Gilroy Today is a full-color magazine published four times a year (quarterly), direct mailed to over 1,650 businesses and distributed to over 90 locations throughout the community. It is everywhere Gilroyans do business. Gilroy Today is designed to inform its readers of the wonderful community in which they live as well as providing features and helpful ideas that will enhance their lifestyles.

J. Chris Mickartz,
Editor/
Creative Director

Larry J. Mickartz,
Photographer/
Writer

J. Chris started Gilroy Today in 2006 as a way to incorporate her love of writing, as well as her community activism. The magazine is for and about the community she loves, Gilroy.

J. Chris was honored as Gilroy Woman of the Year in 2004 for her years of service to the community that includes serving on the St. Joseph’s Family Center Board of Directors; forming and serving as founding President of the Leadership Gilroy Foundation; and serving on the board of directors for the Gilroy Rotary Club. She has been an active volunteer for the Gilroy Garlic Festival, serving on many committees since the inception of the Festival in 1979, and chairing both Promotions and Entertainment Committees.

Currently, J.Chris is active in the Gilroy Foundation, serving on the advisory board and the grant reader committee; the Gilroy Assistance League, serving as the publicity chair for the Gilroy Assistance League; and the Gilroy Rotary Club, serving on the membership committee.

Contact J. Chris at jchris@gilroytoday.com.

Larry is the other half of Gilroy Today.  He does much of the photography and some of the writing.  Always curious, the creativity of photography and writing are a welcome release.  Born in Nevada, raised in Los Angeles, Larry has had the good fortune to live around the US, in Hong Kong and the Philippines.

After 22 years in public education, Larry joined InfoPower Communications.  He is active in the Gilroy community having served on the boards of directors for the Gilroy Garlic Festival, the Gilroy Downtown Business Association and the Gilroy Sister Cities Association.

Larry is often at local events as the official photographer for the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce and Gilroy Today.  Many of his photos have also appeared in the multiple publications, including the Gilroy Dispatch.

Contact Larry at larry@gilroytoday.com.

Writers

Kelly Barbazette

Kelly Barbazette was born in San Jose. She and her husband Chris moved to Gilroy in 1998. She was the city editor of The Dispatch for a couple of years before she started her own copywriting/public relations business in 2000. She wrote a column chronicling her life in Gilroy for about five years. She has two daughters. She and her family moved to South Orange County in 2005 and moved back to Gilroy in summer 2007. She and her family are happy to call Gilroy their home once again. When she's not writing, Kelly volunteers at her daughters' school and enjoys cooking, reading, exercising and being a homemaker.

Elizabeth Barrett

Professional writer Elizabeth Barratt’s columns and feature articles have appeared regularly in Central Coast publications for the past 30 years. A fourth-generation Gilroyan, she is descended from the pioneer Chesbro family. She is a member of and contributor to the Gilroy Historical Society. Elizabeth lives in a restored Victorian near Downtown Gilroy. Her volume, “Images of America: Carmel Valley” was published by Arcadia Press in January 2010.

Sam Bozzo

Sam Bozzo is a past president of the Gilroy Garlic Festival and demonstration chef. He cooks with Gene Sakahara and together they are known as the  “SakaBozzo” twins — separated at birth.  Sam co-authored the cookbook “Any Bozzo Can Cook” with Gene.  He is adjunct faculty for Chapman University and a retired Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for the Monterey County Office of Education. He has been married to his wife, Judy, for 47 years.  They have two sons and three grandchildren who also live in Gilroy.

Stephanie Vegh

Stephanie Vegh has a BS in Exercise Physiology from Chico State and has worked in the fitness industry for over 12 years. She is a fitness instructor at the new Gold’s Gym on San Ysidro Avenue. She lives in Gilroy with her husband Frank, four-year-old twin daughters, Isabella and Addison, and one year old baby girl, Alexis.

Mel Rodinsky

Mel Rodinsky, retired after 30 years with IBM as a manufacturing systems consultant, has been a wine hobbyist for over 40 years. He chaired the San Jose Chapter of Tasters Guild, a large nationwide wine-tasting club, for 12 years. He currently represents small boutique wineries to restaurants and retailers throughout Santa Clara Valley and Santa Cruz.