Event will also commemorate the naming of the newly constructed bridge as the “Susan Dodd Crossing”

Gavilan College old bridge.

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Sue Dodd

Gavilan College will celebrate the completion of its new steel and cement bridge with a special ribbon cutting event at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Gilroy Campus, 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard. The event will also commemorate the naming of the newly constructed bridge as the “Susan Dodd Crossing,” in honor of former faculty member, athletic director, longtime community member, and largest single donor for the construction of the bridge who worked at Gavilan for 37 years. Associated students of Gavilan College will be hosting a welcome lunch reception for students following the ribbon cutting.

The original wooden bridge (circa 1967), connecting both sides of Gavilan’s Gilroy campus, was tested in June 2019 and suffered from dry rot. In July 2019 plans began to replace it. The new bridge was finished Aug. 15.

“This new bridge is symbolic of the next and exciting phase our college district has entered, with the arrival of our new superintendent/president, Dr. Pedro Avila, and the implementation of the rest of the Measure X construction projects that will improve the lives of our South County communities,” said Gavilan Governing Board of Trustees President Edwin Diaz.

Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve will host its biggest and most exciting event of the year — Bat Fest, Saturday Oct. 22. Join Saved By Nature for an evening festival celebrating local animals of the night, with live bats, owls, and other creatures. With a special guest speaker, food trucks, live music, festival games, arts and crafts, mini-pumpkin patch, and community partner organization booths. Bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy popcorn, cotton candy and your favorite drink while watching the movie “The Addams Family” (1991) under the night sky. Enter the silent auction and/or purchase raffle tickets. General admission tickets are $20 for those 16 and older, $5 for those 6 to 15 and free for children 5 and younger. Parking is free. Details: www.savedbynature.org/bat-fest

Crew members from Cal Fire and the Santa Clara County Fire Department rescued a road construction worker in a Morgan Hill neighborhood Aug. 11 after the man tumbled 20 feet down an open manhole.

A Cal Fire spokesperson said the incident, which occurred about 2:30 p.m., happened in the area of Jackson Oaks Drive and Ridgeview Court in the eastern part of the city just south of Anderson Reservoir. The worker fell about 20 feet into the shaft.

About two hours after the ordeal began, the worker was rescued by firefighters.The man was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.

We hope he makes a fast recovery. And good job to the crew who brought him back to the surface.

If you haven’t heard, a Morgan Hill police sergeant conducted a vehicle enforcement stop on Condit Road and contacted the driver and the passenger. The driver was identified as Marcela Terezia-Pop, 55, and the passenger was identified as Ionut Calciu, 29. Both presented the sergeant with false identification, but it was determined they were in the United States from Romania. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a skimming device, USB devices, memory cards, and numerous gift cards. The investigation determined the suspects were using the skimming device to access identifying information from ATMs or similar machines and then transferring the stolen data to the USB and memory cards.

“Please be vigilant while at ATM’s and gas pumps by conducting a brief inspection of the machine and covering your pin number,” said Police Chief Shane Palsgrove.

Anyone with information regarding this incident may contact Det. Tony Reis at (669) 253-4988 or email [email protected].

Additionally, information can be given anonymously at www.morgan-hill.ca.gov/FormCenter/Police-14/Morgan-Hill-Crime-Stoppers-88 or 1-800-222-TIPS.

Three Mount Madonna School senior students, Mariah Cohen, Cecily Kelly and Zoey Ocampo-Sobkoviak, are among 62,000 students nationwide awarded academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs for academic achievements in school and outstanding performance on the PSAT 10, and/or Advanced Placement (AP) exams. All three students received the College Board’s National Rural and Small Town Award, and Ocampo-Sobkoviak was also recognized with the National Hispanic Recognition Award.

“At MMS we understand and honor the many ways our students demonstrate success,” said Director of Upper School Shannon Kelly. “They took on the challenge of AP coursework and testing and committed to putting in the time necessary to be successful.”