Still buzzing about the bronze statues unveiled downtown Saturday. Great job by Shirley Willard and the Public Arts Committee. Former Mayor Mike Gilroy's talk in the lovely Pinnacle Bank Plaza put the record straight about the city's namesake patriarch, John Cameron Gilroy. Artist Marlene Amerian's insights on the sculpture process were fascinating and Robert Gilroy's emotional speech at the unveiling of his ancestor's statue in front of Old City Hall punctuated a wonderful day for Gilroy. Bottom line: "Legacy of Gilroy" project worth every penny ...

Have to give MayorAl the best line of the day, though, when he said that in order to get former Gilroy mayors Mike Gilroy, Don Gage and Sig Sanchez to attend the ceremonies, they had to be told they were the subjects of the sculptures ... C'mon now, no jokes about Sig being on the water board since Moses parted the Red Sea.

Facing a potential Red Sea of ink and still dealing with post-layoff morale syndrome, the City Council this week, by the narrowest of margins, voted 4-3 to raise the city administrator's salary to $208,950 annually and the city clerk's to $99,653. The sums represent hikes of $9,950 and $4,745, respectively. Credit your representatives Peter Arellano, MayorAl, Cat Tucker and Dion Bracco - or you could send a spirited protest e-mail: peter.arellano@ci.gilroy.ca.us, dion.bracco@ci.gilroy.ca.us, etc. ... Imagine using that $14,695 for, say, a Nob Hill gift card for city employees around the Thanksgiving holiday ...

And the morale of the story (pun intended) is: "The rest of our employees got a merit increase, so I think it's only fair to grant it for the two employees who work directly for us and do an excellent job," Councilman Bracco said. "(Freels) shows up at my house at 8 p.m. delivering stuff ..." If it's Straw Hat, my suggestions are Mama Mia's or Pinnochio's ...

Pizza my dreams, but a lively tapas restaurant at Old City Hall will, in a matter of weeks, be a reality says Gary Walton in response to the many inquiries. Pause. Consider the classy white-on-black sign mounted vertically announcing Lizzaran Restaurant ... now think about the neon disaster from Chips 'N' Salsa that desecrated our historical Flemish-style building ... such a contrast. Walton says the opening will progressively move from "very soft" to "fling the doors open" so that the new staff can get the inevitable kinks worked out. Tapas and sangria on the lovely outdoor patio next to the fire. Can't wait.

Karen, downtown coffee shop barristamista, can't wait to collect her drink from Will McIntosh since her beloved Yankees outlasted Will's beloved Red Sox in the baseball playoffs. Me, I'm just glad the Phillies roasted and toasted the Dodgers and Me-first Manny is riding the post-season bench. Miss Karen, meanwhile, will enjoy a drink upstairs at Firehouse 55 on Fifth St., thank you, after enjoying what she reports is delicious jambalaya. Friday nights are rocking band nights at the nice bar upstairs at The House ...

Jam-ba-la-ya rocks the house on a chilly night and we need some house rockin' to bring down the eyesore on the northwest corner of Fourth Street and Monterey downtown. That dilapidated structure looks like a relic from war-torn Berlin. How about an order for the owners to clean up the site or else? Else would be the city hiring a demolition crew and putting a lien (or a lean) on the property.

Making good use of property on Lassen Way in Morgan Hill are Bob Johnston and Scott Janssen creators of the once-a-year "Terror on Lassen Way," a high-tech haunted graveyard experience second to none. It's free, but donations are accepted. Last year, "the breaking ground zombies" not only tried to escape their graves, they earned $5,100 for the Parkinson's Foundation. Lassen Way is off Venetian Way which is off Watsonville Road. Oct. 31 only.

After, you can visit the Claddagh Irish Pub on First Street and enter the costume contest held, appropriately, at the stroke of midnight ... a

leprechaun or a red-haired fairy princess could win it ...

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