April fool I live out north of Morgan Hill, on Hale Avenue just
south of Tilton, by the Capriano Homes. There was a sign on Friday,
April 1, that said
“Coming Soon, Coyote Valley Indian Gaming, 2006”. There is no
phone number or website. I’ve lived here for 31 years and I don’t
want any Indian gaming here.
April fool
I live out north of Morgan Hill, on Hale Avenue just south of Tilton, by the Capriano Homes. There was a sign on Friday, April 1, that said “Coming Soon, Coyote Valley Indian Gaming, 2006”. There is no phone number or website. I’ve lived here for 31 years and I don’t want any Indian gaming here.
Well, caller, you weren’t the only call we received about this sign right there where the city limits meet the county. Not by any means. We checked with county Supervisor Don Gage’s office and with the Morgan Hill City Hall and neither had heard of any gaming applications. Assistant City Manager Melissa Dile, (the city manager was out of town) asked if we had looked at the calendar.
Indeed, it was April 1. The local officials are convinced that it was an April Fool’s joke. The sign, alas, was gone by the time our photographer got to the area. You can be sure that any gaming application will be noticed and there would be plenty of opportunity for public comment.
An Indian casino is in the planning stages outside Hollister in San Benito County.
Public vehicles
I see public works and other city employees using their city vehicles for private uses during work hours, at restaurants, at their homes. I even see a utility truck at lunchtime every day at the gym in Tennant Station. How is this fair to taxpayers? Is it appropriate for them to do this?
City of Morgan Hill Human Resources Director Mary Kaye Fisher said the guiding rule is “reasonable use.”
“City employees may use city vehicles on authorized breaks within the city limits,” Fisher said. “If they choose to go to a gym, they may as long as it is within the city limits and within their break time. We don’t require them to drive back to the corporation yard or City Hall first.”
Public Works Director Jim Ashcraft said time is the key.
“Our guys only get a half hour for lunch,” Ashcraft said. “Sometimes they use the vehicles to pick up fast food and bring it back to the corporation yard.” He is checking about the gym.
Butterflies are free
We live on the north side of Morgan Hill and we’re inundated with butterflies. Is something going on that we should know about? Is it butterfly season?
Yes, it is butterfly season. When the weather warms and flowers begin to bloom, butterflies emerge from cocoons and begin to feed on nectar. They also help to pollinate flowers and fruit trees by fluttering from flower to flower, carrying pollen on their wings and bodies along with bees. The caller’s area must have lots of flowers to attract so many of these delicate beasts.
Besides the famed Pacific Grove inundation, our area is a haven for the colorful insects because of the remaining orchards and fields of flowers. And we hear butterflies appear to be especially pleased to have found Goldsmith Seeds on Hecker Pass Highway west of Gilroy. Lots of flowers there and, by the way, visit the annual plant sale next Saturday, April 16. It’s a fundraiser for the Gilroy Rotary Club. The sale opens at 8am but the line forms before that.
www.pelicannetwork.net/monarch.butterfly.pacific.htm
n The Red Phone sounds off Saturday in The Times.
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