and Festival organizers have been able to convince some local , regional or national vendors who had higher prices to trade the difference for publicity and Festival exposure .
Sustainability is also about less plastic , styrofoam , garbage , and more compostable recyclable materials . Vendors are encouraged to get on the sustainability bandwagon by competing for a “ Green Garlic Award ’ which will be presented to the vendor who has demonstrated the most sustainable practices during the Garlic Festival XXXII . A group of special-needs children will remove bottle caps from plastic bottles and garner a little recycling money .
Local news has played up the cost of the Festival ’ s environmental impact on Uvas Creek . While this is a costly issue it is a necessary one . It is part of the sustainability of the larger issue .
Greg is also working on plans to make Friday truly a “ Locals Day .” There will be a price reduction for local residents . Some untapped local bands and musicians will be on the schedule . On the Cook-Off Stage , there will be a series of Iron Chef type competitions between locals and a mystery guest chef !
The Garlic Festival has shaped Greg ’ s life . Because of the Garlic Festival , Gilroy acquired a Sister City in Takko Machi , Japan . Because of the sister cities relationship Takko established , a Coordinator of Interracial Relations ( CIR ) afforded a Gilroy resident the opportunity to live and work in Takko . Greg spent two years in Takko where he met his wife Lora . She returned to Takko as a CIR a few years later . Takko and Lora led to marriage , two daughters and house on Hanna Streert . Working the Garlic Festival also led to a commitment to community service . All this , together with visits to Angra , Gilroy ’ s Portuguese Sister City and Monticelli , Gilroy ’ s Italian Sister City , and a garlic cooking competition in Edmonton Canada , have shaped Greg ’ s perspective of the world .
This gardner / landscape designer , longtime Festival volunteer , and local family man is connected to his community and the world in a way that is unique and can be attributed to the Gilroy Garlic Festival !
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S P R I N G 2 0 1 0 G I L R O Y T O D A Y 41