DRD Construction was tasked with executing that design plan.

Dave Domenichini, owner of D.R. Domenichini Construction, and his dog Charlie in their San Martin kitchen.

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

Congratulations go out to local contractor David Domenichini owner of D.R. Domenichini in association with Studio 38 Designs, which were recently named the National Association of the Remodeling Industry 2023 National Contractor of the Year winner in the “Entire House $250,000 to $500,000” category in its annual awards competition.

For the award-winning project, DRD Construction’s sister company Studio 38 Designs, created a whole-house design plan. This included adding curb appeal to the exterior and revamping the interior layout, and modernizing every room in a quaint downtown Morgan Hill cottage.

“This was an opportunity to really make an impact on the whole layout,” said Studio 38 Designs’ owner Gina Varela-Domenichini. “The owners were looking to add a sense of spaciousness and light, and this updated floor plan and design delivered.”

DRD Construction was tasked with executing that design plan. The homeowners, David Dindak and Kerry Wallace, are heavily involved in the local downtown Morgan Hill community and the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, where their home and the two remodeling companies are just around the corner from each other.

“We were at a point in our lives when we wanted to downsize,” said Wallace. “We had the downtown property, and it was in a perfect location. The problem was that it was a serious fixer-upper. We knew, right in our own backyard here in downtown, we had amazing companies, Studio 38 Designs and DRD Construction.”

The remodel included a lot of custom designs and personal touches. For example, the couple struggled with what to do with a necessary litter box in their new home when the DRD team came up with a solution to create a custom kitty “outhouse” that is accessible to the house but brilliantly discreet.

Rotary Club of Morgan Hill has granted $20,000 to 24 local organizations for wide-ranging local needs that include all manner of educational displays and programs, help for the homeless, medical equipment, storage units for a food pantry, horse arena equipment for equine-assisted therapy sessions, books for students, bus transportation to take school children to a musical theater, and much more.

The club offers grants to area philanthropic organizations for projects and activities that benefit many people within the community, said David Allen, who chaired the effort.

“Our club reaches out to help complete deserving projects that might never find sufficient funding,” said Allen. “This year we received more than 50 applications from local organizations requesting grants totaling $125,000, which shows there is a definite need for assistance in our community.”

The Santa Clara County Library District in partnership with the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the Santa Clara County Probation Department are creating library spaces within the Juvenile Justice Center in San Jose and the Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility in Morgan Hill. These spaces are similar to a public library, where youth have access to professionally curated library materials, programs and activities (STEM and art projects), as well as other activities intended to prompt interaction and engagement like puzzles, LEGOs and more.

“A lot of these patrons say this is their first library experience,” said County Librarian Jennifer Weeks. “These library spaces provide them with a large collection of new and diverse books that represent who they are in this moment, where they come from, and most importantly, what they want to be.”

SCCLD has a full-time teen librarian on-site to work with the youth, staff and partners. SCCOE also has personnel dedicated to assisting and coordinating with services, materials, curriculum and activities.

Now that sounds like a wonderful program.

Students march at Charter School. Photo courtesy Charter School

The students at Charter School of Morgan Hill celebrated Women’s History Month March 24, with their inaugural Women’s March on campus, parent volunteer Elizabeth Armstrong told us. Grades K-8 engaged in the activity. Students made signs and posters to commemorate the achievements of their female heroes such as Serena Williams, Lucy Westlake, Marie Curie and Hedy Lamarr.

A deeper understanding of the multifaceted ways women have contributed and inspired was gained by the students. The project helped open dialogues about inequalities and highlighted the importance of recognizing achievements of those who have faced adversity as a marginalized group. In the upper grades, the idea of a Women’s March brought up more complex ideas. Some students responded by creating art to reflect on the unique conflicts women face in society. Others came up with inspirational slogans to champion and empower women.