Farm income down 41 percent.
”
That’s the headline I read in one of the local Oregon papers.
So, there’s hardly an economic picnic going on in our northern
neighbor state, but the highways are in much better shape than ours
are in California and so are the rest stops.
“Farm income down 41 percent.” That’s the headline I read in one of the local Oregon papers. So, there’s hardly an economic picnic going on in our northern neighbor state, but the highways are in much better shape than ours are in California and so are the rest stops.
Back home after dropping daughter Mariah off at college, striking back-to-back press releases awaited. One screamed “California Freeways Among Worst in Nation.” A study, it says, concludes that “drivers in California’s major urban areas (San Jose included) spend $600 to $756 per year to operate their vehicles because of the potholes, deficient roadways and poor pavement.” Meanwhile, taxpayers fork out billions into public transportation systems that serve so few. VTA buses go empty, Caltrain ridership is way off, light rail in San Jose speeds by with a handful of very expensive passengers on board and high speed rail will cost billions more and serve far fewer than projected. Will we ever demand the obvious? Maintain and improve the roads first, that’s how Californians choose to live.
Living will be a little rougher in the state’s parks, too, apparently. Press release number two advises that “California state parks are about to run out of toilet paper.” This due, the release says, to the inability of the legislature and governor to pass a budget. Here’s the skinny: “The Los Angeles Times’ George Skelton is reporting that many of California’s 278 state parks will likely run out of toilet paper in public restrooms by October due to the state’s lack of a budget and ongoing budget rollercoaster.” It goes on to advocate a Yes vote for Proposition 21, yet another ballot box budgeting measure. An annual $18 charge will be added to your vehicle license fee which will be earmarked for state parks. That’s going to generate some $250 million annually. Presumably, then, the toilet paper will be ordered, and the world will again rest easily … so much for parks, so much for schools, a fee for this and another fee for that … honestly, starting over might be the only thing that’s going to save this state. Maybe we should just fire the entire legislature and the governor and have everyone vote annually on how to divvy up our tax dollars.
No federal stimulus tax dollars in play, just good community fund raising at the annual Gilroy Foundation dinner and auction Saturday night. John Zekanoski and his beautiful wife, Shireen, went home happy. They won a trip to France’s Loire Valley and a week’s stay in a traditional farmhouse overlooking the town of Saignon in Provence. The “farmhouse” has an infinity pool and a to-die-for kitchen along with decor that could grace the pages of House Beautiful magazine says Foundation Director Donna Pray. Sweet. How sweet? Well, the Zekanoski’s daughter, Katherine May, is studying abroad this year in, you guessed it, France. Now that’s fait accompli. Congrats to Chair Pam Martin for the sellout. “Picnic in Provence” at the Elks Lodge received a decorations makeover described as tastefully stupendous. Other tidbits: Ava and Rom Hayes won the French dinner party catered by Le Papillon at Anne and Dale Shipley’s French manor style home in San Martin. Don and Karen Christopher and John and Lee Blaettler will be picnicing in the Martin’s backyard – food by Donna Pray herself – c’est bon!
It’s good, too, to remember that Passport Weekend is just a week away (Oct. 2 and 3 from 11a to 5p). Make your plans to visit four or more wineries … Creekview, Hecker Pass, Jason Stephens, Fernwood, Sarah’s … relax at so many great locations, taste some of the fine local wines and chat with really friendly owners. One of the great things about Gilroy is the up-and-coming wineries. Details in next week’s papers.
Also up and coming – on Friday, Oct. 1 upstairs at Lizarran Restaurant downtown – is what we hope to be a captivating lunch Q&A session with the seven City Council candidates. It’s from noon to 1:30 and is sponsored by Leadership Gilroy. As moderator I hope to add a bit of spontaneity to the proceedings by involving the audience and getting some good discussion going about community issues.
No issue for the Zekanoski family – they should be testing the water for a hot streak by buying a few tickets for the annual St. Mary’s Parish Festival. There’s the $100 Heaven Can Wait drawing for a trip to Italy and a raffle – $60 gets you 7 tickets – for your choice of a new car from five local dealers. The Zekanoski’s could stop in Italy first, head for France and present their daughter with a little gift – a certificate for a new car. Now that would be wildly lucky. Call the office at 847-5151 or email Rose Barry at ro**@**********oy.org for tickets. Hop on it.
Voters are hopping on our web poll to express their opinion on what Gilroy Unified School District has done with a one-time $2 million federal stimulus grant. The grant is to restore and create education jobs. GUSD has, apparently, reopened and settled negotiations with the teachers that will eliminate planned teacher furloughs this school year. One student instructional day and three staff development days will be reinstated. One email sent to us said this: “Number of jobs restored: zero. Number of jobs created: zero.” What do you think?
