Through the mist enveloping our fair city the past few days came
a joy-spreading email from Gilroy Golf Course Pro and Operator
Donny DeLorenzo. The subject line: Welcome new grill operator.
Hallelujah! Loved going to the grill, but the last
”
cooks
”
couldn’t make a breakfast burrito to save quadruple bogey. Not
so with the new operator, Troy Garcia, proud owner of a 71 on the
card at the Gilroy muni course, Gilroy High grad, caterer, and son
of one of the best tamale makers this side of the Rio Grande,
”
Mom
”
Gloria. Troy named the new business
”
Heavy’s
”
in a tribute to his brother, Dino, who passed away too young a
few years back. Troy can whip up a tasty breakfast burrito a la
Dave Bozzo, so former customers who gave up ordering the burritos
for staff meetings and such can give him a call at the grill’s new
number, 847-2857.
Through the mist enveloping our fair city the past few days came a joy-spreading email from Gilroy Golf Course Pro and Operator Donny DeLorenzo. The subject line: Welcome new grill operator. Hallelujah! Loved going to the grill, but the last “cooks” couldn’t make a breakfast burrito to save quadruple bogey. Not so with the new operator, Troy Garcia, proud owner of a 71 on the card at the Gilroy muni course, Gilroy High grad, caterer, and son of one of the best tamale makers this side of the Rio Grande, “Mom” Gloria. Troy named the new business “Heavy’s” in a tribute to his brother, Dino, who passed away too young a few years back. Troy can whip up a tasty breakfast burrito a la Dave Bozzo, so former customers who gave up ordering the burritos for staff meetings and such can give him a call at the grill’s new number, 847-2857.
While you’re at the course enjoying a fine club sandwich for lunch, you can pick up a snazzy retro golf hat for a Christmas present emblazoned with “Gilroy Golf Course, The 11-hole Gem.” The original hat order came in with: “Gilroy Golf Course, The 11-hole Jim.” Honest. Unfortunately, none were saved so any Jims on your list are out of luck for that unique gift.
Gifts are appreciated by many in our town who are struggling through difficult economic times. The gift tree at First Street Coffee, sponsored and managed by the youth board of the Gilroy Foundation, is a prime example. Take a gift tag, purchase the gift, wrap it (gift bags are my specialty) and drop it back under the tree. It’s cool, too, that the Foundation started a youth board. There are 12 on the board, 6 seventh graders and 6 eighth graders from Gilroy schools according to Executive Director Donna Pray. The lessons are about grantmaking, working together as a group and, of course, giving back to the community in volunteer time. They recently served at the Lord’s Table. Shawn Moen, Karen LaCorte, Kristin Bright and Gloria Pollock are advising the youth-filled board.
Another great gift option is to help out Chris Weber and the Gilroy Fire Department’s efforts in the Toys-for-Tots drive. Toy barrels for new items are at various locations including Gilroy Chevrolet/Cadillac, 6720 Bearcat Court, Healthy Inspirations, 8515 Forest St. and the Eagle Ridge Golf Course Pro Shop, 2951 Club Dr. where they also have garlic bulb golf club head covers – ok, the last part isn’t true, but may not be a bad idea.
Wonder if it would be a success if Christopher Ranch put out their own line of garlic-inspired clothing and accessory gift items? Not sure, but since Chinese garlic prices have quadrupled and then some, the news is good for U.S. garlic growers. Seems the Chinese are swallowing up garlic bulbs in droves to ward off the swine flu. That’s creating global shortages, according to the Local Harvest web site and, of course, a cash-crop market for U.S. growers. Story on CNBC carried this brassy headline: “Garlic Price Rises Surpass Gold, Stocks In China.” Now, if only Christopher Ranch could somehow tie in with the vampire-based books/movies megahit, “The Twilight Saga”, and the latest incarnation of that, “New Moon” – then Mr. Don Christopher benefactor could build the city one heckuva high speed rail train station downtown …
But wait, hold that train whistle … this also out of the twilight Gilroy mist, our fair city apparently doesn’t need a high-speed rail station downtown after all. Perhaps just a big concrete parking lot and a shed out by the 660 acres will do. That way the High Speed Rail Authority can spend all those billions in Los Angeles and forget about a covered trench in little old downtown Gilroy. The HSRA staff recommended Thursday that the line bypass our downtown – it’s too much trouble, no doubt – and put the rail stop east of town. All this came about, just as Gilroyans seriously started to contemplate the dazzling possibilities a covered trench and station may provide. Just Tuesday, Rotary Club members were treated to snappy power point-driven presentation about the wonders of the bullet train by HSRA Board member Rod Diridon. Only problem is nobody at the HSRA it seems is really interested in Gilroy’s input – as long as we’re quiet.
Shan’t be quiet downtown this Saturday eve at the annual Christmas festivities complete with Santa and a new twist – a doggie dress-up competition. So, dig up some cheezy reindeer horns and a few doggie holiday accessories and head on down for the canine follies which kick things off at 3:30 p.m. Pets can join the other 50 entries in the parade after the contest. Elementary school choirs will serenade the crowds as will our famous young violinists. Parade at 5:30 p.m., Christmas tree lighting just before 7 p.m. Pictures with Santa afterward or with the famous Santa Clara County Supervisor “Jolly” Don Gage before. Gage will be lighting the big tree. And a big cheer for volunteer Albert Lambert for working with the Gilroy Downtown Business Association and the Chamber to put all this together.
