Honestly, I can’t imagine being on the school board. The way funding is set up – with the bulk of the money going to the state, then trickling down (yes, an exaggeration for demonstration purposes follows) from Assemblyman Luis Alejo’s office to the Gilroy Unified School District, is ridiculous. Every time the state can’t get its financial act together – and really that’s virtually always now – the district gets the screws put to it. Deferred payments, surprise holdbacks, delays and more attached strings than you could dream up, all handcuff the local people trying to do their educational jobs. It’s a nightmare. It’s no way to run a school district, it’s no way to run a state. But if we keep re-electing people to the Assembly and state Senate without virtually any scrutiny, then we get what we deserve because the local school district has precious little control over its own finances. The state giveth and the state taketh away and the GUSD trustees are simply a speck of dust riding the state’s whims. The saddest part is, there’s no revolution demanding wholesale reform on the horizon. It’s a tragic reality plaguing California.
Had occasion to visit one of California’s gems recently, the state park at Point Lobos, just an hour’s drive from our garlic hamlet. It’s an incredible convergence of land and sea with wonderful vistas and hiking trails galore. If you’re ready for a day trip – and who isn’t when the freezing mornings start to give way to the promise of spring – do it. A morning hike, and then a drive south down to the Coast Gallery and Cafe in Big Sur this time of year is a winner. On the gallery’s top deck under the red umbrellas, order up a four-cheese baked macaroni dish with applewood-smoked bacon and feast on the view of the Pacific Ocean. And, since it’s after a good hike, there’s no reason to feel guilty.
Guilty garlic-laden dishes will abound in this year’s Great Garlic Cook-off. Nothing like a little more cash on the table to bring out the chefs. G-Fest organizers announced a top-prize bump to $5,000 – whew, that’s a lot of groceries. Miss Jenny and I spent a weekend one year in a coastal condo concocting an entry for the Great Garlic Cook-off: “Garlic-choke Cioppino,” We made the first cut, we were told, but didn’t bubble up to earn the main stage. It sure tasted great, though. Fresh local artichokes, oodles of garlic and a wafting kitchen aroma that would make grandma proud. Maybe it’s time to give it another $5k shot. Here’s the rundown: Original recipes, minimum six cloves of fresh garlic or three teaspoons of chopped or minced garlic, submit entries in recipe form and a photo of the final dish to the Gilroy Garlic Festival Cook-off, P.O. Box 2311, 95021-2311 or via email to cl***@gi******************.com. You can even send in two.
Way more than two is how many Oregon State University rugby girls stayed at our home for the weekend two weeks back. More like 32. For those who asked how we survived, the answer is, just fine and dandy. A whole lotta cookin’ went on, there were a lot of backpacks and plugged-in phones charging, and plenty of chat, chat, chat, but it really was fun, especially when the girls donned costumes, seemingly spontaneously, and made a hilarious “Harlem Shake” video. I had no idea what was that was or what was going on, but the playful spirit engulfed the house and there’s just no substitute for the smile on our daughter Mariah’s face when she’s enjoying being with her goofy rugby teammates. For those parents and students searching for a great place to go to college, a hearty recommendation for Oregon State is in order after three years. What you pay for in out-of-state tuition, is counterbalanced by a realistic scenario of earning a degree in four years. The student has to be able to cope with the gray weather, but the campus is gorgeous and wonderful students, staff and teachers are as abundant as the opportunities for involvement and education. It is impressive.
Impressive, too, is the number of Gilroy students in after-school YMCA programs. It’s about 1,000 who take advantage of Y services, and the number is growing as the organization adds schools to its growing list. And, since it’s March, that means summer is right around the bend and the Y offers a number of programs in Gilroy. Drop by the new Gilroy office of the Mt. Madonna YMCA at 1057 First St. and check out the offerings.
A recent Red Phone caller offered this: “In reference to Mark Derry’s column, regarding having the awards banquet in San Juan Oaks. Two or three years ago I called the Red Phone stating the same thing. I’ve been informed that tens of thousands of dollars is spent on that. It’s a no-brainer to have the Gilroy awards in Gilroy. The Elks can hold almost 280 people, and they’ve done renovations there. That would be a perfect place to have it. Just wondering if the editor listens to Red Phone messages. Thank you and I’m glad Mark mentioned that.” Me, too, and I’ll be “more glad” when the Chamber brings the Gilroy awards back to town and we can enjoy the renovated Elks Lodge on the Hill.
Reach Editor Mark Derry at ed****@ga****.com
