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The fall issue of Gilroy Today featuring the Garlic Festival Kid's Area and Teen Zone, the Perez home, Mark Turner, Kevin Heath. Linda Pulido, the Dairy Industry in Gilroy, Lewis Street, Janet Thompson, weddings, Paris and introducing Emma Barbazette.
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F A L L 2 0 1 4 G I L R O Y T O D A Y 23
Actors Theater performance, which draw actors and directors from around the Bay Area.
Heath, a year away from celebrating his 50th birthday, is at home onstage and in Gilroy. He hails from an even smaller town – Sidney, NY – population 3,000.
After attending college at Fairfield University in Massachusetts, Heath lived in Connecticut, Boston and New York City, working for an ad agency and then a medical publishing company – always in account executive positions. Tired of the cold east coast winters, he moved to California in 1999.
Moving to San Francisco, Heath said was an easy transition and settled into a human relations job for a public relations company. Two years later he moved to Gilroy, which Heath described as a culture shock, “but I really craved having a back-yard, I wanted to have a dog. I wanted to have a house,” he said.
“I said, I just have an instinct about it. This is where I am supposed to be,” Heath said. In quick order, Heath bought a home and adopted a dog and soon realized his dream of working where he lives when he landed a job at Dennis Daniels Company, a family-owned wholesale frame and photo album company in Gilroy. Heath’s position evolved into general manager. He said co-owner Shannon Daniels took him in and was like a sister. He said he enjoyed travelling internationally, representing the company as a buyer, salesperson and at tradeshows, but still harbored a dream to be self-employed.
About this time, Heath said he met his now-husband, local Realtor Alan Obata, through mutual friends.
“I knocked a drink out of his hands,” Heath laughs. “We ended up becoming best friends.”
Heath said Obata’s family, who grew up in Gilroy, quickly became his family as well. They were married in August 2008.
Heath, who is also a wedding officiant and has married 300 people, was thinking about growing his wedding business, when fate took another turn. He was invited to be on the board for the Gilroy Arts Alliance in the summer of 2010.
A year earlier, the city had purchased the old Salvation Army building at the corner of Seventh and Monterey streets, which the Gilroy Arts Alliance began leasing with the hopes of transforming the drab building into an arts center. Heath, who at this point was the president of the board, said it took about 10 months to transform the inside. He said the doors opened with horrible Linoleum floors and
no landscaping. Within the first year, a generous donation from the Christopher family made a complete renovation possible – from new floors and light-ing to an ADA bathroom, beautifully lit marquee sign, and a parking lot. A year later, additional donations built the court-yard on the property. But the question remained, “how do we let people know we’re open?” Heath said.
In November 2010, developer Gary Walton, who owned the Lizarran Restaurant at the time, asked Heath if the center could present a play at the restaurant.
Heath was up for the challenge.“Acting has always been a huge hobby
of mine,” Heath said, who had been in shows through Pintello Comedy Theater, the former Odyssey Theater, and the South Valley Civic Theater Company, the latter of which he was on the board.
“Tech is not my thing,” Heath confessed laughing, “But I can build a beautiful set and I can be on stage.”
While he had no plans to open a theater, fate stepped in when the Board asked him to consider it.
“If I’m going to do this, I didn’t want it to be rinky dink,” Heath recalled. Limelight Actors Theater was born and became the resident theater company at the Gilroy Arts Alliance Center for the Arts.
After mulling over dozens of names, Heath settled on Limelight Actors Theater, which he says is really about the actors.
“If you don’t have actors, you don’t have theater, so I wanted to give actors their credit,” Heath said.
The first production opened on January 21, 2011 for two nights with just a few lights. A handpicked cast starred in the show and audience members were invited to bring their own dinner.
“It was such a huge hit that I said, ‘we have to do this. There’s nothing else like this; we have to do this’.”
The second show opened in February for one weekend and the third show – a series of one acts about travel – played at Lizarran for three weekends. A summer show played to audiences at the center for three weekends, when finally the Arts Board realized the benefit of a four-week-end run.
Heath said this season marks the second full season of plays – with five shows opening per year - at the Arts Center.
“I still look at it and say I can’t believe this is happening. I didn’t expect this,” Heath said.
The theater’s capacity is 50 people and
He’s funny… eccentric… talented… creative… entertaining… and just an all around good guy!
Heath will often have to place patrons on a wait list or ask them to come to a future performance. Heath said he is “blown away” by the attention the theater has received, even from directors in San Jose.
“Every time I do a show I say I’m loving this. We are so fortunate,” he said. “Part of the success is because we filled a different approach to theater. We filled gaps that weren’t met here.”
Heath, who now serves as the operations manager of the center, and Obata work as a team - with Heath choosing and casting the shows and directing some of the plays while Obata runs the front of the house. Both work together to construct the sets.
Heath said Limelight Actors Theater presents comedies, dramas, and a one-woman musical theater – a first for the theater and doesn’t shy away from more provocative or serious storylines, including a son coming out to his father.
“My belief in theater is it’s great to laugh, it’s OK to cry, it’s OK to feel like you can see yourself up there,” Heath said.
Heath wants to continue bringing quality shows that people aren’t used to seeing here. This fall, the theater will present a “dramedy” called “Art” about three men and their friendship. At the center of the plot is a blank white canvas that one of the characters purchased for $250,000.
For Heath, the moment that drove home that they were doing the right thing happened following a showing of the “Cemetery Club,” a play about widows who visit their husbands’ graves together. One of the characters dies during the course of the show.
Heath said a small group of women approached him at the end of the show. They all said they had just lost their husbands this year and that this was the best therapy for them.
“I always say if you do theater and you do it well, then that’s what you want. You want to have a reaction from the audience,” Heath said.
Heath said the performances often become like a big party, noting that the-atergoers who originally met at Limelight Actors Theater now come to shows together, arriving early to enjoy the art gallery and check out the handmade wares sold by local artisans.
“I want an opportunity for people to hang out and catch up and enjoy themselves, and see a quality produc-tion, and say you know what? I want to see my friends and do that again. And in the sheer numbers I think that is being accomplished,” Heath said.
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According to the 2014 AFLAC Work Force Report for Small Businesses, small businesses
saw positive growth in 2013, but are tempering the positive news with careful choices about hiring, compensation and employee benefits. The recent study revealed that as small business decision makers adapt to a slowly growing economy and health care reform regulations, they are still concerned about taking care of their employees and continuing their employee benefit programs.
The study found that businesses with 3 – 99 employees took the following actions:
• Hired at a slower pace than medium or large companies. 45% of small companies hired full-time employees in 2013 while 71% of medium sized companies and 60% of large companies did so.
• 12% of small employers changed employee hours employees from full time to part time in 2013.
• 34% reported smaller raises in 2013 than the previous year, but only 24% plan to do the same thing in 2014 and only 18% plan to eliminate raises all together.
The study also found that although 63% of the employees at small companies are extremely or very satisfied with their job, many think there is room for improvement when it comes to their benefits package. Only 12% are extremely satisfied with their benefits and just 14% believe their benefits package meets the needs of their family extremely well.
For small business employees, benefits can be the deciding factor in staying with their current employer. The AFLAC report shows that nearly 50% of employees working at a small employer
Study reveals that small business owners are still
concerned about taking care of their employees.
Dave Villar is the President of Pacific Coast Benefits LLC. He was a founder and partner of PDI Insurance Services. Dave is an active mem-ber of the National Association of Health Underwriters and a member of the Anthem Blue Cross Agent Advisory Council. He has specialized in Employee Benefit Planning for businesses since 1987. To find out more about Pacific Coast Benefits and upcoming Healthcare Reform Seminars, visit pacbenins.com or call (408) 847-1000.
Dave Villar, President Pacific Coast Benefits LLC,
Employee Benefits Key to Continued Small Business Growth
say they are likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months. The AFLAC report highlights how critical a strong employee benefit program can be a tool to increase retention and employee loyalty. The study goes on to report:
• Nearly 6 in 10 small business employees say they’re likely to accept jobs with slightly lower compensation but better benefits.
• Nearly 5 in 10 small business employees say that improving their benefits package is one thing their employers could do to keep them in their job.
“Employees at a small business might be satisfied with their pay, enjoy their company environment, their colleagues and the work itself, but that doesn’t mean better benefits offered some-where else won’t entice them to
leave,” said Teresa White, Executive Vice President/CEO of AFLAC.
Preserving or enhancing benefit programs can go a long way towards retaining employees at your company. More than a third of the employees responding to the survey reported maintaining their employee benefits is their biggest work concern.
Health Care Reform has made it more difficult than ever to maintain a quality employee benefit program at an affordable premium. A comprehensive review of your current program by a professional consultant is a great first step to assure you are in the right place or if changes are in order.
At Pacific Coast Benefits, we have a firm understanding of the current Healthcare Reform landscape and what lies ahead. For a free copy of the 2014 AFLAC report, or any Healthcare Reform questions, please feel free to give us a call.
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Mount Madonna Goes To WashingtonBy Ward Mailliard
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By Ward Mailliard
We know that the “explicit” curriculum, or content of the classes taught in school
is important. It is measured constantly. The “implicit” curriculum, which is much harder to measure and less heralded, needs more attention, as it is central to the development of our future citizens. The implicit curriculum has to do with the processes employed in teaching our subjects, and the relationships formed within the learning environment. These two aspects are central to the formation of the kind of human being who will one day emerge from school and use the knowledge gained in the classroom according to their sense of values about how human beings should act.
The biannual Washington, D.C. learning journey taken by Mount Madonna School juniors and seniors is part of their two-year social studies class, Values in World Thought. This journey addresses both explicit and implicit learning. Cognitive skills such as research, writing and inquiry are developed, while “soft” skills are also required as students work collaboratively on many levels, from discussing questions that will spark interest, to filming, preparing meals and cleaning up after ourselves. We all share in the successes, failures, joys and challenges. Each student chooses how he or she will engage, and then sees the direct results. Students experience effective processes for accomplishing collec-tive goals. They learn to be aware of how they affect, and are affected by, each other. They learn firsthand the importance of relationships in building success.
At the end of the journey, students are asked to share with the community what they have learned. Here are a few examples of what they had to say about their experience.
“It was the late nights, copious amounts of tea and heavy discussions that occurred after we shut down our computers. There was a feeling of pure intrigue and satisfaction when a question that we had spent hours poring over, and tweaking the words so they were just right, was understood perfectly. I couldn’t get enough.” – Renata Massion, 11th
“Of the people we interviewed, a few really impacted me. One was Susannah Welford, president and founder of Running Start. Her interview started a conversation about failure and the judgment we often fear will come from admitting our mistakes. This led to more questions in later interviews about the subject. I found this interesting as I often have trouble admitting my failures because of the judgment that I fear from my parents and teachers. What I learned, is that often admitting your failures will give less push back than letting them be revealed.” – Jenny Turk, 12th
“We discussed the ability to take risks and not be afraid of failure. This was a very relevant piece of advice for me personally, because I tend to get caught up in the idea of perfection, when in reality, failure is the key to producing growth.” – Cassie Caborn, 11th
“Mr. [Dan] Tangherlini, administrator of the General Services Administration, left me feeling like if I could be anywhere near as humble and cooperative as that guy, I could succeed anywhere. I could do
anything. Congressman [George] Miller had a dedication for service that I want to emulate. If I could find that drive to help other people to the extent that he does, goodness knows what I could get done. And if I did it with the integrity and moral groundedness that Hardin Lang, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, has, I’d probably be able to save the world.” – Roger Hooker, 12th
“In D.C., we met with people who are taking on some of the most crucial, complex and difficult issues, and they are changing the world day by day. They recognize their own fortune and are using it to empower others. They made this work and these issues tangible, and helped me realize that, yes, there is an unimaginable amount of suffering all over the world, and no single person could ever dream of fixing it all. But there is always work to be done, and every life that is saved, every positive change made, positively affects us all.” – Talia Speaker, 12th
This journey focused on content, process and relationship and allowed for unpredictable outcomes. Students learned through experience and learned what they were ready to learn. When the processes of our classrooms are aligned with the goals, and we are in positive relationship with each other, the learning is exponential. It confirms that the implicit curriculum is worth greater attention if we want to produce caring, empathetic and creative citizens.
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Linda McGinnis is a name to watch in the South Valley cultural arts community. McGinnis is a local author with a passion for her craft and a savvy approach to a publish-
ing world that’s gone digital. She also welcomes opportunities to share ideas, experiences and resources with other writers. Creative RootsAs a young girl, Linda treasured time with her friend from across the street. The two girls would set up a card table, sift through their cache of paper and pens, and spend hours together creating poems, stories and drawings. At the age of five, McGinnis was sowing the seeds of what would become a lifelong passion.
Linda McGinnis – Author in our Midst
“My early inspiration came from my family,” said McGinnis. “My father was a great story teller. He and my mother both encouraged me to express my creativity through writing, photog-raphy and music, and my grandmother taught me how to quilt.”
Today, McGinnis is flourishing as an author of Young Adult fiction and more recently of New Adult fiction, an increasingly popular category that appeals to readers aged 18 to 30. She has six novels on the market with a seventh book already underway.
“I became interested in history while in college,” said McGinnis, “but as I explored history more deeply in the years that followed, I noticed a lack of historical fiction written about and for this age group. I decided that I wanted to write for them.”
By Robin Shepherd
F A L L 2 0 1 4 G I L R O Y T O D A Y 39
In 1981 John and Rachel Perez bought property in the east side foothills. After years of planning and construction they are now enjoying their
dream home. The house is large at 7,100 square feet. It has five bedrooms, seven baths, an indoor spa/exercise tub, multipurpose media room, office meeting room and most of the things one would expect in a large house. But it has one other feature that makes it truly unique…it is home to an extensive collection of American Indian, southwest and Mexican art. Everywhere there are unique museum-quality pieces. In fact, during the building phase, many additional nooks, shelves and display areas were created to house specific pieces of this endless collection.
One of the other unique features of this house and collections are the stories John and Rachel have about many of the pieces. Between the two of them they can fascinate visitors for hours with one story after another. Even the shape of the house was dictated by a nature versus reality story. Originally the house was shaped like a rectangle, but a large ancient Oak tree stood in the way. After extensive negotiations with county officials, the three-story house took on a boomerang shape, saving the old Oak and making a home for a “La Virgen de Guadalupe” statue.
The east side entrance has a stucco “portal” common to many
southeastern facing homes. The west facing decks, yard and many rooms take advantage of the fabulous vistas down the hills west to Gilroy and south to Hollister. The second and third floors are mostly done while the first floor has several areas that are still looking for a final design and decorating. A recent addition was an elevator connecting the first and second floor. The elevator was the natural result of a bad-knee day for John, who in addition to his dental practice supervises a 38-acre family farm in Gilroy.
Rachel, who recently retired from Gavilan College, is adjusting to her new way of life and is happily seeking ways and places to display more of her collections. The house has been and will continue to be the go-to-place for fundraisers like Louis Valdez and El Teatro Campesino, Latino Family Fund with the Gilroy Foundation, St. Joseph’s Family Center and a special water project for a mission in Huautla, Mexico. This is a special project dear to John’s heart and in fact the source of another story. On the first floor landing is a portrait of the Virgen de Guadalupe. It once was in a religious institution in the San Jose area and was slated to be tossed out. The Perez family made a donation to rescue it only to find out that it was originally from Huautla!
The stained glass on the front door is another great story. It might look like a normal compass with the four directions, but
Casa en la Colina…House on the Hill
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for the Native Americans it is a Medicine Wheel of the Four Sacred Directions. East is the direction of air, wind, dawn, spring and the eagle, the spirit of freedom and the ability to fly above ignorance. West is the direction of water, dusk, fall, maturing wisdom and the bear who has to power to find answers. South is the direction of fire, summer, childhood, and the wolf. No negativity can exist in the presence of fire. North is the direction of earth, winter, midnight and silence. It is symbolized by the buffalo who along with the elders are the keepers of mysteries.
At the entrance to the living room are two large figures in Day of the Dead style. One young visitor to the house was afraid of the dolls because they were staring at him! The one on the north side is affectionately known as JayLo for her ample gluteus maximus.
Hats off to John and Rachel for creating this unique home, for showcasing so many beautiful artifacts, and for hosting benefits for so many great causes.
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Gilroy Area Home To State’s Largest Dairy IndustryBy Elizabeth Barrett
Historically Speaking
“Andrew J. Myers shipped by rail from Gilroy to San Francisco 75 of the finest cheeses, each 30 lbs., which will command 18-20 cents a pound. Mr. Myers owns an extensive dairy.”
Gilroy Advocate May 1,1869
“The railroad company shipped, 2450 pounds of cheese this week.”
Gilroy Advocate, May 29, 1869
For a time Gilroy was known as the Dairy Capital of California. On February 6, 1897, the Gilroy Advocate reported, “The
State Dairy Bureau reports Santa Clara County in the lead as the producer of cheese. We might add Gilroy gives this honor to the county.”
Gilroy’s earliest dairymen, Oscar and Henry Reeve, started operating between 1855 and 1860, followed by pioneer Rodney Eschenburg in 1858. The Reeve brothers had 800 cows, employed 30 milkers and two cheese makers on 2,000 acres, also providing spring pasturing for the herds on their 12,000 acres in the Gavilan range. At one time, according to a local newspaper report, the Reeves’ cheese stock on hand was valued at $30,000 with a cheese price of 13 cents a pound. The Reeves’ private dairy business ended in 1870 when prices plummeted.
A dairymen’s alliance, the Gilroy
Cheese Factory Association, formed a partnership in September 1877 with W. N. Furlong as the director. With capi-tal stock the men purchased an acre of ground from David Zuck to construct the factory, completed in 1878. Many other dairymen produced butter and cheese on their own ranches.
Gilroy’s cheese industry peaked in the 1880s. The 1881 output alone was 86,148 pounds, valued at $12,000, shipped from the railroad station. But by 1905 there was an 80 percent decline in the industry, due to new government regulations on moisture content. Dairy acreage soon turned over to row crops and orchards, by then considered a more profitable industry.
Still, by the time the local Live Oak Creamery opened in April 1908, the Gilroy area’s dairy industry was second only to agriculture in Santa Clara County. Tracy Learnard, who had run a private creamery enterprise on his Solis district
Photos Courtesy of the Gilroy Museum Palmer Zottola
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F A L L 2 0 1 4 G I L R O Y T O D A Y 67
UVWWhen you enter the lively Senior
Connection Café in the Gilroy Senior Center, all of the stereo-
types about what happens at a senior center are thrown out of the window. You see a vibrant atmosphere full of active older adults who don’t necessarily consider themselves “seniors.” You see friends walking together after their fitness class, a group engaged in a lively game of cards and a team working together to keep the nearby gift shop running in tip-top shape.
It’s community in the truest sense of the word. And the thing that seems to tie all of these individuals together are the weekday lunches offered by Mt. Madonna YMCA.
Mt. Madonna YMCA’s senior nutrition program serves nutritious lunches to older adults, Monday through Friday at 11:30 am. The Y began offering the program last year (Catholic Charities had offered a similar program, but could no longer support it) to help fight malnutrition and social isolation among older adults. To address these problems, the Y works with a dietitian from Santa Clara County to prepare a monthly menu full of meals that taste great, are low on sodium, and high in the vitamins and nutrients that older adults need to stay healthy.
“There is a real demand in the Gilroy community for programs that serve older adults,” Kelly Ramirez, executive director of Mt. Madonna YMCA, said. “At the Y, our ultimate goal is to create healthier communities and our partner-ship with the City of Gilroy has been wonderfully cohesive right from the start. This is really a great example of how we can bring people together to lead happier and healthier lives.”
The Y serves lunch to an average of 70 seniors per day and up to 150 for special holiday celebrations, which often feature a special menu and live entertainment. The program is funded through donations to
Lunching at the Gilroy Senior Center
Where Everyone Knows Your NameBy Dana G. Williams
the Y’s annual giving campaign and grants from Santa Clara County and CareMore. As a result, the Y is able to offer the meals to adults ages 60+ for free (diners who can afford to help support the program are asked for a small suggested $3 donation, $8 for the younger crowd).
What keeps local residents coming back is not only the tasty meals, but the connections that are developed among the participants. Mary Jane Espinoza, a participant who volunteers at the welcome desk, welcomes everyone with a witty joke and broad smile. And from there, it’s a constant hustle and bustle of greetings, hugs and laughter.
Nina York has been eating lunch at the café for well over 20 years. She is a kind, sweet woman, but she doesn’t like to share her actual age, nor does she like to have her picture taken. She started coming to lunch with her husband Virgil who, before he passed away, would play live music on his guitar as they dined. “He had a good voice,” she said, smiling.
While York is a big fan of the spare ribs, she says the company and the people are the reasons she keeps coming back. On this particular day, York and her friends shared countless stories about their lives, discussed health issues, and talked about vacations and the upcoming Garlic Festival. They’re also quick to notice when someone is missing or hasn’t been around, with York noting that “lunch is where we find out if everyone is okay.”
Eleonor Rivera (photographed above), 75, has been coming to eat at the cafe for 15 years. She says she enjoys coming to lunch because eating at the cafe gives her an incentive to stay busy and connected.
York and Rivera are also among a large chorus of participants who sing their praises for the Y team, and particularly, Martha Lizarraga, the Y nutrition site coordinator. From their kind words, it is clear that Y employees and volunteers
don’t just put food on a plate and walk it to the tables – they are truly invested in the active older adult community. They greet each other like family, and prepare special food for those with allergies or health needs, as well as those who don’t eat meat. Participants also comment that the Y staff is quick to serve meals on time, so the food is always warm and the waiting is kept to a minimum.
“The cooks are so friendly, and Martha makes everyone feel at home,” Rivera said. “It feels more like we’re at a restaurant than a cafeteria.”
Looking around, Rivera isn’t the only diner who feels that way. The lunch crowd is pretty sharply dressed, with women accessorizing beautifully, and men seen in button down shirts with neatly combed hair. For many, it provides that same feeling as if they are out to lunch with friends at a restaurant. It’s the reason why one diner travels from Campbell six times a month (the program is available for all Santa Clara County residents) and another drives up from Hollister whenever he can. And that’s exactly the type of experience the Y is trying to offer.
“We’ve seen what a tremendous impact this type of program has on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of our older adults, and that’s why we work so hard to provide an exceptional experience for everyone who comes,” said Martha Lizarraga.
Added Ramirez, “There’s tremendous need in the community and we are extremely thankful for the generous support we receive from our partners and through our Annual Giving Campaign to ensure that every senior, regardless of income, can enjoy the wide range of benefits that come from visiting our Senior Connection Café.”
For more information, visit or call mtmadonnaymca.org — 408.762.6000.
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By Sam Bozzo
other since high school. Sally lived on Lewis Street when I first started going to the Salon. This place was like a Cheers Bar (Salon in this case) from the ‘70s sitcom Cheers “Where everybody knows your name.” It seems that women have their hair done more often than men so when I go there I see many gal friends like Ellen Bozzo, Jeanne Filice, Bernice Marfia, Connie Rogers, Chris Sullivan (he’s a guy), and Rose Emma Pelicione — just to name a few of the regulars. What a wealth of information they collectively possess. It was here that I found out that Loretta Ventura was a Piedmont and that her brother was John Piedmont. John worked for the beer distributor that served our restaurant “Digger Dan’s” for many years.
I hope you are still reading because now I that I’ve set the tone, I can start the story of the Piedmonts on Lewis Street.
John Piedmont (John and Loretta’s grand-father) came from Genoa, Italy. When he came to Gilroy, he met Virginia who was from San Juan Bautista and they married in the early 1900s. They owned and farmed the property on Lewis Street; much of which is now San Ysidro Park. In those days, John would raise vegetables and fruit and would sell them to the residents of Gilroy from his horse and buggy. He also sold his produce to the Historic Gilroy Hot Springs in the east foothills of Gilroy. It would take him a full day to get to the Springs. The family reports that their grandfather would trade vegetables for an overnight stay. It was a two-day trip up and down the mountain.
John and Virginia were the parents of August, Beatrice, Edmund, Lillian and Richard who became the parents, aunts and uncles of John and Loretta Piedmont and Beverly Kludt. I will always remember Beverly because she worked at the Painted Wagon as a chef and opened the new kitchen at the Gilroy Elks (now called The Lodge on the Hill). Beverly’s chil-dren were Patricia Bentson who lived on Lewis Street with her husband Clay Bentson. Her brother Don followed in his grandfather Dutch Piedmont’s footsteps as a Gilroy Police Officer and also lived on Lewis Street. Their parents were Linton and Beverly Kludt (daughter of Edmund [Dutch] Piedmont).
Loretta and John Piedmont were the children of Richard (Cich) and Margarete Delanini Piedmont. Loretta’s son Victor and his wife Catalina live on Lewis Street with their children Joseph, MaryJane and Nina. By the time of this publication, Catalina will have given birth to their fourth child. Catalina was the first coordinator to bring back the farmers market, which was located in the city hall parking lot. Loretta’s seventh daughter, Marla, lives in Boston with Loretta’s granddaughter Vanessa. Loretta has lived on Lewis Street almost her entire life except for a short time in Novato, California, but she missed the hometown feeling and returned to Gilroy. At a Gilroy High ‘60s reunion, she saw Peter Garcia who was a year ahead of her in high school and that turned into an ongoing relationship. Peter’s family had a ranch in Gilroy in the early days, but what I will remember him for is his wood-working craftmanship.
Loretta’s brother John is a Vietnam veteran. John, his wife, Donna and their daughter Melissa live close to the Golf Course. He is now retired, but for 30 years John worked for the Bottomley Brothers beer distributors. During much of that time they lived on Lewis Street. Because of his good service during those years, it is my personal feeling that John may have lent some influence to why the Bottomley’s were the official beer of the Gilroy Garlic Festival for most of the life of the festival. John, Donna, and Melissa moved from Lewis Street but only to make room for son, Matt and daughter-in-law, Joanna. Matt has been a park ranger with the Santa Clara County Parks and is currently assigned to Anderson Lake. Matt and his sister, Monica who is a teacher and also works at Safeway both have homes on Lewis Street. Monica, who is get-ting married soon, plans to live on Lewis Street as well.
My next door neighbor, Bernie Habing, told me that when he was in his late teens, he worked for Cich (Richard) Piedmont when he owned the garbage company. Bernie said that if he had worked at the cannery he would have gotten 85 cents an hour but he went to work for Cich and got $1.70 an
hour, plus Cich gave him the key to the gas tank at the yard where the garbage trucks were kept and said help himself to gas for his car when he needed it. What a perk! Ellen Bozzo tells a great story about Dutch Piedmont when he was a police officer with the Gilroy PD. This goes back to the 1950s when Gilroy’s population was 5,280. Ellen’s dad, Hughes Kennedy, was on the Gilroy City Council. When she was in her teens she got a job with Driscoll Strawberries in the frozen food plant in San Martin. She worked from 4 pm to midnight. Her dad asked Dutch if he could watch her when she got into town at midnight. Sadie Frasetti lived on Miller Avenue and would ride with Ellen. She was paid one dollar for doing that. So Dutch would wait at the north end of town at the city limits in his police car and follow Ellen and Sadie to their homes and would flash his spot light on the door until they got in the house. Talk about small town.
As I first drove down Lewis Street, I came across a court named Gennaro — close to Railroad Street. I know a couple of people named Gennaro and thought the name came to honor the two that I knew, but in fact it was in honor of Gennaro Filice the founder of the Filice and Perelli Cannery. Further down Lewis Street there is a Ghirlanda Court. I found that the Ghirlanda family lived close to the Piedmonts.
As I reflected on my interviews, I thought of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize Play “Our Town.” I visualized the cannery in full motion with the tomatoes being harvested at the height of the season. Grandpa John Piedmont loading his wagon with fresh picked produce ready to make his way through the streets of Gilroy singing out “buy my fresh produce.” Meanwhile, grandma Virginia taking the fresh baked milk bread out of the outdoor oven while John, Loretta and Beverly eagerly waited for the first warm slices. A simple life perhaps, but very meaningful.
And that’s what I love about Gilroy.
