GOOD EGGS, ROTTEN EGGS AND A WHOLE LOT OF SPENDING GOING ON

Early in the morning on Veterans Day, John Tomasello hit the streets
to decorate downtown with American flags as a tribute and reminder to
everyone about the sacrifices our men and women in the Armed Forces
have made. John is one of those unsung heroes who quietly keeps giving
to make Gilroy a better place. Whether it's a spaghetti feed or a
music event, he's always in the mix helping out. Now that's a good egg.

From good egg to rotten ... well, well, the MediLeaf marijuana
dispensary moved into town - offering, in a tasty touch of irony, 31
"flavors" of cannabis to its customers. They appeared much the same
way as the Colts disappeared from Baltimore - stealthily and under the
cover of darkness. Not-so-smooth operators Neil Forrest and Batzi
Kuborovich didn't like the answer they received from the community and
the City Council so they tossed our laws aside, then conveniently
claimed it didn't matter because the business is a "nonprofit". What a
load of cannabis ... in my book, as the old song goes, the owners are
"one toke over the line."

City Councilman Peter Arellano, no doubt, remembers that 1970 Brewer
and Shipley one-hit wonder ... So, what's two tokes over the line ...
Medileaf's owner Batzi Kuburovich, the person illegally operating a
dispensary here, sporting a white

T-shirt on illegal opening day emblazoned with "Peter Arellano for
Santa Clara County supervisor" ... classic.

It's not illegal for two Morgan Hill residents to open a pot shop in
Gilroy, but maybe it should be ... here's a potentially expensive
court battle for Gilroy taxpayers precipitated by two MH residents.
Why didn't they open the damn thing in their own home town - couldn't
face the music at the grocery store?

Sadly, two stores closed in downtown Gilroy as the fantastic Lizarran
Restaurant opened in Old City Hall. Nevaeh Clothing Boutique, owned
and operated by the lovely and helpful Jene Garcia Mitchell, who is QB
Jeff Garcia's sister, shut its doors and so did Firehouse 55
Restaurant right around the corner. Jene had great taste and, when it
came to finding a quick gift, her store was money so it's sad to see
her go. Firehouse 55 simply never got out of the gate.

Out of the gate and back in business, however, is the Morgan Hill
Tobacco Company, that "Cheersesque" haven on Monterey Street in
downtown Morgan Hill, for a glass of wine and a cigar. New operator
Roger Hay reports that the hours will be Monday through Saturday 10 to
10 "with a wee bit of flexibility Friday and Saturday" and Sunday 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. No changes, thankfully, in the relaxed and friendly
atmosphere ...

Such an interesting atmosphere emanating from Washington D.C. these
days. According to the feds, Gilroy Unified School District received
$4,472,769 ostensibly to educate and provide equal educational
opportunity for homeless children. The federal Web site to track
stimulus dollars is clunky and incomplete, but we're going to take a
look at where this money has gone. Clearly, $4 million isn't being
used in GUSD to education homeless children in the district's 57,000
or so population area.

No federal stimulus dollars just hard work for the Gilroy Street Team
under the direction of David Cox, St. Joseph's Family Center director.
The team turned into the "Clean Street Machine" recently to spiff up
the sidewalks and pick up debris in and around downtown. Eric Howard,
president of the Gilroy Downtown Business Association and Steve
Ashford, from Ashford's Antiques, recognized the group with a hot dog
lunch and certificates last week. Now that's community good will
that's priceless ...

Priceless tidbit for publication from one John Zekanowski who reports
that his son, while watching a recent episode of the "The Office",
caught this line from the main character, Michael. While verbalizing
his bucket list. Michael said, "I'd like to go to the Garlic Festival.
There's this little town and they have a Garlic Festival every year.
I'd like to go there." Sniff, sniff ... I smell a celebrity judge for
the one, the only, the Great Gilroy Garlic Festival Cook-off. PR
Peter, as in Ciccarelli, should be all over that pastability ...

Good week to turn the possibility of thanking an American soldier into
reality. Thank you Sgt. Molly Howe, USMC, and her Gilroy parents, Jack
and Ann Howe. Sgt. Howe recently returned from her second deployment
to Iraq. She is a Career Retention Specialist for Marine Medium
Helicopter Squadron 268 and worked with Marine Light Attack Helicopter
Squadron 169. She has also served as a coordinator for United Through
Reading, in which Marines from her squadrons were recorded reading
books to their children back home. If you know a veteran or active
duty soldier, honor Veterans Day this week with a thank you. And
here's a thought - the next time you're at a diner on the road and you
spot a soldier in uniform, pick up their meal tab. It's a nice way to
say thanks.