Dale made it back in time to see the winner of the best mayoral speech competition, however, from the new head of city in Tecate, Mexico, Donaldo Avila, who jokingly advertised in between appreciative words for his city's sister city relationship with Gilroy that a) he was single, that b) he wasn't "that bad looking" and that c) he was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn. In the old days, MayorAl would have simply arranged a marriage and the two cities would forever be linked …

Heck, maybe the wedding could take place at the final performance of KaBoom at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Nope, not a typo, just the sounds from a GF ad on KWAVE 97 FM reports a good friend of the column. Not sure where the old time rock 'n' roll reference would be in KaBoom, but Shaboom's final performances will likely create a few KaBoom's of applause and raucous whoops from a Gilroy sun-soaked appreciative audience ...

Heck, I give up. Is it Shaboom, Sha-Boom or Sh-boom? The name comes from the lyrics of a song that kept the peak position on the Billboard charts for 9 weeks back in that magical year 1954. The artists were "The Crew Cuts" (what I sported for the first 12 years of my life) and many consider the song to be the first No. 1 rock 'n' roll song …

"Oh, life could be a dream

(sh-boom)

If I could take you up in paradise up above (sh-boom)

If you would tell me I'm the only one that you love

Life could be a dream sweetheart …"

Pardon the abrupt departure from feel-good time, but the burning down of Gateway School - which appears to have been hit by arson for the second time in six months - has smoke coming out my ears. Can we catch this person or persons? The obvious question is whether it's someone who, for some sick reason, has a vendetta against a school for children with learning disabilities. Perhaps a few reward flyers in the Hanna Street neighborhoods will nab this criminal. Somebody knows something, and having a school arsonist on the loose is more than a bit scary.

Scary, too, is the news that the high school dropout rate in the Gilroy Unified School District is 26.7 percent. Clearly, it's time to re-examine strategies, and more of the same won't cut it. What skills can we teach, what interests can we cultivate to keep students in school? Why do students leave in droves despite program after program meant to "save" them. Are there best practices worth adopting? Too bad the much-ballyhooed Accountability Task Force has quietly folded up its tent. This area cries out for accountability and common sense.

Sensational, now that we're off the soap box and back to the feel-good era of Garlic Festival week, is the Gourmet Alley calamari flamed up by Big John, Bobo Filice, Steve Janisch and crews … it's my favorite food … the sauce is delectable soaking into garlic bread and the flame-brewed calamari soaks up all the flavors in the pan ... mmm, can't wait ...

Stop by the Gilroy Foundation wine cooler booth for a little sangria to go with … if it's before noon, don't worry, you're making an investment in your community …

So many negative blogger-types out there on the Garlic Fest whining about the heat, the number of people, the this and the that, then I came across Victor, an obvious throwback and repeat visitor who wrote, "Get drunk immediately. Let the sweat pour down your clothes. Eat as much garlic as you can. Drink water. Eat more. Drink more beer. Take a nap in the shade. DO NOT GO HOME EARLY. Hang out, listen to the music. Stay around Gilroy that night … If KFAT radio still lives or KPIG, it is the greatest station in the country and a good time will be had by all …"

If you're still kicking at 5 p.m. on Sunday you can watch our sports editor, Josh Koehn, take on the 2006 GF queen Sheena Torres, who has been around the garlic block, in a rock climbing, garlic braiding and calamari pan flaming competition. Starts on the ranch side at 5 p.m. at the rock wall. Oddsmakers in the newsroom have Koehn losing two of three events. That man can really braid a garlic ...

And now, the "Top 10 things to do at the Garlic Fest as seen on Marco Lettersman:

■ 10: Try three things you've never tasted. (And may never taste again.)

■ 9: Look for the best hat. Remember best can be worst.

■ 8: Vote for your favorite entry in the GF poster contest. It's a nice break.

■ 7: When it gets hot, hot, hot … head not for beer tent, but for the Kurlander soft serve frozen yogurt.

■ 6: Take 10, and people watch. It's the No. 1 sport at the festival.

■ 5: Catch either the Cook-off Contest, 10-noon Saturday, or the Celebrity Chef competition, noon to 2 p.m., on the Cook-off stage.

■ 4: Shhh ... grab a "Tickle Pink" wine cooler at the Gilroy Foundation booth, a delicious, refreshing beverage purported to have aphrodisiac qualities.

■ 3: Savor the calamari. Buy two bowls and mangia!

■ 2: Put your dancing shoes on and hit the floor with ShaBoom for the final time at the fest.

■ 1: Every time you taste garlic, give your sweetie a kiss.

Mark Derry Mark Derry is the executive editor of the Gilroy Dispatch. Reach him at (408)847-7010 or editor@garlic.com.