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Garlic Festival President Hugh Davis thrust his fist in the air after he lit the first stove pilot on Gourmet Alley, whipping the crowd into a frenzy of cheers and whistles. Ladles of garlic and calamari lit up in flames on cast iron pans while volunteers danced to pulsing hip-hop beats.

Larry Connell remembers when the Gilroy Garlic Festival was a fledgling vision with a dubious future.

The dachshund laid in a pool of its own blood. Dazed and nearly passed out from an injury to her arm, Luann watched the pit bull’s owner strut away minutes before police arrived.

Former Gilroy resident and current Olympian Shelley Olds, far left, shared this photo, and others, from London, taken this week, of her and her teammates, Kristin Armstrong, Evelyn Stevens and Amber Neben, who will represent the United States on the cycling road team that races Sunday for gold. Olds is wearing a special edition uniform that will only be worn at the Summer Games.

In what could be a crippling blow to South County’s only hospital, federal Medicare funding could be cut off for Saint Louise Regional Hospital in less than three months.

Giants Herbie is coming to the festival

A pair of abused horses are headed for greener pastures after being rescued and turned over to a nurturing caretaker, who will try to find the equines a better home.

On her personal website, Shelley Olds eloquently writes that she is “always searching for that unequivocal high that comes from victory in sport,” and that “there is nothing that makes me happier than finishing a race and exceeding my own expectations.”

Two years ago, BMX rider Krista Pomin had a bad run of luck: Her prized possession, a custom-designed bike was stolen, and just a few weeks later, a drunk driver plowed her car off the road, pushing it down a cliff, leaving her with serious head injuries and several broken ribs.