Cheers to the Cochrane Plaza Farmers Market that opened last month in the parking lot of the Cochrane Plaza shopping center, and boosts 32 registered vendors with the potential for 50, with a variety of colorful fruits, seasonal vegetables, flowers, honey and a farmers market favorite, fresh-popped kettle corn.
The market is creating an atmosphere with live music, a free childcare area and a weekly raffle for a $25 gift card to the market. The market – open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays – has drawn strong initial response from locals, and organizers should look at expanding the hours into the evening during the summer to allow commuters to stop by on their way home. What a perfect way to end a stressful work day.
Jeers to another government over-regulation, this one in the form of an outdoor smoking ban that would outlaw smoking outdoors in dining areas, near building entryways (including windows and vents) facing the street or sidewalk, public events such as the Mushroom Mardi Gras, recreation areas and service areas such as ATM lines and bus stops. The policy would also prohibit smoking “within a reasonable distance” – defined as 25 feet – of the outdoor eating areas. And at council members’ request after a February meeting, the ordinance would allow smoking near entryways on the back side of buildings, where they are not facing the street or sidewalk.
While well-intentioned, the ordinance is unenforceable and breeds disrespect for other laws. There’s a law against littering, an offense rarely cited, yet people regularly toss their garbage aside. Check the police blotter. Do we really want police enforcing littering and smoking laws? Downtown Morgan Hill is becoming a destination. Let’s keep it that way.
On that note, Cheers to downtown merchants for making the area a destination, especially for dining. The stalwarts of Rosy’s at the Beach, Huntington Station, Fuzia, Maurizio’s, Ricatoni’s, Toto Trattoria, Just Breakfast, El Toro Brew Pub and Sinaloa’s have been joined by relative newcomers Ladera Grill, Champs Family Bar & Grill, AJ’s cheese steaks and Mr. Falafel, to provide a plethora of dining options. And, don’t forget the newly opened Liliane restaurant. There surely is something for everyone.
Cheers to the Morgan Hill Unified School District for quickly – in terms of a bureaucracy – instituting a new policy that will alert parents at 10:30 a.m. as well as the original 6 p.m. when their child is absent. The change comes after 15-year-old Sobrato High School student Sierra LaMar went missing March 16. And, the district is examining ways to add texts and emails to the notifications beginning next year. That’s another good step.
Superintendent Wes Smith said earlier this month that the district is always looking to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
“Every year we analyze what can be better to continuously improve,” Smith said.
