The following events, organizations and people deserve either a
Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week:
THUMBS UP: For the Pinnacles National Monument and the recent addition of another 1,700 acres of land. The Tuesday dedication of land marked more than a decade of work by landowners, environmentalists, and members of congress in securing the property that many feared may end up in the hands of developers. Now it’s protected property of the federal government, as it should be.
THUMBS DOWN: To the funding situation forcing San Benito High School to turn away kids that want to take extra classes this summer. Last year, more than 1,700 students enrolled in summer school classes to fill their empty summer days, but only 800 actually completed their six-week courses. This year the school will cut costs by only allowing 250 kids participate, 150 of which will be chosen through a lottery. That means hundreds of kids will have plenty of time to find trouble during those lazy summer days.
THUMBS UP: To local resident Desirey Villamonte and her family. When she became pregnant with her first son at 14 years old, Villamonte decided to keep the child and ultimately married the father in 2000. Now the happy couple has three children, a home, and a bright future in Hollister.
THUMBS DOWN: Though the Fish and Wildlife Service did designate 450,000 acres of land as critical habitat for the red-legged frog, including almost 44,000 in San Benito County, the final designation was far less than the original 4.1 million acres and the revised 738,000 acres considered by FWS in the past. The frog, made famous by journalist turned author Mark Twain, will become extinct without more protected habitat, environmentalists say.
THUMBS UP: For the statewide commemoration of the 1906 Earthquake and the awareness it raised for creating safety plans in times of emergency. Though the quake damaged a lot of Hollister, few lives were lost to the temblor. The residents banded together and rebuilt the city we call home today. More importantly, the commemoration reminds us that another catastrophic earthquake is inevitable and we should all be prepared.
THUMBS DOWN: To the donor fatigue that has routed the local Red Cross. The outpouring support for Katrina victims was obviously needed, but we have local needs at home too. The Red Cross is often the first-responding relief agency for families that suffer such tragedies as losing their homes to fires and it needs our support.
