Dear Editor:
Garlic Festival 26 is in the books and I’d like to express my
sincere appreciation to all those who helped to make it a great
success. The 4000+ volunteers, GGF Staff (Dick, Joann, Chris), the
Garlic Festival Association Chairs and Assistant Chairs (you’re the
best!) and of course the 45,000 or so who call Gilroy their home.
That’s right, home.
Dear Editor:
Garlic Festival 26 is in the books and I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to all those who helped to make it a great success. The 4000+ volunteers, GGF Staff (Dick, Joann, Chris), the Garlic Festival Association Chairs and Assistant Chairs (you’re the best!) and of course the 45,000 or so who call Gilroy their home. That’s right, home.
This is our home and for three days in July, we invite 120,000 people to visit our home and take part in a celebration of sun, fun and Garlic. If that isn’t the foremost in hospitality then I don’t know what is.
What a funny thought, a party dedicated to a pungent herb. A festival centered on a bulb.
We all know the history. Dr. Rudy Melone, Don Christopher, Val Filice and others had this crazy idea, to celebrate the production and more importantly use of the illustrious Allium Sativum. But over the course of 26 years something magical has occurred.
This festival of cloves has both transformed a community and itself been transformed into a manifestation of community spirit and volunteerism equal to none. Walking around Christmas Hill Park and seeing both volunteers and festival goers enjoying themselves with equal enthusiasm makes one think … who’s really having more fun?
I also want to express my gratitude to two other groups of people who sometimes get left in the dust and print.
The City of Gilroy’s Parks Department employees are absolutely a pleasure to work with. I have rubbed elbows with Chris Orr and his group for a couple of years now, both for the festival and other events staged at the park. There is only one word in their vocabulary … yes. My hats off to these guys and gals for their excellent work and community spirit.
I also want to say thanks to The Dispatch reporters, photographers, contributors, and interns for their professionalism, courtesy and dedication. Most of us volunteers don’t deal with the media very often and it can be an intimidating prospect. But The Dispatch personnel made the experience comfortable and fun, while maintaining their diligent pursuit of “the story.”
Lori, Megan, Nicole, Peter, Bill, James, Max, Erin, Martin (I hope I didn’t leave anyone out), great job.
In closing let me just say that to be involved with this event over the past years is an experience I will treasure forever.
Thank you, Gilroy.
John Zekanoski, President, 2004 Gilroy Garlic Festival
Submitted Thursday, July 29 to ed****@****ic.com.
