Community

The 24th annual Taste of Morgan Hill food, art and entertainment festival hit the jackpot by keeping live entertainment going well into the evening Saturday, organizers said. Last weekend’s festival marked the first time that Taste of Morgan Hill organizer, the Chamber of Commerce, decided to stay open past 9 p.m. the first day of the two-day event. Shane Dwight and his band - always a big draw for local crowds - performed at the festival’s Third Street stage from 7:15 to 9:15 p.m., keeping hundreds of spectators dancing in the streets of downtown Morgan Hill while the festival’s beer and wine tents continued to pour beverages.“We tried a whole new way of doing it (Saturday), and we’re thrilled how it turned out,” said Chamber Executive Director John Horner. “Everyone looked like they were having a great time” during the late-night Shane Dwight performance, added Chamber Director and festival chair Tim Hennessey. The Taste of Morgan Hill festival closed down Monterey Road in downtown to vehicle traffic. The downtown was filled instead with scores of food, arts and crafts and other merchandise vendors, three stages featuring full lineups of live music, and visitors and residents strolling the scene on foot. “It’s really special having (the festival) right in the heart of town, under the trees, and seeing everybody having a good time,” Horner added. Organizers did not take an estimate of the two-day festival attendance, but Horner said it was easily in the “tens of thousands.” Morgan Hill Police, who patrolled the festival on foot Saturday and Sunday, reported no calls or incidents of violence or medical emergencies during the two-day event. 

Kindred, a local service program, is seeking volunteers who are interested in dedicating time at Pacific Hills Manor, a skilled nursing facility located at 370 Noble Court in Morgan HIll, and “help residents enjoy the local community through group excursions and indoor activities.”

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For the first time, Morgan Hill Police will begin offering Carry Concealed Weapons permits to local residents at the end of May, at a cost of $800 for a two-year license.  The Morgan Hill City Council approved the new fee and licensing program at the...

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Fortino Winery, likely one of the most familiar Santa Clara Valley wineries to local people, reflects the history of winemaking in a region famed for the craft.  Premium wine has been made in the Santa Clara Valley longer than anywhere else in California. Part of...