Speaking of hats off, here's a bit of trivia I learned on vacation in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico … a true Panama hat is made in Ecuador …

And Panama hats off, too, to the Santa Clara Valley Water District which kept its sterling record for incredibly bad timing intact, voting to ban boats on county reservoirs just as the temperatures reach into the triple digits … In the 4-3 vote, our South County representatives, Rosemary Kamei and Sig Sanchez voted for and against the ban, respectively. Three cheers for Sig, who's been around the block, for exhibiting common sense. Still, huge water rate increases in a recessionary economy, stupendous salary and benefit packages for employees, idiotic price hikes for reclaimed water … the beat just goes on and on at the SCVWD which is more bloated than the New York Yankees' payroll ... ah, for the days of the Gavilan Water Conservation District when water was cheap and bureaucracy small ...

Water could be cheap again if the city could buy water from another source like Luke Brugnara who owns a place on Redwood Retreat Road. Brugnara claims he owns the water rights to Little Arthur Creek and could sell the city almost half of the water it needs annually for a fraction of the cost … is that why he's being prosecuted for "poaching" steelhead trout from the creek? Not sure, but I'm glad to here the City Council is at least going to have staff look into the possibility. Perhaps MayorAl could have a meeting with the boisterous Mr. Brugnara at the dam on his property. It sure would be nice to cut out the exorbitant and ever-rising charges from the water district. And there's no doubt that saving money is a serious issue for Gilroy. Our vaunted reserve exceeding $20 million could be gone in a flash if salary costs and skinny retail sales continue.

If you'd like to skinny up the junk mail contents in your mailbox and recycling bin, www.greendimes.com might be the answer. There's a cost for full service, but it might be worth it. if anybody tries it, I'd love to hear the results.

Skinny results in the real estate market are really dragging down the South Valley economy, so I had to chuckle at the irony of a local realtor, Catharine Bramkamp, who penned a mystery novel titled "Death Revokes the Offer."

On a more serious, former city planner Chuck Myer's book "Melanoma Melodrama: A Medical Memoir" will be available at the major bookseller Internet sites soon and now at www.lulu.com. A press release calls the work "a remarkable inside view of what a cancer patient faces … it is the testament of a graceful, courageous man … a book of lasting value." Chuck, a community activist, cared deeply for Gilroy before making a career decision to move away. We wish him a successful fight and brisk sales.

That segue's nicely into a reminder that the Gilroy version of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life is June 7 and 8. The Relay is a national signature activity where teams honor cancer survivors and remember those who have died while taking turns walking/running around a track for 24 hours straight. Get more info on participating via e-mail at: gilroyrelay4life@yahoo.com.

While we're on good Gilroy deeds, here's a fun Friday and Saturday event - the Gilroy home tour put on by the Gilroy Assistance League. If you're a Home And Garden Television Network watcher, this is the event for you. The hook this year is homes in Eagle Ridge, and the owners have been diligently getting their homes in show-off shape. It's a great way to get ideas for everything from dazzling decor to kitchen design to landscaping, plus the GALS raise $25k or so every year for local charitable and youth activities. It's a $25 donation to tour four homes. Wine, hors d'oeuvres and a retail boutique featuring home and garden decor awaits at the last stop. That's a good deal. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and starts at 1944 St. Andrews Circle. Knock, knock - tickets at the door.

Lastly, thanks to all those who have inquired this week about My Fair Jenny and her car accident. She's fine, but I do wish the city would lobby to get the speed limit reduced on Hecker Pass from Santa Teresa up to the intersection of Burchell Road.

Mark Derry Mark Derry is the executive editor of the Gilroy Dispatch. Reach him at (408)847-7010 or editor@garlic.com.