And if you like to play around … a round of golf that is … and do some important charitable work in the process, pick one of these. The Santa Clara County's Sheriff Office is posthumously honoring Gilroy Sergeant Doug Stevens in its First Annual Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday, June 9 at the San Jose County Club. Proceeds to a college scholarship fund. Doug, young at heart and a man who truly appreciated the potential in young people, would wholeheartedly approve. Corporate sponsors welcome. Details: Mark Garcia, co-chair at 421-6712. On Friday, May 2, Rebekah Children's Services will host its annual event at Eagle Ridge which benefits numerous prevention and education programs in the Gilroy Unified School District. Eleanor Villareal may not be able to cure your slice, but she can hook you up with the details: 846-2142. And lastly but not leastly, you can support your Santa Clara County Farm Bureau college scholarship fund by knocking a few out of bounds into the wind at San Juan Oaks on the morning of Wednesday, May 14. Guaranteed quickest, most enjoyable post-tournament auction on the local charitable circuit. Details: Nicole De La Rosa at 776-1684. BTW, congrats to Nicole and her soon-to-be betrothed, Greg, ... both are avid Sharks' fans, so a Stanley Cup before the wedding day would be a nice treat ...

Unanswered Gilroy Shark bites: Does Jeff Garcia root for his old Canadian flame, Calgary (as in home of the Stampeders and Flames), or the Sharks? And, has Brad Nye ever been to a playoff game the Sharks have won? Automatic Tuesday afternoon Rotary Club fine on the latter question if the answer is No. Ah, forget the answer, just fine him for being at the Game One loss.

Remember a few years back when the City Council fought (and rightly so) the recommendations made by the Citizens Advisory Committee charged with doling out federal Community Development Block Grants … well, all that's in the past thanks to some clear direction from the Council - essentially that proven and local takes precedence. Good work this year by the Committee and the Council assigning $161,600. St. Joseph's Family Center, a summer day camp run by the Mexican American Community Services Association and the Health Trust's Meals on Wheels program were among numerous deserving organizations receiving funding. To have unanimous public support, instead of squabbling on this matter, in particular, is refreshing.

There's no squabbling but plenty of opinions no doubt on our fair city's new Gilroy branding effort aimed at a new logo, "way" signage as in "finding your way around" if you're a visitor and a cohesive marketing message. If you haven't participated, go to our Web site www.gilroydispatch.com and click on the "What do you think of Gilroy?" box in the upper left hand corner. The survey only takes a couple of minutes and it's a good way to participate and give back, feedback that is.

And a little feedback for whoever's in charge of the "Congratulations to the Ghost" banner strung over the Fifth Street parking lot downtown. We love Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, but he won the boxing title on Leap Day back in February … we're steaming towards May folks and it's time for the banner to come down from downtown …

Whoever said change the banner to "Chips and Salsa plenty of neon but never open" is kinda cruel ... but plenty funny. The city should work to retrieve control of the lease and let Economic Development Director Larry Cope work on landing a viable tenant in our lovely building … or maybe move the Visitor's Bureau and an art gallery there ... or maybe a green restaurant …

If you have any doubt where our EDC Director thinks Gilroy should be headed, check out the verdant redesigned site www.gilroyedc.org. Mr. Cope may be on to something big that could balance all the retail growth Gilroy has embraced with some clean and green industry … now that really would be something.

Mark Derry Got a question or a comment? Email us a quick letter.