Columnists

When Pulitzer Prize finalist playwright Jon Robin Baitz put pen to paper (or fingers to PC) to write “Other Desert Cities,” he was either in split personality mode or solving a Rubik’s cube puzzle – or both. His play is about dysfunctional family members with fragile backgrounds. Some have a secret that could break the delicate hold that - at times - keeps the family together.

As school bells again ring and kids with backpacks make their way across campus, beautiful singing waifs through the air at Gilroy's high schools. Thanks to two newly hired, energetic and enthusiastic music specialists, the choral program that retired teacher Phil Robb spent 30 years building into one of the best in Northern California is alive and well and will continue to be one of our city's great assets.

Where on earth can you stand and from a single spot see Mt. Diablo, Mt. Hamilton, the Farallon Islands, and Tomales Bay by Pt. Reyes National Seashore? Of all the great views from the Bay Area's summit peaks, the panorama from the top of Mt. Tamalpais takes the cake. In addition to those far-flung spots, Angel Island, the San Francisco skyline, and the entire expanse of the north Bay Area lay beneath you as if you are seeing them from the window of a jet airliner.

After my last column detailing the finger-lickin’ goodness found at Gilroy’s famous Garlic Festival, I was contacted by the program director at Live Oak Adult Day Services, who asked if I’d be interested in swinging by to visit the seniors and share the details.

Q: Bratford, our Morgan Hill fieldhound (aka: mutt), broke a toenail two months ago. It really didn’t hurt him, but the new nail grew out crooked and it points up in the air. It looks goofy, and I’m more worried that it might get bumped or caught on the carpet when he runs around. Can this nail be trimmed and straightened to grow normally again?

Although there are many mental health care providers in the South Valley, one of them may be unique. Besides the individual and couples therapy provided, Discovery Counseling Center (16275 Monterey Road, suite C) reaches out to the community through many free programs.

Last time we talked about the bidding slam. It is more exciting because the stakes are very high, requiring a total of 33 points between your two hands … or a really fantastic distributional fit (37-plus points for a grand slam). The real key to slam bidding is communication between the two partners. One of the better tools to get to game (or slam) is the 2-over-1 convention, which is recommended by Larry Cohen and Audrey Grant.