Organization aids underprivileged students
Santa Clara County is one of the nation’s most prosperous areas. Highly paid Silicon Valley workers have supported an economy featuring luxury cars, expensive homes and high-quality social amenities. Our South Valley area, however, is not so fortunate. Gilroy trails the rest of the county, having high rates of poverty, unemployment and schools struggling to meet the needs of their students.
‘Mary Poppins!’: Joyous, captivating enchantment
“Mary Poppins” was written by P.L.Travers, a native Australian who spent most of her life in England. Disney made an entrancing movie, with Julian Fellowes adapting the story for the stage with the award-winning Sherman Brothers supplying the music and lyrics. Their delightful music and words fascinated and gave the world a charming gift.
Tobacco comes with hidden costs
Kurt Drückler was a heavy smoker. For many years, the German gentleman ran a tobacco shop on the corner of Alexandrinen and Sebastian streets in the heart of Berlin. A few months after I was born, he died from emphysema. This lingering and painful disease, caused by years of inhaling tobacco smoke, prevented him from traveling to the United States in 1966 to see me, his newborn grandson.
Local teen headed for great – and artsy – things
As an Arts and Culture Commissioner for the City of Gilroy, I look forward to the enthusiastic interaction of commissioners and student representatives at monthly meetings. For the past two years, Julianna Vanni has represented Christopher High School, reporting the school’s art activities with enthusiasm and passion.
Squirrels taking over!
“Red Phone, we live in the county and we’re having a bigger problem than normal with ground squirrels. They are undermining our barn and there just seems to be more than ever. Also, we’re concerned because they carry diseases. We tried shooting them, we tried trapping them, but they are just everywhere and we’re running out of ideas. Surely, we can’t be the only ones. Help!”
Seeking truth about immigration controversy
Immigration is a topic of heated discussion in the United States. The current presidential campaign has provoked fear, distortions, outrage and scary stories; a case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court seeks to resolve how much control states can have over non-citizens living within their borders.
