Readers hand out a Garlic Festival bobblehead bow, appreciate
the investigative tow truck stories and lobby for a new farm
bill
Credit Where It’s Due on This Year’s Garlic Festival Bobblehead Doll Design
Dear Editor,
Thank you for including me in this week’s Opinion section’s “cheers” for my decision to honor the garlic centipede in the design of this year’s bobblehead Herbie doll. But I must give credit where credit is due and publicly recognize Andy Viale for creating the garlic centipede and its mission to promote the Garlic Festival.
Not only did he provide leadership for those of us who were chained together by garlic braids and ran wearing garlic bulb hats, red shorts, and tank tops spelling out “G-I-L-R-O-Y G-A-R-L-I-C”, but he and his wife Lynn also opened their home for the three days during the festival for the runners, their families and friends. This year’s Herbie bobblehead doll was designed to honor Andy and others like him, who love our community and strive to give back.
Karen Scorsur, Retail Committee Chair,
Garlic Festival 2007
Reader Appreciates the Ongoing Efforts Regarding Tow Truck Operator Stories
Dear Editor,
Good job on the tow truck operator stories. Keep up the good work.
Ed Sanchez, Gilroy
Congress Needs to Reform Farm Bill to Level the Field for Smaller Operations
Dear Editor,
This summer, Congress is considering the Farm Bill, which is an important piece of legislation and a big opportunity. Congress has the opportunity to significantly improve the livelihoods of small farmers around the world, including here in the United States, by instituting reform in the U.S. Farm Bill.
Considered once every five years, the Farm Bill is in desperate need of change and this year is our time to act.
The current Farm Bill encourages American farmers to overproduce and flood world markets with crops sold at artificially low prices, making it almost impossible for small farmers at home and abroad to sell their own crops.
The current system does not even primarily benefit America’s small farmers. Reforms should also provide better support for U.S. farm families of modest means as well.
As a member of the ONE Campaign, I urge Congress to make the necessary changes to the Farm Bill – smart trade reform helps everyone. Please visit www.one.org and learn more.
A. Esparza, Gilroy
