Published in the April 1-14, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life

Every weekend
Bingo benefits bands
• The Live Oak Emerald Regime holds bingo games at the Britton Middle School Auditorium, 80 W. Central Ave., to support band programs. Saturday, doors open at 4:15 p.m., games start at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, doors open at 11:45 a.m., games start 1:15 p.m. For more information visit www.emeraldregime.org/bingo_page.htm.

Daily
Walking program
• Join others in evening and Saturday morning walks. Meet at the Morgan Hill Shopping Center (Main and Hale avenues) for walks from 6 to 7 p.m. They also walk for 90 minutes Saturdays beginning at 9 a.m. The walks are at a moderate pace and include hills. For more information, call (408) 779-7592 or e-mail [email protected].

Every Tuesday
Bingo benefits seniors
• Bingo is played at the Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, to raise funds to benefit the Morgan Hill Senior Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. with games at 6:30 p.m. For ages 18 and older. There is a $20 buy-in, $30 electronic and paper buy-in. For information, call (408) 782-1284 or visit www.fmhsc.org.

Every Thursday
Learn public speaking skills
• Interested in building your professional skills through better public speaking and leadership ability? Come to the Morgan Hill Toastmasters Club’s weekly meeting 7:30 a.m. Thursdays at BookSmart, 80 E. Second St. Visit www.morganhill.toastmastersclubs.org for details.

Every Friday
Breastfeeding support group meets regularly
• Join other women at 10 a.m. at the Casa Natal Birth Center, 50 W. Main St., Suite D. For more information, call (408) 778-7583.

Sundays
Happiness Workshop
• Breathing techniques and meditation are effective tools to bring out the best in us and enhance the overall quality of life. Join this free workshop to learn about these techniques from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at BookSmart, 80 E. Second St. RSVP at http://trulyhappy.org/morganhill/happiness-workshop-details?happyId=874.

April 4
Support Sonrisa
• Sonrisa Stables is an all-around program incorporating experience with English, western, cow work, summer camps, barn management, horse management, training and care, emphasizes respect, leadership, teamwork and professionalism in all aspects of the program. They will be at the Fro-Yo Delite in the Tennant Avenue Shopping Center at 11 a.m. After losing their lease on property in San Martin, they recently found a home at Red Fox Farm in Gilroy and are trying to get the word out. There will be raffle prizes, $50 off all sign ups, a Fro-Yo tasting event and a free “pony” to the first 100 arrivals. For more information email [email protected].

April 4, May 2
Bird walk series
• Join Jane Haley, a National Park Service docent for more than 20 years and Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center volunteer, from 9 to 11 a.m. along Coyote Creek, north of Morgan Hill. Participants will have a chance to observe migratory birds as well as discover an appreciation of local birds, their habitat and ecological importance. These walks are not recommended for young children. The programs are free, space is limited and reservations are required. For more information, call (408) 779-9372 or email [email protected].

April 6
How to grow cucumbers, squash and melons
• The cucurbit plant family offers  a huge spectrum of fruit with a multitude of flavors, colors and textures used in many different culinary styles. Learn which varieties can be grown in our area for a productive harvest at this discussion from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main Ave. Space saving varieties and trellising will also be discussed, as will the basic requirements of these crops, including harvesting tips and storage.

April 11
Book launch party
• Join Gabriela Isabela Rodrigues and others for a book launching. The two books are “Here Comes the Sun” — a recovery workbook using 12-step literature and “How Did the Phoenix Rise from the Ashes?” — her recovery story. The party takes place at 11:30 a.m. at Hacienda Valley Estates, 275 Burnett Ave. There will be a raffle at $5 a ticket and a silent auction, as well as a Mexican lunch, dessert and book for $20.

Fleurs Garden Club plant sale
• South Valley Fleurs Garden Club will hold its annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, in the BookSmart parking lot, 80 E. Second St. It features sought-after heirloom tomato, vegetable and herb plants grown by club members. There will also be a selection of annual and perennial ornamentals, as well as decorative flower pots and garden tools and accessories for sale. Another popular feature is the Kids’ Pot-a-Plant Table where children can transplant a flowering plant to grow at home. Proceeds support a number of community projects.
Meet author Lynn Carthage

• Come meet Erika Mailman (writing as Lynn Carthage​) at 2 p.m. at BookSmart, 80 E. Second St. She writes for teens and will talk about her latest book “Haunted,” ​​about a teen who has traded life in San Francisco for her stepfather’s ominous ancestral mansion in rural England. For more information, call (408) 778-6467.

April 15
Tour Mount Madonna School
• If you’re looking for a school with small classes and learning that goes beyond the classroom walls, come find out more about the Montessori-influenced Pre/K program, and college preparatory 1st–12th grade curriculum, take a tour of the 355-acre campus at 9:30 a.m. Contact Benna at (408) 847-2717 [email protected].

Through April 15
Free tax prep help
• Families earning and individuals below the poverty level can get their income tax prepared for free. This program is managed by the Silicon Valley United Way. Many more program details are available online at 211scc.org/vita. Information is also available by calling 211. The event will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays at the El Toro Youth Center, 17620 Crest Ave., by appointment. Call (408) 779-6002.

Celebrate Earth Day
• Start to enjoy some of the art that is going up around town and celebrate the dedication of the city’s newest public art “Soil Sample Morgan Hill,” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a ribbon cutting, free art activities, a home composting demonstration and a discussion on urban gardening. The event takes place at the Morgan Hill Community Garden on Butterfield Boulevard between E. Main and Diana avenues. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/morganhillcommunitygarden.

April 25
Art a la Carte
• Hosted by the Morgan Hill Community Foundation’s El Toro Culture and Arts Committee, the event is a free children’s art fair scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/267300806768716.

April 25 and 26
Flower show
• The 90th Annual Morgan Hill Flower Lovers Flower Show takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road. There will also be a raffle, plant and white elephant sales and antique appraisals from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday by Steve Yvaska. Maximum three appraisals: first is $5, the next two are $10 each.

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