Trouble aplenty over benefits and perks for MayorAl and our beloved City Council ... and, yes, I could imagine a library commissioner lobbying a City Council member at First Street Coffee for full city-paid health benefits. "Do you know how many hours we put in studying the plans for the new library and campaigning for the bond's passage? If we had full health benefits like you guys we could attract so many more applicants, and they'd be much better qualified." Well, yeah, that conversation could happen, but that would be about as unlikely as ...

Putting our city's library temporarily in a nice, quiet accessible location like Leavesley Road, a marvelously busy locale filled with cars featuring extremely poor pedestrian access???? What are we thinking? We're not, actually, and that's the problem. (Hats off to councilmembers Perry Woodward and Craig Gartman for voting against this boneheaded idea). Sure there's a lot on the plate at City Hall, but let's just take a deep breath and think ... naw, maybe there aren't any empty buildings downtown, and there are so many people downtown all the time anyway it wouldn't make an economic or perception difference ... Besides, it's so lovely in the industrial section of Leavesley Road and a perfect place for library patrons to walk to, especially for the children ... and think of the freeway access ... heck, we should have put it in the empty buildings near Sonic Burger, that would have at least helped out a business owner, Majid Bahriny, who does a zillion things to help support local Gilroy causes ...

Cause a ruckus? It's easy. Just ask the City Council to give up something like city paid health benefits ...

Ruckus, now that's what I should have called my dog, Rocco, named after the valiant effort from one Rocco Mediate in the U.S. Open Golf Tournament a year ago when he, an aging veteran almost took down the world's best, Tiger Woods. In the process, Rocco exhibited world class sportsmanship. Rocco the shepherd, ironically, exhibits no such sportsmanship when it comes to stealing the tennis ball from our other hound, Roxy, in a friendly game of fetch.

Fetching news indeed is the fact that Councilman Bob Dillon and his significant other, Phyllis Armenta, are now proud homeowners in the fair city of Gilroy. So, there is a silver lining to the drop in home prices. Four Council members this year have purchased homes in the city.

Meanwhile, City Manager Tom Haglund recently and quietly became a married man. Congrats to the happy couple, and we at the local newspaper are awaiting a lovely photo for our ever-popular Celebrations page ...

One crusty reader that I can't even bring myself to name, sent in a complaint about the purple ribbons on numerous trees in Gilroy. The ribbons are to raise awareness about the local event which raises funds for the American Cancer Society. The Relay for Life is the weekend of June 19 at the Christmas Hill Park Ranch site. There's a really cool way to remember someone and make a $10 donation that you might still be able to get involved in. It's a Luminaria, a bag filled with sand and a small candle that is lit during the night while walkers circle a vigil track. Call Susan Mister at 848-8588 for last-minute details.

Glowing details are what make a great college resume and the adviser for the Gilroy Youth Commission, Lacey Cornaggia, is recruiting local teenagers to apply for commission spots for next year. It's an 11-member board, ages 13-19, which serves as an advisory group to the City Council. No health benefits involved, but the group plans events and service projects. Applications for the five vacancies are available at the city, 7351 Rosanna St. Due date is July 31 and Gayle Glines at 846-0460 can answer any questions.

Many of the students graduating from Gilroy High this evening - the last class from a singular high school town - must have questions about their futures. It isn't exactly the best of economic times. But maybe that's a blessing, maybe it gives young people a little more breathing room and a little less temptation from a hot job market. Congratulations to the grads, and stand tall. You deserve it.

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