Published in the December 24, 2014 – January 6, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

BookSmart owner Brad Jones told us about a way to earn rewards and spur the local economy. Top Hat Rewards, a new kind of customer loyalty program that rewards customers for shopping in their own town, comes to Morgan Hill. Most rewards programs give a cash back incentive for using a particular credit card or for shopping at a particular store.

Top Hats Rewards is dedicated to creating local spending ecosystems that allow small businesses to reward people for shopping locally.
Top Hat works because there is value in shopping locally and teaming up with other local stores. When you sign up using the mobile app you text a code to the Top Hat number and they start you off with a $5 bonus. Then every time you shop in a participating store a contribution is made to your account from the store where you shopped (when you use a rewards credit card the store actually pays a higher rate for you to use the card).

When you collect a reward total that you want to spend you can go to any of the stores and use that money just like cash.

“So far our customers love getting a $5 sign up bonus but I think they will see real value in a program that pays them to support local businesses,” Jones. To read more about Top Hat Rewards and the founder’s story visit www.tophatrewards.com.
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Winter flag football and spring softball are right around the corner, and now is the time to sign up. The Spirit of Morgan Hill girls softball team is taking walk-up registration for girls 5 to 18 in four divisions from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan,. 10 and 17 at Betsy’s Restaurant. The opening day is March 7.

Anyone interested in coaching, volunteering or sponsorship contact [email protected].

And, the NFL Flag Football league registration is now underway.

Dedicated to providing a high quality NFL Flag program for boys and girls 4 to 14, South Valley Flag Football has been running leagues in the Morgan Hill area since 2004. The cost to play is $120 for 10 games, plus a Player Combine, End of Season Jamboree, NFL Logo Jersey and flags, T-shirt, shorts, socks and more. NFL Flag is 5-on-5, no-contact game that emphasizes skill development, equal playing time, life lessons and teamwork; plus its lots of fun to play. Registration is now open at www.svflagfootball.net. Parents can register online then mail payment. Early registration closes Jan. 4 and final registration is due by Jan. 18. The Player Combine will be held Jan. 4 and the first games are Jan. 18 and the season ends Feb. 22.
• • •
This month marks a milestone of 25 years that the Evening Book Group of the American Association of University Women has been meeting to chat about great books by talented women authors.

At its first meeting, held Dec. 11, 1989, were Carol Holzgrafe, Joanne Rife, Sandy Stoob and Anne Rosenzweig, all still members of AAUW and the book group. It was decided to read books only by women authors and to alternate fiction with non-fiction each month. The first book selected was Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood.

Stoob has kept a running list of all the books the group has read over the past 25 years. It now includes 267 titles from 220 different authors, all women. Margaret Atwood has been read the most times (six titles), followed by Barbara Kingsolver (five).

Evening Books is one of the most popular branch interest groups, and there are now about 35 active participants. Several women said they joined AAUW just so they could participate.

Monning,Bill-we

State Senator Bill Monning

The group actually became too large to be easily accommodated in members’ homes. No one, however, wanted to break into two separate groups. So in Sept 2011, they started meeting twice a month with two different books at two different locations. Members may attend either, neither or both. This has worked well, averaging 12-15 attendees at each meeting.
• • •
Thank you Morgan Hill resident Swanee Edwards for letting us know the latest news about the South Valley’s California State Senator Bill Monning, D-Carmel who represents us in Sacramento. Monning, who was elected in the November 2012 election, will serve in the coming year as the Senate majority leader with the start of the new session.

The role means Monning will serve as the main floor manager for the Democratic party, and as chief assistant to State Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon in politics and strategy.

The appointment also means more muscle for the Central Coast. The last time a local official served in State Senate leadership was when former state Sen. Henry Mello served as majority leader; he termed out in 1996.

“A lot got done during that time period,” Monning said, “including the establishment of [the Fort Ord Reuse Authority].”

“I’m very excited and honored to have the confidence of the pro Tem and my colleagues.”

As for what Monning has in mind for this session: Along with Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, Monning plans to introduce a death with dignity bill in mid-January.

Committee chairmanships were also announced today, and Monning will chair the ethics committee beginning Jan. 1.