Certainly the outlets are not the brick-and-mortar stuff like the small business owners in our community. When you're out spending your precious dollars this holiday season, don't forget the folks like Dave Peoples. He's one of our town's super helpful people who owns a downtown business. Garlic City Mercantile, located at 7550 Monterey St, features all sorts of garlic products from garlic decorated aprons and towels to cookbooks to food products like roasted garlic marinade and parmesan garlic dipping oil with capers. So, if you have some time this weekend, consider wandering downtown. Eat at the fabulous new tapas restaurant, Lizarran, then stroll through the shops, antique and otherwise. You might find the perfect gift while supporting the folks who represent the backbone of our local economy.

Really am discounting the "economic backbone" suggestion from M.J. Moolah about Gilroy Gardens, our horticulture theme park. M.J. suggests that we unite as a city and go beyond the puny potential of reaping sales tax dollars from the sale of marijuana at a single dispensary. She suggests going all in. "Why not involve the school district and create an ag component specializing in cultivating marijuana? Then, the city and school district united as one could sell the crops to all the dispensaries cropping up throughout the state." Gilroy Gardens, she suggests, since it's owned by the city and has extensive unused acreage, could be Gilroy's marijuana farm - under strict supervision of course. Students could provide the labor, the city the land and the necessary tools of the trade. Profits could be split and the millions and millions rolling in could take care of building school facilities and the city budget woes. Think of the jobs that would be created, the sustainable agriculture curriculum at Gilroy and Christopher High schools and the possibilities to branch out and reach beyond the city's current identification with garlic and outlet shopping. It's a virtual pot cornucopia ...

Cornucopia from the Latin Cornu Copiae is a symbol of food and abundance dating back to the 5th century BC ... ah, the horn of plenty at Gilroy Gardens - and we could dispense with Councilman Craig Gartman's concerns about the city becoming embroiled in a "free trade issue" in its efforts to shut down the marijuana dispensary on First Street next to Lana's Dance Studio. Maybe Gilroy could sell direct from Gilroy Gardens - aha, the marijuana outlet stores ... build a few friendly doctor's offices and the Gardens could be a one-stop mecca.

A much more community-oriented place to pencil in one stop would be the Saint Louise Regional Hospital 5th Annual Tree of Light Celebration. Held on Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the hospital, the event features Christmas caroling, a visit from Santa and an opportunity to win a fantastic raffle prize, a beautiful handmade quilt donated by Piece by Piece Quilters of Morgan Hill. Tickets are $1 each, or a book of 12 for $10. Call 779-4510 if you want in, or talk to anyone on the powerhouse Tree of Light Committee which includes Roxie Thomas, Jean Kull, Rose Emma Pellicione, Sr. Rachela Silvestri, Pat Golden, Gail Paccioretti, Martin Laguna and Luciano Costa.

Wonder if Luciano Costa can sing like Pavorotti? ...

Singing from the Gilroy High School chamber singers is always amazing. It's a special treat to have the singers stop by at a party or at the office to deliver an incredible array of carols. You can "rent" eight carolers for $125, 12 for $200 or 20 or more for $300. All proceeds, which are tax-deductible, will help the Chamber Singers perform in San Diego this coming spring. Details: 847-2424, ext. 2288. And that's a worthy local cause.

Cause for salute is the good work being done by Bow Wow Adoptions, a non-profit adoption agency led by Laurie Frazer which is finding homes for dogs at the San Martin and Hollister animal shelters. This year, on some Saturdays you could even take care of buying the family tree and adopting Bowser before the holiday at the Battaglia Christmas Tree Farm. Bow Wow hosts adoption fairs at PETCO in Morgan Hill on Saturdays. If you're not ready for another pet, donate a bag of dog food or a crate. Give Laurie Frazer a shout at

bowwowadoptions@yahoo.com if you'd like to know more.

Hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving with family, friends ... and pets.

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