The following events, organizations and people deserve either a
Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week:
THUMBS UP: The City of Hollister’s wastewater improvement project appears to be rolling. The city has accepted a bid for the first phase of the project that was $14 million less than the engineer’s estimate of $71.3 million. City Manager Clint Quilter said in a press release: “We look forward to ending this difficult period in Hollister’s history.” The city this week also approved the final Environmental Impact Report for the project. We hope optimism is in order. Construction is slated to begin in early December. Let’s get this thing going.
THUMBS DOWN: Last month some Hollister students brought a replica of a pistol to school. This week an already-exploded bomb was tossed onto a school playground in Gilroy. Our schools should not be subject to a disregard for common sense or outright mayhem or the kind of pranks that, in light of recent deadly shootings in the nation, breed fear and a feeling that anything can happen. Let’s not allow violence, or its threat, to take root in our schools.
THUMBS UP: The Chamberlain’s Children Center has a new playground, and a gazebo and barbecue to boot. The center is a last-chance home for children with emotional or behavior issues, and the sparkling playground provides them with a quality-of-life boost. Leadership San Benito’s Class of 2005 was instrumental in helping the center reach its goal. We applaud them for putting in the work to make the community a better place.
THUMBS UP: Halloween night was peaceful for residents and law enforcement, a relief for everyone, particularly when taking into consideration the violence that transpired in other places such as Santa Cruz and San Francisco, where as many as 10 people were shot in the Castro District. There’s celebration, and then there’s mob and criminal behavior. Halloween was scary in Hollister, in the right kind of way.
THUMBS DOWN: The county Probation Department has continued to remain silent in the face of four suspensions in the past month. While no one expects officials to open the books on personnel matters, some – make that any – communication with the public is warranted. Taxpayers deserve to know how their public money is being spent, and if there are challenges or problems with how that money is being spent, they deserve some insight. Being forthcoming and admitting a problem is not a sign of weakness.
THUMBS UP: Shirley Sergent has spent years helping to put a smile on people’s faces through her musical work with the San Benito Stage Company. She is stepping down as the company’s president, but will remain involved because, well, why shouldn’t she? If you love the stage, and performing music, then why not help out? We hope Sergent continues on, and at age 76 she doesn’t show many signs slowing down. She deserves a standing ovation.
