It’s unfortunate that we have to bid a sad farewell to Angela
Locke-Paddon and Nicole Nielsen from the Gilroy Police Department’s
Neighborhood Resources unit.
Dear Editor,
It’s unfortunate that we have to bid a sad farewell to Angela Locke-Paddon and Nicole Nielsen from the Gilroy Police Department’s Neighborhood Resources unit.
We have been members of the volunteer group Wipe Out Watch for ages. We started when it didn’t have an official name with Al Gagliardi and the late Tom Carr. And never has it been as productive as it has since Angela and Nicole put on those hats and started with hands-on graffiti abatement.
I ask all the good citizens of Gilroy to now take an active part in helping to keep our city clean of graffiti by taking care of their own “little corner of the world.” Go to OSH with the 15 percent off coupon and get yourselves a large container of Goo Be Gone and help clean up the light poles and utility boxes that you see every day in your travels around town. Angela and Nicole – and Brittany before Nicole – have worked very hard to keep our city looking clean. Let’s work to keep it that way.
Bob and Sue Baker, Gilroy
Heavily loaded trucks avoid CHP weigh station rumbling down street
Dear Editor,
I am a resident of San Martin. For many months, the California Highway Patrol has had the southbound Gilroy weigh station closed for repairs. The damage must have been substantial as it warranted closing for so long while a plane crashed into the northbound station and was “no big deal.”
The southbound station re-opened last week – we take note as we are required to stop there with our rig (an F-350 flatbed). The next morning at 5 a.m., I noticed the loaded rigs drive by east on their way to New Avenue to avoid the scales. These trucks are obviously loaded – most likely overloaded, in disrepair, or otherwise illegal – as you can tell by the rumbling of the street, house, etc.
We never knew the reason for the closure of the station but sure would like to see those trucks off of our hometown streets – local deliveries excluded – and back on the truck routes where they belong. Eventually, the CHP will take notice and fill quota. In the meantime, I wanted to vent and see if this letter could do something to help.
Kimberly Adams, San Martin
A gentle human being who is a true behind-the-scenes Gilroy hero
Dear Editor,
January is not only a time for resolutions but a time of reflection and the residents of Gilroy need to look upon what makes our community special.
We live in one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, have a climate that is the envy of many Midwesterners, and are known for our Garlic Festival and the volunteerism that it maintains. Gilroy was branded this year as a community with a spice for life, and with all the different ways that the tagline can be interpreted, we need to acknowledge a gentle man who adds much to the life in Gilroy, Majid Brahiny.
He is known in Gilroy as an owner of Mama Mia’s and Sonic Burger but he needs to be recognized for his generosity and care for this community. Majid quietly contributes to the people of Gilroy and effectively stays out of the limelight.
The Exchange Club of Gilroy wants the community to know about his contributions and to express our heartfelt thanks. The Exchange Club is a service organization that is small in numbers but works hard to aid and help out Gilroy citizens who need a helping hand.
Majid is a member of the organization but he rarely attends meetings because of his work schedule, however, when he is needed he is there. Before Thanksgiving, when the Exchange Club annually gives out food baskets, Majid donated the funds that allowed 31 seniors at Sunset Garden Apartments and 15 Gilroy families with children to have a better holiday. Majid serves on the Gilroy Visitors Bureau board and recently at the groups’ Christmas Party asked the participants to donate to the Exchange Club.
That donation is being spent to supply homeless sheltered at the Armory with socks, gloves and personal hygiene items. Majid’s kindness extends to other organizations that help out the hungry, and people in need of our community.
The Mission Statement of the Exchange Club is that we are a group of people working together to make our communities a better place to live through programs of Americanism, service and youth. Majid Brahiny is our hero and is an example of what makes Gilroy a special place.
Libby Lai, secretary, the Gilroy Exchange Club
‘Dave’ a solid reminder that the world has wonderfully good people
Dear Editor,
There are still really wonderful, honest, good people in the world. Let me tell you about one of them. He told me his name was Dave. I went to Safeway recently after work to do my grocery shopping. I got home and began putting my groceries away. It was already dark, and a knock came at my door.
When I opened the door, there stood a man that I didn’t know and he asked me if my name was Debbie. I said “no”, and he thought for a minute and then he said, “Did you lose your purse?” I did lose my purse. I didn’t know it until then.
After describing the purse to him, he said that he found it in the grocery cart. He saw it had a lot of cash in it and he was concerned that if he turned it into Safeway that the cash might disappear, so he found my address in my purse and tracked me down to give it to me.
All my cash was there, all my cards and important documents. He wouldn’t take a reward and left without much fanfare. Thank you Dave, and to all out there who are discouraged about the direction our world has taken, think about Dave and remember there are still really good people out there and the world is still OK.
Diane Wright, Gilroy
