Gavilan College has won a $3,765,638 federal grant for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. The grant will make it possible to improve data collection and analysis, upgrade equipment for the study of chemistry, biology and physics, augment science instruction with new software, increase math tutoring, add a portable lab with laptop computers, develop curriculum and provide faculty training.

In implementing the grant, Gavilan College will work with San Benito and Gilroy high schools, and San Jose State University to strengthen transfer pathways.

Details: 848-4724, or jbchargin@gavilan.edu.

Local takes home honor

Gilroy resident Erica Bianchi took home the National Junior Pinzgauer Champion Showman award at the fair in Puyallup, Wash. She is 16 years old and attends San Benito High School in Hollister, where she is a junior. She has been showing cattle since she was very young and attends about 14 shows a year.

Gavilan signs Coyote Valley agreement

The Gavilan College Board of Trustees signed an agreement for 55 acres of land in Coyote Valley. The land will be reserved for a future college campus. At its Sept. 9 meeting, the board accepted the final Environmental Impact Report on the parcel.

Early voting now under way

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters is offering two convenient ways for voters to cast their ballots early for the Nov. 4 election.

First, any registered voter can sign up to vote by mail. Vote by mail ballots are currently being sent to more than half a million voters, or about 67 percent of the county's 751,996 registered voters. More voters will cast their ballots by mail in Santa Clara County than ever before.

Second, early voting is being conducted at the registrar's office, 1555 Berger Drive, Building 2, San Jose, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until election day. Additional early voting hours will be available during the last two weekends before the election. Ballots cast and returned early will be the first tallied election night.

Vote by mail applications are available on the back cover of the sample ballot and voter information pamphlet or online at www.sccvote.org.

All vote by mail ballots must be received by 8 p.m. election day. Voters must also sign the return envelope themselves so the ballot can be validated and counted.

Details: 299-VOTE (8683).

Locals win community spirit awards

Four locals and a health clinic took home the 2008 Community Spirit Awards, handed out by Gavilan College.

Jan and Steve Peat, owners of McDonalds, Gayle Glines, Lilieth Armenta and the Gilroy Neighborhood Health Clinic are this year's winners.

Jan and Steve Peat are active in the community. Sporting teams, clubs and civic groups know they can count on McDonalds for a donation of orange drink for their events. They have contributed to community events and met community needs in numerous ways, from donating food and beverages to serving on chamber committees and boards.

Gayle Glines has contributed to the community for more than 30 years. As a supervisor in the City of Gilroy's Department of Community Services Recreation Division she has provided employment opportunities for many young people. For more than 25 years she has volunteered to help with fundraising efforts for baseball and softball teams through organizing the golf tournaments and by selling T-shirts and snacks.

Lilieth Armenta is a program manager for St. Joseph's Family Center. She has lived in Gilroy for 24 years, volunteering for St. Mary's Church as a mentor and Catechism teacher. As program manager at St. Joseph's, she supervises services in the center's housing program, writes reports, coordinates volunteers, provides case management, referrals, supervises the First Five program, does fundraising, and many other activities. She has been instrumental this past year in getting the Gavilan College Service Learning program off the ground, making it possible for college students to contribute and learn in the community.

Gilroy Neighborhood Health Clinic has worked since 1999 to provide quality medical care to low-income children in South County. In 2007 they served 1211 children.

Located on the grounds of South Valley Junior High, they work in partnership with the Gilroy Unified School District to serve kids from low-income families, regardless of ability to pay.

The patients who come to this clinic know that they will be treated with respect and concern. Staff is dedicated and spends hours of their own time doing outreach to ensure that all children have a chance to grow up healthy and reach their highest potential.