Baseball, art and the lost art of pointed American dialogue on
civic topics in three-dot harmony
Don’t think Gilroy could call the place Ballpark 660, but if the city and the San Jose Giants ended up working out a deal that put a new ballpark out on the formerly controversial 660 acres zoned for industrial use, that could be very cool. Have always thought that our Gilroy is the perfect place for summer baseball with the warm summer evenings – and imagine dipping into a batch of garlic fries with the scent of the stinkin’ rose drifting in the air. Come to think of it, ConAgra Field would be a perfect fit. This town would really support the Gilroy Giants, too, and the shirts – talk about a home run. Kat Filice could articulately design the team logo and the Garlic Festival could sell fest/night game combination tickets. Now that’s a combo plate. Brian Bowe could throw out the first pitch on G-fest weekend and … the possibilities are endless, no? Pepper steak sands at the concession stand … halls decorated with winning posters …
Joanne Perez Robinson, former Dispatch whiz kid with the exacto knife back in the day when we used to wax and paste up the paper, is now an accomplished artist. She has a Garlic Festival poster contest win on her resume and she’ll be at Leedo Gallery next weekend as one of five Gilroy artists participating in the annual Silicon Valley Open Studio weekend. Check it out from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9 and 10 at 315 First St. Supporting our local artists is one of the key components in the “economic gardening” movement that is slowly taking root here.
Taking root quickly will be a stand of desperately-needed-before-summer new trees and other additional amenities at the Gilroy Dog Park at Las Animas Veterans Park courtesy of an anonymous donor who plunked down a large and tidy sum and said make this place Gilroy worthy. Donna Pray, she of mover and shaker fame (dance floor included), gladly spearheaded the effort given the generous donation from Craig and Jacqui Merriman in honor of their son Sean. Ms. Pray reports that the donation to the Gilroy Foundation will be used in partnership with the city to not only add a stand of shade trees, but to place more benches and other shade structures in both the large and small dog areas. One lucky canine celebrated a recent birthday at the park, reports Ms. Donna. Well, maybe the new Penny Cakes bakery will start whipping up doggie treats for the birthday parties …
Speaking of which, the Kentucky Derby is on tap and that means Ms. Donna’s husband is having a birthday. Gilroy’s horseman will no doubt be celebrating with a slight wager on “I want Revenge” the choice of St. Francis Lancer alums everywhere … Is it a dollar fine for every year at Rotary? Ron better Pray that it’s not, but best wishes and hopes for a fine celebration with an Early Times mint julep, a pecan birthday pie and a fine stogie from the Morgan Hill Tobacco Company.
From cigars back to dollars and donuts which brings us to the state of Gilroy’s city finances once again. The numbers are in the tank once again, just like the SJ Sharks, and more cuts are in the wind. Just in case Ron “Captain” Kirkish wants to know when the last time the city’s finances were in good balance between salaries and community benefit, I have the answer: About the same year that the picture below, featuring MayorAl and the lovely Vilma, was taken.
Note to Rotarians who were apparently all chastised at Tuesday’s meeting for daring to speak about the prior week’s admonishment from Don Christopher to Mayor Al Pinheiro on the excessive salaries and benefits at City Hall … Not talking about it IS the problem. First thing politicians invariably say is, “Come talk to me privately.” Most often, that does little good on such an issue – it certainly didn’t on the salary and benefits situation for more than a decade. It takes guts to speak up – that’s what helps solve problems. It’s the American way to address and discuss civic issues. Closed doors are for thin skins and weak minds.
From the local to the not-so sublime. Consider this gem: To put things into perspective, the “budget cuts” President Obama asked his Cabinet to make amount to the equivalent of asking a family with a combined yearly income of $100,000 and $34,000 in debt, to cut their spending by $3 per year, or what would amount to the cost of about a gallon-and-a-half of gas per year … proving once again that real
leadership – that set by example – is hard to come by.
A bountiful Mother’s Day Charity breakfast won’t be hard to come by at the Elks Club on the hill next Sunday, May 10 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. “Famous” omelets on tap according to Grand Exalted Ruler Art Gillespie, who doesn’t pay me to say that – the grand exalted part. My Grandfather Derry, a devoted Elk, would say when I asked what the B.P.O.E. on the Elks sign stood for – Best People on Earth.
Now if we could only get Penny Yates at the Gilroy Post Office to explain why there are no longer stamp vending machines in the lobby …
