The following events, organizations and people deserve either a
Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week:
THUMBS UP: Tradition stands for a lot in San Benito County, and some gatherings have grown to such stature they require a bigger building to accommodate everyone. The annual Jovenes De Antaño Thanksgiving lunch served more than 200 seniors and friends an outstanding meal at the Vet’s Hall on Thursday. A big thank you also goes to all the volunteers, and the Top Hatters motorcycle club for their continued help in putting this event on every year. And let’s not forget the donations – some 140 turkeys were donated for this event.
THUMBS DOWN: To the Free Lance editor for giving a thumbs down to our local vote counters without getting all the facts. We still think getting a final vote count takes too long, but the fact is that other counties are in the same predicament. Santa Clara and Monterey counties, for instance, were still counting votes this week. Sorting through absentee and provisional ballots is time-consuming work, and in no way do we want to slam the workers who undertake this somewhat thankless task. When races are close and we want to know who won, we can get a little impatient.
THUMBS UP: To the mighty ‘Balers of San Benito High for heading to the Central Coast Section football playoffs to defend their section crown, after having knocked off cross-valley rival Gilroy in an annual grudge match. Here’s hoping the ‘Balers go all the way, again.
THUMBS UP: To those who stepped up to make donations that will enable the Marley Holte holiday dinners to continue this year. The organizers were lacking turkeys, and organizations and individuals stepped up to remedy the situation. St. Louise Hospital, for instance, donated 20 turkeys. We’re guessing organizers will wind up with more turkeys than they can use.
THUMBS DOWN: Another thumbs down to the probation department for shutting out the public regarding turmoil within the department. Two suspended employees were reinstated, but to say all is normal and running smoothly is absurd. Again, when publicly funded institutions suspend their leaders for alleged impropriety – and in this case we’re talking pornography – the public deserves to know what’s going on. And to allege that whoever is leading he institution is not a public official is simply absurd.
THUMBS UP: To Hazel Hawkins nurses for taking the tack of going to the negotiating table to try and iron our contract differences with the hospital. Here’s to hoping administrators and nurses can work something out of mutual benefit to both sides.
