Holiday parade a wonderful event driven by generous donations of time and effort
Dear Editor,
I wanted to extend a huge thank you to the community for their support of the 2013 Gilroy Holiday Parade. What an outstanding finale to our fantastic downtown event calendar!
We are so grateful to our wonderful sponsors for their generosity and support, especially title sponsors Heinzen Manufacturing and Mission Controls, Inc. Without their support, this community Chevrolet event would not be possible. The planning committee and Downtown Association also thanks our general GDBA sponsors, Recology and Gilroy Cadillac, for their commitment to our community throughout the year. We also had support from the City of Gilroy, Petco, Kimberly’s Pampered Pooches, Mango Street Kids, Heritage Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Studio Three Dance, Mark Turner Family, Cresco, NorCal Portables, Pacific Coast Recycling, Gina Lopez State Farm Insurance, Out and About, Walgreen’s and Old City Hall Restaurant. And thanks to the Gilroy Dispatch for all of the coverage leading up to, and after the Parade as well.
In addition, the day-of volunteers were phenomenal – Sue Thurman, Lisa Cassara, Mark Turner, Jane Howard, Greg Martinez, Eric Cohen, Dr. and Mrs. Phil Buchanan, and Larry Mickartz for their tireless efforts and unending smiles.
Many thanks to Councilmembers Dion Bracco, Peter Leroe-Munoz and Peter Arellano for pulling Santa. To our special Grand Marshall, Jennifer Kranz, and her family, I have to send a personal thank you: Tony, Libby, Jennifer, Jonathan, Nicholas and Baby Charlotte – we are blessed that you’d share your precious family with our community.
A million thanks to our special Santa and his personal photographer for his grace and heart of gold. You know who you are. We are looking forward to your visit from the North Pole next year! And thank you to Jackie at Shag Beauty Bar for your elf magic!
We had wonderful vendors, including the Parent Clubs from Antonio Del Buono, GECA and Luigi Aprea as well as the GHS/CHS Band Boosters who worked so hard on behalf of their school organizations.
Melanie Corona, Gilroy Downtown Business Association Coordinator
‘Hair We Are’ owner hanging up the shears after 47 years of service to South County
Dear Editor,
It’s over for Hair We Are in San Martin. After 47 years the curtains have been drawn for the last time. Not an easy decision to make after dealing with clients for as long as the salon had been in existence. Friendships were made and lives were shared in the little 20 by 20 salon, but there comes a time when our moment in time has passed. At 76 years of age it’s time to move on, make room for others, others who may seek to break my longevity record.
It’s been said that time flies when you’re having fun. No truer words have been spoken. One of the greatest jobs I have ever had was here in San Martin. Meeting clients from all walks of life, of every political and religious persuasion, of every life style that you can imagine, all for the want of a haircut.
Listening to the stories, some embellished, others not – I heard of your lives, your children, your marriage(s), your vacations, your fishing (you know those were embellished), as were your winning trips to the casinos. I soaked it all in and went along for the ride – and what a ride it was. This was my job, to listen and agree and I hope I did it well.
I’m sure we’ll see one another at times and when we do I hope you’ll smile when you remember all the fun and laughter we shared, all for the price of a haircut. Thanks San Martin, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you.
Ray Sanchez, San Martin
Gratitude for Gilroy High coaching family which led to son’s chance at next level
Dear Editor,
I would like to thank the teachers and coaches at Gilroy High School for their efforts related to my son, Cordero Gonzales, as it relates to his education and athletic development.
On Dec. 20, my son signed a letter of intent to play football at Eastern New Mexico University on a football scholarship. The academic and athletic foundation which GHS provided made this journey possible. Our family appreciated the efforts of former Gilroy High Head football coaches Greg Garcia, Steven Lo, and assistant coaches Jeff Longoria, Craig Martin and Brian Boyd. The late John Garcia was also an assistant coach and fund raiser for the team. He took it upon himself to gather funds from community members and groups which provided pre-game meals for players like my son. Junior Varsity Coach Chuck Ogle started my son in the right direction years ago. These combined efforts made the initial stages of this journey possible.
After graduating in 2011, Cordero attended Foothill Junior College in Los Altos to play for the Late Doug Boyette and current Head Coach Kelly Edwards. However, the two coaches who had the greatest impact on my son’s life as a player were his offensive line coaches, Matt “Rav” Raivio and Josh Taufalele.
Coach Taufalele taught my son the importance of physical preparation, offensive line technique, mental toughness and helped to shape my son into the player that he is today. All of these coaches made it possible for my son to play at the next level.
Recently there have been several articles regarding Christopher High School and its new football stadium. To the current and future players at Gilroy High, I say “it doesn’t matter”. It doesn’t matter what the stadium you are playing in looks like, or the age of your uniforms. What matters is that you believe in yourself even when others tell you that you are “too slow” or “too small” or “aren’t strong enough.” What matters is that you play for your teammates, and that you believe in what your coaches are teaching you. What matters is that you are willing to train very hard during the off season, and willing to play each game as if it is the last you will ever play. Only then will you begin to prepare yourself to play at the next level.
Our family will never be able to repay Gilroy High School for what it has given our son. Thank you.
The Gonzales Family, Gilroy – “Go Mustangs”
The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a poignant letter.
