Born to fight
Throughout her life, Mary Gutierrez has fought to prove she can excel in male-dominated fields—whether it's competitive bodybuilding, sparring with Marines or fighting fires. Now, she's breaking down barriers as the first woman in a management position with the Gilroy Fire Department.
Gilroy Car Insurance is Sky High
Car insurance costs more in Gilroy than in San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles, according to a recent study.In fact, the southernmost Santa Clara County city has the 17th highest insurance costs in the state.The average yearly premium in Gilroy is $1,882, or 13 percent above the $1,661 average price in California. For comparison, San Joseans pay $1,393; Los Angelenos pay $1,624 and San Franciscans pay $1,783.The study was done by ValuePenguin.com, a site that helps people manage personal finances. Researchers did the study using a 2011 Toyota Camry driven by a 30-year-old to determine the average in 142 California cities for $50,000 to $150,000 of coverage.Craig Casazza, who did the study in the New York-based company, said he was interested in insurance pricing because it’s a mandatory expense for car owners and can be a burden on people’s budgets.Why is Gilroy so expensive?Casazza said he could only speculate. He surveyed 20 companies for each city to determine the prices, but the companies keep their pricing methodology secret.“Generally prices are more expensive where there are more accidents,” he said. Car theft can also play a role.Big cities usually have higher prices, but Gilroy is higher than neighboring metropolises.However, it’s cheaper than Santa Clara at $1,896, Sunnyvale at $1,974, Oakland at $1,976 and Cupertino at $1,970.California’s most expensive insurance rates are in Paramount, near Compton, at $2,373 a year. The cheapest is Fullerton at $1,266.To read the study, go to www.valuepenguin.com.
Tax plan draws opposition
On the heels of a recent vote by the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors to oppose the half-cent general-purpose sales tax measure, many business owners are expressing support of the decision.
Poppy Support
Mayor and US Navy veteran, Perry Woodward, is presented with the first poppy of the annual poppy appeal fundraiser held by the American Legion Auxiliary Gilroy Unit 217 during the month of May, by poppy chairwoman, Maryann Collom on Tuesday. The month-long appeal is in support of local veterans, with money going to provide things such as clothing, meals, and transportation to doctor's appointments. The poppy became a symbol of remembrance to honor fallen soldiers after World War One. Volunteers will be collecting donations in May at venues throughout the city. An enchilada dinner with rice, beans, salad and dessert will be served on Saturday, April 30, starting at 6 p.m. at American Legion Gilroy Post #217, 74 W 6th St, Gilroy. Tickets $10.
One high-speed rail route eliminated, six left on table
A study of possible routes for the California High-Speed Rail
