Published in the August 24 – September 6, 2016 issue of Gilroy Life

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

At the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s Breakfast Club this month, Mayor Perry Woodward boasted excitedly in his announcements of the possibility of a large indoor water park being built in Gilroy. Talks have been going on between the city staff and Madison, Wisconsin-based Great Wolf Resorts Lodge to develop a hotel and water park resort on about 30 acres within the Gilroy Gardens Family Park, he said. And now that the news has been revealed, the community is excited about the possible tourism opportunities.

If built, the resort would be open to lodge patrons who would have access to the water attractions including slides and pools. Although entrance would usually be open only to guests who have booked a room, there would be special occasions when the public would have access to the water attractions.

Great Wolf Resorts is North America’s largest provider of indoor water park resorts, and the Great Wolf Lodge is a year-round vacation destination resort. In addition to indoor water parks, the resorts are designed with features such as rustic Northwoods-theme decor, spacious and functional suites and an array of thrilling, interactive entertainment attractions and dining options.

“This is one of the more exciting opportunities Gilroy has seen in decades,” said Woodard in a press release. “It would bring a world-class hotel, conference center and water park that would compliment Gilroy Gardens nicely. It would mean hundreds of new jobs and could add several million dollars to our general fund tax base. And it would allow the city to make use of land it bought back in 2008 which has remained underutilized all these years.”

The staff at Gilroy Gardens is also excited about the prospects of a water-themed resort at the site of the amusement park on Hecker Pass.

“As our staff, guests and residents know, having a hotel on Gilroy Gardens property has been part of Gilroy Garden’s conceptual and compatible land use plan for some time,” said Barb Granter, Gilroy Gardens general manager. Having a destination hotel with a similar demographic appeal, improves upon this concept and has great synergy.

We wish the project the best of luck — and can’t wait in a few years to be among the first to go down the water slide.
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Dr. TJ Owens would be proud to hear that the high school at Gavilan Community College that bears his name made the list of Newsweek’s 500 best public high school in America. The Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy — or GECA, as it’s commonly called — ranked 155th place nationwide. And it was one of the eight schools in Santa Clara County that was named on the list.

Other schools in the area that got on the list were Monta Vista High School (18th place), Cupertino High School (35th place) and Homestead High School (74th place) in Cupertino, Henry M. Gunn High School (253rd place) in Palo Alto and Palo Alto High School (331st place), Lynbrook High (29th place) and Leland High School (90th place) in San Jose. Coming in 7th nationwide, Whitney High School in Cerritos was the top-ranked public high school in California.
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Saint-Louise-school-supplieFor many families, putting together the long list of required school supplies for their children at the start of the academic year can be a financial burden. That burden was eased a bit for several mothers thanks to the efforts of staff members of Saint Louise Regional Hospital. The donated backpacks and supplies were delivered to the Loving and Learning Center in Morgan Hill.

“These supplies will help many children, including those who came out today,” said Christa Hanson, the center’s director. “We appreciate the commitment shown to our community by Saint Louise.

The hospital staff also get a feel-good moment.

“Our staff gets as much out of this as the kids,” said Lori Katterhagen, vice president of patient care and clinical services. “It’s a great team-building effort, and it re-emphasizes the role we play in this community.”

Marty Cheek