Why not Gilroy?:
”
Hi. I love the Red Phone. I get things off my chest in the
morning and I feel better all day. Just read the Dispatch, Man of
the Year, Woman of the Year, Business of the Year (Ovations and
honors for Gilroy’s finest, Feb. 8). I think it’s a wonderful
dinner. But why can’t they hold it in Gilroy? It’s held at San Juan
Oaks. Why can’t it be Eagle Ridge or Taco Bell, for pity’s sake.
Hold it in Gilroy, please!
”
Why not Gilroy?: “Hi. I love the Red Phone. I get things off my chest in the morning and I feel better all day. Just read the Dispatch, Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Business of the Year (Ovations and honors for Gilroy’s finest, Feb. 8). I think it’s a wonderful dinner. But why can’t they hold it in Gilroy? It’s held at San Juan Oaks. Why can’t it be Eagle Ridge or Taco Bell, for pity’s sake. Hold it in Gilroy, please!”
• “I’m just wondering why the Chamber of Commerce had their awards dinner in Hollister instead of in Gilroy. That seems rather strange to me. That’s it.”
Your favorite Red Phone got in touch with Susan Valenta, executive director of Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, to get the lowdown on why the awards dinner is held outside of the city.
“We would love to do our function in Gilroy and we have researched facilities that can accommodate at least 325 people for a sit-down dinner,” she said. “That is the number of people that have attended this function over the past few years.”
Unfortunately, according to Valenta, there is no place available in Gilroy suitable for such a large crowd.
“The only facility available right now is San Juan Oaks Golf Club,” she said and added that she hopes a facility will be built in the future. “In time, with the demand that the community is indicating for a facility that can hold a larger function, such as weddings, receptions, recognition dinners and other special events, Gilroy is prime for such a facility.”
Drainage troubles: “Currently, the street drainage on Fifth Street ends at 741 Fifth St. All the houses above that number have to live with flooded streets and sidewalks whenever it rains. Is there a plan and what it the timeline for moving the sewer and drainage from the rear easements into the street like most modern streets have? Why was Fifth Street not completed? When will it be completed?”
Mike Goodhue, a city engineer, told the Red Phone the problem is likely due to the growth of trees along the street.
“It sounds to me like the street trees may be raising the gutters, causing the water to stand,” Goodhue said.
He likened the problem to city sidewalks, which get raised by tree roots growing too close to the surface. But take note, good caller, that whatever the cause, the problem won’t go away any time soon.
Ten years ago, voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have financed upgrades to damaged storm drains.
Ten years later, Goodhue said, “We don’t have funds to repair that type of thing around town.”
2004 rain totals: “I’m calling in about something in the paper about the weather. I would like to know how much rain we had last year total. Seems to me that needs to be put in the paper.”
The Red Phone would love to honor your request, caller. However, if you can believe it, the National Weather Service does not keep track of such a thing, nor does the Chestnut Fire Station, where the Dispatch gets its daily rainfall totals.
What the Red Phone can tell you is this: The average yearly rainfall total in Gilroy is 19.11 inches, according to the City of Gilroy Web site.
Where’s her photo?: “Hi, I picked up the Dispatch and saw the article in Community, ‘Hog-wild women.’ It was a nice article, I see pictures of Brie Howard, the Azevedo girl, but where’s the picture of Brooke Hodges? To me that’s incomplete and unacceptable.”
The Red Phone went to Lifestyles Editor Colleen Valles for this one.
“Our writer had a picture of Brooke Hodges, but unfortunately, fell ill with the flu and had to stay home from work,” she said. “So a photo of Brooke Hodges would have been a lovely addition to the story, but sometimes circumstances preclude having photos of everyone included.”
