The following people, organizations and events deserve either a
thumbs up or thumbs down this week:
THUMBS UP: San Benito High School learned this week it’s likely to receive grant funds allowing it to build a new ag barn and update its auto shop. The school performed quite well on scoring done by the state to determine who gets the money – $29.3 million of federal dollars are up for grabs among surrounding counties. San Benito’s two projects were both among the top six in scoring, leaving it likely to get the funds. It’s a positive development on three fronts. School leaders did a good job of touting the projects’ worth. Local residents showed their commitment to the school’s future by donating nearly $60,000 toward the projects, most of it toward the ag barn. And students will ultimately benefit greatly by these two additions to the school.
THUMBS UP: Speaking of agricultural activities, this year’s San Benito County Fair was highlighted by a hefty increase for the much-adored junior livestock auction. The auction raised $430,000 – up from $350,000 in 2006. While fair attendance decreased slightly this year, the livestock auction’s success is a sign that 4-H and Future Farmers of America – the heart of our county fair – are running strong. And if you count last Thursday’s Professional Bull Riding event, this year’s festivities were a smashing success. A broad cross-section of the community came out and filled the grandstands and showed that our area can support fun, big-name events when they come to town.
THUMBS DOWN: City Manager Jan McClintock, Councilman George Dias and Mayor Priscilla Hill had no constructive reason to withhold for more than a week some of the most disastrous news the city government has heard – among a lot of negative, recent episodes – from other officials and the public. Of course, the most detrimental part of this story is the news itself of San Juan losing its $3.8 million federal grant to help fix its ailing water system. Regarding their meeting well before telling the public, Dias said the three had to get their “ducks in a row,” and McClintock pointed the finger at Hill by saying the mayor drove the decision to wait before telling everyone else. Officials in San Juan continue to show they lack the type of leadership this city needs to dig itself from a perpetually deepening hole.
THUMBS UP: In some ways, San Juan Bautista can claim the Alfred Hitchcock classic “Vertigo” as its own. So appropriately, locals have taken it upon themselves to organize what should amount to a magnificent weekend of events at Mission San Juan Bautista and throughout the city to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the film’s shooting there.
Organized by historian Sandy Lydon and Hollister resident Donna Howe, the celebration includes a screening Friday, a Mass honoring Hitchcock on Saturday, a fundraising dinner that night and a “Vertigo” bus tour Sunday.
