School supplies event would be sweet music to many teacher’s ears
While watching the Grammy Awards on TV, the host made a big deal about nominating your favorite music teacher for the Music Educator of the Year Award and I thought about the retiring Gilroy Unified School District’s treasured teacher Phil Robb and how much beautiful music he has helped make through the years with all the choirs. The Grammy Music Educator Award is given “In recognition of the significant role of teachers in shaping their students’ musical experiences … and will be given out during Grammy Week 2014.” The nomination process is open and detailed at www.grammymusicteacher.com. Deadline for submissions is April 15 and the winner receives a $10,000 honorarium. What would be especially cool is if the GHS/CHS choir could sing back-up on stage at the Grammy Awards for one of the bands. Now that would be some swan song for a great retiring teacher.
Satellite radio offers listeners commercial-free entertainment – and plenty of choices
It's a long drive, and to help pass the time you tune into your
Ellis wins back-to-back events
John Ellis won his second tournament in a row Sunday, capturing
SVCT opens 45th season with ‘Spelling Bee’
South Valley Civic Theatre recently celebrated its 44th season at the annual People’s Choice Awards Show where Rob Barham and Kel Whisner, as Masters of Ceremony, brought down the house with audience participation and watermelons. Not surprisingly, “The Wizard of Oz,” with special effects, outstanding costumes and scenery, and a huge cast, took home the lion’s share of awards. There isn’t room here to mention names but you can get the low down at www.svct.org.
Desperation time as May 19 special statewide election approaches
You always know politicians are desperate when they begin
Where there’s Gilroy smoke, there’s garlic and fire
Union for the firefighters and the police officers took it on the chin in San Jose and San Diego Tuesday. Voters in both major urban centers, tired of lavish pensions enjoyed at the expense of taxpayers and other city services, voted overwhelmingly to enact significant pension reforms. Despite San Jose clearly being a Democratic stronghold, more than 70 percent of voters approved Measure B which requires employees to pay more into the current retirement plan or change to a more reasonable plan. It also limits benefits for new hires. At last a breath of common sense. The looming unfunded liabilities will eventually catch up to all California cities and, as more cash is needed to fund those luxurious pensions, the less money will be available for cities to provide services. Meanwhile, back in the real world, a city summer recreation Little Skill Builders soccer “camp” offering that runs for five days from 9:30 to 11 a.m. for 4 to 6 year olds will cost you a whopping $90. Not surprisingly, only hours after the crushing defeat in San Jose, the “new elite” – the public safety union employees – filed lawsuits to stop the reforms.
“Retail therapy”: Emotional spending is bad for your bottom line, experts say
So, your boss yelled at you, you had a fight with your husband and your kids are being jerks. Time to go shopping, right?
‘Hey, mom, that’s really not my report card, honest …’
AWOL report cards, thoughts on the city budget mess and a thanks

















