Gilroy Dispatch

The Gilroy Foundation will open applications Oct. 1 for its 2027 Competitive Grant Cycle, offering funding for community-driven projects and programs. The foundation is accepting applications from organizations working in areas including agriculture, artistic enrichment, education, environment, civic services, culture, health, recreation and technology. Grants will range from $500 to $5,000. Applications are due by 9pm Dec. 11.

In this week’s edition, as part of our ongoing election coverage the Dispatch will feature candidates for Gilroy City Council District 6. Candidates in that race are Elizabeth Bracco, Brad Starks and Rebeca Armendariz. We asked candidates for a short biographical intro and a statement about why they are running and what they hope to achieve in office. Their responses are published as written by the candidates, with minor editing for style, space and clarity.

A sculpture titled “The Handshake” decorates the sidewalk in downtown Gilroy. File photo A city is more than its roads, buildings and parking lots. It is also the places, images and creative touches that make residents stop, look and say, “That’s Gilroy.” Take a walk around town and you’ll find plenty of examples. The handball courts at San Ysidro Park have been transformed into colorful works of art.

Elementary school classrooms and campuses build the foundation of civic duties and community. Since 2015, through the adopted Safe Routes to School Action Plan the City of Gilroy, the Gilroy Unified School District, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, individual schools, families and other community members have been working to enable children and youth to safely walk and bike to school throughout Gilroy.

CONCERTS SCHEDULED South Valley Symphony Director Anthony Quartuccio will lead the volunteer ensemble’s 2026-27 season of performances. credit: Courtesy of South Valley Symphony South Valley Symphony kicks off its 53rd season Oct. 4 at 3pm at Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill, opening a four-concert season built around a single unifying idea: celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

Italia Zarate, performing as Rafiki, is one of about 75 young actors taking the stage in October for SVCT’s production of “Disney’s The Lion King Jr.” Photo: Chris Foster More than 75 young performers from across South County will step onstage Oct. 2 as South Valley Civic Theatre opens “Disney’s The Lion King Jr.” at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, to run for three weekends.

In this week’s edition, as part of our ongoing election coverage the Dispatch will feature candidates for Gilroy City Council District 5 and Gilroy Unified School District Trustee Area 4. Running for Council District 5 are Joseph Garcia, Christina Tovar and Tom Cline. Candidates for GUSD TA4 are Trevor Scott Van Laar and Jane Stevens. We asked candidates for a short biographical intro and a statement about why they are running and what they hope to achieve in office.

California could soon receive as much as $2.1 billion from Meta as part of a settlement over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that harmed children and teens. That is an enormous amount of money—and an enormous opportunity. The proposed settlement calls for California’s share to be used for purposes related to preventing or addressing mental health and other harms to young Californians associated with social media. That is appropriate.

The Joe Heller cartoon of Sept. 18 (Opinion page) portrays an AI robot angered by dire warnings of disaster followed by a robotic smile when congress smiles regulation. Apparently the robot recalls how the same warnings were used to scare people with nuclear annihilation then saved by treaties. This AI robot could not exist without being fed the food from data centers. Robots and data centers seem to have a brain/body connection.

South County Cal-SOAP. Contributed photo. Youth Alliance and South County Cal-SOAP on Sept. 18 announced a new partnership designed to strengthen college and career access for students throughout San Benito and southern Santa Clara counties. Effective Oct. 1, Youth Alliance will serve as the fiscal sponsor and organizational home of South County Cal-SOAP, the nonprofits said in a press release.