2 letters: Traffic jams at Garlic Fest, sock hop success

Garlic Festival traffic concerns
Dear Editor,
I live in Hollister and commute far too many miles each day. However, last Friday we were commuting on the long drive home in the afternoon, and Monterey Highway was closed at W. Luchessa going south. No officer was on site. That is the last stoplight prior to entering onto Highway 101 to Highway 25. There were no signs at all stating the road was closed. There are basically only a couple ways to get to Hollister from the north. One is Highway 101 and other is Monterey Highway. To have Monterey closed at that last light for those of us that are commute folks is appalling and inconsiderate of the Gilroy Garlic Festival and the road closure folks for the city of Gilroy. We couldn’t even get through the Luchessa intersection by going back around to Tenth Street and making a couple right turns. It took us 30 extra minutes just because some think the Gilroy Garlic Festival is the only reason people drive on Monterey.
I would like to say that the Gilroy Garlic Festival may be a nice event but at least the city of Gilroy could think of others that use Monterey Highway as a main route.
Sue Hutson, Gilroy
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Thank you: Garlic City Fun Run, Car Show, Sock Hop
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank all the sponsors, volunteers, businesses, groups and individuals who made the July 12, 13 Annual Garlic City Fun Run, Car Show and (first-ever) Sock Hop such a success. Special thanks to our planning committee: Tom Valenta, Jerry Mangono, Harvey Blodgett and Brian Dauenhauer for your tireless dedication to ensuring the success of our event and to downtown Gilroy in general. Thank you to Larry Mickartz of Gilroy Today Magazine for his help with our marketing campaign. Thank you to Sue Thurman and Peggy Ghysels from the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce and GDBA Board President, James Suner, for their help on the day of with all that needed to be done.
Thanks to our other sponsors: Gilroy Chevrolet, Bonfante Collision, Pinnacle Bank, South County Nissan/Hyundai, Quality Auto Parts/ Gilroy Napa Auto Parts, The James Group, Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, Recology South Valley, Out & About Magazine, Gilroy Today Magazine, Gilroy Dispatch, Global Investments, Bay Sierra Properties, The Laundry Room, Bank of the West, Gilroy Police Officer’s Association, South County Dodge/ Jeep/ Chrysler, Bruce’s Tire, Union Bank, Cresco and Golden State Portables.
A special thank you to all of the volunteers: Linda, Laura, Darryl Tomlinson, Adam Parades, Andrea, Giovanna, Bernie and Mary, Phil and Joan Buchanan and our whole crew who helped the event run so smoothly. Thank you to the City of Gilroy and the Gilroy Police Explorers who continually offer their support to the GDBA and our community events.
Thanks to the car owners who come out because they are the people who make it such a classy event. We had 120 classic cars in Downtown Gilroy and our local businesses awarded 30 Merchant Awards to their favorites. We were so happy to see all of the families who joined us for the Sock Hop. Special thanks to Donald “Elvis” Prieto and CJ Wallace of WeddingTech Entertainment for providing such memorable entertainment for our guests and participants. Downtown Gilroy was truly alive! It is nice to see so many supporters of a GDBA event in Downtown Gilroy. We hope to see you all again at next year’s show on July 11, 2015.
John Tomasello, Event Chair, Gilroy Downtown Business Association