South Valley Sympony's "Made in America" takes place at 4 p.m. today, at the Gavilan College Theater, 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard.

Director Anthony Quartuccio has designed this season's "family pops concert" as a celebration of American masterpieces. Highlights include Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" featuring soloist Camille Vargas, winner of the 2007 Marion Felice Piano Competition; "A Wintry Vale," a composition by Santa Clara University grad Anica Galindo; Gershwin's "Girl Crazy Overture" and "Porgy and Bess Suite"; Edward MacDowell's "Suite No. 1 - In a Haunted Forest."

Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and free for children and students. Tickets are available at Porcella's Music and First Street Coffee Exchange in Gilroy, BookSmart in Morgan Hill, Post Net in Hollister and Mission Gallery in San Juan Bautista or online at www.southvalleysymphony.org or www.artsopolis.com.

New addition to Miss California competition

The 2008 Miss Gavilan Hills Pageant will include the newly created Outstanding Teen Competition. It is based on talent, interview, school grades and party dress competition. This competition is based on the former Jr. Miss competition. The competition is open to girls ages 13 to 17. The contest will be held March 29, 2008 at Oak Grove High School, in San Jose.

Deadline for entry is March 24.

Young girls ages 5 to 12 can become a princess for the Miss Gavilan Hills Pageant. This is not a competition, rather it is an opportunity for young girls to participate in the pageant with Miss California. There will be a Princess Coronation at Oak Grove High School in the afternoon of March 29 in the afternoon. The princesses will participate in the Miss Gavilan Hills Pageant that night and will act as escorts for the pageant competitors. Last date to sign up is March 24.

Tickets for the 2008 Miss Gavilan Hills Pageant are on now sale. This year will mark the 40th contestant that the Miss Gavilan Hills Pageant has sent to compete at the Miss California Pageant. The program will feature Miss California 1999, Danielle Coney who is a former Miss Gavilan Hills; Miss Stephanie Baldwin, Miss Gavilan Hills 2001; Jackie Geist, Miss Hollywood 2008 as well as Miss Gavilan Hills 2007 along with many others. Twenty-four contestants from throughout the state will compete in the Miss Gavilan Hills pageant with scholarships awarded to the winners, along with a trip to the Miss California competition. The California Outstanding Teen competition and the special presentation of the California Princesses is scheduled for the show as well.

Details and tickets: Joyce Patereau at 842 5671.

Free spring break matinees

See a free movie during spring break at the Gilroy Library, 7387 Rosanna St. The movies begin at 2:30 p.m., March 25 and show through March 29.

Details: 842-8207

Neighborhood resource meetings

The City of Gilroy Housing & Community Development, Gilroy Police Department Neighborhood Resource Unit, Gilroy Gang Task Force and South County Housing invite the public to attend the last of a series of three free sessions entitled "Gilroy Neighborhood Academy 2008."

On Tuesday, March 25: Neighborhood Development - how do I start a neighborhood association, who are the neighborhood leaders and volunteers and how do I start a neighborhood watch?

The meetings take place at the Gilroy Senior Center 7371 Hanna St. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. with presentations from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.

Reserve a seat today.

Details: Rachel Munoz 846-0524 or rachel.munoz@ci.gilroy.ca.us

Narateen meeting in Gilroy

For the children of families and friends of addicts 13 to 20, narateen meetings take place from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, at First Baptist Church, 8455 Wren Ave., Room 202

Details: 836-7549, or irene_naranon@yahoo.com

Coffee and tunes Friday nights at Sue's

Sue's Coffee Roasting Company presents free entertainment Friday nights. The show take place from 7 to 9 p.m., at Sue's, 7501 Monterey Road

March 28, see Jeff Rolka, While the songwriter originally from Detroit, Mich. continues to explore the themes of love and love lost, his music is more fully realized by the talents of his all-star Bay Area ensemble. "Don't Blame Me," "Every Little Thing" and the rocker "3 a.m.," huge in scope and sound. Recording on a variety of instruments, Rolka seamlessly transitions from Indie to an introspective antique vibe.

Rock to reggae at winery

The popular Reggae Nights series continues Friday at Hecker Pass Winery's new event center, La Vigna. Find Your Roots, a Santa Cruz-based band, will highlight an evening of entertainment for the younger set. The show begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m. DJ Dread will keep the music driving. Food and drinks will be available. There's an $8 cover charge, and youth 16 and older are welcome. Wrist bands are given to everyone upon entrance. Hecker Pass Winery is located at 4605 Hecker Pass Highway.

Details: Carlo Fortino at 930-6777 or visit heckerpasswinery.com.

Want to join the scouts?

Interested in Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts? Come to the March 28 Pack meeting and watch the boys' homemade water rockets.

Details: Call 842-2526.

Sister Cities dinner and auction

The Third Annual Sister City Dinner and Auction takes place Saturday, March 29 at the I.F.D.E.S. Portuguese Lodge, 250 Old Gilroy St. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a no host bar social hour. A buffet dinner featuring dishes from the homelands of the city's sister cities will be served at 7 p.m. An auction begins at 8:15 p.m. Cots is $35 per person. Makes checks payable to Gilroy Sister City Association. The association is accepting donated items for auction.

Details and tickets: Al Pinheiro at 842-4619.

Sale benefits scholarship fund

The California School Employee Association, Chapter 270, is holding a garage sale to raise funds for their annual scholarship. The sale takes place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at 9416 Westland Court, Gilroy.

Youth group raises funds

Saint Mary's youth group is holding a dinner dance to raise funds for their annual trip to Mexico where they build homes for needy families. This Mexican food dinner takes place from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, March 29. There will be a raffle and an auction.

Details or to donate: Clorete at 482-0554.

Make a reservation for the Path of the Padres hike

The staff at San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area will again be leading the popular "Path of the Padres" hikes some Fridays and most Saturdays and Sundays through April 27. These hikes are open to the public, ages 6 years and older, by advance reservation only. School group hikes may be arranged for Fridays. School group reservations and general public reservations are now open.

The hike begins at the Los Banos Creek Reservoir boat launch ramp at 8 a.m. and returns to the ramp about 3:30 p.m. A pontoon boat carries passengers for about 30 to 40 minutes to the west end of the reservoir. Along the way, short stops are made so the hikers can observe wildlife along the shoreline. The group leaves the boat at the west end of the reservoir for a five-mile round-trip hike. Here one can see the area where, in the early 1800s, the Spanish padres from Mission San Juan Bautista camped on their way to the Central Valley. This hike is moderately strenuous and will take about five hours.

Participants must be in fairly good physical condition. Because Los Banos Creek is crossed several times during the hike, footwear may get wet. Layered clothing and sturdy footgear should be a priority. Hikers should carry a lunch and a minimum of two quarts of water. The hike traverses country that can be very hot and dry, depending on weather conditions, so a hat and sunscreen are recommended.

Throughout the hike, the natural and historic features of the area are pointed out and discussed by the hike leader. The lunch stop is near the historic "baths," deep pools in the creek, carved in bedrock, which gave Los Banos its name. As early as 1805 the mission padres and accompanying soldiers washed and rested here at Los Banos del Padre Arroyo, now simply Los Banos Creek.

Participants have the option of taking a side trip up a steep hill for a spectacular view of the Menjoulet Canyon and the proposed site of the Los Banos Grandes Reservoir. The canyon floor is covered with 576 acres of old-growth Sycamore forest.

Reservations are required. To make a reservation, call Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A reservation fee of $10 per person older than 13 and $7 per child age 6 to 12. A family of five may reserve space for two adults and three children for $25. Space is limited. On the day of the hike, an additional day use parking fee of $6 per car is charged upon entry.

Details: (209) 826-1196 or (209) 826-1197.

Applications available for 30th Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant

The Gilroy Garlic Festival Association is seeking contestants for the 30th Annual Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant. Contestant applications are available at the Garlic Festival office, 7473 Monterey St.

Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant is a scholarship pageant. Contestants are judged on personal interview, speech, talent and evening gown. In addition to the selection of Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen, scholarships will be awarded to many pageant contestants.

Applicants must be:

• A resident of Gilroy, San Martin, Morgan Hill, Hollister, San Juan Bautista or Aromas;

• A single female who has never been married and has no children;

• A high school graduate by June 2008;

• Between the ages of 18 and 24 as of July 2008.

Deadline to submit a completed application is 4:30 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2008.

The Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Pageant is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18, 2008, at the Gavilan College Theater.

Details: 842-1625.

Murray and Las Animas avenues community meeting

Residents of Murray Avenue and Las Animas Avenue are invited to come to a community meeting April 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Best Western (also known as the Forest Park Inn), 375 Leavesley Road. The meeting will be held in the Sequoia Meeting Room.

At the meeting, residents can address and discuss issues of traffic control, building setbacks, industrial development, street design, the review process and truck traffic, in addition to any other concerns they might have.

Details: Bill Faus or Wendie Rooney, 846-0440, bill.faus@ci.gilroy.ca.us or wendie.rooney@ci.gilroy.ca.us

Spring native plant sale

Scores of species of native plants, seeds and bulbs suitable for California gardens are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday April 12, at Hidden Villa Ranch, CNPS Nursery, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills. Parking is free. Speak to experts about lawn alternatives such as native perennials, wildflowers and grasses. Native plant books, posters and note cards. Organized by the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Come early for the best selection; bring boxes to carry purchases home.

Details: www.cnps-scv.org, email cnps_scv@yahoo.com, or (650) 941-1068.

Flower sales aids Gilroy Rotary

The annual Gilroy Rotary Flower Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12.

Every spring since 1965, Goldsmith Seeds holds the Spring Trials, where hundred of new plants are introduced to the nursery and greenhouse industry and thousands are on display. As the company grew, so too did the event. In the beginning, family and friends would take home the plants after the Spring Trials. But, as the event grew, so did the number of plants.

About 22 years ago, Glenn and Joel Goldsmith and the leaders of Gilroy Rotary arrived at an idea, and the flower sale was born. Since it's inception, tens of thousands of dollars has been raised to help support the ongoing need of service providers, schools and nonprofits in the community

There will be new and improved annuals of all shapes and sizes on sale after the trials.

Details: visit wwwgoldsmithseeds.com.

Food, wine and fun benefit sports

The 10th Annual South Valley Wine Auction and Food Fest, the premiere wine and food event of the South County, will return Friday April 18 to the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 South Monterey Road.

KBAY Radio's Jona Denz-Hamilton will host the evening from 6 to 10 p.m. Sample delicacies from 10 fine restaurants and at least a dozen award-winning Santa Clara, San Benito and Santa Cruz county wineries. Auction items include artwork, dining certificates, golf outings, salon treatments and wonderful wines. Proceeds benefit all school sports programs at Live Oak and Sobrato High Schools, and Murphy and Britton Middle schools.

Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door, and are available at BookSmart and Michelina's Boutique in Morgan Hill, by mail at P.O. Box 1835, Morgan Hill, CA 95038 and online at www.southvalleywineauction.org.

Details: Sharon Stoner at 838-8719.

Gav presents fine art display

Gavilan College Fine Arts Gallery presents Art Is Essential: The Pajaro Valley Arts Council Member Artists Invitational. Come and enjoy the variety of paintings, sculptures and ceramics now on display at the gallery in the Gavilan College Library, 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard.

The exhibit is on display from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. The free exhibit is closed Saturday and Sunday. It runs through May 9. An opening reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 17.

Details: 848-4724.

Who's Your Hero? American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Seeks Nominations for Local Real Heroes Award Breakfast

American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter is calling on Silicon Valley residents, companies and organizations to nominate individuals, who reside or work in Santa Clara County and whose extraordinary acts of courage or kindness make them a hero to be honored at the 2nd Annual Santa Clara Valley Real Heroes Breakfast on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose.

"A hero can be someone who bravely acts in a time of immediate need or someone who simply lives his or her life in a way that shows they care for those around them. Real heroes are ordinary people whose actions demonstrate the potential that is in all of us. If someone is a hero in your eyes, I encourage you to nominate them'" says Honorary Event Chair, Peter Hero, a senior advisor to the CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Nominations for the heroics act of local residents that took place between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007 are being accepted in the following categories:

• Animal Rescue Hero - An animal that has protected a human or another animal in a time of need, or a person who has rescued an animal from a traumatic situation.

• Education Hero - An adult or youth who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others in a school or other educational setting.

• Good Samaritan - Adult (21 years old and up) - An adult who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.

• Good Samaritan - Youth (Under the age of 21) - A youth who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others.

• Law Enforcement Hero - A professional law enforcement officer (Sheriff, Police, FBI, Highway Patrol, etc...) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.

• Medical Professional Hero - A medical professional (doctors, nurses, EMT/paramedics, hospital/clinic staff, etc...) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.

• Military Hero - A member of the armed forces (active, reserve, retired, commissioned or non-commissioned) whose life-saving action during active duty status went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.

• Professional Rescuer Hero - A professional rescuer (firefighter, lifeguard, etc...) whose life-saving action went beyond the scope of their job to help another in critical need.

• Workplace Hero - An individual who used life-saving skills to save or attempt to save the life or lives of others at his or her place of employment or on a job site.

Real Hero Award recipients will be chosen by a selection committee of leading members of the Silicon Valley community. Heroes are selected based on the degree to which their acts of heroism uphold the values of the American Red Cross and leave a lasting and positive impact on the residents of Silicon Valley. All nominees must work or reside in the Santa Clara County; the heroic acts may have occurred elsewhere. Self-nominations are not permitted. All nominations will be subject to further verification and validation. All nominee information will be shared with the Heroes selection committee and the general public with a two-minute biographical video.

Nominations for Real Heroes Awards can now be submitted to the American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter online at www.santaclaravalley.redcross.org. You can also download a PDF of the nomination form from the Web site and mail the completed form to Real Heroes Breakfast Selection Committee, American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter, 2731 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134 or fax the completed form to (408) 577-2050.