Published in the May 8 – 21, 2019 issue of Morgan Hill Life

Congratulations to Sam Bozzo and Gene Sakahara who will be honored June 8 with the Gilroy American Legion Post #217’s Community Leadership Award honorees. The pair, known as SakaBozzo, are twins separated at birth and celebrity chefs at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. They’re not “identical twins” but they have the same passion for the Garlic Festival and live to have fun and good food and share them with family and friends. They have entertained audiences and fans for 28 years.

“Thank you very much to Post 217,” Sakahara told us in an email. “We are both humbled to be recognized.”

Photo courtesy Kirti Bassendine
Kirti Bassendine with Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg.

Kirti Fatania-Bassendine, who saw her photographic exhibit, “Homeless Voices,” create social awareness locally, recently had her artwork shown at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Generating social awareness through art was the intention of “Homeless Voices,” her photographic exhibition that ran in January at the Gilroy Center for the Arts. Her show combined still photography, story boards and video to provide a multi-faceted insight into local homeless people’s lives and the underlying issues driving homelessness in the Santa Clara Valley.

She said she would like to take the exhibition to other cities across the state by introducing residents to their homeless community and helping people understand their circumstances and challenges.

“It was very encouraging to hear all the positive comments and encouraging words from people,” she said.

Way to go, Kirti!

Mike Wasserman

There are some big changes coming to Election Day. According to Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman, the board of supervisors recently approved the implementation of the Voter’s Choice Act, which is modernizing voting and providing voters with greater flexibility and convenience.

“The new system will make it more convenient for our 900,000 registered voters to cast a ballot and is anticipated to increase voter participation,” Wasserman said. Public meetings will be held to receive feedback from interested citizens or groups regarding the creation of the County’s Election Administration Plan. For questions, contact the Registrar of Voters’ Office at (408) 299-VOTE (8683).

Wanna help out with a great cause or two? The May 25-26 Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival is in “dire” need of volunteers, Brittney Sherman, member and community relations director at the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, told us.

Volunteering for the Mushroom Mardi Gras supports our local school groups with their fundraising efforts.  volunteer hours conducted under their name.

To volunteer, go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0f4ba9a72eab9-festival.

We encourage our readers in the South Valley to have fun as they raise funds for local students going to college