Published in the December 19, 2018 – January 1, 2019
Charles Weston
Organizers canceled this year’s Nov. 11 Veterans Day Run because smoke from the Camp Fire posed a health hazard. The popular run’s founder, local architect Charles Weston, wants to salute those in South Valley who helped raise nearly $14,000 this year despite the fact he had to pull the plug.
“Prior to the run, 119 runners had signed up and when given the chance for a refund, not one person asked for their money back,” he said. “The same went for all the sponsors. We are extremely grateful for this.”
The money from the canceled run will go to the nonprofits including 22 Too Many (which raises awareness of post-traumatic stress and veterans suicide), Taji 100 (an annual 100-mile in 28-day run/walk charity challenge in February), the San Martin-based Operation Freedom Paws (which empowers veterans and others with disabilities to live a quality life by teaching them to train their own dogs and certifying them as service dog teams), Dream Power (which provides equine facilitated psychotherapy and support services to U.S. military veterans and their families), Project Hired (which guides veterans with disabilities to find employment through an array of services designed to promote self-sufficiency), and Freedom Fest (Morgan Hill’s annual July 3 and 4 birthday party celebrating America).
“I’m a Vietnam veteran and upon return from Vietnam found it very difficult to assimilate,” Weston told us. “One of the things that saved me in addition to my family and the Vietnam Veterans Center, was my running.”
Thank you, all who made sure this year’s canceled Veterans Day Run still accomplished its mission to help the men and women who served our nation. And if you still want to help out these good causes, visit www.morganhillveteransdayrun.com.
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Speaking of helping good causes, Lisa Bjarke with the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill, told us members made a $1,000 donation to help the victims of the Camp Fire through the foundation of the Rotary Club of Paradise. Nationally and internationally the club often makes donations through local Rotary clubs in the affected area because the clubs are able to determine greatest need and provide oversight without incurring overhead costs.
“It is our way of ensuring the most responsible use of our charitable giving funds,” she said. “Additionally, we will be collecting gift card donations from Rotarians at our upcoming holiday party.”
They join the Edward Boss Prado Foundation, the Morgan Hill Unified School District and the Gilroy Fire Department to name just a few organizations that reached out to help. I’m proud to live in a city that is so generous during times of crisis.
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If you drive through the city, you’re sure to see a lot of construction guys now working on various projects.
Morgan Hill City Communications and Engagement Manager Maureen Tobin told me about the various projects. The property where the old shoe repair shop used to be is the UHC Housing project. It’ll feature a three-story affordable housing building with 39 units.
On East Dunne Avenue west of Walnut Grove, workers are putting together Las Colinas, a Dividend Homes project made up of 32 attached and detached single family homes.
In the lot behind the gas station on the northwest corner of Dunne Avenue and Monterey Road, you’ll soon see construction on the Hencken Oaks project, a 14-unit residential development. It’ll feature two four-plex buildings, one duet building, three single family dwellings with one existing single family dwelling to remain. The project will save one of the original houses and all the remaining oak trees.
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The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce concluded its annual Celebrate Morgan Hill Awards surprise presentations with two final categories. At the Dec. 6 Good Morning Morgan Hill Breakfast they surprised Gavilan College President Dr. Kathleen Rose as the 2019 Educator of the Year. Then they surprised us at Life Media Group (which publishes Gilroy Life and Morgan Hill Life). Community relations director Brittney Sherman announced we’re the 2019 Small Business of the Year. We were all truly stunned— and honored. We started Morgan Hill Life in 2013 and Gilroy Life is now in its third year.
“We appreciate the community recognizing the value of the free press,” publisher Marty Cheek said. “Thank you to South Valley for making our two publications possible.”
Congratulations to the other 2019 honorees: Man of the Year, Rich Firato; Woman of the Year, Karen Crane; Volunteer, Cherisse White with Cherisse’s Hair Salon; Large Business, Pinnacle Bank; Student, Live Oak High School senior Alexis Munson, and Nonprofit, Edward Boss Prado Foundation.
