Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: PJIFF director chosen as Congressional District 18 Woman of the Year

The award-winning festival takes place April 10-17

A family enjoys the Fantastical Flowers at Gilroy Gardens’ event on March 18, 2023. It returns this month. Photo by Marty Cheek

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Mattie Scariot

Hats off to Gilroy resident Mattie Scariot. She’s the 2024 Woman of the Year for congressional district 18. She told us she found out March 6 in an email from Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren’s office she was selected for the honor.

“I was surprised. It’s really exciting,” she said. “I saw that they had put out an announcement that you can nominate for Woman of the Year, and my son (Nathan Myers) nominated me. They didn’t go into details on why they picked me.”

We know why. As the director of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, Scariot has worked hard during the past several years to make the South Valley a hot-spot for up-and-coming filmmakers to show off their cinematic art.

The award-winning festival takes place April 10-17 in various locations in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Hollister and San Juan Bautista.

“The craftsmanship of the films this year is really good,” Scariot said of the local festival. “There are many excellent films from around the world. It’s a great way to bring these filmmakers to the South Valley for people who love movies to meet and learn about the art of film.”

To learn more about the festival and purchase tickets, visit www.pjiff.org.

The long winter wait is over and Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park will open for the 2024 season March 23 with the return of the Fantastical Flowers Spring Celebration.

uring Fantastical Flowers, the park’s majestic gardens will be transformed with blooms big and small in every color of the rainbow. As guests stroll through the park, they’ll encounter larger-than-life silk flower sculptures created by master artisans as well as colorful flower beds and displays, fun family activities, and floral-themed food and beverages.

Live entertainment will be provided by “The Flower Buds,” an energetic, interactive percussion-and-comedy ensemble.

Gilroy Gardens and Fantastical Flowers will be open to the public weekends and select weekdays from March 23 through May 27. An exclusive Preview Day will be held Saturday, March 16, for 2024 Premium Members and members of the media.

The Fantastical Flowers Spring Celebration is included with regular park admission and is free for 2024 Premium and Value Members. Discount tickets and memberships can be purchased online at www.gilroygardens.org.

Sounds like a fun floral adventure!

The Gilroy Sister City Association selected Isabella Vieira to be its representative at the Sanjoaninas Festival in Gilroy’s Sister City of Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, Portugal, the nonprofit’s president Dave Peoples told us.

“She is a student at Gavilan College and will be transferring to CSUMB this fall to continue her major in English, with a minor in communication studies and intends to become a teacher,” he said.

Gilroy has six Sister Cities in the international program designed to promote friendship between countries. Besides Angra do Heroísmo, they include Koro in the Republic of Palau, Monticelli d’Ongina in Italy, Saint-Clar in France, Takko-machi in Japan, and Tecate in Mexico.

The Sanjoaninas festivals are full of joy, friendship and local folklore. They date back to the 16th century.

Congratulations, Isabella! Send us photos.

Sparks! — formerly known as Painters and Poets — is an event that celebrates the creative self-expression of Mount Madonna School students. The event is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. March 15 at the school’s upper campus.

For this event, MMS high school students were asked to contribute a creative work in any discipline, whether a poem, a dance they choreographed, a piece of music they composed, drawing, video, sculpture or a digital art piece, to share with the larger community.

“This is a night to honor the perspectives, talent and growth of our students as they explore and claim their artistic expression,” said art and technology, engineering and art teacher Angela Willetts.

This event is for MMS high school students, their families and guests. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend; however, please be aware that presentations are not filtered for younger audiences.

“Bring your good vibes, glitter and glasses,” said Willetts, “for a closer look at the wealth of artistry in our midst.