City . Melissa lives in Sacramento with husband Brian and their two children .
Jeff and Barbara are very active in the community . Jeff graduated from the Leadership Gilroy in 2001 and Barbara in 2008 . Jeff said one of the hardest volunteer jobs he has had was washing pots and pans at the Garlic Festival . He has also worked for the Gilroy Chamber in the beer concession . Both Jeff and Barbara have limitless energy . Jeff still works the chain gang at Gilroy High School football games , serves as the master of ceremonies for the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce breakfast ; has received the Firman Voorhees Volunteer of the Year award from the Gilroy Chamber and will be a Rotary District Governor , following the retired Chamber President , Susan Valenta .
Jeff and Barbara remember the aroma the blending of the stewed tomatoes canned at the Cannery on 10th Street and the garlic processed at Gilroy Foods ( now OLAM , Hwy 152 ) produced . “ It smelled like marinara sauce and made one hungry for a bowl of spaghetti .” For many on Hoesch Street , the kids are either off to college or married , living in other cities but find time to come back to Hoesch Street , especially around Garlic Festival time . All are invited to Barbara and Jeff ’ s for a prefestival garlic party on the last Saturday where calamari , scampi , pasta compesto and the famous steak sandwiches are served with the sole purpose of training the taste buds for the gourmet feast at the end of July .
Dia and Mike Hoshida were looking for more space when they moved to Gilroy in 1984 from Mountain View . They found it on Hoesch Street and it was called Rancho Solis , built by the Moen Family , Tanglewood Construction . Their home is on the north side of the street and the opposite side of the street , which was not developed , became a play area . As others moved in , there began a commonality — children were born , landscaping was completed and yards became gathering places . According to Dia , neighbors shared a glass of wine in the afternoon while the children played in the front yard . And , strong bonds were formed . I asked Dia if she ever thought she would move , now that Mike was retired . She was quick to say , “ If we were to move , Margie and Jim Hemeon ( who live a couple of doors down ) would have to move , too .” She backed that comment up with responses from her children , “ Where would we go ?” She notes that when their grandchildren visit , they want to visit the Hemeon ’ s . That ’ s how close the bond is . Dia refers to life on Hoesch as “ All American Living .”
Mike worked for the Valley Transportation Agency ( VTA ) for 33 years as a driver / trainer . As he gained seniority with the agency he was able to work split shifts , allowing him time to coach little league while Dia became very active with the parent club at the new Rod Kelley School . Dia has been involved in the Gilroy Music Theater with John Bisceglie for fourteen years , serving as producer . Three of their sons Stephan , Allan and William participated in many of the plays while their fourth son , Thomas , concentrated on golf . During that time Mike worked on stage sets . In 2008 , he retired from the VTA and soon after became Christopher High School ’ s golf coach .
In 1994 , Rebecca Scheel came to live on Hoesch Street from Arizona . She would later meet Bruce Morasca who then lived on Laurel in Gilroy , at a Santa Clara County Democratic Committee meeting , where a seven-year courtship began . The house that Rebecca moved into was the first of nine built by Gary Walton , a local developer who has devoted much time and energy to the revitalization of downtown Gilroy .
I first met Bruce when he ran for City Council . He didn ’ t win but he has remained involved . He is on the Arts and Cultural Commission and the Arts and Cultural Committee . Originally from Salinas , he will be the first to say : “ Gilroy is my home .” Although Rebecca enjoyed life in Arizona , she has developed a fondness for her home and neighborhood . For a person who started out as a truck driver in Green Bay , Wisconsin , Rebecca has accomplished a lot : President of the Parent Club at Rucker and Brownell ; a graduate of Leadership Gilroy Academy ( thanks to the then Superintendent Edwin Diaz ); president of the local Chapter of California School Employee Association ; and eight years as a Park and Recreation Commissioner . She has been recognized statewide as “ Activist of the Year ” by the California School Employee Association ( CSEA ).
I think it ’ s safe to say that Hoesch Street has been good to the families that live there and there is no question that their children won ’ t be asking “ where would you go if you moved ?” They know the response would be “ no where ” — they like living right where they are , on Hoesch with the Glines ’ s , the Orth ’ s , and the Hemion ’ s . I found a great quote in one of my books on Community Building : “ And in our society the occurrence of community is still rare — indeed an extraordinary happening in the ordinary course of things .” The folks that I have referred to in this article have made significant contributions to this community … and are indeed extraordinary .
And that ’ s what I love about Gilroy
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