“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” – Abraham Lincoln
“T” worked with us at the newspaper for a few years. Under Mr. Lincoln’s quote, she would fit perfectly into the rejoice category. Artistic and efficient, she warmed up the office with her friendly smile, general feline bravado and positivity. We called her “T” affectionately because other than one notable character flaw – being a diehard, check-them-into-the-boards Detroit Red Wings fan – she was more than a co-worker, she was our friend. Those traits, of course, carried over into her next jobs which were aimed at her top priority – making sure that she and her husband, Brian, would have more face time with their young children. That was job No. 1, and making more money didn’t hurt either. Her friendliness behind the bar at the Westside Grill in Gilroy and the M&H Tavern in Morgan Hill charmed many a customer, brought in well-deserved tips and allowed her to be home during the day for the kids. “T” is a “fierce” mom, and I mean that in a very positive way – protective, encouraging and always on the lookout for what’s best for her children. Along the way, Ms. Teresa Glover took time to train for charitable running events like the Nike Half Marathon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Now, at 39, she’s battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I’m not sure if it’s ironic or ordained, but I do know what she has given of her time, energy and great spirit is coming back to her in buckets of support. There’s a benefit concert Saturday at Troy’s Bocce Ball at Tennant Station in Morgan Hill – 3 to 9 p.m. – with a few bands and a DJ on the docket that now includes, amazingly, the multi-platinum selling group SmashMouth. You can get a ticket at www.teresagloverfund.com. It’s cheap, it’s for a good person and her family, and it’s giving back. We all know that comes back around. “T”, her family and I hope to see you there – and don’t forget to look her in those sparkling, deep-pool eyes, smile and say, “Go Sharks!”
There are Italian sharks on the grocery shelves, feeding us abroad-adoring consumers with a steady stream of marketing misinformation. In a recent column, Betty Teller writes, “Oh, Italy. What has happened to you? You used to be such a nice country. Beautiful countryside, magnificent art, handsome and charming men, the only coffee worth drinking, and of course amazing food …” and then shatters a series of food myths. “It turns out EU regulations allow an oil to be labeled “Italian” if it contains just 4 percent of oil from Italy. And by the way, “Imported from Italy” on the label just means that it was packaged there. In the case of olive oil, it likely came to Italy from Spain, Tunisia, Morocco, Turkey or even Argentina. And it very well may have been mixed with hazelnut, soy, canola or sunflower seed oil.” She goes on with damning evidence about dried porcini mushrooms, truffle oil, balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano-Reggiano and “even improperly labeled cans of tomatoes.” So stick with the local – like Frantoio Grove olive oil – whenever you can. Every week Rocca’s Market in San Martin, for example, prints a list in the paper of the local products carried at the quaint store.
It’s all about local “products” at the Gilroy Foundation and it’s full speed ahead for the Foundation leadership which is excitedly charging into a partnership with a new initiative called Silicon Valley Gives. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, May 6. It’s a one-day, multi-media telethon of sorts. For 24 hours, there will be a concerted blitz for donations that residents can make on the web and the Gilroy Foundation is thick in the mix. There are “donation games”, too, in that during certain hours big companies will match the first donations up to, say, $50,000. So, if you give $200 that day to the Gilroy Foundation/Center for the Arts Fund and do that quickly at the beginning of a deisgnated matching hour it turns into a $400 donation. Cool. Our campaign slogan could be fashioned after the Foundation’s “Give Where You Live” motto – how about buttons with “iGive Where iLive”?
iLive in a place where there’s no International House of Pancakes – aka IHOP – though there are 1,620 IHOPs in 50 states. For the pancake lovers among us, that ought to be rectified and Tammy Brownlow, our Economic Development Director, should see to it that such a major missing link in Gilroy’s fast food armour is rectified.
Can’t be rectified, but at least it’s front and center now that our reporter Chris Foy listened to Michael McVey’s sad tale that began at the Gilroy Walmart. His beautiful Akita canine companion, 15-year-old Keiko, was in the back of his Nissan Pathfinder which was stolen in the parking lot. Thieves drove the vehicle to a San Jose Walmart and left Keiko in the abandoned SUV. Without water, food and medication, she died. Four days later McVey couldn’t believe the horror. His buddy that he raised from a pup was gone in a wicked way. CBS in SF picked up and ran with our story, then more TV, then the Mercury News. Hopefully all that attention will make sure the inglorious scum who perpetrated this crime will be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Reach Editor Mark Derry at ed****@ga****.com
