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Donned in true cowgirl fashion, including hat, boots and even a quirt, Karen Quest treated her audience of children and adults to a true trick-rope rodeo show at Gilroy Library on June 17.

I recently embarked upon a program of self-improvement, which is a fancy way of saying “I joined the gym.” I did this not for my health, but because I realized a fundamental truth: when you are getting too fat for your stretchy yoga pants, you should probably do something about it.

It is my understanding that Governor Brown wants the high-speed train to be his legacy. I have another idea for a better legacy that will benefit all Californians, as opposed to a much smaller percent of the state’s population that could potentially use the high-speed train that is estimated to cost $68 billion.

Through economic lows and high-tech booms, those who create and promote visual art have continued in their artistic endeavors and say they are better for it.

The Addams family has taken up residence at the San Jose Stage Theatre and everyone who visits is guaranteed a serendipitous, wild, weird, let-all-the-stops-out joyous experience with a little nostalgia thrown in for the baby boomers who will recall the TV series of the 1960s.

Yes, you read that title correctly. I’m advocating not getting in shape “in time” for swimsuit season. Needs explanation, huh?Both the internet and the print media are rife with ways to get summer-ready fast, with some guaranteed weight-loss results in less than a week. I worry, however, that a good chunk of these quick-result methods are harmful and  destined to put their users on a spin-cycle of yo-yo weight fluctuations.While the promise of pool-side lounging can make anyone think of their figures—“Hey, didn’t this swimsuit fit last year?”—I like to use the season as a way to re-focus on fitness and good health, rather than hurriedly changing body shape at any cost. So, when talking about summer fitness expectations, here are some of the “don’ts” and “do’s” that I try to live by.And now for the do’s.Do seek professional medical advice before beginning a new fitness or eating planDo tweak an existing fitness plan for the season, for example by incorporating more toning exercises…and not be bummed if it doesn’t seem to make a difference.Do tweak an existing eating plan to compensate for the summer; for example by drinking more water or eating seasonal vegetables.Do be realistic about when results will appear. With my present regimen, I saw results within six weeks, close friends saw results in eight weeks, and erstwhile acquaintances saw results at about 12 weeks.Do be realistic about what shape or size is to be achieved. Not everyone is going to look like that photo-shopped model on the internet. After all, thanks to Photoshop, even that model doesn’t look like that in real life.And the don'ts:Don’t resort to any diet that is really just disguised anorexia. For most people, this is any diet of less than 1,200 calories a day (your doctor can tell you where this threshold lies for you.)Don’t resort to any diet or supplement that is really just disguised bulimia or dehydration. This includes teas, herbs, pills, etc. that promise to “help” your body get rid of unwanted body weight “quickly.”Don’t resort to any diet that advocates dropping an entire food group out of your diet for a length of time. Even if it’s whole grain carbs. I know, I know…it’s the “in thing” right now, but I can’t see prolonged periods of whole grain carb-elimination as healthy--fiber is my friend. Neera Siva is a health enthusiast, mom, patent attorney and writer, in no particular order, and a South Bay resident. All opinions expressed in this column are hers and hers alone. Check out her website at healthierbites.com.

On Monday evening the City Council voted 4 to 3 to accept the North Gilroy Neighborhood District (NGND) Water Supply Assessment, prepared as part of the effort to bring 720 acres into Gilroy and develop it into a sprawling housing development. The Assessment is an evaluation of the ability of Gilroy’s water supply to support approximately four thousand new homes in the proposed development. It concludes that yes, our water supply can do that. Four of the council members bought that conclusion. Council members Bracco, Tucker and Velasco disagreed, and so do I.

When retired pastor Earnest Brooks receives a box of rocks for Father’s Day, he’s a happy man. As he puts it, “I’m probably the only man around who gets a box of rocks for Father’s Day and appreciates them!”That’s because they’re Coquina rocks, collected on a Florida beach by Earnest’s middle daughter, Carol, along with husband, Jeff, and their daughter, Hailey, a student at the University of Denver.

“My Fair Lady”captivates the audience from the moment the curtain rises to the closing scene. The musical is over 55 years old and still holds the charm and delight it did the day it opened on Broadway in 1956 with Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews. It ran for a record breaking 2,717 sold-out award-winning performances and went on to a multi-Academy-Award-winning movie.

Father’s Day breakfast