Margaret and William Paul just moved in about a year ago . It didn ’ t take long for them to fit in , they immediately embraced our decorating of the trees for Christmas . William , and neighbor Joe
Cruz who moved to Fifth Street with his wife , Mary Jane , about two years ago , are regulars at the Tuesday Breakfast Club . William has a fascinating background . I think he can do just about anything with tools . He has worked on the NASA Mercury 7 Astronaut building project in Huston Texas , on the A-2 Saturn test stand New Orleans and on projects in eight other states . While in Breckenridge , Texas , one of his favorite places , he was also a Baptist preacher . On most days Joe sees Margaret off to work . She is the supervisor of stream management for the State Of California , specializing in threatened species . Her work takes her to San Luis Obispo , San Benito and Monterey Counties . Margaret ’ s two children , Vera and Lloyd , remember eating at Digger Dan ’ s , especially the fondue . Margaret says that she always liked this street .
Chuck and Nancy Robinson moved to the block in April of 2000 . Chuck works at Specialized and Nancy at Coldwell Banker . I asked them why Fifth Street ? Their response : “ It felt good .” Visiting the open house , Chuck noticed the large wooden doors , the fire in the hearth and the warm greeting by the owner , Shirley Abruzzine , he knew this
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G I L R O Y T O D A Y S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 was the place to raise a family . The house was originally built by Gordon Farotte for his family in the ‘ 50s . The Abruzzine family followed and the Robinsons became the third family to live in the home . While Chuck and Nancy were moving in , Nancy was pregnant with her first son . They had another son and a daughter . The boys , Chuck and Connor are active in Gilroy Browns and daughter , Gracie , is taking piano lessons form Lauren Bevilacqua .
I got to know Lucy Gori in the early days of the restaurant , as she was a frequent customer . We both moved to Fifth Street in 1976 . She and her sister were involved in a mystery . They “ borrowed ” a dolly , returned the mystery item the next day and everyone had a good laugh .
Lucy was raised on a ranch . She raised animals . She rode in barrel races , once in the Calgary Stampede . She raced sports cars and is a self-taught seamstress , which led to a life in the fashion industry . For 47 years she has owned Town and Country Fashions . She has clients in 29 states and hundreds , if not thousands of Gilroyans , have rented a tux or bought their wedding gown or prom formal from Lucy . She dressed people for the red carpet up and down the state including “ Cowboy Music Awards ” and golf galas for Donna Archer , wife of golfing great George Archer . Lucy has energy and determination . She was a runner for 40 years and still walks
And that ’ s what I love about Gilroy !
TOP : Prepping for Tree Decorating MIDDLE : Tom & Bruna Goold BOTTOM : Richie Scattini & Lucy Gori
regularly . Now that new neighbors Sergio and Sylvia live next-door , Lucy and Sylvia walk together on Sundays .
Lucy and her partner of over 32 years , Richie Scattini , a former California State Highway Patrol Officer , are adventurous spirits . He is an experienced pilot and Lucy has 12 hours of pilot flying time . They own two planes . Sometimes I see Lucy walking down Fifth Street . I see her animated walk , see her great smile , remember that she is a cancer survivor , and hear her say , “ Have a wonderful day .”