Around Town . . . with Robert Airoldi: Gilroy Rodeo returns in mid-August for old-fashioned western fun

Rodeo events include bull riding, bareback riding, and saddle bronc riding as well as steer wrestling, barrel racing, and team roping.

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

With the lessening of COVID-19 restrictions, the Gilroy Rodeo — which was forced to cancel last year’s event — announced the 2021 event will be held Aug. 13 to 15.

The rodeo will offer a great time for families to enjoy a unique American sport that started with the ranches of the Old West.

Get ready for some good old-fashioned western action with cowboy/cowgirl events to get your heart-pounding. These including bull riding, bareback riding, and saddle bronc riding as well as steer wrestling, barrel racing, and team roping.

With roots dating as far back as 1930, the Gilroy Rodeo was once a hometown affair drawing an entire stadium of spectators each June.

Unfortunately, the rodeo ceased in 1956. Fast forward to 2017, when Erik Martin and his wife, Kendra, decided to reignite the flame of western heritage in the area by bringing the Gilroy Rodeo back.

The rodeo returned in 2018 where the old ways of the rodeo cowboy met the modern South Bay culture we live in today. Proceeds of the event go to help various local groups including Gilroy’s Future Farmers of America.

To honor this unique medley, the Gilroy Rodeo Board of Directors decided that their motto would be: “where the past meets the present.”

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park announced that Hoa Minh Le has been named vice president and general manager of the park. He succeeds Barbara-Lea Granter, who was recently named vice president and general manager of California’s Great America in Santa Clara.

Granter, a 40-year industry veteran, has successfully led Gilroy Gardens through the past 18 seasons, including a recession and now a pandemic. Members and guests enjoyed the park’s growth during Granter’s tenure with the capital investment of Water Oasis (a full acre of family water play) and the addition of events like Holiday Lights, the Chinese lantern festival Lumination, and The Great Big Boo! Halloween event.

“It is a bittersweet moment to leave my Gilroy Gardens family, but I know everyone is in excellent hands with Hoa leading the way,” Granter stated in a press release.

Le brings 28 years of industry experience to his new role. A native of San Jose, Hoa began his career as a food service associate at California’s Great America in 1993. He was promoted to full-time manager of Food & Beverage in 1996. In 2003, Le accepted the resale manager position at Gilroy Gardens. In 2007, he was promoted to Director of Marketing and Sales for the park, and in 2012 became Vice President of Marketing and Assistant General Manager.

Greg Edgar, chairman of the board of Gilroy Gardens, said, “Barb’s leadership has been instrumental in the success of the Gardens. While we are sorry to see her go, Hoa has been part of that success and will take us forward as a strong leader and trainer with a proven track record.”

“I am thrilled to take on this new role and continue to lead one of the most dedicated teams in the industry,”  Le said. “Michael Bonfante built a very special place for kids, and we have been delivering his dream for nearly two decades. My hope is that 20 years from now, this will still be a place where kids, nature, imagination, and families all grow together.”

The park opened to the public for the 2021 season Saturday, May 22.

Congratulations on the new gig Barb, and good luck Hoa. We can’t wait to visit the park this summer.

The Gilroy Early College Academy made this year’s list as the number 12 best public schools in the state as it was named a “Best High School” for 2021 by U.S. News and World Report.

The school was ranked 12th out of 1,675 high schools in California and nationally ranked 110th out of more than 24,000 sites.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the ranking methodology draws from the 2018-2019 school year using both state and federal data. GECA was ranked on factors such as performance on state math and reading proficiency tests. Other factors include college readiness using Advanced Placement examinations and graduation rates.

Anthony Fuccella was named the new Ascencion Solorsano Middle School assistant principal at the April 22 Gilroy Unified School District Board of Education meeting.

Fuccella will begin his new role July 1 following the retirement of Charla Mittman. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from San Jose State University and a Master’s degree in Applied School Leadership from National University.

He has been a physical education teacher at Solorsano Middle School since 2007, and has worn a number of hats during his time.

Fuccella said his proudest classroom accomplishment is the incorporation of a bike riding and safety program into the school’s PE curriculum in 2019. This program included a partnership with Specialized Bikes in Morgan Hill, where the company donated a number of bikes to Solorsano to support the mission of the program.

Congratulations on the appointment, Anthony.

The Ballet Academy of Silicon Valley, including seven performers from Gilroy, will dance with the prestigious Calgary Ukrainian Festival June 5 and 6 in a live streaming recital.

The academy is based in Morgan Hill and seeks to encourage more cultural expression in young people through dance.

The Calgary Ukrainian Festival vision is to raise the profile of the Ukrainian community through a professional and inclusive annual event that showcases Ukrainian arts, cuisine, entertainment and culture. It is the largest Ukrainian festival in North and South America and celebrates all aspects of that heritage.

The arts, including dancing and performing, are incredibly important for young people now more than ever, said academy instructor Billy Prusinowski.

“Being on stage is incredible. Ukrainian dancing is about confidence, and proudness and demonstration of Ukraine’s resilient history through dance,” he said.

“Dance builds confidence, self-value, creativity, enriches higher learning and creates communities,” said Marisa Visnaw, BASV’s director. “Traditional Ukrainian folk dance is one of Ukraine’s most recognized cultural exports. Known and respected worldwide, audiences are not only entertained with the energetic, often fast paced dance, but also by elaborate, hand embroidered costumes and accompanying folk music.”

The two free performances will start at 9 a.m. June 5 and 6, and can be seen at www.balletsv.com.