“Da Mayor” Richie Perez has done many a kind deed to support so many different organizations in this town via his connection with the San Jose Sharks. Now, he has occasion to ask Gilroyans to return his generosity to help his nephew, John Vasquez, battle multiple myeloma, a cancer that starts in the plasma cells in bone marrow. John needs a bone marrow transplant, and the medical costs are soaring. Chef de Gilroy Cuisine Dave Bozzo is handling BBQ meal duties for the Saturday, April 27 fundraising event at Christmas Hill Park which begins at noon. It’s $20 for an adult meal ticket and there will be a raffle, too. Richie and the Vasquez family are asking for raffle item donations. If you have an item, call Bobbie Vasquez at 408-310-5626 and, as they say, pay that Gilroy generosity forward.
So generous with his time is our hometown boxing hero Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero who is always on the lookout for opportunities to climb into the kindness ring, whether it’s visiting a school (check out the wonderful pictures on today’s front page) or offering a word of encouragement in a tough situation when he visited a car wash last weekend that raised money for the family of teenager Allysa Marie Chavez-Perez who died in an accident. “The Ghost” shows up in his community – and that really counts.
In contrast, “Mo Money for Me” Mayweather tried to put the patsy purse squeeze on him, but “The Ghost’s” camp stood tough and the $5 million payday for the May 4 fight against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas is a fair deal and it leaves plenty of incentive to beat the undefeated champ and take a greater lion’s share in the re-match … hope the good guy can win this one. Either way, “The Ghost” will remain an iconic figure in this town.
In town, it’s Passport Weekend time, which provides the opportunity to experience our world class wineries. If you haven’t been, shell out the $30, take a beautiful drive to the country vineyards, enjoy the delectable weather (70 degrees Saturday and Sunday), partake in the fruit of the vine and come to know an incredible economic and aesthetic asset in our backyard. Best not to rush, pick a few from the extensive list and enjoy. Miss Jenny, friends and I will be starting our tour at the Milias Restaurant in downtown Gilroy where a relative newcomer, WildEye Winery, will be pouring. Mike Berntsen’s vineyards are in the hills above San Juan Bautista, so he’s partnering up with Milias co-owners Adam Sanchez and Ann Zyburra, for Passport. Sounds like a perfect pairing – A&A appetizers and WildEye wine. Most certainly included in the mix will be Solis Winery – recent winners of six lofty honors in the New World International Wine Competition – and, more importantly, home to Miss Jenny’s favorite white varietal, Fiano. Hopefully we can taste winemaker Mike Vanni’s 2010 Rhone Blend “Baciami” (Italian for “Kiss me”) which garnered Best of Varietal, Best of Class, and Double Gold honors in the New World competition. Martin Ranch Winery – beautiful wines in a beautiful setting – provides the perfect place for the last stop. Aver, Jason Stephens, Clos La Chance … there are plenty to choose from and enjoy.
Enjoying the news that the jobs are flowing in for the softball team girls and their friends that Jimmy Habing and I coached together many moons ago. Kristina Giacalone, Marissa Nowakowski and Kendall Costa all have landed interesting jobs in The City by the Bay where it’s great to be in your 20s. No doubt the success is due to Mr. Habing master’s wonderful sermons in the dugout which invariably began with a wry, “Are we having fun yet?”
That news coincided with some more circa 1990-something Gilroy softball team news – one team member recently received her desired nursing assignment in Nashville, TN, at Vanderbilt University Hospital. Miss Cayla Derry is a member of the PICU team now, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Seems a long while ago that I sat for days and hours on a white plastic bucket behind home plate while she took on the mantle of pitching when volunteers were nowhere to be found. But it’s that determination that carried her to the photo I saw this week that captured a simple, but powerful moment in time. Cayla’s in her nursing scrubs beside four other PICU nursing team members and the caption reads: “PICU group on the helipad.” There she is on top of the hospital, on top of the world, smiling, ready and prepared to do something she’s passionate about – help save the next child who lands in a tough situation. Seeing that, I can’t wait to sit on the white plastic bucket again and take a few pitches from granddaughter Tyler Grace.
Graceful it’s not – the music being piped into your ears downtown. A reader sent this along: “Can you help get the music turned off on Monterey St. downtown?” Well, it’s the Downtown Association’s call, but a program review is certainly in order.
Reach Editor Mark Derry at ed****@ga****.com
