“Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time,” MHPD Chief Shane Palsgrove said.

Photo courtesy Sergio Covarrubias
Zoe Gonzalez with office Sergio Pires and K9 Basco.

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

About 3,000 people came together at Morgan Hill’s Civic Center Plaza Aug. 2 for National Night Out, a community engagement event that the Morgan Hill Police Department has hosted locally for many years. The MHPD, Morgan Hill Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services set up vehicle displays that delighted the large crowd.

Enthusiastic kids met K9 Officer Basco, climbed high into the driver’s seat in fire department trucks and hopped on MHPD’s motorcycles for a pretend ride.

This year the event was expanded to include the Morgan Hill Public Works vehicles, many booths showcasing community service providers, city departments, multiple food trucks and performances by Mariaichi Tapatio and the Chiqlets Zumba Dance Team. MHPD and the Fire Department also raffled off many shiny new bikes and school backpacks to excited children.

“Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time,” MHPD Chief Shane Palsgrove said. “This event was a fun way for our officers and professional staff to stay in touch, be visible and always approachable. PD works hard to strengthen our department’s relationship with residents, and this great event not only helped the MHPD, but also strengthened our city government’s relationship with the community, too.”

Want to learn more about the people and animals who have made their homes along Coyote Creek both long ago and today? Then join others for the Coyote Creek Habitat Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 for a free family-friendly day of activities, games, and wildlife connected with the creek.

The day will include an opportunity to meet wild nocturnal animals from the Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center, and participants can become wildlife detectives through hands-on activities like dissecting owl pellets and more.

  • Kids discover history as little archeologists by digging up pieces of the past
  • Make the nature connection by taking a hike
  • Bike along the Coyote Creek Parkway (personal bikes are welcome)
  • Participate in a self-guided scavenger hunt and other nature activities
  • Meet Morticia (California King Snake) up close and personal

The event will take place at Coyote Creek Visitor Center at Anderson Lake County Park, 19245 Malaguerra Ave.

Admission to the Coyote Creek Habitat Day is free. Please consider walking, biking, carpooling, or taking public transit. A free shuttle is available from the parking lot at the nearby Live Oak Picnic Area.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.parkhere.org to learn more about other summer programs.

William Shatner

William Shatner boldly went where many have gone before. Unfortunately, he left his wallet behind. Shatner stopped at the Fruit Barn produce stand on Pacheco Pass July 20 and accidentally dropped his wallet in a corn bin, according to news reports.

When Gary Tognetti, owner of B & T Farms, showed up to work the following day and saw the wallet — and after his initial shock at seeing the famous name — he texted his friend Officer Mark Tarasco with the Gilroy Police Department.

The celebrity, who played “Capt. Kirk” on the “Star Trek” series, purchased four baskets of chilled cherries and $2 worth of corn.

It took two hours and some teamwork to connect with Shatner’s agent about the star’s missing wallet. Officer Tarasco said celebrity status aside, the department made sure they did their due diligence.

“We were vague about what we found and we wanted to hear them correlate, you know, not just the wallet, but the contents as well,” he told ABC7 News.

Tarasco said the wallet was then overnighted through FedEx back to Shatner in Beverly Hills.

On Tuesday morning, this tweet was posted to Shatner’s verified Twitter account: “I would like to thank Gary and Natalie of B&T Farms @TfarmsB for their extreme honesty in returning my lost wallet. They are obviously good citizens. I would also like to thank Officer Mark Tarasco and Sgt. John Ballard from the @GilroyPD My best, Bill”

Of course they are, William. Glad you got your wallet back.