Published in the February 17 – March 1, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Robert Airoldi
Congratulations to Morgan Hill resident Dr. Marco Sanchez, principal of Gilroy High School for the past seven years. Sanchez received the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Educator of the Year honor Feb. 6 as a “Spice of Life” award at the 63rd Annual Citizen and Business Awards Dinner.
According to the Gilroy Chamber’s statement: “When he arrived at GHS, the school climate was poor and safety was a primary concern. Today, the school climate is very positive with programs and strategies in place to reinforce and reward students for positive behavior and actions.”
Sanchez stays visible on campus, knows most of the students by name and engages in positive communications with the students. Discipline problems have steadily decreased, including a significant decline in suspensions, tardies and expulsions.
Sanchez is a former Olympic wrestler. In 1996, he represented Puerto Rico in the Summer Olympic Games, held in Atlanta, in Greco-Roman wrestling. He is also a three-time U.S. Olympic Festival gold medalist. He volunteers his time as an assistant wrestling coach and was recognized as the 2015 National Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Wrestling Coach of the Year for the state of California.
Sanchez’s philosophy on education is simple and straight-forward: “Children are the message we send to a time we will never see, so we have to make sure the message they share is hopeful and inspiring.”
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Looking for that treasure or something you wouldn’t necessarily have bought at the store? Then the Morgan Hill Library’s “clothing swap” might be for you. Teens and adults with good quality clothes are encouraged to attend from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27 for the chance to get rid of something new or gently used that’s been taking up space and exchange for something different.
The swap doesn’t have to be an even exchange. But the library does ask that people bring at least one to two items of clothing, shoes or accessories to trade. The swap is for adult and teen clothing only and is 100 percent free.
Sounds like a unique idea.
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Valet service is coming to Morgan Hill. Yes, you read that correctly. Beginning Feb. 18, Ladera Grill will offer the service from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
According to manager Susan Marsh, the service is free for Ladera customers only and validation is required. Just drop off your vehicle in one of two parking spaces on Monterey Road near Ladera’s front entrance. There will be a sign, valet stand and attendants. Cars will be safely parked in the VTA lot off Butterfield Boulevard.
Owner Dan McCranie and Marsh are excited about the new service and looking forward to seeing how many people use it. So are we.
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Local real estate agent and founder of Air for Paws Terry Moriyama let us know how much her nonprofit has grown in the past year.
“This morning I reread an article that Morgan Hill Life newspaper wrote about Air For Paws around this same time last year,” she wrote. “I even surprised myself in the amount of growth that we have done, so had to share. Wow, have we changed!”
Last year at this time they had distributed 444 kits mostly for fire departments in 15 states. But the organization has branched out further to animal control, fish and game and the wild horses of Nevada … they even saved a little newborn fawn. Then they took on the Military Working Dog Teams in May of 2015.
So as of this month they have placed 946 kits in 42 states including 90 U.S. military bases in the states, Europe, Japan, southwest Asia, Germany, Guam and other undisclosed locations — Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.
“Just a little Morgan Hill nonprofit with the support of an amazing community,” she ended her email. Keep up the great work, Terry.
Those out there who want to help can show up between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday Feb. 28 at Rosy’s at the Beach. Special meals will be served with a portion of the funds going to the nonprofit. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5.50 for children. There will also be a raffle with some great prizes, including a bicycle and a weekend in Santa Cruz. See you Feb. 28.
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The Leadership Morgan Hill class of 2016 has been announced, and those participating this year are: Front row (from left) Sydney Oam, Nicole Agriesti, Marilyn Culp, Ricky Martinez, Rebecca Garcia, Leslie Carmichael, Jennifer McLain, Alyssa Garcia, Margaret McCann, Linda Bernabe and Annette DiResta. Back row (from left) Chris Harrington, Scott Martin, Erik Pedersen, Kathy Sullivan, Cinda Meister, David Allen, Jeff Prickett and Julius Nyand.
Leadership Morgan Hill is a training and development program created to inspire future leaders to community service. The local program, founded in 1995, is similar in concept to leadership programs in place in many other California communities. The nine-month leadership program is designed to provide participants with in-depth knowledge of the local political, economic, educational, media and government structures of the community.
