Mincing the clove

There were quite a few firsts bringing a finale to this school year. With graduation commencement ceremonies drawing to a close last week, it’s always assuring to know that the graduating classes of 2014 will leave behind a legacy that no Gilroy students ever have. Combined, graduates from Gilroy High School, Christopher High School and Mt. Madonna Continuation School contributed more than 50,000 volunteer community service hours. Setting the groundwork for youth community involvement is a great way to fill a need with volunteer organizations as well as provide a foundation of stewardship, giving everything from nonprofits, service groups and churches an extra helping hand. Kudos to a class of young volunteers.
Also a first is Spokes4Folks, a new fundraiser sponsored by the 501(c)3 Gilroy Leadership Education Foundation encouraging the public to change lives one spoke at a time. Lacking a commuter car to school is one thing, but not having a bicycle is another. With the goal of giving a leg-up to Gilroy’s in-need population, Leadership Gilroy is collecting new and gently used bikes, helmets and locks for needy individuals that need help getting to and from work or school. They’re also holding a June 25 fundraiser at Victoria’s Mexican Food in the Nob Hill shopping center, donation welcome, according to Chef Carlos Pineda of Rebekah’s Culinary Academy.
What are all those purple ribbons downtown and beyond? It’s all part of this year’s Relay for Life efforts slated for Saturday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Christmas Hill Park. We’ll see you there. Speaking of downtown, pedestrians may also have noticed the staff from Syngenta re-planting the wine barrels along the pedestrian walkways, a charming touch just in time for summertime strolls.
Reading through the Gilroy Police Department Press Reports, this week’s entry spanned several pages, and there’s simply not enough print space, so all the Gilroy crime fit to publish can be found online—including details around the original arrest of Salinas doctor German Baldeon, accused of killing longtime resident and wife, Doris Mae Knapp. We had questions from the beginning about the suspicion surrounding the death with details about cause of death limited to “upper torso wounds” along with Baldeon’s connection with on-the-loose suspect David Valdez of Tracy.
Inasmuch as bizarre muder stories are enough to incite innate curiosity, inspiration can be gleaned in a human interest story the Dispatch has been following for years. She’s been an inspiration to our readers and our staff, and her story of selfless joy and giving in the face of human struggle is detailed within the pages of this newspaper and within the Twittersphere. Our sincerest condolences to the family of Gilroyan Caley Camarillo. Camarillo’s story of courage and hope will likely have a lasting impact on the Gilroy community and those who came to know the youth during her heroic battle with cystic fibrosis.
With the November 2014 election approaching and filing deadline approaching July, it’s appropriate that the rumor mill begin its knotty turns as rumblings surface of a possible challenge for the soon-to-be expired seats of elected officials including the Gilroy City Council. Details to come.
Looking back on last week’s news tidbits, cheers to CHEER founder Herman Garcia’s “River Rat Team 6” who was getting soaked streamside along Uvas Creek for a steelhead save, days later state and federal wildlife officials truck dumping 27 million salmon smolts—50 percent more than normal—into a tributary of the Sacramento River in light of the drought, the Guardian reported. As Fish & Wildlife’s Andrew Hughan told the Dispatch, “We expect to do dozens of these (steelhead rescues) this year as long as the drought continues.” It was no surprise to see the big dogs follow in suit to Garcia’s, and we’re excited to hear details on a new initiative Garcia says he’s working on.
Last but definitely not least, it’s good to hear the City of Gilroy will be listening to the hands-on advice of the business owners who protested the city’s sign restrictions. Is the intent good? Certainly—but what about the timing? We’ve heard their plea for fairness and most of all: Having someone listen. Whether the mish-mash between city and private ideas mesh into a package the community can swallow remains to be seen.