Around Town … with Robert Airoldi: Rotary Club of Gilroy unveils inclusive playground equipment

Playground will bring together people from diverse backgrounds.

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By Robert Airoldi

The Rotary Club of Gilroy installed four inclusive sensory wall panels to the community at the Donald “Elvis” Prieto Park on Monterey Street in downtown Gilroy June 24. The project, funded by a $10,000 grant from Amazon Web Services, is a collaboration between the Gilroy Rotary Club, the After-Hours Rotary Club, and the Sunrise Rotary Club.

“The opportunity to provide inclusive playground equipment to the Gilroy community reflects the values of Rotarians,” said Nita Edde-Mitchell, president of the Rotary Club of Gilroy.

The inclusive playground equipment aims to foster interaction between children with disabilities and able-bodied children. Benefits include increased physical and social inclusion, reduced prejudices, and enhanced social interaction while promoting independence.

Rotary officials also noted that such playgrounds can help reduce childhood obesity rates and increase community engagement by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Gilroy and its community initiatives, visit gilroyrotary.org or email [email protected].

The Mushroom Festival in Morgan Hill and Day on the Ridge in Gilroy have come and gone and the Friday Night Music Series has started. Another great music series is the Hollister Concerts and they kicked off their five-week run June 15 at Guerra Cellars.

The night began with Left of Center, the former house band at Toby Keith’s Bar in Las Vegas, who are now touring the USA playing country hits. They were followed by Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan tribute bands.

If  you’ve never been, it’s a great venue. The natural amphitheater overlooks the stage set into the foothills as the sun sets, turning the hills a gorgeous orange hue.

You can bring a picnic or try one of three food trucks: Hapa Bros., El Guapo, and Steakstop, and enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine that are for sale.

Tickets are available for the remaining four shows. They are tribute bands for Pearl Jam and Sublime July 13, Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars Aug. 3, Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles Aug. 24, and AC/DC and the Scorpions Sept. 14. Details: www.hollisterconcerts.com.

Hope to see you there!

In more Gilroy Rotary news, the group established a scholarship program to support filmmakers from underrepresented communities in submitting work to the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival. The funding comes from a grant from Amazon’s Change X Program.

The PJIFF team decided to give the entire $3,000 to support three filmmakers from Gavilan College.

“Reading these filmmakers’ bios reminded me of when I was 10, growing up in Gilroy and dreaming of becoming a filmmaker, yet feeling like I had no chance to make it in the industry,” said Mattie Scariot, executive director of the festival. “The grant from Change X is truly making a difference, not only for the filmmakers but also as a catalyst for something great coming from the film festival.”

Those receiving grants are Emilio Camacho, Alfredo Murillo, and Lea George.

Camacho, who is in the film department at Gavilan, said he always wanted to become a filmmaker.

“I’ve enjoy making people happy and making them laugh,” he said. “I think filmmaking allows me to do that on a grander scale.”

Murillo is looking to graduate from Gavilan with an associate degree in film, then transfer to a four-year university.

“I was inspired to go into film because of videos I watched,” he said.

George aims to be in the industry as a director and designer.

“I have been involved in film since the age of 10,” she said. “For fun as a child, I would film and edit my short movies.”

Here’s to a bright future to all three of you!