San Jose councilman turns a pumpkin into Mark’s Hot Dogs
San Jose City Councilman Raul Peralez paid tribute to one of the city’s most iconic eateries by recreating Mark’s Hot Dogs’ “giant orange” in the form of a giant pumpkin. He made the display — which included a couple of lowriders in the parking lot — for the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits’ annual Be Our Guest fundraiser, which was held Thursday at Excite Ballpark.
The creative pumpkins created by the table hosts — elected officials and other community leaders — are always a highlight of the celebration. Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein’s colorful pumpkin had a big crow perched on top of it. San Jose Assistant City Manager Lee Wilcox used a few pumpkins to create a Baby Yoda/Mandalorian team up. San Jose Councilwoman Magdalena Carrasco’s “East San Jose” pumpkin was bejeweled and crowned, looking ready for a quinceañera. And, Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee’s pumpkin was painted with an image of the Alviso Marina County Park.
Some of the pumpkins were a little creepy and others addressed serious issues — this is an election year, after all — but most were just fun.
Whoever wins Peralez’s seat, though, will have big shoes to fill for this event, as his pumpkins are usually over the top, including replicas of the San Jose City Hall rotunda and Diridon Station, a wearable San Jose State football helmet and a Gordon Biersch beer keg with a tap (and it actually poured beer). Peralez is quick to note that he always works on the project himself instead of delegating it to a staff member.
The sold out event was also a celebration of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits’ Nonprofit Impact Award recipients. This year, Behavioral Health Contractors Association was honored as Nonprofit of the Year; Garbierla Berumen of Building Skills Partnership and Kylie Clark, public policy coordinator for West Valley Community Service, received the Nonprofit Leadership Award; the Nonprofit Ally Awards went to Dora Byer of Excite Credit Union and Victor Sin, chair of the Santa Clara Valley chapter of the ACLU; First 5/Family Resource Centers and the San Jose Conservation Corps got the Collaborative Impact Award.
The Patricia A. Gardner Changemaker Awards went to Unity Care founder Andre Chapman and Susie Rivera, Fresh Lifelines for Youth’s Executive Director of Santa Clara County.
GOOD SPORTS: Former San Jose State baseball coach Sam Piraro took his wife, Jo Ann, out Tuesday for their 42nd wedding anniversary. Of course, he took her to a VIP reception at SAP Center for the year’s inductees of the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, a prestigious group that includes Piraro.
Also on hand — and not celebrating anniversaries to the best of my knowledge — were his fellow honorees: Santa Clara University and Dallas Cowboys tight end Doug Cosbie; former Archbishop Mitty basketball coach Sue Phillips; and Mike Swain, an Olympic medalist and coach in judo.
The honorable foursome was interviewed in the Sharks Lounge by former Mercury News sports columnist Mark Purdy, himself a member of the 2021 Sports Hall of Fame class. Other past honorees there for the occasion included legendary judo coach Yosh Uchida and former Bellarmine baseball coach Gary Cunningham.
The big induction ceremony is still to come on Nov. 9, again at SAP Center but this time on the covered ice. Check the San Jose Sports Authority’s website www.sjsa.org/hof for information on tickets or sponsorships.
FUNNY FIRST: Archbishop Mitty’s always entertaining Black & Gold gala is back in-person this year at the Signia by Hilton hotel on Nov. 5, and the event — which goes back to 1992 — is breaking new ground: Rita Rudner will be the entertainment, making her the first female comedian to headline the show, following in the footsteps of guys like Jay Leno, Sinbad and Martin Short.
If tradition stands, Rudner is going to have her work cut out for her trying to outshine Mitty’s student performers, including the Kind of Blue jazz ensemble, Exodus rock band and Royals dance ensemble, who’ll be celebrating the “iconic music and moments of the MTV generation.” Yep, this is squarely aimed at the Gen X parents, who’ll be raising funds for the San Jose school’s endowment. More details are available at www.mitty.com/blackandgold.
TIME FOR A CHANGE: After two years at the helm of Sobrato Philanthropies, Sandy Herz has announced she is stepping down as the organization’s president at the end of the month, a decision she says was made in collaboration with the board and the Sobrato family.
“I am deeply proud of the way this remarkable team has contributed to an integrated enterprise focused on positive social impact,” Herz said in a statement, adding, “I am immeasurably grateful to have had the opportunity to lead Sobrato Philanthropies and partner with so many members of this incredible community.”
Sobrato Organization CEO Matt Sonsini, who is also board chair of Sobrato Philanthropies, will serve as interim president. Herz says she will assist and support the organization as needed in the transition and looks forward to taking some time off. Prior to joining Sobrato, where she succeeded Rick Williams, Herz had spent 16 years with the Skoll Foundation.
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