Any crossing plans?:
”
I’m calling the Red Phone to ask if and when the city is going
to put in a pedestrian crossing at the bridge right before the
Luchessa and Thomas roads intersection. It’s very dangerous for
high school students and others using the levee trail. Thanks.
”
Any crossing plans?: “I’m calling the Red Phone to ask if and when the city is going to put in a pedestrian crossing at the bridge right before the Luchessa and Thomas roads intersection. It’s very dangerous for high school students and others using the levee trail. Thanks.”
The Red Phone checked with the City of Gilroy’s Engineering Department and spoke with the always accommodating Don Dey. Unfortunately, caller, you’ll likely be disappointed with the answer.
“We don’t have any current plans for additions to the Luchessa bridge,” he said. “We understand there are a number of pedestrians out there and that is part of our trails master plan. We are searching out opportunities for making improvements, but we don’t have anything scheduled at this time.”
Sheep in wool’s clothing: “Hi, I have a question. I was wondering like, you know how you have 100 percent wool sweaters and when you wash it and stuff, and it gets wet, it shrinks? I was like thinking about it and how come, like, sheep don’t shrink when it rains? ‘Cause they’re 100 percent wool too, right? OK, thanks. Get back to me on that one.”
You sent the Red Phone on quite a hunt and finally, FINALLY, it came across some interesting information from professional wool classer (someone who sorts wool into categories according to breed, age, color, length and fiber thickness) Helen Daily on www.woolwise.com.
According to Daily, wool does not shrink. What it actually does is ‘felt,’ often called ‘felting shrinkage.’ Felting usually occurs in the presence of friction, heat, water and agitation (as in a washing machine), and this acts as a ratchet, tightening the contact between the fibers in the yarn and then the yarns in the fabric – it’s the tiny knots in the yarn that get closer together.
This makes the piece of clothing get smaller, because there’s less space from one fiber to the next.
Sheep’s wool is attached as growing hair and doesn’t shrink in the rain because the rain doesn’t include everything necessary to cause felting in wool – friction, heat and agitation. Just don’t toss any sheep in with your next load of laundry.
Gimme that carrot: “Hi Red Phone. I read your Saturday paper (April 9) and I saw the article, ‘Gilroy teen crashes on Highway 101’ and as you read the article it’s like dangling a carrot in front of you.
You say that his name is being withheld because he’s a minor. However there was no citation, it said there was no intoxication or anything like that. If this is a teenager that maybe people know, they might want to call his family and have well-wishes. You leave the article totally unfinished and I was just thinking maybe you should revisit your policy and see if there’s anything you can do in a situation like this. Thanks.”
In general, the Dispatch does not publish the names of minors involved in accidents due to privacy reasons. Police officers, paramedics and other emergency personnel also do not release the names of minors in most cases. Names of minors involved in accidents are published when it is a fatality and after family has been notified.
But do take note that the mother of the teen in the crash photo on April 8 and article on April 9 sent a letter to the editor on April 14 praising the Dispatch for its professionalism with regards to its handling of her sons accident.
Photo opportunity: “Hi Red Phone. Pass on to your photographers that if they’d like to get a shot of some beautiful flowers sticking through a fence, pink against white, come to … Pacific Mobile Home Estates. It’s the second row down from the entranceway and its about in the middle on the south side. Some good photography.”
Thanks for the heads up, caller. Dispatch Chief Photographer James Mohs headed out there Tuesday. Take a look right above the Red Phone column for the great shot.
Hey readers: If you call in about a problem with a streetlight or suggestion for a turn signal, please have the intersection street names. It makes it easier for the Red Phone to report the problems or offer the city suggestions.
