Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: See some of the beautiful quilts at the AAUW show May 18 at the IFDES Lodge

A small number of quilts will be for sale, along with quilting supplies and books.

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

The culmination of years of work will come to an artistic fruition with the AAUW Quilt show May 18 at the IFDES Lodge on Old Gilroy Street. If you think quilts are old-fashioned and not relevant today, you will be amazed at what you see. Quilts are much more than a bed cover, they come in all sizes, shapes and can be wall hangings, table runners, lap blankets and more.

This event is a chance to relax, have a light lunch and view the gallery. Tickets are $35 and available by calling Marianne Peoples at (408) 842-9022 or Judy Bozzo at (408) 607-1621.

In keeping with AAUW’s mission of education, this fundraiser will benefit scholarships for both high school and community college students. The Opportunity Quilt will be raffled off to a lucky winner who bought a $10 ticket. It was beautifully made by Carol Cooper, a well-known former Gavilan faculty member. A small number of quilts will be for sale, along with quilting supplies and books.

The show is a long-standing tradition. Some of the members are part of a group called “The Rippers,” which shows they have a sense of humor. The displayed quilts will have varied themes, depending on the time, fabric available, patterns and the influence of people. Today some quilts are even made out of T-shirts. In the earliest days quilts provided a pragmatic way to reuse fabrics that had been part of a garment or even a flour sack. Quilts provide a way to remember important people in our lives, or ways to tell a story or commemorate an event. Many quilters “sign” their quilts or put a small “patch” on the reverse giving the date, occasion and reason for making the quilt.

Sounds like a fun time viewing some of the beautiful quilts!

Gilroy Assistance League officially announced their 2024 Grant Recipients at a luncheon and presentation held April 11. Recipients were recognized for their outstanding efforts on behalf of South Santa Clara County children and youth. This year, Gilroy Assistance League distributed a record $35,000 in funds to 13 organizations. In attendance at the luncheon were grant recipients, active and honorary Gilroy Assistance League members, and community guests.

Gilroy Assistance League has been “granting hope” to children and youth in South Santa Clara County since 1959. Powered by the dedication of female community leaders, the nonprofit raises funds primarily through an annual home and garden tour. This year’s Home + Garden Tour & Artisan Market will take place May 10th and 11th, 2024. To attend or support the Tour, please visit GilroyAssistanceLeague.org for further information.

Since 1993, the Gilroy Assistance League has awarded over $400,000 in grants to local youth organizations.

The 2024 Grant Recipients are as follows:

GUSD Special Education Preschool, $5,298.75 for a therapeutic swing and attachments; Gilroy FFA, $1,625.65 for equipment for Turkey Harvest; South Valley Middle School Counseling Department, $2,500 for Mental Health Wellness Center; Saint Mary’s School, $2,100 for a new greenhouse; One Giving Tree, $1,336.64 for reusable bags for Christmas Tree Kit project; DreamPower Horsemanship, $1,500 for supplies for the annual camp for children with special needs; One Heart to Another, $1,300 for filled Christmas stockings for youth in foster care; Brownell Middle School Counseling Department, $1,500 for Mental Health Wellness Center; GHS Culinary Arts, Food I & II, $3,000 for supplies for five culinary classes; Asencion Solorsano Middle School Band, $5,000 for new band equipment; Parents Helping Parents, $2,500 for workshops for families raising a child with special needs; Gilroy Sportsmen Chef, $2,000 for Fishability, a day for families of individuals with special needs; The Family Giving Tree, $5,338.96 for supply-filled backpacks.

Gilroy resident Esmeralda Montenegro Owen was named the “Citizen of the Year” by the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce. The immigrant from El Salvador moved to Gilroy in the 1970s. Learning English was one of the first challenges but her dedication to an education and becoming a good member of society were her priorities.

She earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish at the University of Southern California and a master’s in Public Administration at Notre Dame de Namur University. She was introduced to the Central Coast in 2005 when she was hired as a news anchor for Univision 67, where she earned an Emmy nomination for investigative reporting. Along with 10 years in TV, Owen held leadership positions at the National Steinbeck Center, Hartnell College, and Youth Orchestra Salinas. She has been a professor of communication studies at Gavilan College since 2011 and enjoys sharing her experience with students.

Owen also takes time to be a mentor to youth and is an integral part of the board of directors for Sunset Cultural Center, the California International Airshow Salinas, and Hand2Stand.

Congratulations, Esmeralda.