A final rip-roaring CHEER for the awesome Live Oak High School football team. Despite their devastating loss Saturday against Archbishop Riordan High School’s crusaders in the Central Coast Section Middle School Division title game, the Acorns have put Morgan Hill on the prep football map in style. The Acorns were playing in the first CCS final since 1989. Despite facing a more athletic team and missing its quarterback, the Acorns played with everything they had against the West Catholic Athletic League’s fifth-place team. The team ended the game strongly with three touchdowns in the final 13 minutes. Kudos also to first-year coach John Michael Porras for his leadership and hard work to transform the team into one of the best the school has ever had. Last, but not least, a big congratulations to the Sobrato High School Bulldogs for their first division win in four years. This accomplishment means the determined Bulldogs advance to a new division.
JEERS to the rash of robberies Morgan Hill has experienced during the past month. On Monday, three masked men, all armed with some type of handgun, robbed the Chevron gas station on East Dunne Avenue. It was the fourth armed robbery since the beginning of November to date compared to three incidents last year between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15 of this year.
On Nov. 13, a lone gunman robbed the Residence Inn on Madrone Parkway, and on Oct. 20, masked gunman robbed the Courtyard Marriott on Madrone Parkway. A downtown convenience store was robbed at gunpoint on Aug. 28.
Police are investigating the possibility that several of the incidents could be related.
CHEERS for this past Saturday’s downtown Christmas season festivities. There was a holiday parade, a big tree lighting, visits with Santa and general good community cheer. The Morgan Hill Downtown Association also deserves a big CHEER for sponsoring several visits from Santa Claus at the Granada Theater where toys may be donated for the Toys for Tots program.
JEERS for the pranksters who stole Donald Holmes’ U.S. flag from the lighted pole of his front yard last week and CHEERS for the neighbors who found and returned the flag last Friday. The flag, which Holmes hung on Veteran’s Day, was draped on World War II veteran Sherman Holmes’ casket when he died in April 2004.
CHEERS for the Santa Clara County Supervisors considering a social host ordinance to further curtail underage drinking in unincorporated parts of Morgan Hill and Gilroy. Morgan Hill and Gilroy already have such laws in place and in Gilroy there have been 12 citations issued related to this problem. Kudos to Supervisor Don Gage for proposing the law countywide. It’s a shame that so many teenagers are allowed to drink at home without parental supervision. A variation of the municipal social host ordinances is needed countywide because the city laws are effectively pushing the parties outside the city limits, according to Dina Campeau said. And the teenagers, who learned of the laws at school and fairs, take advantage.
JEERS to Cupertino-based China Bay Company for refusing to clean up the eight-plus acres of commercial property at the corner of Condit Road and Dunne Avenue. It’s been more than two weeks since the city sent China Bay a letter letting them know they had violated the nuisance provisions of the city code by allowing this property to be littered and unkempt. The property has been on the Morgan Hill Times Eyesore Watch list for 78 days. How much longer will local residents have to put up with this ugly site and what will it take for this company to come and clean up the mess?
