Celebrity Grape Stomp was a highlight of Italian Family Festa

By Robert Airoldi

Robert Airoldi

In a grape escape from politics, former San Jose City Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio crushed the competition at the 2nd Annual Celebrity Grape Stomp Finale.

Oliverio bested Morgan Hill Mayor Mark Turner and Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein, Aug. 4.

Proving he’s got more than just political juice, Oliverio stomped his way to victory. This event saw mayors from across the region pressing their luck, but in the end, it was Oliverio who proved to be the region’s top stomper, keeping the title firmly planted in San Jose soil. This is also a victory for San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. His honor won the Celebrity Stomp last year and was scheduled to defend his title Sunday. But he was called away for a family emergency so Oliverio stomped in his place.

Saturday, in the stomp pre-heats, Turner and Klein out-stomped Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, Saratoga Mayor Yan Zhao, Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano and NBC Bay Area Weather Anchor, Cinthia Pimentel.

Turner said the grape stomp event was a fun competition between some of the region’s mayors

“I took a close second and missed the first-place prize by about half an ounce,” he said. “I was disappointed but plan to be back next year representing Morgan Hill and the region’s best wineries.”

The Celebrity Grape Stomp was a highlight of the 42nd annual Italian Family Festa San Jose. It’s a weekend (Aug. 3-4) that was filled with Italian culture, food, wine, kids’ activities, live music, cooking demonstrations and bocce ball. The Festa is put on by the Italian American Heritage Foundation.

To view a video and photos visit www.morganhilllife.com

Fifth-grade teacher MariaElena Jarson has been making a splash in environmental education with her innovative watershed curriculum for Santa Clara County teachers. Based at Los Paseos Elementary School in Morgan Hill, Jarson has been collaborating with SPLASH! — a partnership between the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — to develop a hands-on, impactful curriculum during the past two years.

It includes weekly watershed walks where students collect and analyze pollutants. This practical approach not only engages students but also teaches them the importance of data in understanding environmental issues. To further deepen their understanding, students and families take weekend hikes throughout the watershed, from the headwaters at Henry Coe Park to the Monterey Bay. These hikes serve as models for other teachers, showcasing the benefits of hands-on environmental education.

In addition to her work with SPLASH!, Jarson collaborates with Point Blue Conservation Science.  This summer, her class restored Fisher Creek, the nearest creek to Los Paseos Elementary. This partnership provides students with native plants, open space access, and training, allowing them to actively participate in conservation efforts.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Aug. 24, as Morgan Hill citizens celebrate the long-awaited completion of the Hale Avenue Extension. The Grand Opening Celebration and ribbon cutting, hosted by the city, will begin at 8 a.m. at the new Hale Avenue, south of the Main Avenue intersection.

City officials will deliver remarks at 9 a.m., followed by the official ribbon cutting ceremony. Light refreshments will be served to commemorate this significant milestone in Morgan Hill’s infrastructure development.

Parking is limited on Main Avenue, west of Hale Avenue. Additional parking is available at City Hall (17575 Peak Ave.), a quarter-mile walk from the event site.

Chris Ghione, the city’s public services director, expressed his enthusiasm.

“It’s a big accomplishment for our community, for sure. A lot of people have worked on this over the years,” he said. “Completing the Hale Avenue extension is going to be a great way for people not to go through downtown if they’re just trying to get through the city. That will benefit downtown with reduced traffic.”

Don’t miss this historic moment as Morgan Hill unveils a project decades in the making, promising improved traffic flow and a brighter transportation future for our community.