The following individuals and organizations deserve either
CHEERS or JEERS this week:
The following individuals and organizations deserve either CHEERS or JEERS this week:
CHEERS: For artist Nancy Grieves who is putting the finishing touches on her downtown mural entitled “Past, Present and Future.” The colors are vibrant, the theme straightforward, and the 36-by-81-foot canvas on the brick wall next to Banning Upholstery is the first to be commissioned by the Public Arts Committee. The dedication of the beautiful mural will take place on May 17. It’s a great addition to our city streetscape.
CHEERS: For the Gilroy Police Department which nabbed a suspected “hit man” Wednesday after a dramatic ordeal that ended quietly. SWAT team members sealed off 10th Street after a domestic disturbance call that included reports of weapons. The police eventually caught the suspect at his workplace. This time, the force wasn’t needed, but the speedy and appropriate reaction should lend comfort to citizens who can count on the GPD for quick response.
JEERS: For the Gilroy High School Leadership Committee’s 6-4 vote against the proposal to weight grades at the high school. It’s fairly simple: Students who take Advanced Placement and honors courses should be rewarded for taking more rigorous courses. Teachers and the two parents who voted against weighted grades should heed this from the UC Berkeley admissions Web site: “The University assigns extra weight to grades received in honors level courses to encourage students to undertake more challenging work at the advanced secondary level. The University uses a very specific and narrow definition of honors level work, which often differs from various honors programs offered by high schools. Acceptable UC-certified honors level courses are specialized, college level courses — such as those offered through the Advanced Placement program — normally offered to students in grades 11 and 12.” The Gilroy School District should get with the weighted grades program now.
CHEERS: For Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage who has been a champion for the idea of building a center to help the homeless in Gilroy – a concept that hasn’t been entirely welcome at times. Gage’s most recent efforts have secured $2 million in funding from the county and that will help propel the center, which was approved by the Gilroy City Council a year ago, toward construction.
JEERS: For the weather. The dreary days are supposed to perk up for this weekend. It’s about time. Turning the house heater on in May just doesn’t compute in Gilroy – if we wanted to live in Seattle, well. … Area farmers aren’t pleased either. So Mr. Sunshine, get busy and get to work. It’s May and the 25th anniversary Garlic Festival is coming.
