Theme of contest is “Why reading books is important for you!”
by Robert Airoldi
Kids, if you love reading and writing you’ll want to put pen to paper for the BookSmart Community Foundation’s young writers essay contest. The competition encourages children and teens to describe “Why reading books is important for you!” as its theme this year. It’s all part of the 2019 Gift of Reading initiative, encouraging area students to reflect on why reading and books have been so important to them.
The essay requirements are a limit of between 200 and 300 words. Submit your printed or hand-written essay to BookSmart at 421 Vineyard Town Center. Make sure you include the child’s name, parents’ names, phone number, email address, school, and grade level. Entries are due by 7 p.m. Nov. 30.
Winners will be chosen in each of the following grade level groups: 2nd-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, and 9th-12th grade. Good luck with your essays, young wordsmiths!
Photo by Robert Airoldi
Morgan Hill resident Douglas Delgatty admires the artwork.
Speaking of kids, at last month’s Taste of Morgan Hill, children showed off their creative talents with a special arts exhibit at the Pop-up Park on the corner of Second Street and Monterey Road. This was the third year for the Youth Arts Exhibition. The idea came from Lina Velasquez, a local artist, to promote art in our community, and create spaces where kids between the ages of 5 and 13 can show off their art and their families and community can appreciate it.
The exhibition also is intended to show support to art studios, teachers and schools that trying to maintain art in their programs. The event is sponsored by Lina Velasquez and the Morgan Hill Library, Art and Cultural Commission with the wonderful help of their member Katie Khera.
It’s time for Gavilan College to announce its 2019 Community Spirit Awards. The awards are presented annually in each of the communities served by Gavilan Community College District to honor the people and institutions who contribute to improving the quality of life in each community. Each of the three sets of awards includes an individual, a business, and an organization.
The winners from Morgan Hill/San Martin were presented at the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce breakfast Oct. 3: Individual — Cecilia Ponzini, Organization — Operation Freedom Paws, Business — Creative Manufacturing Solutions. Garlic City recipients will be presented at the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Oct. 16: Individual — Michele Pierson, Organization — Gilroy Police Department, Business — Straw Hat Pizza. From San Benito County, the recipients are: Individual— Kent Child, Organization — Hollister Elks Lodge, Business — DLG Printing.
I love a parade. That’s why I need to put in a plug for the upcoming Morgan Hill Holiday Lights Parade. Entries are now open, with discount rates until Oct. 7. Deadline for entries is Nov 22.
The 2019 Annual Morgan Hill Holiday Lights Parade will be Dec. 7. It will start when the sun sets about 5:30 p.m. and goes along Monterey Road from First to Fifth streets, ending at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center where Mayor Rich Constantine will light the Christmas Tree and menorah display.
The parade began 33 years ago and is a classic small-town event to put cheer in the hearts of children of all ages. If your organization wants to participate entry forms are available at morganhillkiwanis.org/HolidayLights, or contact [email protected].
We received several calls asking why firetrucks were parked on U.S. 101 overpasses, Sept. 30. According to Gilroy Fire Department, they were parked to honor a veteran who was being transported from Salinas to the San Francisco National Cemetery.
According to news reports, the cremated remains of Edward Auton Adams were discovered in a box at the back of a closet in an old professional building in Monterey two years ago. The World War I veteran passed away in 1991 at the age of 100, having outlived his wife and having no children. The lawyer he worked with had died thus failing to get Adams to his final resting place.
