When the editor’s office phone rings
… well, let’s just say it’s a mixed bag. So, here’s the kind of
call that makes my week:
”
Hi, this is Katie Helland
– and guess what I got to do today – I interviewed Kerri Walsh
…
”
And our summer intern who’s a Mitty High School student and
resident of San Martin ebulliently described her experience being
in the media pack interviewing the Olympic gold medalist in
volleyball who is a former Mitty student. And she was so excited to
say … Mark Purdy from the Mercury was there and somebody from
Channel 11 and she held her own with the questions and it was so
cool, and then she effusively said thank you for the
opportunity
… There are some young people destined to do special things, and
my money’s on Katie Helland, and I’m thrilled she’s so positively
passionate about journalism …
When the editor’s office phone rings … well, let’s just say it’s a mixed bag. So, here’s the kind of call that makes my week: “Hi, this is Katie Helland – and guess what I got to do today – I interviewed Kerri Walsh …” And our summer intern who’s a Mitty High School student and resident of San Martin ebulliently described her experience being in the media pack interviewing the Olympic gold medalist in volleyball who is a former Mitty student. And she was so excited to say … Mark Purdy from the Mercury was there and somebody from Channel 11 and she held her own with the questions and it was so cool, and then she effusively said thank you for the opportunity … There are some young people destined to do special things, and my money’s on Katie Helland, and I’m thrilled she’s so positively passionate about journalism …
On that passionate note, let’s talk wedding. Saturday, Kai and Libby Lai turned back to my wife and I in the pew of the gorgeous Five Wounds Church in San Jose and said, “You know this is a Gilroy royalty wedding?” And I did, of course, with two mayors in the house – one current and one former. Guess that’s as close to royalty as we get in Gilroy, though you could make a case for Cat Tucker, the Queen of the swing votes … Anyway, Mike Gilroy’s grandson, Chris Henderson, married a first cousin of Al Pinheiro’s, Kristen Rosa, in a lovely ceremony in the venerable Portuguese National Church off Santa Clara St. So, indeed, it’s a small world after all, and, no, as far as I know nobody in the wedding party was related to Craig Gartman.
Family relations should know better than to drop their children off on Miller Avenue to walk to Solorsano School, and then flip a very dangerous u-turn right across from the east entrance to Christmas Hill Park. Note to Chief Turner: the Gilroy Police Department should have a traffic officer rotate to that specific area in the morning. Otherwise, there’s going to be an accident and in this case it’s parents who won’t take a few minutes to drive the whole way … though I’m all for children riding their bikes to school. As a young lad, I really enjoyed that – except when I got halfway there before discovering that my dog Maverick was right behind me …
A maverick with vestments: Gilroyan Rev. Mateo Sheedy is still making a difference long after his untimely passing in 2000. In San Jose Wednesday, not far from his beloved Sacred Heart Parish, a school with a way cool name was dedicated in his honor. Rev. Sheedy had to be smiling widely in heaven as Rocketship Mateo Sheedy Elementary climbed to new heights with the heartfelt dedication. His vision and persuasive powers gave birth to the charter school where plenty of students have English challenges. How about this for a Rocketship API score: 886. Mateo’s brother, one of Gilroy’s finest, Sgt. John Sheedy, had to be bursting with pride at the dedication. How do they achieve so much? High expectations, caring teachers, extended days from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and specialist senior teachers in literacy and math. Dare I say that Rev. Sheedy would say it’s not rocket science, just belief in the students and a common sense structure. And a visit to that school from Superintendent Debbie Flores and a Gilroy contingent would make a whole lot of sense.
Speaking of sense, I’m glad to see that at long, long last Gilroy High School is moving toward a sensible schedule change that would put final exams before, not after, Christmas/winter break. Hallelujah! Do you think the students just might be better served taking finals without a three-week break between the tests and the class material? … Still not sure why we need a committee to get that done …
In that same vein, might I suggest that Gavilan College President Steve Kinsella halt the time-honored and ridiculous practice of closing the registration office the day before classes starts. That’s not serving students. Hold a staff training day some other time.
Time’s a wastin’ so get your tickets to the Great Barn Dance and BBQ at Joey and Katie Aiello’s Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Sept. 20. It’s a benefit for a very worthy and important community cause, the Saint Louise Hospital Foundation. Festivities, which include hay rides for the kids, a silent auction, live music and dancing, begin at 3 p.m. Call 779-4510 or visit www.saintlouiseregionalhospital.org. Judy Bonino, who has fabulously fresh and sweet corn for sale at her family’s LJB Farms on Fitzgerald Avenue in north Gilroy, promises good food and a good time and points out that tickets are hardly extravagant at only $50 per.
Free for the crying is Nick’s shoulder at Sue’s Coffee downtown. Barista Karen asked me to tell ya’ll that the “barista who cares about your troubles” starts his shift at 10:30 a.m. …
Troubling it is when I thought about this quote and saw the foyer display at Barnes and Noble – featuring, can you believe it? – children’s books on Barack Obama and John McCain. “Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right and a desire to know.” ~ John Adams … and we’re not talking about 6-year-olds, so please do some homework and vote your conscience.
