Dear Apalled, Red Phone realizes homelessness is an issue that every city deals with regardless of its status. Sgt. Jim Gillio, spokesman for the Gilroy police department, said he thinks the area mentioned is private property so the owner is responsible.

"We can assist the owner with trespass enforcement if the property is properly posted and the owner is willing to allow us assist," Gillio said.

So, dear reader, if it is indeed private property, the owner would need to enforce the rules or call the police department for help. In the meantime, it is the holiday season so maybe it would be a good opportunity to lend a helping hand.

Tree mess needs to be solved

"The trees on Orchard Drive and Plymouth Drive are making a sticky mess of the sidewalks and asphalt streets. The sidewalk at the corner of Yorktown and Plymouth is so sticky it almost pulls off your shoes. The wind also carries substance to nearby vehicles and other property. I called 846-0444 to report problem with trees but was informed only the tree at my residence could be in the report, not all the others around the block."

Dear Stickler-for-Mess, It is still autumn so there will be leaves falling and messes around. However, this can be frustrating for walkers.

"The trees on Orchard and Plymouth are Hackberries, and they are susceptible to the hackberry wooly aphid. The sap is from the aphids. The trees were treated for this pest the first week in October. Between the treatment and the weather the aphids should disappear or at least be significantly reduced in the near future," said Carla Ruigh, operations services manager.

So, you should expect the mess to lessen very soon and if not, let Red Phone know.

Overpopulation of bees?

"I saw the article concerning squirrel abatement in the parks and wanted to find out what the city plans to do about the major bee and yellow jacket infestation at Christmas Hill Park. It is almost impossible to walk your dogs on the ranch side now or in the preserve without encountering multiple nests. And everyone I know who walks out there has been stung along with their dogs. I was talking to a crew there last week who said that during the setup for the Garlic Festival, they had major problems on both the amphitheater side and the ranch side with bees and bees stings. The yellow jackets are particularly aggressive this year. Also heard a rumor that the 2008 Garlic Festival had over 10 times the number of emergency bee sting calls than the 2007 Festival."

Dear Stockholder-in-Benedryl, Red Phone understands your point that an infestation of bees can a problem and harmful to some. Carla Ruigh, operations services manager, was contacted again. Ruigh said the bees go through population fluctuations based on weather and other environmental factors. The park, being a regional park surrounded by open space, becomes home to many different insects and animals.

"The city will eliminate any yellow jacket nests identified in the developed park areas, such as picnic areas. However, the city does not do yellow jacket control in the open space," Ruigh said.

Ruigh said the rumor about over 300 reports of bee stings during the Garlic Festival was just that - a rumor. Although, she added the yellow jacket population tends to peak during hot days of summer, when the festival is held.