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Treneicia Gardner is counting down from five, signaling her kindergarten and first-grade students to hurry to the classroom rug for a math lesson.

Of all the bad pictures Nicolas Cage has cranked out, "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" is the Nic Cagiest. A goofy, gonzo thrill ride, "Vengeance" is a bad movie sequel so bad it's good - a bad movie that's almost a great bad movie. It's still a silly mash-up of comic book and quasi-religious "prophecy" about a motorcyclist who sold his soul to the devil. Credit the directing duo of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. In "Vengeance," the "Rider" (Cage) is haunted by the life he now leads. But a boy (Fergus Riordan) borne of the Devil (Ciaran Hinds) needs the Rider's help. Satan, who wears double-breasted suits and alligator shoes, needs the kid to fulfill a prophecy. He's commissioned Corrigan (Johnny Whitworth) to grab the kid. A wine-swilling biker-angel (Idris Elba) and the boy's mother (Violante Placido) are all that stand between the Devil and the boy. The angel fetches Johnny Blaze, biker-turned-Ghost Rider. The guy who made a deal with the Devil and the woman who slept with Satan click. Jaw-dropping stunts and frequent breaks for comic-book style animated "explainers" abound. "Spirit of Vengeance" is still dumb, loud and over-the-top. And it's great the directors let Nicolas Cage in on the joke. If he's going to do bad movies - and his tax bills and oddball tastes say he must - at least let him do good bad movies.

Doolittle is a 4-month-old cat who just had eye surgery and is doing great. He is loving, playful and good with other cats. He has been at the San Martin Animal Shelter since early February. If you are interested in adopting this or any other animal at the shelter, please call (408) 686-3900.

U.S. Army Sgt. William Sanchez Jr., 28; a 2001 alumnus of Gilroy High School who grew up in the Garlic Capital, returned home Feb. 19 for a week of rest and relaxation after a nine month tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Majid Bahriny and the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce celebrated the renovation of Mama Mia’s Ristorante Italiano located at 1360-B First St. in the Hecker Pass shopping Center in Gilroy. The restaurant has been in Gilroy for 12 years. Details: 847-8808 or www.mamamias.com.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage announced that Diane Baty, a sales associate in its Gilroy office, was named Realtor of the Year by the South County Realtors Alliance, a subsidiary of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors. Baty, who has been a Realtor for eight years, has served as the SCRA Gilroy tour director for the past three years. She was presented the Realtor of the Year Award – one of the organization’s highest honors – at the SCRA Inaugural Ball held last month at Fortino Winery. Contact her at 839-7541 or at [email protected].

The California Highway Patrol is wrapping up its investigation into the fatal Nov. 6 car accident that killed 19-year-old Gavilan College basketball player Andrel Gaines.