Community

At her first practice with Live Oak High School’s Emerald Regime marching band in July 1983, Suzanne Passantino was introduced by a friend to an upperclassman on the drumline.

Get into the holiday spirit with Morgan Hill-based South Valley Dance Arts’ upcoming production of “The Nutcracker.”SVDA—a community oriented, non-competitive modern/ballet school and performing arts company—has lined up six live showings of the holiday ballet classic the weekends of Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 8-9 at the Ann Sobrato Performing Arts Center, 401 Burnett Ave.Producers and performers gave spectators a free preview of the show at a special event at BookSmart Nov. 18.“The Nutcracker” will transport the audience to a magical place filled with adorable children, marching toy soldiers, a growing Christmas tree, a giant Mother Ginger, mischievous rats, waltzing snowflakes, the Land of Sweets and breathtaking costumes, sets and dancing, according to a press release from SVDA.SVDA’s one-of-a-kind production of “The Nutcracker” has been delighting South Valley audiences with its signature blend of classical technique, enthusiastic young students from throughout the community, humor and surprises for more than a decade, the press release continues. The upcoming production features a cast of more than 130 dancers.

The Morgan Hill Community Foundation celebrated the hardest-working volunteers and most generous donors for a variety of local nonprofit organizations at its annual Philanthropy Night banquet and dinner Friday night.The guests of honor—25 in all—along with their families, friends and biggest supporters, dressed to the nines for the MHCF’s biggest event of the year. Attendees enjoyed appetizers and cocktails while music students from Music As Language (one of the night’s featured philanthropists) serenaded the crowd at the Community and Cultural Center.Sitting down for dinner, the crowd of about 200 guests and philanthropists watched a celebratory video of representatives of each of the participating nonprofits touting the value of the volunteer each chose as their Philanthropist of the Year. Jona Denz-Hamilton of KBAY 94.5 FM, who is active with the local South Valley Wine Auction, was the emcee of the Nov. 17 MHCF ceremony and dinner.“Showcasing each honoree was absolutely the goal at the outset of planning because each one is important,” said MHCF board secretary Amy Whelan. “The Foundation is very pleased that everything worked out without a hitch (during the Nov. 18 event), from the catering with A Catered Affair, to the Morgan Hill Photography Club’s photographs, to the entertainment with Music As Language, and the video presentation, assembled by the Philanthropy Night Committee. All of it came together perfectly, and we are glad to be the organization that highlights the work of so many.”Participating nonprofits selected their honorees based on numerous reasons, including a person/group who has volunteered for many hours or provided financial support.In addition to hosting the annual philanthropy celebration, the MHCF also offers an annual grant program every spring. Updated applications are generally available in February; qualifying local nonprofits are encouraged to apply, following the guidelines and within the application deadline. Through its direct efforts, including an annual grant program, and those of its community partners, the foundation has awarded approximately $600,000 since its inception in 2002.For more information about MHCF, visit morganhillcf.org.Photos of 21 of the 25 nominees, taken at the Nov. 17 ceremony, are included with this story. Not pictured are Majid Bahriny (honored by the Community Law Enforcement Foundation), John Osborne (honored by the Mizuho MH Student Exchange), Hannah Selby (honored by Morgan Hill Public Library) and George Chiala (honored, in memoriam, by the Saint Louise Regional Hospital Foundation).The honorees celebrated at MHCF Philanthropy Night and the organizations that selected them are:American Association of University Women: Mary CoxBella Vista League: Lynne MeyerBoys & Girls Club of SV: Armando GarciaCentennial Recreation Senior Center MH: Heidimarie LeeChild Advocates of Silicon Valley: Adam EscotoCity of Morgan Hill: Rotary Club of Morgan HillCity of Morgan Hill YAC: Lim DengCommunity Law Enforcement Foundation: Majid BahrinyEdward Boss Prado Foundation: Gary PonziniHealthier Kids Foundation: Dana DitmoreKnights of Columbus: William ScheidLeadership MH: Heritage BankLearning & Loving Education Center: Carl ReinhardtMagical Bridge Playground MH: Ron LociceroMizuho MH Student Exchange Program: John OsborneMH Chamber of Commerce: Frank OrlandoMH Art School: Anthony StenbergMH Community Foundation: Music As LanguageMH Downtown Association: John McKayMH Historical Society: Margo HinnenkampMH Public Library: Hannah SelbyRotary Club of MH: Jewel Box MHSouth Valley Athletic Foundation Wine Auction: Ava Serna MusgroveSt. Louise Regional Hospital Foundation: George ChialaValle del Sur Art Guild: Lorna Saiki

Gilroy resident Frank Louis Masoni died in combat just two days after landing with the U.S. Marine Corps at Tarawa Atoll in the South Pacific in November 1943. Nearly three-quarters of a century later, in the summer of 2017, his remains were positively identified by military officials, and his South County descendants will finally get to bury him.

Students at St. Catherine’s Catholic School are prepared to dazzle and delight audience members this weekend with performances of the musical, “The Little Mermaid.”

San Martin is a cleaner and greener city today than it was last week, thanks to the efforts of about 80 South County residents who participated in the local chamber of commerce’s inaugural Trash Bash and Veterans Day Flag Raising event.

Morgan Hill residents came out in large numbers Nov. 11 to remember and celebrate veterans of all ages and locales in the city’s downtown.The morning started with the annual Veterans Day ceremony organized by Eddie Bowers, a Morgan Hill resident who served in Vietnam. The ceremony took place at the First Street Veterans Memorial in the median of Monterey Road.The event consisted of local children singing patriotic songs, a prayer, wreath laying, reading of the names of local residents who died in combat, flag raising and playing of “Taps.” The ceremony, which has grown significantly in terms of spectator interest in recent years, drew well over 100 people to the Monterey Road downtown median.After the 30-minute ceremony, half a block up First Street began the third annual Veterans Day Run. More than 160 runners participated in the fundraiser for veterans organizations. Proceeds from the run—which included 5K, 10K and Walk options—will go to benefit Operation Freedom Paws, Dreampower Horsemanship, Taj100, Wounded Warrior Project and Morgan Hill Freedom Fest, according to event organizer Charles Weston. San Jose's Christopher Colburn won the 10K run and Peter Trudelle won the 5K run.All of the benefiting organizations provide nonprofit services for veterans or, in the case of Freedom Fest, promote patriotism and support for military veterans.The event gathered about $12,000 worth of sponsorships, Weston said.Weston is also a Morgan Hill resident who served in Vietnam. He added that more than 20 veterans ran in the Nov. 11 Veterans Day Run.

Some residents of Morgan Hill felt a slight jolt just before lunch Monday, as a 4.7-magnitude earthquake centered about 50 miles south shook the area.The earthquake occurred about 11:30 a.m. Nov. 13, with an epicenter northeast of Gonzales, according to the U.S. Geological Survey website.A dispatcher at Morgan Hill Police Department said she had not heard any reports of damages, injuries or other public safety issues related to the earthquake.Numerous local social media users confirmed that they felt the temblor within minutes after it occurred.

The holiday season is fast approaching and the members of the “I Love Morgan Hill” outreach branch for Cathedral of Faith are hard at work planning their annual Christmas Toy and Jacket Giveaway.

Hundreds of wine enthusiasts interested in learning and experiencing some of the intricacies of the bottling process joined members of the Guglielmo Winery staff in Morgan Hill Nov. 4 for its seasonal “Bottle Your Own Red Wine” event.