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Friday, February 23, 2018
gilroydispatch.com • Vol. 151, No. 8 • $1
BUSINESS: Burgers or breads, take your pick P16
City asks court to dismiss sex suit FORMER POLICE CHIEF ADDED AS DEFENDANT, CASE GOES TO U.S. COURT Michael Moore Reporter
The City of Gilroy said this month that accusations by a former public safety employee that she was harassed and fired for refusing to engage in sexual promiscuity within the Gilroy Police Department are not worthy of the court’s consideration, and should be dismissed. The court papers filed by the city this month were its first official response to accusations by Patricia Harrell that she was wrongfully terminated in 2016. An amended complaint filed in December 2017 by Kevin Heath
➝ GDP Lawsuit, 12
PARTY BOMB Cranky Cordelia Covington (Karen Pogue, sitting) isn’t up to for birthday fun in Limelight Theater’s production of ‘Savannah Sipping Society’. Left to right Rachel Perry, Roberta Vinkhuyzen, Christy Wait and Valerie Vanni.
Zany comedy hits town
THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN
FEBRUARY 23, 2018
A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times
OU T & AB OU T CA LE ND EV EN AR OF TS
Local garage named 2018 Small Business of the Year
Ponzini Pride
Inside this issue: 2018 Small Business of the Year MODERN MILLIE P8 | MOSS GRAFFITI P9 | CALERRAIN P12
THE ‘SAVANNAH SIPPERS’ PLAY NEARS SELLOUT AT ARTS CENTER Nicholas Preciado Reporter
Despite the few remaining days in February, you still have a chance to catch a performance of the Savannah Sipping Society, the latest production by Limelight Actors Theater at the Gilroy Center for the Arts in downtown Gilroy.
“At the core, the Savannah Sipping Society is about friendship and never being too old to recreate yourself,” says director and Limelight Theater co-owner Kevin Heath. The production follows four women “of a certain age” who have been through life-altering events like being fired from work, getting divorced or experiencing the death of a spouse. “As serious as that sounds, they all find the most humorous adventures to take on and build a strong friendship in the process,” Heath said.
Actresses Roberta Vinkhuyzen, Rachel Perry, Christy Wait and Valerie Vanni are the main cast in the Savannah Sipping Society, written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten, who Heath said are known for a number of zany southern comedies. The writing trio specializes in writing comedies with strong female roles. Upcoming performances include Feb. 23, Feb. 24, March 2, and March 3 at 8 p.m. There will be an additional matinee
performance on Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. Doors open one hour before the show starts. Several performances have sold out, so purchasing tickets online as soon as possible is recommended, Heath said. Tickets cost $25 for general admission and $22 for people 65 and older. To purchase tickets in advance, call the box office at (408) 4723292 or go online at www. limelightactorstheater.com.
New housing construction surges AFFORDABLE AND HIGH-END PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY, AIDED BY DRY WINTER Bryce Stoepfel Reporter
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The early winter drought has been good news for local builders and the sounds of saws, drills and
hammers are competing with winter songbirds across Gilroy, as several long-awaited housing development are under construction. Leading the way is The Cannery, a 104-unit affordable living apartment complex just across the railroad tracks from downtown, at 111 Lewis Street, formerly the site of the old Gilroy Cannery. Construction crews of
KEEP YOUR CAREER ADVANCING WITH REAL PROJECTS AT TOP COMPANIES.
Vaquero, a Gilroy company, are laying foundations for the project, which occupies an entire city block. Also underway on a similar large site a mile to the west is a project of CalWest Homes, called Cambridge Place, will feature single-family connected houses in the $700,000 range. They are being built south of the Armory on Wren Avenue.
Both of these developments, while catering to different customers, are “infill” projects, filling vacant space, rather than expanding at the city’s edges. AMJ Construction Management Inc, out of Los Angeles, broke ground at the Lewis Street site in September, and with Vaquero Construction, expects completion of the apartments by the end of this year. Construction
manager Matthew Wickersham expects landscaping to commence in January 2019, with the move-in date expected in February 2019. “There hasn’t been any difficulties at all,” Wickersham said this week. “The City of Gilroy has been very supportive and the project is moving along smoothly.” ➝ The Cannery, 14
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