As The Dispatch looks back at the top stories in 2010 and the
hot topics facing Gilroy in the new year, it is only fitting we
look at 10 movers and shakers that help make Gilroy great. It was
not a daunting task as there were plenty of candidates to choose
from.
For the Top 5 Hot Stories of 2010, click here.
For the Top 5 Going Forward Stories, click here.
As The Dispatch looks back at the top stories in 2010 and the hot topics facing Gilroy in the new year, it is only fitting we look at 10 movers and shakers that help make Gilroy great. It was not a daunting task as there were plenty of candidates to choose from.
There were educators who restored discipline, increased school pride and looked to improve ways to prepare our children for the future.
Community activism was a big factor in 2010, with leaders spearheading such efforts as downtown revitalization, promoting local businesses and safeguarding the interests of Gilroyans.
Our selected group is just a small portion of the multitude of people that is the foundation of our growing, vibrant and diverse community.
So as Gilroy heads into the second decade of the 21st century, The Dispatch is honored to present its top 10 faces for 2010.
The Educator: Sharon Waller (Petitioner for approved charter school, Gilroy Prep)
What she did: It started 10 years ago in Seattle. It was then Waller, a speech therapist at Luigi Aprea Elementary School, observed a charter school and got hooked. Initially it was curiosity. She was amazed at the school’s ability to address the needs of students, have complete autonomy and flexibility with their funding while instituting new teaching strategies. Her inquisitiveness has translated to a new charter school for Gilroy. Dubbed “Gilroy Prep,” the school has started taking applications and is set for the 2011-12 school year. Writing the charter, garnering support and seeing the application through was an extensive process to say the least. Along with colleagues Karen Humber and Kristyn Corley, Waller won the Gilroy Unified School District over even in the wake of the failed El Portal Leadership Academy charter school. With sound financial and educational logistics – they will institute Whole Brain Teaching similar to Eliot Elementary School – Gilroy Prep was given the green light amid applause and handshakes in November.
In her own words: “We’re very excited. We can hardly wait. It’s a lot of work that we have to do, but it’s work that will be so gratifying.”
The Fighter: Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero (Professional boxer)
What he did: Three-time world champion boxer and No. 1 WBO lightweight contender Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero not only fought for his career in 2010, but also stood alongside his wife Casey Guerrero – diagnosed with leukemia in 2007 – as she battled her way back to good health after receiving a bone marrow transplant early in the year. In February, with the biggest fight – and most lucrative payday – on the horizon, The Ghost flexed his family-first attitude and withdrew from a fight with Michael Katsidis and vacated his IBF lightweight belt to be by Casey’s side as she continued her rehabilitation. The Ghost organized a handful of charity events with all proceeds going toward the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. His publicist Mario Serrano speculates The Ghost raised about $20,000. With Casey’s health improving, the 27-year-old returned to the ring in April and went 3-0 for the rest of 2010, including a unanimous decision against Vicente Escobedo for the WBO Intercontinental title. As the mandatory contender to fight Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBO lightweight crown, The Ghost has more to look forward to in 2011.
In his own words: “2010 was a big year for me. You look at everything with a different perspective. You appreciate your family and what God has done for you.”
The Caregiver: Joanne Allen (CEO of Saint Louise Hospital)
What she did: Mother of three and hospital CEO, this eloquent multitasker drove initiatives to improve patient care, quality and safety outcomes during her time as chief operating officer at O’Conner Hospital in San Jose. She brought this administrative savvy to Gilroy when she assumed the role of St. Louise CEO in January 2008. The medical mecca has since turned heads over the past couple years under Allen’s watch with capital campaigns, community outreach and a clear mission defined by energy and purpose. Those efforts helped the hospital earn the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval in July 2010 after it conducted an unannounced, on-site evaluation of Saint Louise in November 2009. The accreditation award recognizes Saint Louise Regional Hospital’s dedication to complying with the Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards on a continuous basis. The Los Gatos native has also continued to be actively involved with the Daughters of Charity Health System, a regional health-care system of six hospitals and medical centers in California that seeks to provide holistic, spiritually centered care to the sick and poor.
In her own words: “We serve all who enter our doors, regardless of their ability to pay.”
The Revivalist: Gary Walton (Champion of Downtown Gilroy politics)
What he did: If Gary Walton is a visionary, then Downtown Gilroy is his canvas. He serves on the Downtown Gilroy Specific Plan task force, and he’s been juggling projects since moving to the Garlic Capital in 2002 – be it running his Lizarran Tapas Restaurant or helping the Gilroy Arts Alliance with fundraising endeavors. Walton has passion for epoch architecture, and has paid careful attention to preserving the historical integrity of the properties he’s purchased and meticulously renovated, including the interim city library building, the neoclassical Garlic City Books at Monterey and Fifth streets and the La Aldea apartment complex at Fourth and Eigleberry streets. Dave Peoples, Gilroy Downtown Business Association board member, once said Walton is one of only a handful of developers “who is doing anything in terms of bringing life and vitality downtown.” Despite a dire economy and a slew of ancient edifices deemed uninhabitable due to earthquake risks, Walton, who seeks to acquire enough buildings downtown to reach “a critical mass,” in which he could influence the quality of downtown buildings, is working steadfastly to see the city become a destination, both now and in the years to come.
In his own words: “I’m just planting the tree. I may or may not enjoy the shade.”
Community Activist: Judy Hess (Director of the Gilroy Arts Alliance Demonstration Garden)
What she did: At first it sounded crazy. Build a garden in an abandoned downtown lot while making sure it can foster a sense of community. But Hess made it happen. The garden grew from a project of Leadership Gilroy, a nine-month program that grooms community members for leadership roles, and celebrated its official opening day on June 5. Since then, the garden has transformed from a dusty, vacant lot into an oasis. Community members who volunteer their time are allowed to select some of the fruits of their labor to take home to their families, free of charge. Community members that can’t find the time to volunteer may purchase produce from the garden. Ten percent of what’s grown is donated to St. Joseph’s Family Center and another large chunk is sold to Lizarran Tapas Restaurant just a block away. The garden also fuels a variety of educational programs for school groups and summer camps on composting, seasonal growing and nutrition. Talk about community growth.
In her own words: “Peace happens in a garden. Wouldn’t it be so cool if this becomes a place where all Gilroy’s problems fall away.”
The Visionary: Greg Bozzo (2010 Garlic Festival President)
What he did: The Gilroy Garlic Festival not only hauls in visitors, it also donates money to local charities and helps fund community capital improvements. For the 2010 edition of the festival, Bozzo found another way to give back to the community by having the three-day event “go green.” The environmental friendly event had other beneficial results – sustainability and the use of local and regional food suppliers. Sustainability traditionally refers to strategies that meet society’s modern needs without hurting future generations. Maintaining a local focus is a key component of the mantra. Instead of importing products, Bozzo and event organizers tapped mushrooms from Morgan Hill-based Monterey Mushrooms, squid from Salinas-based Monterey Fish Company and garlic from Christopher Ranch in Gilroy. The Garlic Festival has always been part of the fabric of California. A green festival now gives Californians a sense of ownership.
In his own words: “The idea of sustainability is not an original one by me or the Garlic Festival. That’s the direction that people who are interested in food are going. I believe that it either makes sense to go with the trend or be ahead of the trend.”
New Principal: John Perales (Christopher High School Principal)
What he did: His idea was for the birds. Four hundred of them. An Oct. 29 Turkey Challenge pitted his school against Gilroy High School in a battle to see who could amass 100 frozen gobblers first. The donated goods went directly to the St. Joseph’s Family Center. The Gilroy Foundation matched each school’s total of 100 turkeys each. While his good sense of humor shows in his charity work, the former Gilroy High School football player is serious when it comes to student performance and accountability at his 2-year-old school. Perales is adamant about creating an environment where his students see college as an option. He originally came up with the idea of the district’s “College Day,” where teachers sport college apparel on the first Friday of every month to foster a college-going culture.
In his own words: “Many kids don’t know that college is an option for them. They don’t know what they don’t know. We’re doing this because we want to keep college at the forefront of our thinking. We have to get our kids through higher education. Only then will they be able to participate meaningfully in our society.”
The Disciplined Leader: Marco Sanchez (Gilroy High School Principal)
What he did: What does it mean to be a Gilroy High School Mustang? Sanchez is answering that question. He installed an incentive program for students who earn top scores on state standardized exams to compliment his visible, accessible, easygoing and quick-to-smile administrative style. Newsweek magazine named Gilroy High one of America’s top schools in July – a testament to school pride and efforts to revamp academic achievements. Through it all, Sanchez displays a no-nonsense stance when it comes to discipline. After stepping into office last year, Sanchez tweaked some disciplinary rules and made a commitment to be consistent when enforcing them. He brought staff up to speed, reiterating zero tolerance for any youth who destroys the academic environment teachers work hard to create. It has paid off. The district is experiencing a 50 percent decrease in student expulsions from last year. Administrators attribute the low tally to the consistency in disciplinary measures instituted at Gilroy and Christopher High schools. So what is it like to be a Mustang? Student success through capable leadership.
In his own words: “I want people to know that Gilroy High School is not a ghetto school. We have something for everyone here.”
The Advocate: Perla Flores (Anti-domestic violence social service worker)
What she did: When Flores won the California Peace Prize in October, she had one request when interviewed by The Dispatch. The director of the Solutions to Violence Department at Community Solutions wanted to make sure her team shared the credit of the honor that is bestowed to three people for their endeavors to prevent violence and promote peace in their communities. Community Solutions provides treatment, intervention in mental health, assisting child abuse and domestic violence victims among other programs to help communities from South San Jose to San Benito County. Flores’ department works daily to raise community awareness about preventing domestic violence and human trafficking and interacts daily with victims. She has championed prevention programs in schools and community centers that focus on sexual assault and family violence. She was instrumental in establishing a facility in Gilroy’s South Valley Medical Center that allows members of Santa Clara County’s Sexual Assault Response Team to gather and address victims needs.
In her own words: “We think we’re so far ahead on social equality, but that’s really not the case. Anything that harms women harms all women, and it’s all of our responsibility to make the situation better.”
The Activist: Yvonne Sheets-Saucedo (Opponent of the California High-Speed Rail Project)
What she did: While many saw a $45-billion, 800-mile train system slated to have routes from Sacramento to San Diego with a stop in Gilroy as a technical marvel, Sheets-Saucedo was one of dozens of rural South County residents who expressed fears that it would ruin their rural lifestyle and – in some cases – destroy their properties. She quickly spearheaded a grassroots effort to keep other residents informed, urge more community involvement and push the California High-Speed Rail Authority to adopt “context sensitive solutions” that give primary consideration to the interests of the community in the planning of the bullet train. Sheets-Saucedo has been a permanent figure at city council meetings and has organized her own community meetings with CHSRA consultants so the concerns of South County residents can be heard. Bullet-train funding has come under heavy criticism in the past months, mirroring warnings Sheets-Saucedo has been issuing in numerous e-mail campaigns and community awareness and outreach meetings throughout 2010.
In her own words: “It’s concerning on every level. It’s all about pushing through this process in a very hasty and, quite frankly, irresponsible manner.”
