Fred called around 11 a.m. Thursday concerned about his local
newspaper. With all the bad news about the industry
– the possible folding of the San Francisco Chronicle and the
decline of the San Jose Mercury News – he wanted to help and told
me how important he thought
”
getting the news to the people was in our wonderful
community.
”
Fred told me he belonged to a few community organizations and
would go with me to
”
spread the word
”
about how important local newspapers are. That passion I share.
But a recent report issued by the Pew Research Center concluded
that many would not miss their local paper because,
”
They believe television produces a lot of the crucial reporting
in their local communities.
”
Yikes, the only way TV gets to Gilroy is if: a) They read a
compelling story in The Dispatch and feed off our reporting or b) A
disaster that demands coverage happens. …
Fred called around 11 a.m. Thursday concerned about his local newspaper. With all the bad news about the industry – the possible folding of the San Francisco Chronicle and the decline of the San Jose Mercury News – he wanted to help and told me how important he thought “getting the news to the people was in our wonderful community.” Fred told me he belonged to a few community organizations and would go with me to “spread the word” about how important local newspapers are. That passion I share. But a recent report issued by the Pew Research Center concluded that many would not miss their local paper because, “They believe television produces a lot of the crucial reporting in their local communities.” Yikes, the only way TV gets to Gilroy is if: a) They read a compelling story in The Dispatch and feed off our reporting or b) A disaster that demands coverage happens. …
Whether or not South County Housing gets cash from the city to buy six homes in its stalled downtown Cannery housing project will never get covered, for example. Neither would the Gilroy High Choir and certainly the local St. Patrick’s Day fund-raising dinner did not get any airtime. So, support your local paper and ease Fred’s mind.
Mind you, there are some calling the raises dished out at City Hall Haglundomics. The “stimulus package” City Administrator Tom Haglund shepherded has given out more than $100,000 in raises while the city lays off employees and charges Council members 50 cents for a Diet Coke. It’s astonishing … so astonishing that it did make TV news – after, of course, the airwave crowd read the story in The Dispatch …
Dispatch this caustic, sarcastic suggestion … Even though it’s brimming with dark humor, it’s a lousy idea to propose that the city buy 30 homes at South County Housing’s Cannery project and give them to management employees as a “morale” bonus …
Montina’s “morale” birthday bonus for her dad, Ernesto Filice, who turns some ungodly age today, is a string of victories that would make any father (or mother, Patty) proud. Montina’s college acceptance list reads like Who’s Who on the nation’s top business school list – NYU, University of North Carolina, USC, UCLA, University of San Diego … and the list goes on.
Listing precipitously is our community’s battle against graffiti. Imagine if we had put that $100,000 in raises toward graffiti-catching video surveillance equipment and abatement … instead our community is being trashed by a few punks and the city budget cuts are hampering the ability to fight back. Community Services Officer Rachel Munoz needs our help. First, if you witness a tagging in progress, call 911, and be a good witness. What were they wearing? How many? If they leave the scene, report which direction they are heading. Call 911 for a crime in progress. If it’s after the fact, report the graffiti to the hotline – 846-0395. Second, volunteer to adopt an area. The light poles, the utility boxes and street signs can be taken care of with “good stuff” available at Orchard Supply or from Adam at the Urban Restoration Group at 818-247-255. Rachel also needs many volunteers. You can join her anti-graffiti legion by dashing off an e-mail. She is desperately trying to keep up and ready to enlist you at
Ra**********@ci.us
.
Keeping up with all the charitable events in town is tough, but Cathy Light and Karen Titus sent word of the ever-popular “Got to Have It” White Elephant Ladies Auction put on by the Hearts of Gilroy to benefit Community Solutions. Here’s how it works: Ladies bring an auction item and the old saying “one woman’s junk is another woman’s alluring treasure” takes hold as the wine flows. If that’s not enticing enough, there’s a bonus prize for the woman who dons the best shoes for the Saturday, April 18 event. Char Camell won it last year with Tanya Patterson placing second. Ladies start your sandal straps by calling Cathy at 497-1512 or Karen at 813-9647. the winning shoes will be on permanent display at the Gilroy Museum … not …
Not good if the word on the street – that the city of Gilroy buys all its awards and plaques from out-of-town vendors – is true. Every dollar spent here counts, and it’s especially important now. City Hall should consider how to spend every dime locally first. If that’s not clear, the Council should make it crystal clear – buy local first. To do otherwise now is a recipe for disaster …
No disaster recipes, please, for the Garlic Festival’s Great Garlic Cook-off amateur cooking competition. Recipes being accepted through May 1. My Sweetie and I made it through the first round one year after spending the day at Pajaro Dunes perfecting the recipe for Garlichoke Cioppino. Fresh artichokes, plenty of garlic and seafood from Phil’s plus some creative culinary blending made what we considered to be a fabulous dish worthy of the final four. But we didn’t get through the second round … . The big prize is $1,000 and it’s great when somebody close to home wins it. Submit an entry to the sniffable address:
cl***@gi******************.com
.
My entry into the NCAA pool can’t match last year’s march to the brink of perfection. But it’s still the best sporting event in America. Pitt to win it all …
