The story we posted Wednesday about Gilroy teacher Charla
Mittman being honored as one of the best teachers in Santa Clara
County reminded me what an amazing gift a wonderful English teacher
is. Charla is clearly an inspirational teacher.
The story we posted Wednesday about Gilroy teacher Charla Mittman being honored as one of the best teachers in Santa Clara County reminded me what an amazing gift a wonderful English teacher is. Charla is clearly an inspirational teacher. There are few things more important than developing a love for reading. Besides the wonderland that exists between the book covers, there are so many ancillary benefits – imagination, critical thinking skills, enhanced communication abilities, reflecting on the world and one’s own identity. Mr. Canney in 7th grade, and “Wild” Bill Sullivan at Bellarmine were fantastic teachers that cemented my love for reading and the language. Congratulations to Charla, your students will remember how you changed their lives forever. There’s truly no greater reward than that.
Since we’re on reading, pick up the Hunger Games if you like an action-packed, breezy, entertaining and thoughtful end-of-summer read. There are three books in the sci-fi-ish series, and some of the themes are a little scary and hit close to home given what’s happening in the world today.
Scary, too, are so many Halloween stores in South County. Whatever happened to mom making junior’s costume or the $9.99 version at the drug store and a pillowcase to throw the candy in? Holy smokes Batman, Halloween has turned into an all-about-the-adults party and the supermegaseasonalscarystores are in full almost-October bloom. If you want to buy local, pass the national predatory chain Halloween City and head for the Halloween Boutique. Better yet, spend the money on a family outing to the Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Patch on Monterey Road in San Martin opening Oct. 8 where you’ll find train rides, a carousel, a petting zoo and the hay rides and all-new pumpkin blaster fun where junior can safely bazooka mini pumpkins at targets. Now, there are some fun family memories and another attraction that visitors to the outlet malls can be directed to … a perfect segue to …
The Gilroy Visitor’s Bureau’s plans to open a Welcome Center in the outlet mall with a small boutique has stirred up a hornet’s nest – at least with Alex and Charlie Larson who own and operate the well-stocked Garlic Shoppe out by King Egg Roll and Home Depot. So often the advice to government is to “operate more like a business” which is exactly what the GVB wants to do. The Larson’s say if the GVB goal is to become self-sufficient they would have to net $300,000 in merchandise sales annually and, as one web commentator articulated, “… any profit GVM makes is a sale a real merchants (sic) doesn’t make.” Really? Or could it be that a visitor to the Welcome Center might take a brochure from another business and visit it to make a purchase, or that a winery stop might be next? Solis Winery, for example, has a nice complement of Gilroy-centered gifts in the tasting room on Hecker Pass. If the Welcome Center can generate $600,000 in Gilroy sales annually – not in the store, but throughout the community through promotion and marketing to Gilroy Gardens, downtown restaurants, the G-Fest and wineries – then “becoming self sustaining” benefits not just the GVB, but the entire community. The Garlic City wine glass is half full, folks. Support the GVB and give this a chance to work.
Work is what it took to deliver the comfort food at the recent annual Martin Ranch Winery appetizer competition which Miss Jenny and I won. That was really fun, though a bit nerve wracking for my competitive bride who worried while we were in the line-up with a host of competitors that just maybe our appetizer “stunk up the joint” (my interpretation). But Jenny’s Kitchen and Mark’s smoker did just fine delivering Artichoke and Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms complemented by Roasted Olives. It’s a beautiful winery to visit, particularly in the fall, when the grape leaves turn golden and the ripening fruit exudes promise. Not sure if there’s room, but ring 842.9197 to see if you can head out Redwood Retreat Road to the fun “bottle your own” wine event this weekend.
Weekends on Welburn Avenue are relatively quiet trafficwise, but as the Council reconsiders shelling out for a $100,000 traffic study, it’s tough to argue with this commentator on our website who wrote, “Welburn has too many cars on it … find another route … (now send me $20,000 for the advice and boast about the money you saved). I’ll even write up a short letter to that effect.. Thank you for your consideration.” Before spending $100 grand, the Council should be briefed in detail by the city traffic engineer regarding viable options. Are there any? Shifting traffic to First Street really isn’t – it’s a mess already. The traffic snafus that exist all over town could become a significant issue in the upcoming mayoral and Council races.
“Conventional” wisdom has it that Councilman Peter Arellano is planning a “surprise attack” run for mayor, saving his announcement for a rainy day. “All signs point to Yes,” is what the Magic
8-ball says, but Peter has denied he’s running more often than Nixon denied involvement in Watergate. Nothing to do but wait and see.
See, it’s just never good to decline a penalty deep in an opponent’s territory that would have given you a first down – even if you kicked a field goal and put three on the board. Carved out time in Corvallis, Oregon to watch the 49ers play the damnable Cowboys. First time in years I made it a point to devote time to watching the Niners live. Got daughter Mariah all settled in Sunday morning at Oregon State for her sophomore season, then headed downtown to watch Coach Jim Harbaugh learn a valuable freshman season lesson: “Conventional” wisdom like “don’t take points off the board” isn’t as good as a gut feeling.
Great feeling in the gut when a) Leonard Harrington, the new owner of South County Nissan-Hyundai, answered a phone call seeking information for a manager, b) he turned out to be a genuinely nice man and c) helped me with a cracked axle housing issue on my Titan truck. Service with a smile from an owner who listens and cares. Now, that’s a place where you want to buy a car.
Plenty wanted to buy the fabulous auction items Karen “Wonderwoman” LaCorte amassed at the Gilroy Foundation dinner and party of the year last weekend. A phenomenal performance that shattered the old Foundation event record: more than $71,000 raised. Fabulous!
Reach Editor Mark Derry at
ed****@ga****.com
