
Three groups representing generations of community service will lead Morgan Hill’s 150th annual Independence Day parade on July 4.
BookSmart owners Brad Jones and Cinda Meister, local educator Courtney Schmidt, and the Emilio Guglielmo Family Winery—represented by brothers George and Gene Guglielmo—have been selected as Grand Marshals for the sesquicentennial celebration, leading this year’s parade.
Jones and Meister arrived in Morgan Hill 35 years ago with plans to open a restaurant but pivoted to fulfill a different community need when the existing local bookstore went out of business. They opened BookSmart 30 years ago, and since then, the couple have been relentlessly active volunteers, with the store becoming a frequent hub for community events.
“Of all of the awards and honors we have received over the years, this one means the most,” Meister said.
Jones continued, “We’ve been Small Business of the Year and all that stuff, but for us, this is the most important honor, because we just want to be a part of the community, and to see the community prosper and be the best town it can be. Getting to lead the parade, that’s exciting!”
The couple continues their community involvement through various projects, including Jones’s side printing business that helps create posters and signs for local events. They are currently planning an event they have dubbed “The Dog Days of Summer,” a community-wide scavenger hunt involving 20 local merchants.
Schmidt represents the newer generation of community builders in Morgan Hill. The special education teacher, who was also recently named Teacher of the Year by the Morgan Hill Unified School District, has lived in Morgan Hill for only nine years but has made an outsized impact through her involvement in numerous events—including Freedom Fest for the past several years.
Schmidt has helped with the Patriotic Sing, co-chaired the July 3 Family Music Fest, and this year served as co-chair for the fireworks display, alongside Bruce Williams. In addition to serving on the Freedom Fest board, she also volunteers for the Christmas parade, the Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival, and other community events.
Impressively, she does all of this while also holding several jobs, including teaching at Live Oak High School and human resources work for new fine dining restaurant Vèra in downtown Morgan Hill.
“I just can’t stay away from volunteering,” Schmidt said, noting that balancing her many priorities has required intense time-management skills, but that the fulfillment she feels from helping others is well worth the effort.
Under Schmidt’s guidance, this year’s Fourth of July fireworks show will feature 60% more shells than previous years, in honor of its 150th anniversary. The fireworks display is created by Fireworks America and orchestrated by master pyrotechnician Jim Acker, himself a San Martin resident.
The Guglielmo Family Winery is celebrating its own centennial this year, having been established in September 1925 during prohibition. Founder Emilio Guglielmo and his wife, Emelia, purchased the property 100 years ago, beginning a legacy that would span four generations.
“It is very humbling to receive this honor,” George Guglielmo said. “We have supported the local community, because we are a part of the local community, for a long time. We’re very excited.”
After prohibition ended, the family built their first commercial buildings and grew the business while maintaining deep community roots. The winery has watched Morgan Hill transform over the decades while preserving its small-town character.
“Things have changed in Morgan Hill,” Guglielmo said, noting how the community has grown while maintaining its special sense of connection. He credits his grandparents for setting the tone of giving back, something the family has tried to embody through four generations.
“It’s great to celebrate our country, and what we have here,” Guglielmo said. “Many people take it for granted.”
The 150th Freedom Fest celebration will take place July 4, featuring the traditional parade, community activities and the expanded fireworks display after sunset. The event continues Morgan Hill’s long tradition of Independence Day celebrations dating back to the city’s founding, and will include equestrian groups, over a dozen floats, and marching bands including one ensemble featuring more than 100 musicians.
“In our town, everybody knows somebody in the parade,” Jones noted. “It’s just exciting. We’re really looking forward to the parade, because we’re really humbled that we were chosen to be with this group.”
The grand marshals will lead the parade, representing what organizers describe as the community spirit that has sustained Morgan Hill for a century and a half, embodying the principle “WE before ME,” putting community before individual interests.
Calvin Nuttall is a Morgan Hill-based freelance reporter.
What, when, where
Morgan Hill Freedom Fest events will take place July 3-4 in the city’s downtown, moving to the east side of town the night of July 4 for the holiday fireworks extravaganza. On July 3 is the Patriotic Sing, followed by the Family Music Fest at nighttime in downtown Morgan Hill. Festivities on July 4 start with the Freedom Run, followed by the Car Cruise n Show, Independence Day Parade and Fireworks on the Green—the latter starting with live entertainment, food and fun at the Outdoor Sports Center.
For more information, visit the Morgan Hill Freedom Fest website at morganhillfreedomfest.com.
I hope that in the future, Morgan Hill utilities, or parade organizers will take more safety measures before someone is accidentally killed. I love attending this parade every year: but this year, sitting across the street from the 7 eleven, one emergency truck nearly struck an electrical line hanging across the street. The crowd alerted the driver and the truck stopped, a girl got out, climbed up on top of the truck and manually held the line up with a stick. If that line had been ripped down, lots of people could have been killed or badly injured. Soon after that, a couple of other “floats” either brushed the line or veered over to the side of the street where the line was higher and barely got by. All lines crossing the street should be noted, height measured, and all vehicles, floats heights should be ensured to not be able to hit a line crossing the street!