Just another rainy day at the end of May … weather’s weird and
the farmers are flummoxed by Mother Nature once again stubbornly
sticking to her own unpublished schedule …
Just another rainy day at the end of May … weather’s weird and the farmers are flummoxed by Mother Nature once again stubbornly sticking to her own unpublished schedule …
Scheduling, see that’s one big problem with the Gilroy Fire Department – how the work rules handcuff the city’s ability to schedule and manage. This results is massive amounts of overtime. Fire Department employee Paul Butler appears to be the winner off the overtime sweepstakes for the past five months, racking up $10,305.27 in OT pay in addition to his salary for the period November to April. That’s $2,061 per month or nearly $25,000 in additional pay per year. Gilroy, I’m afraid, is past the point of changing the culture in a meaningful way enough to salvage the fire department. The City Council should unanimously endorse seeking a formal proposal from CalFire for fire service. Otherwise, the city coffers will continue to be soaked and the now-poisonous negotiation games will go on and on …
On and on go the talents of our local artists. Congrats to two Gilroyans, Peggy Dean and JoAnne Perez Robinson, who finished one-two in the Garlic Festival Art Poster Contest. Peggy’s classy photo of a pristine garlic bulb in a gold frame is as different from JoAnne’s whimsical painting of the festival grounds in full bloom as champagne is from grappa. It’s great to have such local creativity come to the forefront aligned with our community’s signature local event. That the “perfect” garlic bulb in the photo is from LJB Farms is just an extra clove in the pasta puttanesca.
Now that would be a good pasta dish to try out as a Gourmet Alley addition. Simple, delicious and it goes fabulously in a garlic bread soak.
Soak up the music at the final concert of the year for Gilroy and Christopher High schools. It’s my favorite – the Pops Concert – because all the songs are fun, themed and for many of Phill Robb’s students, like my daughter, this is their swan song. On a personal note, Jenny and I, like so very many parents in Gilroy, are deeply grateful for the love of music and singing Mr. Robb has fostered in Mariah. This year’s theme is “Amori,” the performance will be outstanding and there’s only one night. Mark Wednesday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. on your calendar. The vocalists will sing their hearts out at the Gilroy High School Student Center. A $5 donation at the door, gets you a great evening of entertainment and will renew your faith in the next generation …
Future generations of our quaint and enjoyable Memorial Day Parade should wend through our downtown as Brad Jones, owner of Garlic City Books on Monterey near OD’s, suggests. Any chance Gilroy has the opportunity to gather people downtown, we should take it. This year it’s too late, but events like the wildly successful wine stroll really give downtown a boost.
A continual boost is what public agencies do when they go overboard on punitive measures … we received a press release with regard to not wearing a seatbelt that proclaimed “the fine for adults increased to a minimum of $142.” That’s a minimum, mind you. Remember when the idea for the law was proposed – “There isn’t a fine, it’s just a reminder from your friendly law enforcement officer to be safe, a warning ticket is all …” Yeah, and a few years go by and it’s a $142 minimum GOTCHA and that’s how it’s going in California, the government knows what’s best for you come hell or high water and, if you don’t get in line, there’s a hefty fine.
I’d like to issue a heavy fine to the Santa Clara Valley Water District, bored member Richard Santos in particular. (Clearly, he’s bored with his job – improving the water district.) What on earth is the water district doing trying to weigh in on Arizona’s immigration law? The water district is hardly capable of walking and chewing gum. The only thing it does well is inventing new ways to justify its own importance while spending boatloads of taxpayer money. Hardly anyone pays attention. Maybe the Bored Board should take up doping in cycling or U.S. policy in Afghanistan or how to squeeze potable water out of a rock. But perhaps there’s a silver lining. Keep up the shenanigans Santos and Company, then maybe voters will start to pay attention and toss your keister out of office and into a nearby reservoir.
A reservoir filled with respect is what our local American soldiers, Jeramy Ailes and David Gutierrez, earned giving their lives for their country. Lance Corporal Jeramy Ailes was killed in Fallujah, Iraq on November 15, 2004. Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, a father of three, died of wounds suffered in Afghanistan on Christmas Day, 2009. Lana Ailes, Jeramy’s mother, has contributed to a new book titled “Surviving the Folded Flag: Parents of war share stories of courage, coping, and faith.” It will be released on Memorial Day. Patty Gutierrez, David’s wife, is driving from Washington state with her three sons to be beside the grave of her beloved on Memorial Day. She and her family are moving to Gilroy permanently in a few weeks. She writes: “I wanted to wish everyone a great weekend and request that you please take the time off your busy Monday to remember the reason why you have the day off – our Fallen Soldiers, those like my David who have sacrificed their lives for our continued freedom. BBQs and sleeping in is great, but humble yourself as to why you have that privilege. I hope to see some of you in passing or at the cemetery. God Bless our Troops who continue to fight the fight, for serving and choosing ‘Defending America’ as their career.” Amen.
Reach Editor Mark Derry at ed****@****ic.com
