At a recent City Council retreat, ’twas suggested that the city fill in the swimming pool at South Valley Middle School and build bocce ball courts. And, as a stunningly brilliant ancillary measure, the city will seek a summer use contract with the Hilton Garden Inn and Motel 6 that would allow east side Gilroy residents to purchase a $125 family pass, giving them summer access to the hotel pools. Parking not included. Just kidding … I think, but sometimes you just shake you’re head and wonder about the inability to connect the dots.
No problem connecting with the meaning behind the upcoming Dino Garcia Annual Memorial Golf Tournament. Troy Garcia, who manages Heavy’s Grill at the Gilroy Golf Course, holds the tourney each year to both honor his late brother, assist the Gilroy High wrestling program and set aside a few dollars to help Dino’s daughters with college expenses. It’s a great tribute, the whole Garcia family is involved in it and it’s growing because Troy does it right. Save the date – Saturday, June 23 – and the phone number – 847-2857 – spend $85 for a great time, a very good lunch, a good cause and a tribute to a very dynamic young man who left the world too soon.
Not too soon to give a bluegrassy whoop for a very cool event that isn’t quite on the radar yet. At the spruced up historic Gilroy Hot Springs on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 10, get ready for the first foot-stomping hot Bluegrass Music Festival. Laura Domínguez-Yon, a Friend of the Hot Springs reachable at 408-314-7185, relays that a whole passel of bluegrass performers will contribute time and talent, including: Rita Hosking, the Avalanche Choir, Bean Creek, Michael Gaither, Larry Hosford, and the Tarantula Jug Band. Dave Nielsen and Lora Ellen Hicks are heading up the entertainment committee and, to top it all off, you can make a camping weekend out of it. Admission is $25 or $40 or both days. It’s really great to see life being breathed back into the breathtakingly beautiful and peaceful place that is the Gilroy Hot Springs, a place where people came to heal, relax and enjoy the surroundings beginning in the 1880s.
Am sure, too, how long the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has been around – 75 years as a bunmobile. Not as long as the Gilroy Hot Springs, but a darn good track record. The 27-foot-long mustard bug is going to be parked here on Sunday at our Super Wal-Mart from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids love it – a car dressed up as an All-American hot dog that you can touch and get all up close and personal with is definitely worth a half-hour stop. Ah, and it’s driven, according to the press release, by “Deli Fresh Danica” – no relation to Danica Patrick, but as “Deli Danica” says everyone loves a visit to the big dog, not to mention the free wiener whistles.
Understand wanting to blow the whistle on those who would rather not talk about subjects like rape and sexual abuse, just not sure holding a “SlutWalk”, the recent event at Gavilan College, is the best way to accomplish that. It’s important to talk about date rape, drugs slipped into drinks, sexual abuse, etc. Having three daughters, I understand that. But going to such an extreme, while it attracts attention, seems to in some way trivialize the subject, and that bothers me.
Bothers me, too, that in the off-season Giants pitchers Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum switched brains.
Brain tells me that since I missed the Rotary Flower Sale, there’s one more chance left to support a local cause. On Saturday, April 21 the South Valley Fleurs Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale at Booksmart, 80 E. Second St. in Morgan Hill, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Hundreds of heirloom tomato plants, vegetables, herbs and plenty of perennials and alluring annuals to choose from.” Proceeds fund grants to elementary schools and EduGrow “Planting To Learn” programs, the Gilroy Senior Center Planter and the Butterfly Garden at Nordstrom Park. Go and grow …
Growing accolades for our wineries always. Add three major awards for Solis Winery at the 2012 New World International Wine Competition: a Double Gold Medal, for its 2008 Syrah, Estate; a Gold Medal for the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate; and a Silver Medal for its 2009 Sangiovese, Estate. Go visit Rich, who manages the tasting room, and the Vanni family on Hecker Pass some weekend. Enjoy the view, the friendly atmosphere and the really fine local wine that is reasonably priced. You shan’t regret it.
Every day that there is no news on missing teen, 15-year-old Sierra LaMar, is deeply regrettable. That a teen can seemingly “vanish” is so surreal, though I’m certain it’s all so painfully real to her parents, friends and loved ones. There is comfort in the unbelievable and ongoing search effort, but there will be no solace until there is resolution.
Resolution for the strangest of seasons is coming for the San Jose Sharks. A roller coaster ride would be an apt description, but you might want to “get the puck a little deeper” and call it a wild ride on the Big Dipper in the pitch dark with “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” blaring in the background. Will they whip the St. Louis Blues in round one? No clue, but I’ll sure be watching.
Will be watching closely, too, the contract negotiations which are about to unfold between the Gilroy police union and the city. With the economy slowly picking up, and sales tax revenues swelling city coffers, will the “new economic reality” remain a force or will we return to the “same old, same old”?
Reach Editor Mark Derry at ed****@ga****.com
