Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: A mighty salute to Christopher High School’s varsity football season

Coach Darren Yafai, who announced his retirement after the game

Photo by Keira Silver

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By Robert Airoldi

Let’s congratulate the Christopher High School Cougars for an amazing season.

The football team’s Cinderella run through the Central Coast Section playoffs ended Saturday, Nov. 25, with a 28-0 loss to Soquel High in the Division II championship game at San Jose College. Coach Darren Yafai, who announced his retirement after the game, led the Cougars on a magical playoff journey that included dramatic upset wins over Archbishop Mitty and Menlo School.

A history teacher and junior varsity football assistant, Yafai reluctantly took over the head coach job when longtime coach Tim Pierleoni stepped down in June 2021. He led the Cougars to incremental improvements. The popular coach empowered the team to improve from a 7-6 overall record in 2021 to 9-2 in 2022, and 11-2 this year.

Though the recent loss was heartbreaking, Coach Yafai and the Christopher community can hold their heads high after the team’s landmark run to the section finals. The future looks bright for Christopher football as they build on this year’s historic playoff success.

We got some great news from John and Sherry Hemingway regarding some new benches at Mt. Madonna County Park. On a recent visit, John came home enchanted by some unique benches and “photo booths” spreading throughout the park. Apparently, they are the work of a maintenance worker named Miguel. As he cleans up giant, fallen redwoods, he repurposes them into unusual benches and chairs. There are a variety of works up there, including whole logs with a seat carved out of the back with a chainsaw. John ran across a half dozen of these chairs overlooking beautiful vistas along several trails on top on a recent hike.

Young men are learning how to be chefs at the Neon Kitchen in downtown Gilroy.

A few lucky youths in the Carry the Vision after-school program helped cook a gourmet meal Nov. 27 courtesy of Mark Segovia, the nonprofit’s workforce director and a certified chef. Segovia enlisted Anthony, Kai and Gabriel to help prep a mouthwatering spread.

“We had roasted garlic honey chicken breast, oven roasted potatoes, sauteed squash, roasted butternut squash and a fresh garden salad,” said participant Terrance Hunter, founder of Empowering the Fatherless nonprofit. “It proved to be a healthy and tasty treat!”

The evening provided hands-on culinary and life skills training for the boys. Events like this empower Carry the Vision’s youth to reach their full potential.

A rhyming elf employed by a famous North Pole-based toymaker wrote a poem for Gilroy Life extolling garlic during the Yuletide season. The little guy asked if we might publish it for South Valley residents to enjoy:

 

“A Garlicky Christmas in Gilroy”

 

‘Tis the season for that pungent perfume,

As garlands of garlic in our city festoon

The chill in the air can’t mask that scent

Of Gilroy’s famous pearly white ornament.

 

Chestnuts roasting roast with bulbs of the stinking rose

As carolers harmonize holding their nose.

Gilroyans line up to tell Santa their wish

“Leave us fresh garlic for a delicious dish!”

 

The shops are all playfully bedecked

With every kind of garlic- clove-themed object.

From wreaths to hats, magnets and more

Gifts galore for garlic fans found in store.

 

We owe our fame to allium sativum.

Chefs savor the flavor with spicy stratagem.

Minced or whole, this herb is the best of

Food that’s garlicky Yuletide festive!

 

A sleigh flies over Gilroy Gardens aglow

Santa exclaims: “Wow, what stinketh below?!”

It seems ole St. Nick must breathe through his beard

As his reindeer land, their bright eyes teared.

 

Glimpsing the sleigh, the townspeople cheer

“Thank goodness, Santa delivers through odor severe!”

If you’re facing the holiday’s chill weather

A spicy Christmas brings people together

 

To celebrate joy, hope, peace and much more

In the town of Gilroy, garlicky to the core.

Among the gifts we’ll find under the tree:

Christopher Ranch cloves from the garlic fairy!