Cheers for the kids, jeers for unfair fair
The following organizations or people deserve either a Thumbs, Up or Thumbs Down this week:
THUMBS UP: The city council’s revised general plan does what it should do: It brings the focus back to downtown. This long-range document, which looks beyond the eventual building of the Highway 25 bypass and lifting of the sewer moratorium, stresses higher density living downtown and a revitalized commercial district. But it will only be worth the paper it’s printed on if council members don’t take the proactive steps necessary to help this wish-list become a reality.
THUMBS UP: Eric Brunnemann sounds like a perfect fit as the new superintendent at Pinnacles National Monument. He’s clearly in love with the Park Service, and exudes joy in his work. That’s to the good, because the park is expanding, and with new facilities on the drawing board it will need an enthusiastic steward to guide the process. We hope he and his family make a smooth transition from Guam, where he’s now posted. He may have to buy some warmer clothes for the winter, but it sounds like an adjustment he’s happy to make.
THUMBS UP: Former ‘Baler Kirk Ward has suffered all the usual indignities of trying to make it in Hollywood – being out of work, having relationships suffer, sleeping in his car. But through perseverance he has succeeded in landing ever better parts. His latest, as a villain in “The Island,” will surely advance his career, even though the film got poor reviews. Best of all, Kirk has not forgotten where he came from, and is even working on an independent film project he calls his “love letter to Hollister.” We’re feeling the love here, Kirk, and wish you all the best.
THUMBS UP: We don’t usually recommend rooting for Watsonville sports teams, but we have to make an exception here. Former ‘Baler baseball stars Jason Sims, Eric Diaz and Justin Patton are headed to the Babe Ruth World Series In Neward, Ohio as part of the Watsonville Aggies team. The series starts August 12, so start getting used to the phrase: Go Aggies!
THUMBS DOWN: Fair is fair – unless, apparently, it’s the Santa Clara County Fair. San Benito County members of Future Farmers of America were assured months ago that they would be able to auction their animals at this year’s fair. Unbeknownst to them, fair officials decided just weeks ago that due to a decline in the number of buyers at the auction, special consideration would be given to Santa Clara County FFA members. San Benito County participants would be eligible to auction their animals only if they placed first or second in competition. It’s not necessarily a bad policy, except fair officials, by their own admission, dropped the ball on informing the San Benito County FFA members of the change until it was too late for these kids to recoup the money they had invested. Fair officials should consider compensating the young future farmers who were blind-sided by this and who did not place high enough to sell their animals.
