Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: Gilroy student is awarded Bike Person of the Year by councilmember

Gemar likes biking because it is fun and a good workout.

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By Robert Airoldi

Congratulations to Garrison “Ziggy” Gemar on being awarded Gilroy City Councilmember Zach Hilton’s Bike Person of the Year. He was nominated by the community.

“You show dedication and leadership for bike advocacy by encouraging others to ride their bikes to school, using your bike for errands around town, repairing your own bikes, and offering a bike to those who don’t have one,” Hilton said. “You have a positive impact on the community and this makes you a bike champion. You and I will continue to push the city of Gilroy forward.”

Gemar said he likes biking because it is fun and a good workout.

“It helps my leg strength for football,” he said. “Also, I think others should ride bikes, not only for themselves but also for the planet.

“There are many bike advocates who don’t realize the positive impact they have on the community, and this is a great way to elevate them,” Hilton said.

Gavilan College graduate and Gilroy resident Josephine Torres, a biology major whose career goal is to help people by going into the medical field as a doctor and who will be transferring to the University of California, Santa Cruz in the fall, has been awarded that institution’s prestigious Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Scholarship for 2023

Candidates are nominated by the presidents of each of the 13 regional community colleges. The nominations are reviewed by the Leadership Opportunity Awards Review Committee, and one student from each college is selected to receive up to $20,000 ($10,000 awarded for two years).

“It wasn’t always easy balancing full-time school and part-time work, but I would not be here without my counselor, Diana Gonzalez,” Torres said. “She made me feel like I could go to her for everything.”

Dr. Pedro Avila, Gavilan’s Superintendent/President, who nominated Josephine.

“We are so proud of Josephine Torres, who is a first-generation college student who had to persevere in her academic pursuits with independence,” he said. “Josephine has continued to contribute financially by working part-time to help her single mother with bills while enrolled full-time at Gavilan College.

In an effort to bridge the nursing shortage, the Edward Boss Prado Foundation has committed $25K to Gavilan College’s nursing program to cover fees for completing a degree for at least five students.

“We have a great need for nurses, and we have a great need in our most disadvantaged communities for good paying jobs for our young people,” said Executive Director Cecelia Ponzini. “We have the solution right here in our backyard with Gavilan College’s nursing program. It is gratifying to know five students will not have to worry about fees or program costs, and will transform their lives, and that of their families. I am grateful for the partnership with Gavilan College.”

Cecelia Ponzini and the Edward Boss Prado Foundation are a cornerstone in South County communities, said Gavilan Superintendent/President Dr. Pedro Avila.

“The organization helps the most underserved families with dignity and supports other non-profits in our area,” he said. “With this donation, the Edward Boss Prado Foundation is making a commitment to economic sustainability, and we are grateful.”

The check will be awarded in a ceremony later this month for a select group of invitees.

Throughout the months of June and July, Santa Clara County Library District libraries will be hosting an exciting and enriching lineup of programs for children, teens, and adults as part of their free Summer Reading Program. Participants can look forward to performers, arts & crafts, book clubs, speakers, and more. Find Your Voice is not just about reading, it is about building connections and discovering different ways to express yourself.

“According to the California State Library, Summer Reading programs can help children develop skills in art, science, math, technology, and literacy, which helps to maintain what students learned through the school year,” said County Librarian Jennifer Weeks. “These free programs also help participants socially, as they build connections within the community.”

It is easy to get started. Library patrons can preregister on Beanstack. On June 1, let the fun begin. Make sure to log books read and activities completed. Find Your Voice is free and fun for all ages! If you don’t have an SCCLD library card, all residents are invited to get one at any of our library locations.

Are you a Volkswagen aficionado? Then there’s something coming for  you. The 2nd Annual Volkswagen Car Show is coming to San Juan Bautista July 29.

Ray Diaz, a Gilroy resident, has been a Volkswagen enthusiast since a teen and has encouraged his friends to revisit the opportunity to once again own, drive to shows, meet new friends and even exchange ideas for the next best thing.

“Maybe it’s a mid-life event, I don’t know, but it’s like living your childhood dream on a weekend,” he said.

Entry fee is $35 and available at www.dubaffair.com. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Public admission is free. There will be a swap meet and vendors on site. See website for details.