Letters: Holiday decorations are put up and taken down by volunteers

Dear Editor: There was an inquiry on the Red Phone referencing
the Downtown Holiday decorations. An answer was given by Jorge
Briones and it was used. But there was an editorial note by the Red
Phone that Jorge was not asked to answer.
Dear Editor:

There was an inquiry on the Red Phone referencing the Downtown Holiday decorations. An answer was given by Jorge Briones and it was used. But there was an editorial note by the Red Phone that Jorge was not asked to answer.

There is an organization in town called the Hometown Holidays of Morgan Hill Inc. It is peopled by interested citizens, the city of Morgan Hill, Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, Morgan Hill Downtown Association, Rotary Club of Morgan Hill, Morgan Hill Kiwanis; and Morgan Hill Teachers Aid Association.

Their mission is to organize and facilitate the decoration of downtown Morgan Hill during the Holidays. They also work on grants to help pay for the material used in the decorating. The most recent grant covered the purchase of the LED lights that illuminated the big tree at Dunne and Monterey.

The Downtown Association and the Rotary Club are responsible for the median strip between Main Street and Dunne Avenue and the big tree. Morgan Hill Kiwanis and the city of Morgan Hill cooperate on the snowflakes and the Holiday Lights Parade.

The decorating begins the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Holiday Lights Parade is at 5:30 p.m. the first Saturday of December. And the removal of the decorations in the median strip plus unplugging the big tree is usually the weekend after New Year’s Day. The snowflakes remain up until the end of January because they are a symbol of winter. The city believes the added light stimulates the visitors to downtown to linger longer.  

Some of the Morgan Hill businesses who contribute in services and product are: Johnson Lumber/Ace Hardware, A Tool Shed, J.E.T. Electric, Jon Maxie Tile and Pacific Display Inc. All of the work is done by volunteers. And we welcome all volunteers. See you downtown on Nov. 28.

L. Ervin, Morgan Hill

Corporate box stores are not a ‘downtown’

Dear Editor:

I must respectfully disagree with the writer who called the corporate box stores or chain stores a “downtown.”

I have been fortunate enough to live in smaller towns with “downtowns” for more than half of my life. A downtown with local businesses, farmer’s markets, and community centers is a place where families stroll, talk with their neighbors – not their co-workers – and learn about local concerns such as schools, transportation and upcoming planning decisions. Small local businesses hire teenagers after school, encourage local charities, and allow people to dream of owning their own business someday. Small business is the backbone of the middle class that we are sadly losing.

I recommend that the theatre (with low price modifications) be used for old movies, independent films and perhaps a rebirth of old fashioned vaudeville for a new century. 

Local is more; support your community. Drive less. Thank you.

Bonnie Yantis, Morgan Hill

Celebrating a wonderful opening of the latest addition – the dog park

Dear Editor:

What a great addition the Las Animas Dog Park is to (Gilroy’s) park system. The grand opening Jan. 31 was attended by so many happy families and pups – it was a delight to watch. Indeed I have been mentioning the need for a dog park in Gilroy since 2002, and was delighted to discover that one was put on the city’s park master plan. Many of my fellow dog-lover residents joined me in an effort to be involved with the planning. Many of us visited dog parks around the Bay Area and got ideas, which we passed along to city staff.

During construction, many residents wanted to support this project in a financial way as well, so I was able to raise more than $11,000 to start an endowment (savings account) at the Gilroy Foundation which will give an annual payout, in perpetuity, to help maintain and improve the park.

More shade has been the biggest request, and I had so many people come over to me at the opening offering financial help to purchase trees and get irrigation to them.

More benches can be added as well, which will include an engraved acknowledgement plaque. Putting private money together with our now limited public money can improve communities, as this park has proven. And, it is community foundations, like the Gilroy Foundation, that can make that happen.

Donna Pray and Reggie, Gilroy