In these Dog Days of Summer it seems like every other home I show in Gilroy lately has a pet door in the garage door entry to the home. There is nothing more exciting than to have “Spike” come blasting through the door to check out who is in his home.
Gilroy, as well as virtually every other city, has a building code requiring that homes be built with a firewall between the attached garage and the home. Many house fires begin in the garage so the firewall is engineered to impede a fire which starts in the garage from spreading to the home. Most jurisdictions require the firewall to provide such a delay for up to two hours.
While making “Spike’s” life a little more convenient the homeowner who puts a pet door in the the door leading into the home from the garage may have problems collecting from their homeowners insurance where a fire began in the garage.
I find it interesting that many insurance agents say homeowners with such pet doors will still be covered yet home inspectors seem compelled to address this issue in their written reports.
Occasionally, a homeowner will cut the firewall for attic access or to install a drop down ladder. They may face the same dilemma with their insurance company.
Building Code also requires that your garage-to-home door have a functioning, self-closing, hinge. For obvious reasons that door needs to close so that the firewall retards the spread of a garage fire. For reasons beyond me some homeowners disengage such a hinge. Again, such a move may prove costly later.
So, why not check with your homeowner insurance agent and see what their position is on the doggie door dilemma. We can check with the City’s code enforcement folks. Sorry “Spike”. Of course the standing rule remains: “caveat emptor”.
As I hear the familiar sounds of the pickers in my apricot orchard I’m reminded that it is that time of the year for the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
31 years ago Dr. Rudy Melone decided that Gilroyans shouldn’t be embarrassed or apologetic about our prolific crop of garlic but be proud of it. Dr. Melone also thought that the “Stinky Rose” could be a fund raising source and activity for his beloved community. So he cornered the local garlic farmers and convinced them to hold such an event and earn some funds for the local Rotary club. A media luncheon was held and they were also convinced. Reluctant city leaders were pulled into the fray and 7 months later, in 1979, the first G arlic Festival arrived.
That 1st festival netted $19,000. In the 30 years since then, more than $8 million has been given back to the community!
But what I really like is the cheerful community involvement where hundreds of charity and non-profit groups work side by side as volunteers and vendors earning funds for their group. The Gilroy Gators Swim Teams earns over $6,000 during the 3 day event. Hope Rehabilitation earns more than $3,000. Even the $400 earned by Sunset 4-H club is much more than they could earn selling cookies in front of the market. My son-in-law is a Scout Master of a local Boy Scout troop. They will earn all of their entire year’s operating funds from selling lemon aid at the Festival.
When we say it is “tons of fun” for the visitors we mean that, literally: approximately 11 tons of beef, 5 tons of pasta, 5 tons of calamari, 3 tons of scampi and 3 tons of fresh Christopher Ranch garlic is expected to be consumed by the 100,000 patrons. Additionally, there are live bands, events for the kids, and all of the normal fun activities you would expect as such a world class event.
Why not plan on coming out for good food, lots of fun and helping so many good organizations. This year’s Festival will be held on Friday – Sunday, 7/24 -25-26. Gates open at 10:00 AM. For more information go to: gilroygarlicfestival.com
