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No sooner were the latest special election results in than the

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – There's got to be a way to put a positive spin on this, right? Seeing Detroit ace Justin Verlander come into Kauffman Stadium and get his head kicked in like . . . well, like so many other guys who pitched in recent years for the home squad . . .  that's not an all-discouraging thing, is it?

Second play, 'Raised in Captivity,' produced by Live Oak High

Would Cinco de Mayo be a day of much celebratory significance for Mexican-Americans if, back on May 5, 1862, more than 8,000 French men had invaded Mexico looking for low-end jobs such as picking produce or pruning hedges? Probably not.

A December 14th article by Jim Connolly, of BBC News Magazine, states that in England, the number of people running on a regular basis has risen by a third since 2005. In England, or possibly the UK, nearly 2 million people are running at least thirty minutes to stay fit. Contrast that with America where, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association report (2012), there are approximately 28,651,00 core runners (defined as 50 or more runs/ year).

Community Solutions is one of those grassroots organizations that has flourished. It’s become an integral part of the social fabric in South County, improving lives as only a compassionate and capable social service agency can. The fundraiser to celebrate CS’s 40th birthday at Frank Leal’s impressively renovated Willow Heights Mansion, which is north and west of Morgan Hill, not only highlighted the good work done by CS CEO Erin O’Brien and her staff, but it showed off the community support that is so critical to the success of a community service agency. Master of Ceremonies Jayson Stebbins from Guild Mortgage Company really kept the program moving ahead while showing a real penchant for impromptu humor. And, if you haven’t been to the Mansion since Frank, the owner of Leal Vineyards in Hollister, bought it, try to make a point to go. It’s sharply spruced up, ready for weddings, events and soon to be open as a regular wine tasting station for Leal. Hats off to generous Gilroy McDonald’s owners Steve and Jan Peat for the donation of a limo ride and candlelight dinner auction item at MickeyD’s. Supervisor Mike Wasserman, who definitely deserves a break today, paddled up to win the Big Mac bid. Jim and Andrea Habing picked up a stunning wine lot donated by Erin O’Brien left from her late father’s wine collection. And Gilroy Councilman Perry Woodward outlasted a few bidders looking to spend a few days in the Grand Tetons. Great food, good time, beautiful setting and an organization worthy of strong support.

Nothing pleases me more than to hear from a reader about a column I wrote that they particularly enjoyed or that struck a chord. It also makes me happy to hear from folks with column ideas, and recently I received such an email. It, in turn, sparked a corresponding chord with me. More about that in a bit.