Published in the April 29 – May 12, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life

Every weekend
Bingo benefits bands
• The Live Oak Emerald Regime holds bingo games at the Britton Middle School Auditorium, 80 W. Central Ave., to support band programs. Saturday, doors open at 4:15 p.m., games start at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, doors open at 11:45 a.m., games start 1:15 p.m. For more information visit www.emeraldregime.org/bingo_page.htm.

Daily
Walking program
• Join others in evening and Saturday morning walks. Meet at the Morgan Hill Shopping Center (Main and Hale avenues) for walks from 6 to 7 p.m. They also walk for 90 minutes Saturdays beginning at 9 a.m. The walks are at a moderate pace and include hills. For more information, call (408) 779-7592 or e-mail [email protected].

Every Tuesday
Bingo benefits seniors
• Bingo is played at the Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, to raise funds to benefit the Morgan Hill Senior Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. with games at 6:30 p.m. For ages 18 and older. There is a $20 buy-in, $30 electronic and paper buy-in. For more information, call (408) 782-1284 or visit www.fmhsc.org.

Every Thursday
Learn public speaking skills
• Interested in building your professional skills through better public speaking and leadership ability? Come to the Morgan Hill Toastmasters Club’s weekly meeting 7:30 a.m. Thursdays at BookSmart, 80 E. Second St. Visit www.morganhill.toastmastersclubs.org for details.

Every Friday
Breastfeeding support group meets
• Join other women at 10 a.m. at the Casa Natal Birth Center, 50 W. Main St., Suite D. For more information, call (408) 778-7583.

Sundays
Happiness Workshop
• Breathing techniques and meditation are effective tools to bring out the best in us and enhance the overall quality of life. Join this free workshop to learn about these techniques from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at BookSmart, 80 E. Second St. RSVP at http://trulyhappy.org/morganhill/happiness-workshop-details?happyId=874.

April 30
Learn about GMOs
• Learn about the hazards of GMO’s in the documentary film GMO OMG. Explore this topic through the eyes of a concerned father. The free event takes place from 6:15 to 9 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Road. Donations are accepted.

May 2
Bird walk series
• Join Jane Haley, a National Park Service docent for more than 20 years and Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center volunteer, from 9 to 11 a.m. along Coyote Creek, north of Morgan Hill for the last in a series of bird walks. Participants will have a chance to observe migratory birds as well as discover an appreciation of local birds, their habitat and ecological importance. These walks are not recommended for young children. The programs are free, space is limited and reservations are required. For more information, call (408) 779-9372 or email [email protected].

Home Composting Workshop
• From 10 a.m. to noon, discover the benefits of gardening using your own compost. Learn basic backyard composting techniques at this free two- hour workshop taught by a Santa Clara County Master Composter at the Morgan Hill Centennial Recreation Center. A free compost bin will be given to one lucky participant. Pre-registration is required. Please call (408) 918-4640 or visit www.reducewaste.org to register.

May 3
Literacy begins at birth
• The foundation of a child’s success begins the moment a child is born. Hearing, touching, seeing and playing are all critical to early childhood development. Helping young children build and maintain this solid foundation for learning has remained a top priority of the Santa Clara County Library District. In an effort to support early literacy in children, SCCLD’s kicks off its “Ready to Read” program in conjunction with the “Month of the Young Child.” Highlighting the “Month of the Young Child” will be a family concert starring Jim Gill, a renowned musician and author specializing in children development and the importance of playful interactions between children and their caregivers. The concert in Morgan Hill will take place at 4 p.m., at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main Ave.

May 4
Landscaping for fire safety
• Learn common sense techniques for keeping your home safe from fire and allow it to be protected. We will discuss the fire zones you should maintain around your property, what are good and bad plants relative to fire safety and how the drought affects your choices. The talk, presented by Master Gardener Larry Speth, takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main Ave.

May 5
Silicon Valley Gives
• Building on last year’s success, Silicon Valley Gives will offer a 24-hour online fundraiser to support nonprofit organizations in Santa Clara, San Mateo and San Benito counties. You can become a philanthropist for-a-day for the Morgan Hill Community Foundation through Silicon Valley Gives. Take a moment to schedule your gift now:
1. Go to www.svgives.razoo.com/story/Morgan-Hill-Community-Foundation
2. Click the green “Donate Now” button for MHCF (right hand column).
3. You’ll be given the option to log into Silicon Valley Gives via Facebook or Google OR to create a free account.
4. Make your donation with a credit/debit card (Visa, MC, A/X, Discover).
5. SHARE with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter!
For more information, visit www.morganhillcf.org or find us at www.facebook.com/MorganHillCommunityFoundation.

May 8
A night of masquerade
• A Night of Masquerade is Nordstrom Elementary School’s 7th Annual Spring Auction, and the event, which takes place from 5 to 11:30 p.m., includes dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions and a casino. Proceeds raised through the event support additional resources for student and teachers in the classroom. This event is open to anyone. It takes place at the Gilroy Lodge on the Hill, 2765 Hecker Pass Road, Gilroy. Tickets are $65 each and available at http://nordstromspringauction.weebly.com.

May 9
How to irrigate in a drought
• Learn how to irrigate correctly to grow great produce and select the correct plants during a drought. The talk, presented by master gardeners, takes place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the St. Louise Hospital teaching and demo garden, 9400 No Name Uno Way, Gilroy.

Compost giveaway
• From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Recology South Valley will give away compost at Morgan Hill Community Park in the parking lot across from the tennis courts. Compost giveaway is limited to 1/2 cubic yard (three 32-gallon cans) per Morgan Hill resident only, no commercial customers. Limited supply, first come first served. Bring your own shovel and container. Call 776-7333 or email [email protected] for details.

May 10
Mother’s Day breakfast
• Sit down to a delicious western-style breakfast of scrambled eggs, pork link sausage or vegetarian patty sausage, hot-off-the-grill homemade drop biscuits, country fried potatoes, orange juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and incredibly yummy fresh local strawberries dusted with powdered sugar. Entertainment will be provided by Cactus Bob and Prairie Flower. The breakfast will be held at the Ridge View camp site at Henry W. Coe State Park, 9000 E. Dunne Ave. Tickets are $9.75 to $16 and are available at www.coepark.net/pineridgeassociation/component/eventlist/details/48-mothers-day-breakfast. For more information, call (408) 779-2728.

May 12
Lose your lawn
• Come to this free talk from 7 to 8:30 p.m. by Master Gardener Claudia Boulton and be inspired to create a beautiful, water-wise garden. See a variety of no-lawn landscaping styles and ideas, learn to choose climate-adapted native plants and find out how you can qualify for landscape rebates. The talk takes place at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 West Main Ave. For more information, call (650) 260-3450.

May 15
Golf for farmers
• The Santa Clara County Farm Bureau’s 20th Annual Golf Tournament takes place at San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister. Join others for a game of golf and support your local farm bureau at the same time. Tickets are $195, per single player, $780 per team or $980 per team plus a Green Sponsorship. For information or to make a reservation, call Stacy Mariani at (408) 776-1684 or e-mail [email protected].

Fundraiser supports preschool
• The Friends of St. John’s Episcopal Preschool of Morgan Hill will host its 2nd Annual Silent Auction at Mama Mia’s Restaurant, 275 East Dunne Ave. The goal of the 2nd Annual Silent Auction is to raise funds to install additional industrial play structures for the campus. For more information, call (408) 782-9994 or email [email protected].

Send your calendar items to [email protected].