Published in the April 15-28, 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 more information, call (408) 782-1284 or visit www.fmhsc.org.

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 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 16
Plan for progress
• Gilroy and Morgan Hill Leaders will present plans for progress, at noon, at the Gilroy United Methodist Church, 4th and Church streets, Gilroy. Stan Ketchumm Gilroy senior planner and Steve Maxey, Morgan Hill planner, will speak about their city’s plans. Snacks and beverages will be served. For more information, call (408) 257-8899 or (530) 945-8014.

April 18
Soil Art Festival
• Join the Morgan Hill Community Garden (Butterfield between E. Main and Diana avenues) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Soil Art Festival. Mayor Steve Tate will dedicate the city’s newest public art, “Soil Sample Morgan Hill,” by artist Helen Lessick at 11 a.m. followed by art activities for all ages, a home composting demonstration, and a tour of international garden plots. Dr. Lucy Diekmann will speak on urban gardening and community health. For more information, call (408) 887-0193 or email [email protected].

April 19

Japanese festival
• The Morgan Hill Haru Matsuri and Northern California Taiko Expo takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center, 16450 Murphy Ave. The free event features Asian cuisine, cultural and historical displays, farmers market, rummage sale and Taiko drumming performances. For more information, call (408) 779-9009 or email [email protected].

April 23
Women in politics
• The American Association of University Women presents a Women in Politics panel at 6:30 p.m. at the Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road. City Council Member Marilyn Librers, Santa Clara County School Board Trustee Claudia Rossi and others will share their experiences in a panel discussion led by former Morgan Hill School Board Trustee Kathy Sullivan. Free admission. For more information, email Janet McElroy at [email protected].

April 24
Sowing Seeds, Nurturing Dreams
• Spend an evening enjoying the beautiful Gavilan College Gilroy campus and enjoying superb local food and wines, all for a great cause. “Sowing Seeds, Nurturing Dreams” helps provide scholarships and emergency assistance to students in need. The event will be held at the Gavilan College Student Center from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 24. It will feature some of the best of local food and wine, an enticing silent auction, and music. Auction items include works of art, handmade jewelry and travel/entertainment opportunities. Admission is $50 per ticket, and will be limited to guests 21 and older. To purchase tickets, visit www.gavilan.edu/gala.

Wine region celebration
• This year, local wineries garnered almost 90 awards at the 2015 San Francisco Wine Competition, and from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, 200 guests will celebrate at the inaugural “Our Award Winning Wine Region Celebration.” The event will feature 12 of the regions finest wineries pouring samples of the types of wines that are earning the region these awards. Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 day of the event if tickets are still available. Tickets sold at BookSmart.

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.

Children’s book sale
• Friends of the Library mini-sale of children’s books takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the small program room at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main Ave. All books are just 10 cents each.

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.

April 30
Learn about GMOs
• Learn about the hazards of GMO’s in the documentary film GMO OMG. Explore this topic through the eyes of a concerned father. The free event takes place from 6:15 to 9 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Road. Donations are accepted.

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].

May 4
Landscaping for fire safety
• Learn common sense techniques for keeping your home safe from fire and allow it to be protected. We will discuss the fire zones you should maintain around your property, what are good and bad plants relative to fire safety and how the drought affects your choices. The talk, presented by Master Gardener Larry Speth, takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main Ave.

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