Around Town . . . with Robert Airoldi: This Veterans Day let’s honor all the men and women who served

“Our veterans are true heroes who have accepted the responsibility to defend America and uphold our values when called to duty.”

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By Robert Airoldi

Let’s honor the extraordinary men and women who have served our nation in the armed forces. The American Legion Gilroy Post #217 is organizing a Veterans Day commemoration at downtown Gilroy’s Veterans Memorial Building Nov. 11. The event starts 11 a.m. and all are welcomed to join together to acknowledge the sacrifices made by all American veterans so that we may live in freedom.

To quote President Ronald Reagan: “We remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give, and we remember those who were prepared to make that sacrifice if it were demanded of them in the line of duty, though it never was. Most of all, we remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled their nation as they became champions of a noble cause.”

And to quote President Barack Obama: “It’s about how we treat our veterans every single day of the year. It’s about making sure they have the care they need and the benefits that they’ve earned when they come home. It’s about serving all of you as well as you’ve served the United States of America.”

Our veterans are true heroes who have accepted the responsibility to defend America and uphold our values when called to duty. Let’s show our full appreciation for those who have made America a better nation through military service.

Here’s a number weekday commuters to northern Silicon Valley will want to remember: 568.

Expanding transit service to those less connected is the objective of a new transit route VTA introduced in Gilroy Oct. 14.  The Rapid 568 will offer frequent, fast, and reliable service from downtown Gilroy to downtown San Jose — with travel times up to 30 percent faster than the previous options.

This new route replaces the now discontinued 168 Express, which only operated four northbound morning trips, and four southbound evening trips. That schedule limited many VTA customers to taking local Route 68, which has a nearly two-hour end-to-end travel time as it makes stops about every quarter mile. The Rapid 568 makes 19 stops in both directions — including several in Morgan Hill — while Route 68 makes 95.

With a more direct route along Monterey Road and fewer stops, the 568 cuts that travel time down, offering service every half hour from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays.  The fare is half of what the 168 Express cost, with a standard fare of $2.50.

“The idea for this route came from our passengers, and from South County residents, who told us that it just took too long to take the 68 bus all the way to San Jose,” said VTA General Manager/CEO Carolyn Gonot.

For areas where a big VTA bus running on a fixed route and fixed schedule just isn’t the best solution,  Morgan Hill will launch one of Santa Clara County’s first pilot services next year, which is an on-demand point-to-point service using small vehicles.

Santa Clara County Animal Services announced that with more than two months to spare in 2021 they have now exceeded the number of dogs and cats spayed/neutered in 2020. With 3,208 sterilization surgeries completed as of Oct. 8, they look forward to seeing how many pets they can help by year’s end.

In a press release, the county thanked all the veterinarians, volunteers and staff for the outstanding work in the face of a pandemic and moving into/making operational a brand-new clinic. Animal services staff have a goal to save all animals, even as its capacity is doubling to 8,000 animals. It has been a no-kill shelter since 2013.

County officials celebrated the completion of the $35 million 37,000-square-foot facility at 12425 Monterey Road in San Martin on Feb. 19, after an 18-month construction period that didn’t slow down despite a pandemic and wildfire smoke over the past year.

Congratulations to GECA Principal, Sonia Flores, who received the 2021 Terrel H. Bell award for outstanding school leadership from the U.S. Department of Education. Flores is one of eight recipients chosen from the 2021 cohort of National Blue Ribbon Schools. GECA was named a National Blue Ribbon School Sept. 21, 2021.

She began her career in the Gilroy Unified School District as an English teacher at Gilroy High School. She joined the GECA staff in its third year of operation as a teacher and now is serving in her eighth year as principal. GECA was founded in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and is located on the Gavilan College campus. GECA students graduate with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree or two years of college. Close to 97 percent of all graduates continue with their college education after graduation.

As a principal, Flores said she wants to ensure students and staff discover and reach “their highest personal and academic potential by becoming responsible citizens within their community.” She has a clear vision to support students in achieving their maximum potential by attaining the skills, both personal and academic, to be successful beyond college and career. Flores will be honored during the National Blue Ribbon Schools awards ceremony Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021.