UNNEEDED ARCHES
“Please explain to me so that I can fully understand who even thought up the absurd idea of the arches and in these times of cutting costs and saving money. Why in God’s name do we need an arch anywhere in Morgan Hill other than at McDonald’s? It is as absurd as the final speed bump on Monterey Road going south. Wouldn’t you think the town may want to vote on the arch? What brilliant city board member came up with the notion our town would benefit from this? I am also curious how much this project would cost.”
RED PHONE
The Crimson Crusader read a story about the proposed archways for the city’s downtown area in the July 20 Morgan Hill Times front page. The story reported the Redevelopment Agency had voted to spend $25,000 to design the archways.
Garrett Toy, director of Business Assistance and Housing Services, said the city’s 2003 Downtown Plan identified the need for public signage improvements around the downtown. Last fall, Toy’s department retained the graphic design firm Graphic Solutions to work with an ad-hoc citizens’ committee to develop the signs.
City officials have justified their desire for the archways as well as other directional street signs saying they’ll provide a sense of place and identity for the community similar to archways and directional street signs in Santa Cruz and Redwood City. They’ve also said the signs will help visitors easily find the city’s landmarks and important tourism attractions such as wineries. An ad-hoc citizens’ committee agreed upon the design concepts and selected the areas where the archways and the signs will be located. The RDA has a contract with San Diego-based Graphic Solutions for the project.
FREEZING ON HOT DAYS
“I believe I am a good citizen … I recycle, I turn my thermostat down to 63 in the winter and to 78 in summer, I don’t waste water, I license my dog and I take my neighbors’ garbage cans back when they are not home. Here is my question pertaining to wasting energy. It seems that lately every single store or restaurant I have patronized in Morgan and Gilroy have been freezing! It seems that their thermostats are set at 60 degrees. Walgreens gave me brain freeze and Las Palmas was so cold I had to ask them to adjust it … and I LOVE cold weather! Maybe you could do some checking.”
RED PHONE
Brrrr, caller. The Crusader can relate to your discomfort. The Crusader could be suffering from a thyroid imbalance or dehydration. Getting back to your question, caller, an employee at Walgreens in Morgan Hill, who didn’t want to be identified, said the thermostat at the store is never set under 70 in the summer. He said the temperature is comfortable to most customers in the hot summer peak days. Alfredo Rodriguez, owner of Las Palmas Fine Mexican Dining in Morgan Hill, said the restaurant keeps the thermostat at 72 degrees in the summer during peak times and at 78 degrees in the winter. He said restaurant employees are always monitoring the thermostat to make sure customers are comfortable. He added customers’ desire for colder or warmer temperature inside the restaurant is always met. Caller, please do as the crusader and find out if you’re drinking enough fluids or suffering from a thyroid problem.
CAN’T SEE THE ROAD
“Why does the city plant high growth plants in the median strips and in entry ways to some stores? You can’t see the on coming traffic. The worst is coming out of Safeway on to Dunne Avenue near the freeway. It’s a matter of time for a bad accident as traffic is criss crossing all over the place do to the confusion of the freeway enter point going north. While I’m on a roll here … turning east off Butterfield on the Dunne is getting very bad as the cars are parked on Dunne Avenue in front of the apartment complex and small cars cannot be seen as they approach the light.”
RED PHONE
According to Anne Beale, with Morgan Hill’s Public Works Department, the planting at the Safeway driveway is on private property. She promised to contact the shopping center’s property manager to have the shrubs trimmed.
Caller, Beale also suggested you contact the Department of Public Works at (408) 776-7337 to describe in more detail the concern you have with cars parked on E. Dunne Avenue.
