The two locally elected officials I’ve admired most during the
last 24 years from the editor’s chair are Mike Gilroy and Don Gage.
Unfortunately for us, the former has moved to Texas. Fortunately,
we still have the latter in our geographic midst.
The two locally elected officials I’ve admired most during the last 24 years from the editor’s chair are Mike Gilroy and Don Gage. Unfortunately for us, the former has moved to Texas. Fortunately, we still have the latter in our geographic midst. Don Gage, councilman, mayor, county supervisor and soon to be water district board member, is being termed out from the Board of Supes after 14 years. Geez, time flies. Has he really been there that long? His wife, Jeannie, looks the same as the day Don was sworn in. Don has been a representative with a good heart – someone who tries to do the right thing for the community. He’s made goofs (a critical vote in favor of BART-to-San Jose stands out), but he’s done a world of good work. His positions have been a blend of common sense, compassion and realistic assessment that have yielded pragmatic, middle-of-the-road stances. It’s difficult not to like “The EnGAGEr” because he’s a genuinely nice guy. That’s helped him a great deal along the way, of course, and there will be a huge turnout for the farewell party marking his departure from the Board of Supervisors. To get a ticket – it’s only $12 – go to http://dongageretirement.eventbrite.com. The BBQ dinner will start at 5 p.m. on Oct. 23 at the Family Community Church, 478 Piercey Road in San Jose. And know, Uncle/Father Dan I don’t know why he’s not retiring in a Catholic Church. I do know he deserves a fond farewell and that the dinner will be good and plenty.
Dinner will be great on the westside, too, as in Westside Grill where son-in-law Steve has accepted owner John Holder’s offer to become the executive chef. Some of you have already been treated to Steve’s Sauteed Mushroom Stuffed Squash Blossoms, sourced locally from LJB Farms, which have received rave reviews since debuting at Don Christopher’s annual Garlic Festival dinner. Happy to have him close to home and know that his hard work at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago, Manresa in Los Gatos and Maggiano’s at Santana Row (sure, you can brag a bit on your S-I-L) will be a dining bonus for Gilroyans.
Which is exactly what we need – Gilroyans – for the First Annual Tee off for St. Joe’s Golf Tournament which is fast approaching on Friday, Oct. 8 at the 11-hole Gem Gilroy Golf Course. We’ve kept it reasonable, in fact, it’s a bargain. Lunch, BBQ dinner, golf, wine, water and beer all for $100. It’s a Scramble, so you don’t have to be “good” and there are beaucoup prizes to be had – golf foursomes at Cordevalle, Boulder Ridge, Eagle Ridge, Cinnabar Hills, San Juan Oaks, Silver Creek and Laguna Seca … Barb DeLorenzo has been a master builder of prize inventory. To sign up call the gracious Lili Armenta at St. Joseph’s Family Center: 842-6662.
Family is counting the days until youngest daughter Mariah actually heads off to Oregon State University, that’s the Beavers, not the Ducks. So many people have had such kind words about her pending, bittersweet (for Jenny and I) departure and that’s been a real reminder of why Gilroy is Great. Her jobs at Nob Hill and First Street Coffee put her in constant contact with the public and the kind, encouraging words have been appreciated. She’s excited to get started of course and I’m excited to see OSU line up against Louisville at beautiful Reser Stadium in a big time fall football game.
I’m more excited about the prospect for a toll road linking U.S. 101 with the Central Valley than I am about the prospect of high speed rail zipping into downtown Gilroy. I want to believe that HSR is going to be a grand economic shot in the arm with the pluses easily outweighing the minuses 5-to-1, but unfortunately I don’t. I wish I did, I wish I did, I wish I did … but this is not a children’s book.
Book, ding … chose an epic novel recently at the OSU bookstore in Corvallis, one published in 1989 called “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett. It’s hefty, just short of 1,000 pages of small paperback type. If your patient, it’s a decades-spanning tale that’s worth it.
What a tale came in the email after our “No of Prop 19” edit. Todd, dear, writes: “Pull your conservative heads out of your —– and smell the public liberty that is hopefully going to be remitted to the people of California. Your half thought of an opinion is precisely why Americans are still considered morons. Read the studies, follow the science, and please leave your moral crusades to bicycle trips on Sundays …” Now, if that’s not a reason to vote against Prop 19, I don’t know what is … anyone for a fine fall Sunday bike ride?
Reach Editor Mark Derry at ed****@****ic.com
