Marge Albaugh probably wouldn’t cotton to being described as an
icon. But her simple generosity, combined with the toughness that
marked her generation, made her a Gilroy icon, a symbol of
perseverance in carrying out a God-blessed mission to help those
down on their luck.
Marge Albaugh probably wouldn’t cotton to being described as an icon. But her simple generosity, combined with the toughness that marked her generation, made her a Gilroy icon, a symbol of perseverance in carrying out a God-blessed mission to help those down on their luck. Her legacy is clear – the very good Gilroy work done by St. Joseph’s Family Center, the organization that so ably helps those in need and has done so since Marge helped found the charitable enterprise nearly 30 years ago.
The day after learning of Marge Albaugh’s passing, a press release came in: “… the Saint Louise Regional Hospital Foundation is partnering with the Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County to provide South County residents with a garden on the north side of Saint Louise Regional Hospital in the very near future. … Vegetables grown in this garden will not only be used by the Saint Louise cafeteria, but will also be donated to St. Joseph’s Family Center …” Hope I’m not stepping on toes, but I thought what a nice tribute it would be to name the project “Marge’s Garden.”
Some of our Gilroy “gardens” – a.k.a. our beautiful parks – are suffering and the facility that is both in great disrepair and underutilized is the amphitheater at Christmas Hill Park. Squirrels are happily digging gaping holes in the turf where happy feet should be dancing. Boards are falling apart, spawning splinters galore. The place is a mess and it’s the showcase venue for all the visitors who come to Gilroy for the Garlic Festival which is right around the corner. We need the Council to commit some capital funds and a benefit concert or two to help fund repairs and improvements …
More, more – that’s all the improvement needed for Gilroy’s first wildly successful downtown Wine Stroll. Nice work Visitor’s Bureau Director Jane Howard, her staff, and all the winery folks. Tickets sold out and then some – that’s 530 or so – and good things happened. Wineries poured, patrons tasted and shopped downtown, restaurants were packed … and how about another one in late November or early December for the Christmas shopping season. Stores could stay open later, the high school choir could stroll and sing, Monterey Street could close down for a few hours, and the restaurants could all have garlic-themed specials …
That once-a-year special garlic fix – for all those who don’t volunteer – is going to cost a bit more in 2k10. Garlic Festival ticket prices are going up $5 per to $17, but there’s a $2 discount for buying online ahead of time and locals will get a price break on Friday which is fast emerging as a day built around a theme – “Locals Friday.” And, no, I don’t understand why online ticket sales don’t begin until June 1, May 1 would make more dollars and cents …
No sense is what the arrogant and blundering Santa Clara Valley Water District Board makes. The redistricting vote last week kept South County together but included just enough San Jose population centers in an attempt to silence our united voice down here. All this in order to give the appointed and boisterous “Sigh” Mann, the latest in a long line of lousy water board members, a chance to actually get elected. Hey “Sigh,” a $5 spot says Supervisor Don Gage runs for the Map Q seat and puts the kibosh on that possibility. But watch out, this is one water board race that’s going to get everyone dirty …
Dirty pool is what an amendment to AB 1987 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) is. Though the bill, which generally attempts to limit the practice of public pension spiking, may be support worthy, a recent amendment makes it virtually worthless. That amendment would make the “books, papers, any data, or records, including but not limited to personnel and payroll records … gathered by a retirement board from the county or district as part of an audit” confidential. Just wonderful … so, no more pension spiking, but nobody can really tell because the records are private. That’s sneaky dirty and hardly in the public interest. Email for Ms. Ma – As***************@*********ca.gov. Take a minute to write won’t you and remember this quote from Frederic Bastiat: “When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it.”
Indeed … and Steve Greenhut, the director of the Pacific Research Institute’s www.calwatchdog.com journalism center, writes: “All the consequences of rising pension costs fall on the budgets for programs such as higher education, health and human services, parks and recreation and environmental protection that are junior in priority and therefore have their funding reduced whenever more money is needed to pay for pension costs.” Meanwhile, in Menlo Park the Citizens for Fair and Responsible Pension Reform, have dropped off 3,100 signatures for a city ballot measure aimed at excessive pension benefits that would create a two-tier system and raise the retirement age to 60. How about a ballot measure in Gilroy started by the Government Review Committee arm of the Chamber or business leaders?
Leaders looking to take target practice can head to Kirigin Cellars Sunday for a, yep, believe it … an archery event. Bring your own bow to shoot 25 3D animal targets. Might be cool, but I don’t own a bow so I’ll wait for the Sausage and Syrah event Memorial Day weekend at Solis Winery …
Reach Editor Mark Derry at ed****@****ic.com
