The total profit to be split between our five partners is $23,770

Photo courtesy Charles Weston
Organizers show off the mock check of funds raised at the 2023 Veterans Day Run.

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

We got word from Charles Weston, the organizer of the annual Veterans Day Run, the event saw a record number of runners and veteran participants.

“The dust has settled and after expenses, the total profit to be split between our five partners is $23,770,” he said.

Started by Weston, a Vietnam veteran and Morgan Hill architect, with the idea to help fund local veterans groups 10 years ago, the run is low key and allows for plenty of time to learn about the veterans organizations it benefits.

Nonprofit partner organizations that will receive funding from the event include: Operation Freedom Paws, South Bay Blue Star Moms, DreamPower Horsemanship, Morgan Hill Freedom Fest,  and RWB (Red, White, and Blue ).

He said there were 284 runners this year including 38 veterans, which are both record numbers for this the 10th year.

Fun time for some great local groups!

The community reading engagement program, Silicon Valley Reads, is back in 2024 with the theme, “A Greener Tomorrow Starts Today.” The program will focus on environmental sustainability with a selection of books and programs that explore the challenges and opportunities of creating a more sustainable future, not only in Santa Clara County but worldwide.

Registration is now open for the event. The kickoff is Jan. 31, 2024 at the Visual Performing Arts Center at De Anza College at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. It will be simultaneously live streamed by the Commonwealth Club of Silicon Valley.

Register at any time by emailing [email protected]. For more information about Silicon Valley Reads, please visit SiliconValleyReads.org.

A new Chick-fil-A restaurant with the largest drive-thru in northern California is coming to Morgan Hill after the council last month unanimously approved plans for the new 5,000-square-foot restaurant at the corner of Cochrane Road and Sutter Boulevard. The project will be built on property that once housed Marie Callender’s and Forbes Grill restaurants.

Plans include a 48-car, two-lane drive-thru — an effort to alleviate concerns among city planners and officials about traffic potentially backing up onto public roads.

According to Chick-fil-A’s Principal Development Lead for Northern California, Keith Gilbert, the drive-thru is the longest among the chain’s restaurants in the entire state.

Plans also include parking and indoor sit-down dining with up to 74 interior seats, plus an outdoor patio that can accommodate up to 20 patrons.

Gilbert added that the new store will employ between 85 and 120 people, for both full-time and part-time positions.

Looking forward to trying a sandwich.

Mark Waxman at the New York Stock Exchange after ringing the closing bell. Photo courtesy Mark Waxman

Finally, we got word from friend Mark Waxman that he got to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Waxman, a long time Morgan Hill resident who sits on the board of directors of the Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance with me, rang the NYSE closing bell Dec. 14 in celebration of his retirement, after serving 23 years as the chief marketing officer of CBIZ, Inc.

The closing bell ceremony is viewed by millions live on both the evening news and every financial news network worldwide. Mark was joined on the podium by members of the CBIZ leadership team as well as his wife, Jeri, and sons, Bryan and Will.

CBIZ (NYSE: CBZ) is one of the nation’s largest professional services/business advisory firms, providing accounting, insurance and payroll services for primarily mid-sized businesses. During Mark’s tenure, CBIZ has grown to  7,000 employees in more than 100 offices, serving 100,000 clients throughout the United States.

Local music fans may also recognize Mark from another venue, as he is also the drummer in the popular Morgan Hill- based band, The Jukebox Boyz.

Congratulations on your retirement, Mark!