COMMUNITY
DIGEST
TIDBITS FOR AND ABOUT
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
GARLIC FESTIVAL
PLAQUE HONORING FOUNDERS INSTALLED
On Thursday July 26, 2018, the evening before the opening of the 40th Gilroy Garlic
Festival, there was a unique gathering at Christmas Hill Park. Many past and present Garlic
Festival presidents, board members and guests gathered to dedicate a plaque honoring the
founders of the Festival. In attendance were members of Rudy Melone’s and Val Felice’s
families and Don Christopher along with members of his family.
The plaque reads:
Don Christopher, Val Filice & Rudy Melone spearheaded the formation of the Gilroy Garlic
Festival. The first Festival was held in 1979. Annually, over 4,000 volunteers work the
Festival to provide financial benefits to charities and non-profits groups while promoting
the community of Gilroy through the celebration of
garlic. The Garlic Festival has returned millions of
dollars to the community. The first Gourmet Alley,
in this park setting was held here in the Mulberry
Picnic area.
The plaque and monument were made possible by
many generous donations and help from the City of
Gilroy and the Gilroy Public Art Committee.
Special Thanks to: Karen Aitken, B.J. Strange, Greg
Bozzo and Mark Zappa.
Honorees and decendents in photo:
Founder, Don Christopher and son, Bill; Valerie and
Bob Filice (Val Filice's children); and Gloria Melone
(Rudy Melone's wife).
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018
gmhtoday.com
41