Published in the March 16- 29, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Robert Airoldi
Debbie DiBenedetto and Houdini during their first meeting at the Morgan Hill dog park.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the little white dog named Houdini who was roaming the streets of Morgan Hill for a few months before he was finally rescued by a group of concerned residents early this year.
After his rescue, he was given a bath and a warm place to sleep and then taken to a vet to treat his injuries. A fundraiser for his expenses raised enough money to not only help him, but others in the future as well. Houdini went into foster care to learn to be a pet instead of just trying to survive.
Well, Houdini has found a forever home with resident Debbie DiBenedetto, who was unanimously selected by the group from a host of candidates.
DiBenedetto, who took full custody of Houdini March 1, said the once shy 2-year-old terrier mix is coming out of his shell. “He’s brought my house so much joy,” she said. “He’s my little shadow who follows me wherever I go. He’s getting really playful and his personality is blossoming.”
If you’d like to follow his story, you can find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Houdinithedog.
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We’re anxiously awaiting the results of KFOX’s Best Pub of the South Bay contest that includes our own Huntington Station Restaurant as one of the five nominees. Since moving from their previous location on Monterey Road next to Trail Dust BBQ and renaming the restaurant, the eatery has gained a loyal following of sports fans, families and diners enjoying the tasty appetizers and meals and watching live games on one of the many televisions. The outdoor bar is especially popular during the warm months, as locals gather to enjoy a cold drink.
Little Sonshine School teacher LaRissa Mazzulla and her class collected 20 bears and presented them to Director of Emergency Services Robert Schambach Feb. 25.
The other nominees are CB Hannigans in Los Gatos, The Britannia Arms in downtown San Jose, Stevie’s in San Jose and Trails in San Jose. The voting closes March 17.
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The Little Sonshine School of Morgan Hill strives to teach children compassion, empathy and a duty of care to their community, and each classroom has a “special project” for the year that is designed to enhance students’ learning of these values. For the past seven years, the class of the youngest students, 3- and 4-year-olds, has collected teddy bear benefiting patients at Saint Louise Regional Hospital. It started with a nurse from the emergency department who wanted to provide something of comfort to a young patient. Her son was a student of the Little Sonshine School and she suggested a teddy bear donation program.
Since that time, students from the school have donated more than 100 stuffed bears. “These donations are highly appreciated,” Director of Emergency Services Robert Schambach said. “When a child comes into the emergency department, injured, scared, or in pain, a teddy bear to hold on to is a welcome distraction.”
This year’s class, taught by LaRissa Mazzulla, collected 20 bears and presented them to the hospital Feb. 25.
Great job, kids!
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During the month of February, the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill gave beautiful, hardcover dictionaries to about 900 third graders in public and private schools in the Morgan Hill area, as well as home-schooled third graders. This was the fifth year the Rotary Club has done this project.
Students get to keep these books, which come with a bookplate where the student can enter, his or her name. It also lists Rotary International’s checklist for ethical behavior, known as the Four-Way Test: “Of the things we think, say, or do…Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
Project organizers were Rotary’s Director of Service Projects, Chuck Berghoff and project co-chairs Samia Reichel and Janene Towner-Chernoff.
About 60 Rotarians have been working on this project for weeks, inserting the bookplates into each dictionary, counting, sorting, and organizing, and distributing the dictionaries at our schools and to our home-schooled third graders. Morgan Hill Police Chief David Swing went to every school and showed the children how to use the dictionaries.
The dictionaries are always well received by students and their families alike. This year, as an example, Rotary shared with us a letter they received from one of the parents.
She wrote: “As a parent I wanted to let you know that our family very much appreciated the time, effort and gift you gave to my son yesterday. It was more than just receiving a dictionary it was a life lesson. Sharing is caring and giving goes a long way.”
It sure does.
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Ron Locicero
We’ve got such extraordinary people in Morgan Hill, and longtime residents Ron and Shirlee Locicero are definitely a top-shelf couple. The two were chosen last month by the Junior League of San Jose as the South County Volunteers of the Year. They got the honor for the hard work and many hours they’ve put in on the Morgan Hill Inclusive Playground project, which will be built at Community Park after enough funds are raised. The playground now being designed by Verde Design in San Jose will require $4 million for construction and will be open to everyone, with equipment specially made for special needs children.
Ron told us how they were surprised to get the award: “We submitted a proposal for donations, and there were 15 groups that applied and we came in first place and got the grant. One of the people on the grant committee liked our project so much that she nominated Shirlee and me as volunteers for the South County.”
The couple will be one of 12 recipients who will be honored by the Junior League April 22 during a special luncheon at the Santa Clara Marriott Hotel.
Keep up the good work, Ron and Shirlee!
