Making the most of the latest star downtown, the Morgan Hill
Downtown Association partied last Thursday in El Toro Room of the
new community center.
Making the most of the latest star downtown, the Morgan Hill Downtown Association partied last Thursday in El Toro Room of the new community center.
MHDA president Lesley Miles, of Weston Miles Architects, took the 40 or so members and guests through the organization’s busy first year, let committee members present awards near and dear to each committee’s hearts and, at the end, presented the President’s Award to MHDA Executive Director Dan Craig for stellar service during the association’s first year.
“The MHDA would be nothing without an executive director,” Miles said. “He helped the group coalesce.”
Craig gave the “State of the Downtown” speech, assuring members that the first year is always the hardest and that they have made a good beginning.
“The foundation is the most important part,” he said. “This was a good foundation year – one of the most productive I’ve seen.” Craig has led several city’s downtown revitalization programs through their early years, including Berkeley.
“The state of the downtown is excellent,” he said. “All is well.” Craig got a big laugh when he told of living in Hollister – which he does – and hearing comments on that city’s growing pains.
“We’re not Morgan Hill yet,” Craig reported hearing. Downtown Morgan Hill, he predicted, will see a major transition in the next year – upwards.
The Downtown Association was established in 2002 by the City Council, responding to a need to perk up the area. The recent period of economic doldrums has not gone unnoticed by downtown businesses and streetscape.
After reading a consultant’s report on how best to manage this, the council hired Craig to head the association and work to set up a Main Street Program, which has had strong nationwide success and is in use in almost every state.
The MHDA members are not only downtown business people but, Craig said when taking the job – everybody.
“I want representatives from all kinds of businesses,” he said. “I want property owners, small merchants, retailers, professionals, people from restaurants, the chamber, the city and other organizations around town. I also want regular people who are just interested in the downtown.”
• The Excellence in Design Clean and Green Partnership Award, presented by landscape architect Don Jensen to Margaret Johnston, Adopt a Planter; Shelley Hanes, Fish Art; and David Gonzales and Juan Pacheco of the Public Works Department all for keeping the downtown landscaping colorful, tidy and irrigated.
• The Excellence in Economic Restructuring Start Up and Formation Award was presented by Rosy Bergin of Rosy’s at the Beach to Brad Jones of BookSmart and Thinker Toys; Greg Sellers, City Councilman who has long been a downtown advocate and Garrett Toy, director of Business Assistance and Housing for the city.
Jones thanked the City Council (and staff) for supporting the downtown and the association.
“Without the current environment (on the council) this would never have happened,” he said.
• The Excellence in Organization Web Site Consultation Award was presented by Sylvia Cook to Lynn Astalos of Vector Four. Astalos offered invaluable help, Cook said, with setting up the website morganhilldowntown.org/
• The Excellence in Promotion Award for Community Participation Award was presented by Sunday Minnich, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce to the Kiwanis Club of Morgan Hill.
The club has, for 14 years, shouldered the responsibility for the banners and flags that wave from downtown light poles, for the Holiday Lights Parade in December.
“It’s volunteerism that makes downtown Morgan Hill thrive,” she said. Lou Aebersole of San Pedro Storage accepted for Kiwanis.
As with the best of parties, first they ate, then they listened to the program.
The buffet, proclaimed tasty by plate-laden guests, was provided by Rosy’s at the Beach; wine and beer by Guglielmo’s Winery and El Toro Brewery, both local businesses. The W. Parker jazz trio offered soothing entertainment after a busy week.
Details: check out www.morganhilldowntown.org or call Dan Craig at 779-3190.
