Can’t believe it, only two weeks until Festival kickoff day
… and former 49er Dana Stubblefield, the 1993 NFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year, will be one of the judges at the Garlic
Showdown on Sunday. That’s the event which is being hosted by
heartthrob Fabio Viviani, the Top Chef star. If you want to get a
little flavor for Fabio and a little humor che
ck out his appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show on YouTube.
It’s just a rumor, but local chef Bob Filice and Fabio, both buon
diavolos, could be hitting the Westside Grill Sunday night for a
little post-garlic gathering festivities …
Can’t believe it, only two weeks until Festival kickoff day … and former 49er Dana Stubblefield, the 1993 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, will be one of the judges at the Garlic Showdown on Sunday. That’s the event which is being hosted by heartthrob Fabio Viviani, the Top Chef star. If you want to get a little flavor for Fabio and a little humor check out his appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show on YouTube. It’s just a rumor, but local chef Bob Filice and Fabio, both buon diavolos, could be hitting the Westside Grill Sunday night for a little post-garlic gathering festivities …
Festivity tickets for locals and out-of-town visitors, don’t forget, are available online at www.gilroygarlicfestival.com and that’s the best way – pay and print – to avoid the long lines to get in …
And making it a greener Garlic Festival – besides spending a little extra cash – will be easy this year. Ride your bike to the new secure area right off Miller Avenue and the Festival will guard your Specialized (or other brand) cycle while you’re dancing your socks off. That’s a good thing because one year when I rode the Uvas Levee trail to the G-Fest, I found a seatless cycle upon exit. That was not a pretty ride home and, silly me, I forgot to bring my catcher’s gear …
Shifting gears, why did I have to listen to “the latest” on Michael Jackson on sports talk radio three times last week. I didn’t, since I changed the station lickety-split, but c’mon radio folks, let’s talk about Tim Lincecum’s freakily-fabulous change-up …
Freaky and absolutely abysmally irresponsible … that’s apropos to the entire state legislature and the governor. IOUs being issued in the state of California, credit ratings plunging, interest compounding to add another burden on this state’s taxpayers … Honestly, how can anyone vote for any incumbent? Our Assembly representative, Anna Caballero, should be shamefully embarrassed putting out a press release that includes, “All of this could have been prevented if the governor had been willing to bring people to the negotiating table together to compromise.” C’mon, the governor could say the same thing about the legislature. Doesn’t anybody get it? It’s about solving the problem, giving in on some items, spending far less on state government so we’re living within our means. Get the job done, or find another one …
Another job that needs to get done is a Web update for the Gilroy Economic Development Corporation which lists three-months-gone-from-Gilroy, Mr. Larry Cope, as the President/CEO and contact person …
Speaking of the Gilroy Economic Development Corporation, ever wonder why there isn’t more synergy and less duplication between the EDC and the local Chamber. Isn’t the mission essentially the same? Hopefully, given that we’re in between EDC President/CEOs and while the exclusive Garlic Festival beer concession money is overflowing into the Chamber’s coffers, the EDC and Chamber boards will take a new look at the possibilities and opportunities to encourage, facilitate and promote local business. It’s all about helping each other out – locally – now. Certainly, the City Council should take a keen interest in future structural plans since the city picks up a good share of the EDC tab.
Paying the tab for a panhandler parked in a roadway median isn’t a safe bet. Yes, it can tug at the heartstrings, but when a car stops abruptly to give money, as it did in front of Ms. Fuller’s vehicle recently while she was exiting the parking lot between Kohl’s and Panera Bread, it’s an accident waiting to happen and a hazard. The practice should be halted and the people in need directed to our service agencies like St. Joseph’s Family Center. That’s also where your monetary donations should be directed. Might be a good community fundraiser for the fall – Spare Change for St. Joe’s …
Not quite spare change is it when the poorly managed VTA gets $40 million from the California Transportation Commission for the BART Extension to San Jose? Press release quote from Carl Guardino, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and a member of the Transportation Commission: “In the marathon effort to bring BART to Silicon Valley, this is a major milestone.” Yep, a major milestone on the unpaved road to misspent taxpayer money. The politics and power behind such looney-tunes efforts never cease to amaze …
Wish those kind of efforts were made to reform the county planning department so that families like the Vanni’s could actually build reasonable structures on their property to further grow the burgeoning wine industry here. Oh, well, the Solis Winery is still a beautiful place and it would be a good weekend to stop by the winery on Hecker Pass Highway and enjoy a glass or two of the 2008 Fiano Estate vintage which captured the “Best of California” award at the State Fair Wine Competition. Fiano is a heritage grape from southern Italy that can be traced back to the Romans. That and the distinguished award should be enough to prompt a visit. Salute! Have a good weekend, and remember to buy and shop local.
