Four letters: the San Martin Lions Club home; Gilroy Prep School
clarification; the wrong perception of the Tea Party folks;and the
storied history of the first Gilroy library building
Supervisor: Lions will likely stay at the club’s San Martin home
Dear Editor,
Over the past few weeks, community members have expressed concern regarding the future use of a 5-acre parcel of land at San Martin Airport that includes the county-owned building that is currently leased by the San Martin Lions Club.
Gavilan College has expressed interest in leasing this parcel for their aviation program.
I have been in contact with Steve Kinsella, the president of Gavilan College, and I believe we will be able to find a solution that benefits everyone. Gavilan does not wish to lease the building, in fact, and would prefer to bring its own portable classrooms on to the parcel. This would leave the building available for use by the community.
Of course, this is all subject to conformance with applicable codes and regulations, but I believe we have found a workable solution. I will be working with Gavilan, the Lions Club and county staff to help make this happen.
Don Gage, supervisor, District 1
Just to clarify, Gilroy Prep School will be an independent employer
Dear Editor,
As one of the founding members of the proposed charter school, Gilroy Prep School, I felt that it was important to address the issue regarding employee rights at our school brought up by Mr. Dale Morejohn in his recent letter. He was accurate on several points of concern he raised and I want to address them further so there is no confusion.
Gilroy Prep School, as a public charter school, will be subject to all education labor relations laws. This fact is clearly stated in the charter petition and I should have clarified that point at our last public meeting. We are choosing to be the independent employer for bargaining purposes and understand fully that our staff has the right to organize, if they choose to do so.
At this time, we will be submitting our petition to Gilroy Unified Board of Trustees in August to be an independent charter under the district umbrella, but with our own Board of Directors, as James Dent was explaining to the audience. We would have a Gilroy Unified School District Board member as a liaison and advisor to the board. Our intent is to work with district in a positive, collaborative way!
In fact, as a praise to Michelle Nelson, the current president of Gilroy’s bargaining unit, the California Teacher’s Association, she generously and very kindly initiated a meeting with one of our founders to discuss the merits of us choosing to not be the independent employer and becoming a part of the local bargaining unit. No matter what the outcome of that meeting is, we plan to maintain a positive, professional, respectful relationship with our colleagues in the union in the future. We understand and value the work they have done for school employees and our students.
Finally, our school team does in no way want to be perceived as doing anything illegal. We are following the guidelines that the State of California’s Charter School Division and the California Charter School Association have provided us with. We have been to many trainings, conferences and have had multiple contacts over the past few years to help us create this school.
Our goal is to provide the community of Gilroy with an excellent school of choice, an exemplary place of employment for educators, a model of educational reform that California so desperately needs right now and one with systems and structures that could be replicated in other schools and districts.
Thank you for this opportunity to respond. We look forward to providing this community with more information and details regarding the proposed charter in future forums! Look for announcements regarding upcoming events, fundraisers and our soon-to-be up, GPS website, which we are so excited about!
Sharon Waller, Gilroy Prep School Founder and teacher for Gilroy Unified School District
Far left liberal columnist suffers from a case of ‘know-it-all-itis’
Dear Editor,
So, Lisa Pampuch has the Tea Partiers all figured out. Oh! I get it. Speak your opinion and fly the American flag only when it suits her. Welcome to the world of far left liberals. If we do not agree with the present administration’s policies and protest we are automatically labeled racist. They are stuck on the “R” word, a word that is now being thrown out carelessly and bounced around like a ping-pong ball, that they are hoping that we will all run and cower from. She has become the expert on who is a true patriot and who is flying the flag accordingly. Otherwise, sit down and keep your mouth shut! Â I am glad that Ms. Pampuch likes the way the country is being handled by these Chicago thugs who are trying to ruin our country, but there are many of us who do not. Since we have such a liberal media, this is a way to let our voices be heard. Not much changes until people get angry and take a stand. This is not a bad thing. Complaining is the ultimate act of optimism, it means that we think things could be better. After reading some of Lisa’s far left rantings, I have decided that she suffers from an affliction called “know-it-all-itis,” and the only cure is pulling her head out of the sand. That you may not be flying the American flag this Fourth of July does not surprise me, but I think using the Tea Partiers is just an excuse. Hey! No hard feelings. Since we are not going away any time soon, why not come on down to our Morgan Hill Tea Party from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Saturday.
You may be enlightened to see that we are peaceful people with good intentions who only want the best for our country. (I keep looking over my shoulder to find some of the villainous people the far left have described but have found none). I will even buy you a cup of coffee (tea?) and a bagel. OH! I’m the one holding the sign that reads “Foreclose on the Whitehouse.”
Diane S. Nuno, Gilroy Â
Storied history of the wonderful 100-year-old Carnegie Library
Dear Editor,
As Gilroy prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its Carnegie Library building we thought it would be fun to share some of that history with you.
The Gilroy Historical Society plans a big celebration on the morning of Saturday, June 26 to mark the occasion. The building will be draped in bunting and newly restored portraits of Andrew Carnegie and Caroline Hoxett will be unveiled. After a few short speeches there will be tours of both floors highlighting its architectural features. Guests will receive a souvenir poster explaining the history of the building. Exhibits will feature old books and the original card catalog, plus anecdotes of the early library users. Light refreshments will be served on the lawn.
After several years of community discussion about the need for a library, and pressure from the editor of the Gilroy Advocate, the City Council finally passed a resolution to establish and maintain a library in early 1906. Mayor Dunlap wrote to Andrew Carnegie asking for a $10,000 grant and received a favorable response. As still happens today, there was lots more public discussion about whether it was advisable to accept this grant, what strings would be attached and where it should be located. Our famous benefactress, the wealthy widow Caroline Hoxett, stepped forward and saved the day by purchasing the tennis court lot on the corner of Fifth and Church Streets for $1,000.
One of the strings attached was the requirement that the plans needed approval by Carnegie’s staff. Andrew Carnegie wanted his legacy to be a substantial building that would last for a long time. The renowned Central Coast architect, William Weeks, submitted his plans for the beautiful classical style building. These blueprints went on to serve as the basis for nine other Carnegie libraries in northern California. The contractor, Hiram J. Wood of Watsonville, completed the library at a cost of $9,204. The remainder of the grant was used to buy furnishings and books.
On July 27, 1910, the brand new library opened with 1,700 books on the shelves. Beneath the central skylight rotunda four archways opened into spacious reading and book rooms. Heavy oak study tables with polished bentwood chairs awaited potential learners. Conveniences included a fireplace and a central heating system fired by coal.
Many Gilroyans have fond memories of visiting the library during their formative years. They remember the smell, the favorite books and the librarian allowing them to help re-shelve the books. The first librarian was Mary Briggs Benn, followed by Irma Whitney Kilgore, Pearl Lavin, Marjorie Grodhaus, Mary Goshert, Alice Dawson, and June Hymas. Our current librarian, Lani Yoshimura, has been in Gilroy since 1984.
In 1958 Armand White initiated a “museum” in the basement with a display of American Glass, and in 1963 the Gilroy Museum was formally established there. When we outgrew the building and the “new” library was built in 1975, the museum moved upstairs to occupy the entire building. Our Carnegie Library was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. As we begin to build our beautiful third library building on Sixth Street, it is a perfect time to celebrate the building that started it all 100 years ago.
The Gilroy Historical Society
