Monthly Archives: December 2016

Before he became a dentist and before he met the sweetheart of his life, Harry Burmester fell in love with flying airplanes.

Pro: Marc Perkel You know you're in a Free Country when you can burn the Flag. President Elect Donald Trump says the people should lose their citizenship if you burn the Flag. Unfortunately Trump doesn't know enough about America to understand what free speech is all about. Trump doesn't have the right to summarily override the Constitution and rule by fiat that America will have reduced rights once he becomes King. America is a country of the people, for the people and by the people. The people are the fourth and most important branch of government. Some say that our Second Amendment right arose out of the need to overthrow the government by force should the government forget that its job is the serve and not rule the people. Our right to burn the flag comes from those same principles but had the advantage of not killing people in the process. When the people can burn the flag it signifies the dominance of the people over the government. When we can't it signifies the dominance of the government over the people. Russians can't burn the flag but we can because we are a free nation. Having said that, I encourage people to not burn the flag in response to Trump. Trump is just being a troll and he wants to create division between people to distract attention away from the fact that his buddies in Russia helped get him elected. So even though you have the right, don't burn the flag because Trump wants you to. If you are a patriot and you love America and you believe Americans are better united than divided then go hug a liberal and give a conservative a big wet kiss on the mouth and show the Donald that we the people understand the American dream, even if he doesn't get it. Gilroyan Marc Perkel has become a national voice for protecting people’s rights, even the right to burn an American flag. See him debate FOX News’s Tucker Carlson here: http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/11/29/flag-burning-advocate-donald-trump-marc-perkel-government Against: Mark Turner My father was a United States Marine. He was proud of his military service and of his service to his countryman.His service helped shape his view, his values and his pride in this great nation. He instilled those values and that pride in his three boys.Growing up I can remember my Dad proudly flew the American flag in front of our house every day. He taught us to have a deep abiding respect for America's veterans and military personnel and his actions showed us to have high regard for the flag.   Throughout our history brave Americans fought to gain or to defend freedom and liberty. In each of those conflicts the American flag was either carried in, raised in victory, worn on the uniforms of the soldiers, or on the minds of those defending the Stars and Stripes, the Banner of America. Yes, I believe America is, as President Reagan used to say, the last best hope of man on earth.This, “great experiment,” which was birthed in a small dusty hall in Philadelphia nearly 240 years ago, launched a nation with immense faith, incredible responsibility and a position of high calling.Our position in the world didn't just happen, but was fought for by brave soldiers throughout our history. The same hallowed flag that men and women willingly go to battle for, drapes the casket of those who laid down their lives defending her.  Just because protestors have the ‘’right’’ to burn the flag, doesn’t mean burning the flag is right. Some see the flag as a symbol to burn, as for me, it’s a symbol that ignites a fire within me for a great nation that John Winthrop referred to as “a shining city upon a hill.”To those who take pride in exercising your free speech right as you light the flag on fire, men and women in our armed forces will continue to fight for that right, protect the homeland and make incredible sacrifices on your behalf. That in itself deserves some respect and appreciation. Although he hails from Morgan Hill, Mark Turner spends most of his life in Gilroy as President of the Chamber of Commerce and formerly, as a pastor. The Gilroy Dispatch seeks your editorials, comments and letters. Send them to Editor@Gilroydispatch.com  

Nov. 16A family cat on Lilly Avenue was shot with a pellet gun and sustained serious injuries. Nov. 21 3 a.m. Attempted burglary at the Gilroy Medical Pharmacy at 700 W. Sixth St.  An alarm was triggered and the burglar fled. Overnight: A suspect drove onto the lawn at Crest Hill Park and spun donuts, causing serious damage to the lawn. 11 a.m. A woman stole two gold necklaces valued at $1,540 from a First Street store. 1:40 p.m. Two women stole numerous clothing items from the Ralph Lauren store. When employees tried to stop them from leaving without paying, they ran away. The theft was monitored on the store’s video camera. 7:02 p.m. Some children spotted three people breaking into unlocked cars at Greystone Court and Keystone Avenue. 9:55 p.m. Someone broke into a car and stole $1,000 cash on San Miguel Street. The suspect may have dropped a cell phone found at the scene. Police are investigating. Nov. 22 2:33 a.m. A suspect bought a $350 Samsung Galaxy phone at an online site. When he showed up to meet the victim at Eigleberry Street and Sixth Street, he pulled a gun and stole the phone. 1:22 p.m. The Dodge dealership had a 2016 Dodge Dart stolen from its lot on Auto Mall Drive. 1:30 p.m. Someone stole 16 bottles of cologne from the Abercrombe and Fitch outlet store valued at $1,500. Nov. 23 10 p.m. Someone walked out with $3,000 of tools from Home Depot. Police are reviewing video. Nov. 24 8:32 a.m. A 58-year-old man called police to say that he was beaten up by four neighbors on El Cerrito Way. When officers arrived he told them that he had been attacked by demons and was holding his groin and rolled around on the front doorstep. He was arrested on narcotics charges. 8:55 a.m. A woman left her 2016 Honda Pilot running in her driveway on Siena Drive to warm it up. When she left her house, her grey 2016 Honda Pilot was stolen, along with two Michael Kors purses and her credit cards. 2 a.m. A red 2002 Toyota Camry was broken into on Hecker Pass Road and a $1,200 grey Macbook with a brown cover on it was stolen. 8:53 p.m. A man reportedly grabbed a woman and tried to steal her car at a Leavesley Road business. Police were called. When they arrived they said Juan Camargo, 18, waved a metal pipe at them and was arrested on suspicion of assault 10 p.m. Someone broke into a Welburn Avenue home when the victim had left for only an hour and they stole three  X Box 1 consoles and a Nintendo Wii valued at $1,900. Nov. 256:30 a.m. Someone broke into two cars at Renz Lane and stole a $200 breast pump and messenger bags. The property was recovered. The suspects weren’t. 2:56 p.m. A man stole items from Walmart, stuffing candy into his pockets. Loss Prevention contacted him and he threatened them with bodily harm. He dropped a lock that he said he took from a propane storage unit outside the building. He then ran away, making off with a portable heater valued at $60 and $20 worth of candy.           

Gilroyans said they want a new police chief who understands gangs, the homeless population, graffiti and those who are mentally ill.

Last Wednesday, Gilroyan Diana Clinton got to spend her fifty-eighth birthday in from the cold.

In the wake of two local wildfires’ recent destruction—which together claimed 136,000 acres of land and nearly 70 homes—Santa Clara County’s battalion chief for support services wonders why more people don’t pursue a firefighting career. After 28 years on the job, Debbie Pardue Stocksick is the kind of role model that would inspire young women—or anyone—to follow in her footsteps.

Daddy Long Legs brings us a delightful moment of time in theatre. Written in 1912 by Jean Webster (a grandniece of Mark Twain), Daddy Long Legs has been made into a number of movies and plays when John Caird, famed director of Les Miserables adapted the classic novel into a musical with Paul Gordon handling the music and lyrics. A story about an orphan whose education is a sponsored by a benefactor who does not want to be involved other than to receive a monthly progress report. Sounds like a cross between Great Expectations and My Fair Lady.A well done production directed by the esteemed Robert Kelly, with a super cast including Hilary Maiberger as Jerusha Abbott, Daddy Long Legs is delightful and charming. The story provides her character a spirit and magnetism that gives her performance life. Maiberger carries the show; she sings beautifully and matures believably into a delightful young woman. Her secret benefactor, Jervis Pendleton, (Derek Carley) does an admirable job supporting her.Of course, predictably, all’s well that ends well with Jerusha captivating Jervis with her wit and innocent wisdom in her letters.Musical Director William Liberatore carries the musical accompaniment with his group with his usual perfection. Joe Ragey’s super library set using books and trunks as props for the scenes is imaginative and holds attention. It blends with Steven B. Mannshardt’s subtle lighting to make for scenes that are soft and creative.Daddy Long Legs is a delightful charmer.  ‘Daddy Long Legs’Book and Direction by John CairdFrom a novel by Jean WebsterMusic and lyrics by Paul GordonLucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo AltoPerformances through: Dec 31Tickets: $30-$80  Details: call: (650) 463-1960, or visit www.theatreworks,org

Virginia Giordano Lomanto was born on October 9, 1915 to Italian Immigrants, Pete Giordano and Mary Sciarrino Giordano Greco. Virginia has joined her beloved husband Tony who she married on December 1, 1940, and had 34 years with the love of her life.

Helen Kosier August 6, 1928 - November 17, 2016