Opinion

As Memorial Day approaches, our community—like many across the nation—prepares for parades, backyard cookouts, and the unofficial start of summer. But at the heart of this holiday lies something far deeper and more solemn: the remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in...

Look what the AI can do…  There’s a curl of fog that crawls across the hill behind my house, misting in the dew and saturating the live oak trees across the hilltop as they drink thirsty from the sky. The marine layer from the Monterey...

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a time not just for reflection but for action.  For decades, mental health has existed in the shadow of physical health, often stigmatized, misunderstood or simply ignored. But the truth is undeniable: mental health is an important aspect of...

It’s the fifth month, and I’m still finding it difficult to wrap my head around the fact that this is my final year with you. I see that I’ve been confessing a lot to you in 2025, so let’s keep that pattern going: for...

To my council colleagues, city staff and the public, I am very excited to be a part of the many changes coming to Gilroy this year. Legislating policy in house often doesn't require budget allocations, and many of the best practices are already open...

My name is Lee Kalpin, and I was born in Gilroy in 1946. My parents subscribed to the Dispatch as far back as I can remember, and I have been a constant subscriber for at least 55 years.  In fact, in the early 1950s I...

In his Letter to the Editor on April 11, City Council member Zach Hilton misleads readers with several observations and assumptions. He makes erroneous claims about existing Cal Fire service.  And he overlooks some facts that make his support for proposed changes without logic or...

People globally celebrate Earth Day on April 22, recognizing the urgent need to help our planet.  What began in 1970 as a grassroots environmental movement in the United States has since grown into the largest secular observance in the world, involving more than a...

The annual Poppy Jasper International Film Festival wrapped up its weeklong celebration of film Wednesday with a tour of Hollister wineries, a final film screening and the closing ceremony and audience awards at the Granada Theater in Hollister. PJIFF executive director Mattie Scariot said this...

I am writing to address troubling misinformation recently shared by Gilroy City Council member Zach Hilton regarding the status of South County Fire Engine 69 and the future of our city's fire services.  Councilmember Hilton has claimed that Engine 69 has been shut down for...