Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: 2021 Spice of Life awardees add quality to the Gilroy community
Carrie Campos competed on the nationally televised “Supermarket Sweep.”
Photo courtesy ABC TV
Bakersfield native Ali Kent, left, and her teammate, Carrie Campos, of Gilroy, get ready to compete on ABC’s “Supermarket Sweep.” The episode aired Dec. 13.
By Robert Airoldi
Robert Airoldi
The end of the year brings the announcement by the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce of the 2021 Spice of Life Awards recipients.
Former Gilroy Mayor Roland Velasco is the Man of the Year. Gilroy Unified School District Superintendent Debbie Flores is the Woman of the Year. Educator of the Year goes to both Leadership Gilroy and Brownell Middle School ELA and social science teacher Teri Mikkelsen. The Young Professional of the Year Award goes to Carlos Pineda, the chef of Kneaded, a Rebekah Children’s Services program. The Firman B. Voohries Volunteer of the Year Award goes to Maria Cid, the president of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival board. The Susan Valenta Youth Leadership Award goes to Danielle Russell. The Nonprofit of the Year is Operation Freedom Paws. The Small Business of the Year was announced after this issue of Gilroy Life went to print last week.
Photo courtesy Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
Danielle Russell, with flowers, is flanked by family members, from left brother Dylan Russell, mother Debbie Russell, and father Mark Russell.
“This has been a difficult year, a challenging year in every aspect, for every family, for schools, for school children, for school teachers and it takes a lot of work and effort to direct an organization as large as the school district in order to turn on a dime, almost overnight, (and) change the way operations are going,” said Gilroy Chamber CEO Mark Turner during his announcement online on Flores’ award. “Congratulations, Debbie. We appreciate all of the work you are doing and all that goes into what you do. This is well-deserved and a long time coming.”
Flores credited her colleagues for their professionalism and dedication during the stressful 2020 pandemic and implementing online learning for GUSD students.
“I am so honored. I’m so appreciative. The incredible job we’ve done has been the biggest team effort I’ve ever been a part of,” she said. “I am so proud of the district staff and the way they have responded to this pandemic. They are amazing. Thank you so much. It means a lot to me.”
Gilroy Life is planning on publishing stories focusing on all of the recipients in upcoming issues.
Congratulations to all awardees. And thank you for the good work you do.
Gilroy has a TV celebrity in Carrie Campos, who competed on the nationally televised “Supermarket Sweep.” The episode featuring her appearance aired Dec. 13 on the ABC and was titled “The Dog Food Isn’t Worth Anything!” Campos faced 11 competitors with teammate Ali Kent of Bakersfield.
“Supermarket Sweep” is a game show combining an ordinary team-based quiz show with the novel concept of a live, timed race through a supermarket. In the race, cameras follow teams with shopping carts through a large, vacated supermarket with several aisles; the value of items thrown into the cart determines the winning team. The teams race against the clock to find five products in order to win $100,000.
Campos participated in the filming of the episode in August. All safety protocols were in place — including COVID tests, separate team trailers and mask wearing for everyone except those on camera.
Watch the episode to find out if Carrie and Ali won. It can be viewed on demand and streaming on Hulu. For more on the show, visit abc.com/shows/supermarket-sweep.
If you have an idea to make Gilroy a better place to live, you’re in luck.
Zachary Hilton
New Gilroy City Councilmember Zachary Hilton is inviting local residents to participate in a new program called “There Ought to Be A Law.” It encourages men, women and children to propose new city legislation for the upcoming year.
“As a city councilmember, I know that some of the best ideas we work on at city hall come directly from constituents,” Hilton said. “When we work together as a community, we can produce better results.”
Proposals can vary from local community improvements, make entirely new policies/ordinances, and revisions to existing ordinances/policies. To apply, fill out the form and submit it. Proposals are due by Friday, Jan. 29. Go to https://bit.ly/OughtToBeALaw to learn more.
Beware of a recent phone scam targeting Gilroy residents. The Gilroy Police Department is warning the public of con artists pretending to be officers notifying residents about issues with their Social Security number. In some cases the caller ID actually spoofs the GPD phone number.
The scammers claim the person answering the call has a warrant for their arrest. They demand payment or attempt to obtain detailed personal information over the phone. The Gilroy Police Department, or any law enforcement agency, will never demand payment via the telephone. If you receive such a call, hang up, and notify police at (408) 846-0350.
The year 2020 has been historic for a multitude of reasons, but one of our favorites is Gilroy’s Sesquicentennial — its 150th anniversary of incorporation. Gilroyans can still be part of the celebration by “adopting” one (or more) of the Gilroy 150 vertical banners that hung throughout the city last year.
The 24-inch by 52-inch banners can be purchased for $100. The 30-inch by 94-inch banners can be purchased for $150. The banners are sold through the Gilroy Foundation. All proceeds will be used to offset the initial cost of the banners.
If you’re interested in purchasing any available banners, visit gilroyfoundation.org/donate-now/
Gavilan College’s annual youth piano competition for students in the fifth to twelfth grades will be entirely virtual due to the COVID pandemic. A live feed of the competition will be provided for the public on the music department webpage at gavilan.edu. The junior division will be for students who are in grades 5-8. The senior division will be for students who are in grades 9-12.
To compete, submit a single, unedited video of your piano performance with the respective application by Feb 5. Each contestant must upload their video to YouTube and provide the URL with their application. Competition is only open to youths who reside in the Gavilan College service area: Hollister, Gilroy, San Juan Bautista, Morgan Hill, Coyote Creek, San Martin and South San Jose. It costs $20 to enter this piano-playing competition.
Visit www.gavilan.edu/academic/music/piano_comp.php for the application form and more details
Marian Filice was a native Gilroyan, born in 1909. Her family moved to Morgan Hill, where she attended Machado School and Severance School but returned to Gilroy and graduated from Gilroy high. She started studying piano at the age of 14. At 18, under the patronage of her aunt, Clara Bisceglia, and with the support of her family, she moved to San Jose to undertake an intense course of piano study. Guided by one of the noted teachers in the Bay Area, she became an accomplished musician.
Robert Airoldi is the editor of Gilroy Life. Contact him at [email protected].