The following events, organizations and people deserve either a
Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week:
The following events, organizations and people deserve either a Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week:
THUMB SIDEWAYS: Thursday afternoon at a downtown Hollister deli a sandwich maker was heard to say about the unofficial biker rally: “Well, the city is between a rock and a hard place. They were losing money even though there’s all these people coming in.” That’s stating things in a succinct way. Any verdicts regarding the rally will have to be discussed in the aftermath We’re all waiting and watching.
THUMBS UP: To the 73rd Annual Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo. A quintessential family event. The parade in downtown Hollister kicked things off beautifully, and from there the rodeo featured generations of local residents riding, roping and racing their way into a wonderful entertainment package. The addition of “goat dressing” was also a nice touch.
THUMBS DOWN: To District Attorney John Sarsfield’s newfound soft stance on crime and punishment. The lame-duck district attorney has become something straight out of the Nixon era. Paranoia in government is never an effective tool, but in this case you get the definite impression Sarsfield is enjoying irritating the county at every opportunity.
THUMBS UP: To San Benito High School’s plan to slow the dropout rate. Keeping ninth-graders in school through their four-year term is a challenge, and the high school deserves thanks for at least proposing a strategy to take on the task. With dropout rates rising at the larger high schools across the state, it is welcome to see San Benito taking on the challenge. Here is hoping that their strategy pays off for students.
THUMBS UP: To the Hollister School District for agreeing to sell 7.5 acres of land to the YMCA. The land would ultimately be used to construct a new, much-needed facility to a local entity that enhances the community in a number of important ways. The Y is hoping to build a 85,000-square foot structure and is fund-raising in earnest. Here’s hoping it all works out.
THUMBS UP: To the summer night-school migrant program at San Benito. These kids attend the program because they want to. Some of them travel with their families and are uprooted from where they are attending school, and must then acclimate to a new school environment. At the San Benito summer program, they can learn in a friendly atmosphere with peers who understand one another’s challenges.
THUMBS DOWN: To anyone who risks the homes and lives of residents by foolishly lighting off the kind of illegal fireworks that can land on a roof or ignite a fence or any other incredibly dumb entertainment strategy.
