Definitely the tastiest Gilroy Chamber of Commerce awards dinner
I’ve been to, and I’m speaking not of the meal
– though that was good, too – but of the entire evening.
Definitely the tastiest Gilroy Chamber of Commerce awards dinner I’ve been to, and I’m speaking not of the meal – though that was good, too – but of the entire evening. It had pace and rhythm. The speeches by the award winners were heartfelt – and time sensitive. The celebration of the community included poignant moments … Carol Peters paid tribute to Lee Berta, who was the Gilroy woman of the year in 1974, by elegantly wearing her daughter’s grandmother’s white mink stole while speaking fond words. Sal Tomasello, Educator of the Year, eloquently explained instructing 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. The Solorsano Middle School principal had a legion of assistants in the crowd who blew up balloons, then released them skyward on cue. The untied air bags rose, darted wildly left and right before fizzling and falling. That’s how it is to instruct middle school students, Tomasello explained. Laughs, understanding and applause. Volunteer of the Year Jeff Orth, graciously recalled The Dispatch’s Gilroy is Great campaign (can’t believe that was 1993), and the night revolved around that constant thought. Gilroy is Great because of people like the honorees Sal Tomasello, the Habing Family, Carol Peters, Jeff Orth, Steve and Randy Costa and Kurt Michielssen. And it’s great because of Kat Filice, the incoming Chamber president, and Director Susan Valenta … a great job all the way around.
Job one for the Order of the Elks – the group should undertake a remodel to open up and update their great facility on the hill. That investment would really pay dividends in event revenue (weddings, too) and then the Chamber could bring the Spice of Life Awards dinner back to Gilroy. Shoot, there were 350-plus people at San Juan Oaks. Kudos for County Supervisor Mike Wasserman and his wife Kim who showed up at both the Morgan Hill and Gilroy chamber dinners. A good sign.
Good time at Westside Grill which rocked until 1 a.m.-plus as the after Chamber party flew from San Juan back to its Gilroy home and merged with a few other events at the city’s hot spot. People were dancing all over the carpet from bar to dining area and that closing celebration just punctuated the absolute fact that Gilroy’s Chamber celebration rocked in comparison to Morgan Hill’s.
In MH, John Fry has boatloads of Michael Bonfante’s beautiful trees surrounding the fortress otherwise known as the 8-billion-yards-long Deep Fry Golf Mecca in Morgan Hill country which will someday host the PGA Tour event now held at Cordevalle. But Gavilan College now is on par, the college being the fortunate recipient of Mike Bonfante’s generosity. The creator of Gilroy Gardens and horticulturist donated 20 trees, including Sycamores and Raywood Ash, to help replace pine trees killed by the beetle pest.
Customer service pest: “Due to budget cuts there is no longer an operator answering this phone line.” That’s what a voice eventually says when you call the main line – 848-4800 – at Gavilan College. That’s after a different voice directs a caller to the college’s website to find a phone number. Budgets are tight, I get it. But can’t the college figure out a work-study position so a real live student person can answer and help during business hours? Can’t the operator also handle another task or two while the phone is silent? How about a dial by name directory? Naw, the first impression is, “Due to budget cuts …” Can’t do instead of can do. Not the way to run a college. C’mon Trustees Laura Perry, Mark Dover and Walt Glines, Gavilan can create a better first impression and an eventual legacy.
Such an unfortunate MayorAl legacy is the alignment on our city elections with the General Election. Yep, the change championed by MayorAl gave him another year in office, but the tradeoff will continue to hurt Gilroy far into the future. Perhaps the next Council will change it and see the wisdom of keeping the election focus local instead of having Council elections – the most relevant of all races – buried under the avalanche of General Election cycle issues. Yeah, we did it to save money, right? … see story on $21.4 million city reserve fund and story on MayorAl and Dion Bracco’s $35,000 bocce ball court pitch …
Budget issues are more real at the Gilroy Unified School District offices where a $7 million budget gap looms. Gilroy High’s 31st annual Crab Cioppino Feed, which supports transportation for athletes, is more important than ever. It’s May 7 at Christopher Ranch (thanks Don and Bill for donating the facility). To-die-for, all-you-can-devour crab cioppino dinner starts at 5:30 with dancing to The Cruzers until 11 p.m. Get a group together, buy bibs, $50 tickets and have a great time just before Mom’s Day. Jack Daley at 848-7178 or [email protected] can assist.
Don’t think voters will assist GUSD, other local agencies and the collapsing state budget by voting in June to extend tax hikes that are in place. Voters are rightfully fed up with reading about outrageous public employee payouts like former San Jose police Chief Rob Davis who cashed out $300,000 in “unused” sick pay upon retirement and former Fire Chief Darryl Von Raesfeld who only got a $269,000 check for unused sick pay. Wake up City Councils, city administrators, police chiefs, fire chiefs, voters! Stop this sick abominable greed. Sick leave isn’t a public employee “retirement plan.” It’s a back-up aid to help when you’re sick. Sick days policy: 1. 10 days sick time per year. 2. Can roll over year over year to a maximum of 20 days. 3. No cash out at retirement. 4. Reach 20 unused days, opt to receive a reasonable wellness bonus and return to 10 days. (Thanks to Mercury columnist Scott Herhold for reporting on this latest travesty.)
The real travesty is that many public employees and their unions have elevated themselves into a privileged class of people, taking advantage of taxpayers and, in the process, demeaning what used to be considered noble careers.
