Runners will be out in force, come out and cheer them on

Dear Editor, As the founder and past president of the South
Valley Running Club, I would like to invite the residents of Morgan
Hill, Gilroy and San Martin to come out and root for runners
participating in the Morgan Hill Marathon and Half Marathon, put on
by South Valley Endurance.
Runners will be out in force, come out and cheer them on

Dear Editor,

As the founder and past president of the South Valley Running Club, I would like to invite the residents of Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin to come out and root for runners participating in the Morgan Hill Marathon and Half Marathon, put on by South Valley Endurance.

The races take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Nearly 1,100 runners will be participating, between the half and full marathons; in addition, the weekend’s festivities will include, a Lifestyle Health Expo and a Wine and Art Festival beginning Friday centered at the Centennial Recreation Center and nearby Community Park on W. Edmundson. Check out the list of exhibitors for both the expo and the Wine and Art Festival at http://www.mhmarathon.com.

South Valley Endurance, headquartered in Morgan Hill, was started by a group of local endurance athletes in Spring 2009 with the goal of bringing “an endurance lifestyle to the South Valley and Bay Area” involving the disciplines of “road cycling, running, triathlons and duathlons.” In the short span of their existence, South Valley Endurance has attracted a loyal following of athletes, both young and old, eager to run, bike, and swim in the waters and on the trails of South County.

The Morgan Hill Marathon and Half, are, by far, their most ambitious undertaking.

I urge everyone to be a little patient Sunday; there will be runners on the road, and some of you may be delayed a few minutes to let them pass.

Runners, both local and from afar, will be participating, some will be running their first ever half or full marathon, while others will be adding more notches to their belt. But the journey for everyone will be the culmination of weeks, or months, of training.

So cheer them on; welcome them to our community, and send them home feeling good about their experience with the race and with the good people of Morgan Hill and South County.

Craig Lore, San Martin

Many are looking forward to new effort on mayor’s part

Dear Editor,

Congratulations to all local candidates on an intriguing campaign season! I have observed that one candidate, in tune with the concerns of the residents, can set the agenda that all other candidates must address.

Also apparent, is that the zeal of a candidate, when well-directed, is always admirable. Curiously, Morgan Hill can denounce a proposition that seeks to wrest control from their hands, yet re-elect the one who sought the control.

It is good that a hard-fought election has transpired, and I’m sure that many who voiced the great disconnect between the mayor and the people, look forward to a new effort on his part to improve what was lacking. It is also so wonderful that so many candidates ran for City Council! A keen interest in how our city is run is integral to keeping our elected officials accountable.

It’s good to be a part of such an interested, active community.

Jan Comstock, Morgan Hill

Honor those who served Thursday at the downtown Memorial

Dear Editor,

Every city has a downtown. It’s the heart of a city no matter what is built around it, be it houses or malls. Morgan Hill has a great downtown, maybe some more parking is needed.

Eddie Bowers built a simple War Memorial to honor our deceased veteran’s when there were no plans for one. He found life- and long-time residents to donate material, labor and time into this effort.

There are two physical 30 to 45 minute ceremonies a year to honor the veterans. Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. Talk of tearing it down and or moving it are upsetting, The Community Center, Civic Center or library can go in years to come. Downtown will always be there.

Please keep our honored veteran’s in our heart’s, in the heart of our city, which is downtown.

Elvira Bowers, Morgan Hill

Voters are clearly dissatisfied with U.S. legislators

Dear Editor,

Although the number of Democrats who lost in the 2010 election was huge it wasn’t just Democrats who lost.

There was also a huge number of Republicans who lost in the 2010 election as well. They lost to Tea Party candidates in the primaries. This is the third election in a row where the voters wanted to throw the bums out.

Democrats made the mistake of thinking that in 2006 and 2008 that the country voted for Democrats when they were voting against Republicans. Because the Democrats have won so many seats there were far less Republicans to vote against.

The people are clearly dissatisfied with Congress. It would be a mistake for Republicans to think that people voted for them. In the next election there will be more Republicans to vote against unless Republicans and Democrats start putting the people first and fix the mess they created.

Marc Perkel, Gilroy