Published in the December 20 – January 2, 2018 issue of Morgan Hill Life

In celebration of the tarantulas that are common in Morgan Hill during the early fall months, the city’s Library Culture & Arts Commission along with the city of Morgan Hill Community Services Department are excited to introduce to the public an opportunity to purchase Morgan Hill specialty T-shirts in recognition of our beloved neighbors (including our honorary Fourth Street parking garage celebrity “Hiram”). You can support your local arts and culture by ordering limited edition 2017 Tarantula T-shirts. Prices are $30 and $35 with multiple sizes, colors and designs are available. All proceeds will benefit the 2017-2018 Public Art Initiative. Check out these cool shirts at www.zazzle.com/mhpublicart+gifts. They could make a great gift for the arachnid lover in your life.

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Attention all schools and youth groups. The Fleurs Garden Club is asking these groups to apply for “seed money” from the South Valley Fleurs’ EduGrow Planting-to-Learn Program. For the past six years, South Valley Fleurs Garden Club has supported education in horticulture by offering grants to schools, teachers and youth groups, such as the Scouts and 4H programs, that wish to include gardening in their programs, or fund a project involving horticulture. The club has granted funds for new and existing gardens, habitat development, soil amendments, tools, and irrigation supplies.

The garden club believes that Planting-to-Learn programs and projects are an easy way to implement science standards and help connect children with the source of their food, as well as their natural environment. These programs also help build community by involving schools, students, parents and local retailers in the process of funding and maintaining gardening projects.

Schools and nonprofit youth groups in Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy, and San Benito County are invited to submit grant applications. The EduGrow curriculum is aligned to the California State Standards for Science. The application deadline is Feb. 1. To receive a grant application form or request more information, email Betsy Ding at [email protected].

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The Sister Cities of Morgan Hill (www.morganhillsistercities.com) is expanding its programs to include a cultural exchange between students in one of its sister cities, San Casciano, Tuscany, Italy, and Morgan Hill families with teens between the ages of 14-17. The new program is comprised of two phases: the first is chaperoned and guided travel for participating teens this summer to San Casciano; and, the second is Morgan Hill families hosting an Italian teenager in their homes a year later.

Sister Cities is developing the San Casciano Exchange Program to give Morgan Hill teens a chance to learn about, share, and explore an international experience, as well as form life-long friendships and memories. During exchanges between San Casciano and Morgan Hill, teens can expect to actively participate in the local lifestyle, participate with host families’ routine, as well as group excursions showcasing the local area, while both in Italy and when hosting in Morgan Hill.

Sister Cities is kicking off the first phase now by actively looking for teens who are interested in the travel excursion planned for mid-late July 2018.

The Italian families hosting in July have already been identified and are committed to offer each Morgan Hill teen guest the opportunity of living the local Italian lifestyle as a member of the family.

There are two information sessions scheduled: 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 30, and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, both at the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center.

The second phase is slated for the summer of 2019, and will give those first phase participants, plus other interested families wishing to join the program, a chance to host an Italian teen also between the ages of 14-17.

Anyone interested in getting involved in this great program should contact Amy Whelan at [email protected].

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The annual Holiday Lights Parade organized by the Kiwanis Club is just another example of what makes Morgan Hill such a great place to live, and every year it seems to get larger and larger. The evening of Saturday, Dec. 2, more than 60 floats, dancers and musicians units paraded down Monterey Road in front of an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people who lined the streets and dined at restaurants to watch. Participants included Lana’s Dance Studio dancers, Guild Mortgage, RE/MAX, the Chamber of Commerce, and St. Louise Hospital to name just a few.

After the parade, as per tradition, Mayor Steve Tate lit the Christmas Tree at the Community and Cultural Center. Just a great way to kick off the winterfest season. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!