to continue his education and earn a bachelors degree in the same.
He recently performed in the West Valley Production of “Radium Girls.” While at Live Oak, Dronek performed in many plays, and continues to be involved with the Live Oak Drama Guild. His hobbies include learning about actors from other eras, attending plays and watching old movies. Dronek started his own production company, Laughter Productions, in 2005, and produced two plays at the Morgan Hill Playhouse. He is currently working on the summer production for his theatre company, “I Hate Hamlet,” scheduled to open in August.
Steven Robert Webb
Steven Robert Webb became an Eagle Scout on April 18, 2006. He earned 21 merit badges, held seven leadership positions and earned seven special awards. For his Eagle project, he constructed a large concrete circular planter at Live Oak High School.
Webb is a 2006 Live Oak graduate and currently attends UC Davis, studying in the field of forensics. While attending Live Oak, Webb was quarterback for the Varsity football team and was also a member of the Drama Guild as a tech and performed occasionally. He continues to be involved with the Live Oak Drama Guild when he is in town.
Travis Mitchell Blanchard
Travis Mitchell Blanchard has been involved in scouting since the age of seven, as a cub scout. He is an active member of Troop 730 and earned his Eagle Scout rank on April 25, 2006. He’s earned his bronze, gold and silver Eagle Palms, and is working on a second bronze palm. To date, he has earned 45 merit badges, held 10 leadership positions and earned 26 special awards. Blanchard’s Eagle project was construction of wildlife rehabilitation/transport cages for the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. He will be aging out of scouting in June but hopes to remain active as an adult leader.
In addition to scouting, Blanchard is involved with the Live Oak Drama Guild and was Set Designer and Stage Manager for their recent production “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” He enjoys photography, reading, playing bass and hiking/camping. He works part time and is also a freelance photographer for the Morgan Hill Times and Gilroy Dispatch. He is a senior at Live Oak High School and will be attending West Valley College in the fall, majoring in Photo Journalism.
Derrick Fellows
Derrick W. Fellows made the Dean’s List for the Winter Quarter 2006-07 at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is an architecture/construction management major and the son of Lisa and Ron Fellows of Gilroy.
Christopher Penn
Air Force Airman Christopher S. Penn has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.
He is the son of Stephen and Lori Penn of Morgan Hill. Penn is a 2005 graduate of Live Oak High School.
Jason Warren
Jason Robert Warren, son of Marion Warren of Gilroy, recently graduated from Montreat College in North Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in history.
Elyse Wallash
Elyse Marjorie Wallash made the Deans’ Honors List for fall quarter 2006 at the University of California, Davis. The Deans’ Honor List is those students whose GPA is equal to or higher than the minimum GPA attained by the upper 16 percent of those registered in the same class level and college.
Sarah Penkethman
Sarah Penkethman of Gilroy has been named to the Dean’s List at Wagner College of New York City for the fall 2006 semester. This distinction is awarded to students who have earned a semester GPA average of 3.5 or better.
Erica McLeod
Army Pvt. Erica R. McLeod has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
She is the daughter of Susie Rosario of Mountain View and sister of Andrew Rocha of Gilroy.
Brandon Levonius
Air Force Airman 1st Class Brandon J. Levonius has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.
Levonius is a 2004 graduate of Gilroy High School.
Oliver Walker
Oliver Walker has been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall of 2006 at Biola University.
The Dean’s List honors those students who earned a semester grade point average of 3.60 or higher while enrolled in 12 or more credit units and whose cumulative GPA is at least 3.20.
Biola University is a Christian liberal arts university located in La Mirada.
Joel Marquez
Air Force Airman Joel J. Marquez has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches, and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises, and special training in human relations.
He is the son of Mary and stepson of Robert Corbitt of Gilroy.
Marquez is a 2006 graduate of Gilroy High School.
Alyssa Castro
Alyssa Castro, a fourth-grader at St. Mary School in Gilroy, recently wrote an essay (100 words or less) on Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream.”
The Catholic Telemedia Network had a contest for kindergartner through eighth-graders and received more than 1,000 entries. The contest included children from throughout the Bay Area, San Francisco, San Mateo, Oakland and Santa Clara County.
Alyssa, a resident of Gilroy with her parents, was the fourth grade winner of the contest and brought home an iPod Nano, which was engraved, “Follow Your Dreams.”
