Opinion

It was a warm Thursday summer evening, and everything was in place. I stepped back and was completely in awe. In previous years, I had seen the wonder of creating a venue in a matter of days, having a celebration of Garlic and family for...

Part 1 of this article, “Steps needed to create a thriving community,” which was published in the May 20 edition of the Gilroy Dispatch, covered the first five common characteristics of thriving communities. This final installment will discuss the remaining four steps and stress why...

Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a two-part series. Why are some communities unable to maintain their historic character and quality of life in the face of a rapidly changing world, or lose the features that once gave them distinction and appeal? How...

Three years ago, the possibility of a global pandemic took up about as much headspace for most people as the possibility of a global conflict: technically possible, but not really a “thing” in this millennium. But as it turns out, history repeats itself. And...

When you enter the Gilroy Veterans Memorial Building on Sixth and Eigleberry, you will see photos of local veterans and awards they have earned. One of these is Bill Economou, a World War I hero.  Bill’s story is uplifting, and you may be able to...

Unfortunately, for the third time in as many years, the Garlic Festival, due to numerous circumstances, will not take place. The community’s largest “family reunion,” to the disappointment of everyone, is on hold. What’s more disappointing is the firestorm of name-calling, finger-pointing (especially at the...

I read with great interest the Guest View article by Mr. Gary Walton, “It’s time to power up our local newspaper” (Gilroy Dispatch, March 25). I agree with such alarm and the fear of not having a local newspaper. Going through memory lane, I recall that...

Re: CNN article, May 4: “The Satanic Temple requests that Boston fly its flag after Supreme Court ruling” When the City of Gilroy first discussed the issue of flying the LGBTQ flag on the city's flagpole, a few of us tried to warn that the...

I just got finished reading the morning newspaper and watching the news. I don’t know why I do that because all there is is bad news.  So what I got out of it was eye-opening: murder, street racing, kidnapping, racism, robbery, vandalism, Covid-19, inflation, war...

On April 21, the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association (GGFA) released a statement that the Garlic Festival was postponed indefinitely due to prohibitive insurance required by the City of Gilroy. We stand by that statement. Some of the talk online against the city and council is...