Community

A Youth Conference on Race and Social Justice catering to teens ages 13-18 is scheduled from 10:30am to 5pm Sept. 22 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center (17000 Monterey St.).

Santa Clara County and Morgan Hill have partnered to provide shelter for dogs, cats and other domestic pets, including horses and other large animals, for Morgan Hill residents.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District is one of several agencies involved in the 2018 Coastal Cleanup Day efforts and is in need of 1,500 volunteers of all ages to help get the job done.

Local elementary school students were able to “shop til they drop” at the Edward “Boss” Prado Foundation’s Fifth Annual Back-to-School Fit For Fall clothing drive and backpack giveaway event Aug. 25.

The circus is coming to town.

A traffic accident on U.S. 101 in Gilroy resulted in the death of a 57-year-old man and injuries to three others in heavy morning commuter traffic on Monday, Aug. 13.The three-vehicle accident occurred at 7:55am on U.S. 101 northbound, just south of the Old Monterey Road exit and the intersection of Highway 25, according to Officer Chris Miceli of the California Highway Patrol. As of Monday evening, authorities had not released the identity of the man who died in the collision.A 2012 Ford van driven by a 33-year-old Castroville man was traveling north on the freeway, just south of Old Monterey Road at an unknown rate of speed, according to police. As the van approached the rear of a 2018 Peterbilt semi-truck, driven by a 59-year-old Salinas man, the van driver apparently failed to notice the slower, larger vehicle ahead.The right front of the Ford van collided with the left rear of the Peterbilt’s trailer, authorities said. The force of this impact caused the van to travel into the adjacent northbound lane. The van then collided with a 2005 Ford Explorer, driven by a 35-year-old Salinas man.When the van struck the semi-truck, the van’s right front passenger suffered fatal injuries, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.The driver and another passenger of the Ford van—a 34-year-old Castroville man—were transported to San Jose Regional Hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the semi-truck was transported to the same hospital, also with minor injuries.The driver of the Ford Explorer was not injured, according to police.Neither alcohol or drugs are suspected in the collision, according to authorities.U.S. 101 northbound was closed in both directions for about two hours due to the collision and investigation, backing up traffic in both directions for several miles. The accident also snarled the morning commuter traffic along 156 from as far away as Watsonville to Hollister, and stalled commuter traffic on Highway 25 north of Hollister.Anyone who witnessed the Aug. 13 collision can contact CHP Officer Brandon Dias at (408) 848-2324.

Morgan Hill Police was one of many public safety agencies nationwide that participated in the National Night Out Aug. 7. Also present at the local event, which took place on Depot Street in the city’s downtown, were the Morgan Hill Fire Department, Santa Clara County Fire Department, South County Fire District, CalFire and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

As of Aug. 8, all outdoor burning is banned in the South Bay area, including all of Santa Clara County.The burn ban was announced by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). The ban includes all burning in the State Responsibility Areas within Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, plus the western portions of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.The restrictions also affect the use of campfires, stoves and smoking materials in these areas. The ban will remain in effect until CalFire announces otherwise.Starting immediately, the following restrictions are in effect:• No open fires, campfires or charcoal fires will be permitted;• Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel and propane or gas fire pits will be permitted;• Visitors to campgrounds must clear all flammable material for 10 feet in all directions from their camp stove, have a shovel available and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times during use;• Smoking is prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated campfire use site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or clear of all flammable material.The burn ban was announced as more than 13,000 firefighters are on the front lines of 12 large wildfires across the state. As of Aug. 9, these fires have burned nearly 667,000 acres and damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 structures, according to CalFire.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is extending an air quality advisory through Thursday, August 9, in the Bay Area, including South County and northern San Benito County. Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy and Hollister early Wednesday, Aug.8, began experiencing brown, hazy skies, the smoke impacts from the Mendocino Complex  Fire and other wildfires.Starting Tuesday afternoon and continuing into Wednesday, smoke impacts became more widespread and at ground level at times. Due to active wildfires and changing wind patterns, air quality throughout the Bay Area is likely to be impacted through most of the week.A regional Spare the Air Alert was called, because air quality exceeded federal standards. The Environmental Protection Agency is monitoring air quality every 20 minutes. Updates are posted at https://airnow.gov.If the smell of smoke is present, it is important that Bay Area residents protect their health by avoiding exposure. If possible, stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside. Set air-conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside.Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a scratchy throat and irritated sinuses. Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger wheezing in those who suffer from asthma, emphysema or COPD.Elderly persons, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure.