Gavilan welcomes renowned artist, speaker, author, and “Creativity Crusader” Simon Silva

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Morgan Hill resident Iryna Kulchytska organized a special proclamation the city council made at the March 15 meeting.

Feb. 24 marked one year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. To highlight 365 days of Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s murderous attack, the proclamation brought attention to the small but mighty Ukrainian community in the South Valley to show Morgan Hill stands with Ukraine and its people.

Among the points made in the document:

  • Russia, the aggressor, has committed gross violations of human rights and war crimes against the Ukrainian people.
  • The Ukrainian people have demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of this aggression and have continued to uphold their democratic values and aspirations for a better future.
  • The city of Morgan Hill is proud to be home to a diverse community of residents from around the world, including a vibrant and active Ukrainian community.

Let us all seek as soon as possible the end of this unjust war against the people of Ukraine.

There’s good news when it comes to improving Monterey Road and other streets in Morgan Hill. The city has been awarded a $4 million grant by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to support the resurfacing of the roadway, restriping of improved bicycle lanes, installation of missing sidewalks, upgrades to pedestrian ramps and installation of new medians.

The improvements aim to increase safety for all vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists and are anticipated to begin in 2025. The city plans to establish and share a detailed schedule and list of impacts before construction commences.

The city has dedicated resources in the past several years to improve its roadways, resulting in a robust maintenance program and ongoing bicycle and pedestrian safety improvements. Its Vision Zero Policy — a traffic safety improvement initiative that began in Sweden in 1997 and has been credited with reducing traffic fatalities — is a core driver of these efforts. The core principles are building better and safer streets, educating the public on traffic safety, enforcing traffic laws, and adopting policy changes that save lives. The goal is to create a culture that prioritizes safety, creates livable streets, and seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities.

Simon Silva

Gavilan welcomes renowned artist, speaker, author, and “Creativity Crusader” Simon Silva, this month to share his thoughts on encouraging the arts.

“It feels great to return to Gavilan College,” he said. “I first came here 15 years ago and always felt at home with this community.”

He’ll talk on “Nurturing Sustainable Success Through the Arts” at noon at the Gilroy campus’s library and at 5:30 p.m. at the Hollister site April 20.

Following his hour-long lecture, he’ll lead a hands-on workshop for 30 attendees at each location. There is no need to register for the workshop, and it is open to all.

The Gavilan Educational Foundation will host a “Simon Silva Gallery Reception,” where more than 20 of his latest art pieces will be displayed. The VIP portion of the reception will start at 4:30 p.m. April 21 at the Gilroy campus library gallery. The general reception starts at 6 p.m. It’s free for students with proof of current high school or college identification, and $20 for others.

There won’t be the traditional Garlic Festival again this year, but the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival Golf Classic tees off Friday, June 23, at Gilroy Golf Course in support of the nonprofit association that has distributed more than $12 million to community groups since 1979.

The afternoon of golf, lunch on the course, and post-play Gourmet Alley-style dinner begins with a 4-person scramble at 1 p.m. Fees for a player are $179 (includes golf, lunch, and dinner), with dinner-only tickets (6 p.m.) priced at $45. Details: www.gilroygarlicfestivalassociation.com.