Published in the February 3-16, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Gene, Gary and George Guglielmo

Gene, Gary and George Guglielmo

Congratulations to Morgan Hill’s own Guglielmo Winery. The 90-year-old family-owned winery recently learned it will be inducted into the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Business Hall of Fame at their Annual Membership and Distinguished Awards Dinner Feb. 25.

Each year the business association recognizes local companies for their longtime and significant contributions to the economic and civic growth and well-being of the community, according to Cindy Adams, Guglielmo Winery’s director of marketing. The Business Hall of Fame recipients are companies that have made the Silicon Valley region their choice for business operations for more than 50 years. Previous recipients have included Hewlett Packard, Santa Clara University and Lockheed Martin.

In a joint statement, the Guglielmo brothers George, Gene and Gary said: “We’re honored and humbled to be recognized. It’s a true testament to the hard work and commitment of our family and employees for the past 90 years not only to produce the best wines possible but to also be a positive contributor to our local communities. Having been born and raised here and being part of the rich history of agriculture and winemaking in the Santa Clara Valley makes this honor truly special.”

We’re proud of you, guys!
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Alexis Budde

Alexis Budde

The Santa Clara County Farm Bureau awarded Alexis Budde, a 2015 graduate of Live Oak High School, with a $2,000 scholarship. The award is given to a student majoring in agriculture. Budde just completed her first semester at Colorado State University where she is majoring in agriculture business with a minor is agriculture literacy.

Alexis plans to return to Santa Clara County after she graduates and pursue an entry level career with the farm bureau or Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture.

“Alexis is an outstanding individual,” said Santa Clara County Farm Bureau President Erin Gil. “She is a well-rounded student and will be a great addition to the agriculture community when she finishes college.”

We couldn’t agree more!
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Interested in helping our young musicians in Morgan Hill expand their view of the world? Fifty members of the Live Oak High School Emerald Regime hope to travel to New York and visit the Big Apple from April 7 to April 14. On the trip, they will experience professional musicianship, learn about historic landmarks and buildings and compete in a national band competition.

The Live Oak band director, Jason Locsin, along with 10 other adult chaperones will travel with the students. The cost of the trip is $2,200 per person. Fundraising opportunities and scholarships are available to students who need it. For information on how to donate, email Band Director Jason Locsin at [email protected].
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Arlene Biala

Arlene Biala

We have a county poet and we know it. Arlene Biala was recently appointed by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to the post of Poet Laureate. She will serve a two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2017.

The Poet Laureate’s role is to elevate Santa Clara County residents’ awareness of poetry, and to help celebrate the literary arts.

“The Poet Laureate serves as an ambassador to the poetic arts in our community,” said President Dave Cortese, County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors. “Arlene Biala will bring new facets of performance art to her role.”

Biala is an award-winning Filipino-American poet and performance artist who has been participating in performances and workshops in the Bay Area for more than 20 years.

Born in San Francisco and raised in Santa Clara, she is a longtime resident of Santa Clara County.
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Crosswalk-for-AT-webAdding to the quaintness of Morgan Hill’s downtown is a new crosswalk at Dunne Avenue and Monterey Road. It is intended to embrace the friendly animals and insects found in our natural environment, scattered within a wine country-theme background (bunches of grapes and grape leaves).

“We wanted to highlight what makes Morgan Hill special within Silicon Valley, and its access to the outdoors, nature and of course, the wineries and farms,” said Economic Development Manager Edith Ramirez. “This crosswalk represents that identity our community is so proud of and contributes to the excellent quality of life in Morgan Hill.”

The project was paid for through a $51,000 grant from Super Bowl 50 Fund. The grant will also pay for directional signs around town that will point out important places such as the Community and Cultural Center, Centennial Recreation Center, the library, city hall and our evolving downtown.
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Seana Hogan

Seana Hogan

Thank you, Gretchen Merrick, for letting us know about the “Adventurous Women” talk coming up at 7 p.m. Tuesday Feb. 16 at the Villa Mira Monte History House at 17680 Monterey Road. The Morgan Hill branch of the American Association of University Women is sponsoring speaker Seana Hogan, an Endurance Cycling Legend and Race Across America (RAAM) competitor. Most notably, Hogan has broken the women’s transcontinental cycling record twice. “Seana has shown that with a dream, a goal, a good plan and hard work, anything can be done,” Merrick said.

Keep on ridin’!