Kids of Summer SPECIAL EDITION
MAY 25, 2018
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Kids of Summer & Recreation Guide
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Teachers in Gilroy picket district CONTRACT TALKS STILL STALLED
Friday, May 25, 2018
Oily Politics: Rivas Targeted PETROLEUM FIRMS FUND ATTACK MAILERS AGAINST STATE ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE By Tom Gogola Pacific Sun
The state’s petroleum industry is spending $320,000 in the
Scott Forstner Reporter
gilroydispatch.com • Vol. 151, No. 21 • $1
District 30 State Assembly race to defeat fundraising frontrunner Robert Rivas. The San Benito County supervisor hopes to succeed Anna Caballero, who is running for state senate this year and represents a district that stretches from Morgan Hill to King City and includes Watsonville and all of San Benito County. The San Rafael law firm Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello
Gross & Leoni, which counts BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Phillips and Valero Energy Corporation among its clients, created the Coalition to Restore California’s Middle Class, Opposing Robert Rivas for Assembly 2018. It’s the first time the industry has targeted a local official seeking higher office. Rivas was at the forefront of San Benito’s Measure J, which banned fracking in 2014
despite a $2 million push funded by large petroleum companies to defeat it. San Benito was California’s first county to enact a ban on fracking and associated oil extraction technologies, including acid well stimulation treatments and cyclic steam injection; a similar effort failed in Santa ➝Big Oil, 8
➝ Teachers, 2
Scott Hinrichs
With signs that read “Keep Good Teachers With Fair Pay,” “You can’t put students FIRST if you put teachers LAST” and “WTF? Where’s the Funding,” more than 300 Gilroy teachers and supporters picketed outside last week’s school board meeting. The Gilroy Teachers Association’s signs and chants in front of the 7810 Arroyo Circle Gilroy Unified district headquarters protested “the lack of a fair contract settlement between the teachers’ union...and the Gilroy Unified School District School Board,” according to organizers. Other slogans by teachers, parents and students who lined the street in a show of solidarity read: “You’ll no longer have the comfort of our silence,” “Please don’t make me move to San Jose,” “My second job pays for my classroom supplies,” “I’m a teacher not a saint. 2 percent isn’t enough,” and “It’s time to use our outside voices.” The teachers union, whose members have worked without a contract since the previous one WALK THIS WAY The Dancers Against Cancer team, from the South County Country Dancers of San Martin, Texas two-step their way round the course during the May 19-20 Relay For Life of South County held at Community Park in Morgan Hill.
Walk raises awareness, cash IN 24-HOUR WALK, FAMILIES, FRIENDS HONOR THOSE STRICKEN WITH CANCER Scott Forstner Reporter
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Nearly 500 participants helped raise more than $105,000 as they set up camp May 19-20 at Morgan Hill Community Park for the inaugural Relay For Life of South County. The 24-hour walkathon, the biggest annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society with localized events in cities across the country, is meant to honor those stricken with cancer and help raise money to aid research efforts in finding a cure. “It was awesome. It was a totally seamless event. Everyone came together and
had a lot of fun,” said Relay colead Nikkie Underhill. The event—which included 467 Morgan Hill and Gilroy participants as well as 62 cancer survivors—touched home for Underhill, who was part of two Relay teams created separately in the memory of a long-time friend and her mother-in-law. “It was definitely an emotional weekend,” Underhill said. “It was really a healing event for us to come together as a family.” Relay regulars, Dancers Against Cancer, once again topped the team fundraising efforts by totaling $20,067. “They always raise a lot of money,” said Underhill of the leading team. “It’s really incredible.” Dancers Against Cancer, captained by Nancy Bernal and Diane Berney, raises money before the event through donations from
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family and friends. Then, the members make up special baskets that they raffle off during the Relay to generate even more funds, according to Underhill. First-time participant Elizabeth Yoshida of Hu’s Platoon was the top individual earner for the 2018 Relay with a total raised of $6,620. Her participation was sparked after learning her father, Hubert Yoshida, was battling a rare cancer of the small intestine. The retired Marine Corps Captain and Bronze Star Medal recipient also helped the team in his honor raise nearly $9,500. “It’s a brand new team....He’s currently in treatment so she started it for her dad,” Underhill said. “He was out there and the family was out there. They all did a great job.” Donations to the Relay can be accepted through the end of
August by visiting relayforlife. org/SouthCountyCA. After Saturday’s opening ceremonies that included speeches from councilmembers Fred Tovar of Gilroy and Caitlin Robinett Jachimowicz of Morgan Hill, the “Survivors Lap” kicked off the Relay at Community Park. There were activities throughout the day with bounce houses, face painting and live music. Keeping with a Gilroy Relay tradition, a cardboard box-car race took place as part of the special overnight experience. A “Miss Relay” contest, where male participants dressed in women’s clothing and then strutted around collecting donations, was another fun event. “It was a fun time, a fun weekend,” Underhill said. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was served to all participants in the hospitality tent as well.
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