Published in the June 26 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Robert Airoldi
At Morgan Hill Life, we are proud to highlight some of the events, issues and latest news that give our community the quality of life we enjoy …
Butterfield Boulevard extension is now open, and what a great way to get around. Left Marie Callender’s on Cochrane Road after picking up a pie for Father’s Day and took the boulevard to Watsonville Road and on to Capitola to visit Dad. The new $14.2-million thoroughfare — one of the last projects funded by the now defunct Redevelopment Agency — will help motorists traveling from the southwest side of town get more easily to Tennant Avenue and U.S. 101, and vice-versa. Finally!
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Good news for night owls. The annual Taste of Morgan Hill will stay open until 9:30 p.m. Saturday Sept. 28. Two bands, Rodeo House and Shane Dwight, will play until then and many vendors have indicated that they’ll stay open the additional hours. This should help the downtown restaurants as people linger in and around the downtown corridor for the additional hours.
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Downtown “Play” banner
The new “Shop, Play, Dine” banners hanging throughout downtown are a nice touch. The 28 signs, costing about $6,000, were paid for by the Property Based Improvement District and will hang throughout the summer.
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As always, the Mushroom Mardi Gras raised thousands of dollars for local students. Organizers handed out $46,000 in scholarships, $7,500 in Mini Grants to elementary and middle schools in MHUSD and about $20,000 in donations to the school groups who participated. Just another reason, and a good one, to frequent the annual event.
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On July 10, Rotary Club of Morgan Hill will hear a special speaker: Mary Tillman, mother of ex-pro football player Pat Tillman, who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. A brief trailer about the film produced after her son’s death will be shown. This promises to be a riveting experience. The noon to 1:30 p.m. lunch is open to the public and costs $20. The lunch is held at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road. For more information contact [email protected].
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Be sure to check out the exhibit of photographs by members of the Morgan Hill Photography Club from June 30 to Aug. 25 at Villa Mira Monte, 17860 Monterey Road. The theme is animals and subjects may include any non-human animal, wild or domestic, big or small, winged or grounded, fetching or slimy. Sounds like it should make for some interesting photos. I can already see the llamas, chickens, sheep and horses.
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Join this year’s Road Rally and Poker Fun Run and discover 25 sites that make South Valley such an attractive area for businesses, residents and local tourists. More information, sign up forms and payment are available at morganhillcf.org/roadrally.htm. Those interested are welcome to enter any type of vehicle, motorcycle or bicycle. The entry fee is $40 through July 12 and $45 for event-day registrations. Each participant has a chance to win $500 cash with the poker playing cards collected from each business visited. Engines starts at 9 a.m. and the event ends at 1 p.m. with a celebration at the Granada Theatre.
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Finally, join us for a launch party from 6 to 9 p.m. June 26 at the Grinds Vines and Automobilia Cafe at the corner of Monterey Road and Second Street. Dessert will be served and music played by James Newell as we celebrate the first issue of Morgan Hill Life.
