Published in the Jan. 7 – 23, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Robert Airoldi
Victoria Battison with the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill told us that the service club will distribute free hardcover dictionaries to about 900 third graders in public, private and home schools in the Morgan Hill Unified School District the week of Jan. 26 to 30. This is the fourth year of the project.
“We give dictionaries to third grade students to encourage and support literacy in our community,” Battison said. “The process of looking up a definition in a hard-bound dictionary teaches alphabetical organization, how to use guide words, spelling patterns, word meanings and parts of speech. A children’s dictionary teaches a child far more than just how to spell a word.”
Good job, Rotary Club. Words are the way for all children to find success in school and life.
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The organizers of the July 3 Street Dance want your opinion as to where to hold the annual concert that draws upwards of 2,000 people to Morgan Hill’s downtown district. For the past several years it’s been held at the Downtown Amphitheater at the Community and Cultural Center. Before that it was held for years at Third Street and Monterey Road. Now, dear Morgan Hill Life readers, if the organizers can make it happen, do you think it should be held along Monterey Road or at the Downtown Amphitheater? Take the group’s short community survey and let them know what you think. Go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/XX5NSJG. Regardless of where it’s held, it’s always a great event that brings the community together.
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The people of Morgan Hill have generous hearts. During the holidays, the season of giving proved that people wanted to make the lives of families in financial need a little brighter by providing children with cherished toys. Cecilia Ponzini would like to thank everyone who donated more than 1,200 toys to the Edward “Boss” Prado Foundation toy drive this year that were distributed to families with elementary school age children attending San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Sciences Academy and P.A. Walsh STEAM Academy. Cecilia has already started collecting toys for the 2015 Christmas holiday season to give to needy children. For more information on how you can help, call Cecilia at (408) 670-0266.
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Thank you Valerie Renggli for telling us that the Granada Theater and Relay For Life of Morgan Hill are partnering to present free showings of the Robin Williams movie “Patch Adams” to kick-off of the 2015 Relay season. The movie is based on the life story of Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams and Williams plays a doctor who helps patients through the healing power of laughter. It will be shown at the Granada 1 p.m. Saturday Jan. 24, and 2 p.m. Sunday Jan. 25. Also, at 8 p.m. Saturday Jan. 24, come and listen and dance to the rock/fun band “House Rockers.”
Also, come have fun and learn about the American Cancer Society’s largest fundraiser that is made up of community members and is a great family event. Relay For Life of Morgan Hill is May 16 and 17 and everyone can participate by being on a team or attending the event.
For information about Kick-Off or Relay For Life, contact Valerie Renggli at (831) 595-8823 or Jill Davis at (408)497-9774.
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Elizabeth Sanford, District 1 Supervisor Mike Wasserman’s policy aide, sent us a friendly e-mail to ask us to encourage Morgan Hill residents to learn about Santa Clara County’s government through the SCC GOV 101 Academy, a 10-week program to provide a comprehensive overview of county government, its role and responsibilities, as well as the programs and services offered.
The 2015 academy will hold its first session Feb. 11. The 40 seats available for the class members will be distributed across the county. Eight will be available in each of the five supervisorial districts. Most sessions will occur Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. One half-day session will take place on a Saturday. A graduation ceremony will be held at the end of the academy.
Topics will include: “Keeping the Community Safe,” “Justice at Work,” Supporting the Community,” and “Enhancing Community Life.” The application deadline is Jan. 15. Learn more and apply online at www.sccgov.org/sites/opa/programs/Pages/sccgovacademy.aspx
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Who in Morgan Hill will be selected the 2015 Leadership of Morgan Hill awardee of the prestigious Leadership in Excellence Award? Find out at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at Guglielmo Winery when organizers of this year’s LEAD gala will introduce the person at a reception. Leadership Morgan Hill alumni and Morgan Hill Director of Public Works Karl Bjarke invites the public — and especially alumni of the Leadership Morgan Hill program — to the event to meet the person and learn why he or she is receiving the honor.
Last year’s winner was local farmer George Chiala. Other recipients of the award are Roger Knopf in 2003, brothers George, Gene and Gary Guglielmo in 2004, Michael Rubino in 2005, Dennis Kennedy in 2007, Sherry Hemingway in 2008, Mike Johnson in 2011, Rosy Bergin in 2012, and Mike Cox in 2013. We can’t wait to discover who will join that select group.
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A proud salute to Morgan Hill’s Cinelux Theater management for standing up for the First Amendment and not letting Kim Jong-un prevent Americans from watching the political comedy film “The Interview.” America is not about cowering to the threats of wannabee movie critics.
The movie starring Seth Rogen and James Franco as journalists instructed by the CIA to assassinate the strange and ego-inflated North Korean dictator after booking a talk-show interview with him was pulled by distributor Columbia Pictures when North Korea threatened “merciless” action against the United States. Cinelux started showing the film to audiences on Jan. 2 and it’s currently still playing.
