THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times
PASSPORT PERKS P17 ALADDIN JR. P8
Mountain habitats & wild cats
Mountain lions roam these parts
SOUTH VALLEY MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
When lions and humans cross paths P4
A LOOK AT CATHOLIC SCHOOL PLANS P2 | HIROKAWA BLAMES COUNTY P4 | ‘EMINENT DOMAIN’ IN CITY CAMPAIGN P9
THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1868
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
Cliques & Crowds San Benito Stage’s ‘13: The Musical’
SBSC performance addresses teen life Friday, September 21, 2018
SAN BENITO MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS151, ISSUE gilroydispatch.com • Vol. No. 38 • $1
A New SV Media publication A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance
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Gilroy’s garlic giant backs tariffs ALADDIN JR. P8 | PASSPORT PERKS P17
CHRISTOPHER GARLIC TELLS FEDS 25% TARIFFS WILL PUNISH CHINA Staff Report
Robert Eliason
Breaking away from the position of many U.S. farmers, Christopher Ranch, the nation’s premier garlic company, announced on Tuesday, Sept. 18, that it fully supports the imposition of a 10 percent tariff on imported Chinese garlic (under the United States Trade Representative Section 301 Investigation). “Christopher Ranch applauds the decision of the U.S. trade representative to raise the tariff to 25 percent on Jan. 1, 2019,” said Ken Christopher, executive vice president of Christopher Ranch, based in Gilroy. “For decades, Chinese exporters have flooded the US market with cheap and often illegally dumped garlic, and this tariff will help to level the playing field for American garlic farmers.”
GYPSY TRICKS Brian Howard lights up the stage during the Broon show fire eating demonstration on the Romany Stage, Saturday, Sept. 15 at the Northern California Renaissance Faire.
Medieval Faire returns By Debra Eskinazi Magazine and Features Editor
Nearly 10,000 people were transported to the past when the Northern California Renaissance Faire kicked off its six-weekend extravaganza on Saturday, Sept. 15. Visitors to Casa de Fruta, about 14 miles east of Gilroy and 12 miles north of Hollister on Highway 152, discovered medieval worldclass jousting tournaments, court jesters, buxom wenches wielding ales, fair maidens, men in kilts,
warriors, brave knights and fireeating performers. Frances Larose, director of marketing for the Northern California Renaissance Faire, said the hope is to grow the Faire even more and bring in more families. “That is why we have added a sixth weekend, Halloween Fantasy,” said Larose. “It is geared to local families and friends.” Renaissance Faire visitors were entertained with theatrical and musical performances on
six busy stages, a tournament of horses and even giant turkey legs in a royal food court. “Our knights are dashing and fearless,” said Larose. “They entertain audiences with a full contact joust, featuring shattering lances and riveting sword fighting.” With so many things to do, Larose recommended that visitors pick up a schedule at the front gate, plan out their day and even stop in the Belrose Costume
shop for some festival-appropriate attire. “Besides the games we have fire eating, with revelry, dancing, glass blowing and amazing artisans with hand crafted wear,” said Larose. Visit the Northern California Renaissance Faire weekends through Oct. 21. Visitors can receive a $5 discount for the second and third weekends when buying online at norcalrenfaire. com. Use the code: Renaissance.
Gilroy teachers, district reach agreement TENTATIVE PACT INCREASES PAY 2% EACH YEAR FOR THREE YEARS FROM JULY ‘17 By Scott Forstner Reporter
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The Gilroy Unified School District late Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 18, announced it had reached a tentative agreement with the Gilroy Teachers
Association on a new labor contract for certificated employees. The agreement covers three years, and provides a 2 percent increase per year, from July 2017. “With a term ending June 30, 2020, it provides for a 2 percent ongoing increase to certificated salary schedules effective July 1, 2017; a 2 percent ongoing increase to certificated salary schedules effective Jan. 1, 2018; as well as a 2 percent ongoing increase to certificated salary schedules effective Jan. 1, 2019,” the district said.
Additionally, the district agreed to an increase in contributions to health benefits, an increase to the hourly rate and an increase to extra duty stipends. Last Friday, Sept. 14, both sides attended an all-day hearing before a three-person panel that included an impartial state fact finder, presented arguments and data supporting their positions and then bargained late into the evening. The two sides held another bargaining session on Tuesday where the tentative agreement was reached.
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“Today’s tentative agreement demonstrates the District’s deep and ongoing commitment to increases in certificated salaries and compensation,” said Board President Linda Piceno. “We are pleased that both sides engaged in good-faith bargaining through the state’s impasse resolution process,” said Supt. Deborah A. Flores. “We were able reach to common ground in a spirit of compromise and collaboration.” ➝ Teachers, 14