Those honored have served the community
Gilroy – More than a dozen community volunteers and organizations were honored Monday night for their efforts to scrub graffiti from school walls, patrol their neighborhoods and other efforts to keep the community safe and clean.
“These amazing individuals are committed to making their neighborhoods more united and a safe place to live,” Mayor Al Pinheiro said before presenting plaques to the volunteers.
Ruben DeLaRosa, a Dowdy Street resident and volunteer, ranked the graffiti clean-up effort in which he participated as one of the city’s best programs. He pointed out that graffiti has not returned to the areas where it was removed.
Volunteers also have helped organized neighborhood watch groups, bike and fire safety awareness programs, litter clean-ups and holiday celebrations.
Daniel Chavez, a city contractor who works with the volunteers on numerous projects, said the groups honored Monday have taken a lead role in bringing together private, government and grass-roots stakeholders to serve the community. The most recent example was the grand opening of the Los Arroyos Neighborhood Park, according to Chavez, who said the Oct. 15 event attracted nearly 1,000 people.
“That’s just one example of how they’re working behind the scenes,” Chavez said.
Residents who want to get involved in their neighborhoods can start by calling Sandra Nava at the city’s housing, community and development department at 846-0290.
Volunteers honored
• Dowdy Street – Ruben DeLaRosa
• Neighborhood Association – Art Barron & Victor Frias
• East Eighth Street – Lorraine Carrasquillo & Norma Cardoza
• Fairview Drive – Rudy Perez
• Glen View Neighborhood – Natalie Schnetzler & Sue Baker
• IOOF Avenue – Rosemary Ledon
• Los Arroyos Neighborhood Alliance – Board of Directors
• Lilly Gardens – Erika Duitman
• North Murray Avenue – Tomas Muniz
• Rogers Lane – Sharon Root
• Stoney Court – Adela Arias
• Swaner Drive – Doug & Abbe Funk
• Summerhill – Judy Hess
