DEAR EDITOR:
Last Sunday almost 8,000 people visited Bonfante Gardens from 4
to 8 p.m. They experienced a magical evening of lights, horse-drawn
carriages, beautiful waterfalls, carousel rides, photos with Santa,
a children’s parade, Christmas ornament decorating, pony rides and
shopping, along with some good food and fun times with neighbors
and friends.
DEAR EDITOR:
Last Sunday almost 8,000 people visited Bonfante Gardens from 4 to 8 p.m. They experienced a magical evening of lights, horse-drawn carriages, beautiful waterfalls, carousel rides, photos with Santa, a children’s parade, Christmas ornament decorating, pony rides and shopping, along with some good food and fun times with neighbors and friends. We hope that everyone enjoyed themselves and are glad they came.
I would like to thank the many people that helped put on this event. Without their hard work, expertise, generosity and complete devotion to Bonfante Gardens, this would have been an impossible task to accomplish.
Thank you to those providing food for the masses – Victorias, Mama Mia’s, Gavilan Women’s Softball, GHS Latino Club, GHS Junior Prom Committee, Morgan Hill Little League. Thank you to Laurie Gray’s School of Dance, Jumping for Joy, Garlic City Harmony Barbershop Quartet, The Fabulous Flappers, GHS Chamber Choir, Damien Carter, Mark Turner and Paul Skelton for the wonderful entertainment on the Lakeside Amphitheater Stage.
Thanks to Carroll Hurd who provided pictures with Santa, Debbie Andrade and Nellie for their wonderful craft booths; Gerry Foisy (Santa #1) and Joe Duarte, Grinch, and Santa #2; Dennis Bright with his wonderful pony rides and Dr. Eric Cohen and friends who enchanted the evening with horse-drawn carriage rides, sleigh bells and the clip-clop of horses hooves as out guests traveled throughout the park.
Thanks to the Gilroy Fire Department with their EMT’s and Toys for Tots collection; the Gilroy Police Explorers who kept us safe. Thanks to Birkenstocks for their wonderful staff who volunteered to help us do whatever needed to be done. Thanks to my friends who helped in their own special way, Shirley McGee, Susan Valenta, Suellen Rowlison and Marsha Brecht, who jumped in during a crisis and did what had to be done.
Thank you to Michael Bonfante and his dream, a dream he has entrusted into the hands of the fortunate community.
Thanks to the Board of Directors who approved the expenditure of dollars during a financially challenging time and helped to make sure that we had our bases covered on Sunday – to Tom and Joanie Lewis, Mary Oteri and Jim Oteri, along with all of the employees, past employees and devoted docents who blew leaves, pruned bushes, swept floors, decorated Christmas trees, hung lights, cleaned bathrooms, emptied trash, helped with crafts, ponies, horses, stages, season pass sales. The jobs are too many and the list of dedicated volunteers too long – but they all know who they are and they do it because they love Bonfante Gardens – and they do it all year long!
I also want to thank my new heroes, Greg Filice and Tami Bonfante, who are the experts. They knew what a huge task this was, what had to be done, how to handle any challenge, stay cool in hot situations and work as hard and as long as it took to ensure that we were ready and that guests enjoyed themselves and were safe while they were in our park. It was an honor to work with them and our incredible staff and docents.
Patti Hale, Gilroy, Board of Directors, Bonfante Gardens
Submitted Wednesday, Dec. 11 to ed****@ga****.com
