Community

More than 400 revelers enjoyed cultural dances, stage performances and authentic cuisine at the Indian Association of South County’s celebration of Diwali Nov. 18.The association’s 23rd annual celebration of the Indian holiday took place at Oakwood School in south Morgan Hill. IASC President Poonam Chabra said the 450 people in attendance was a “record-breaking” crowd.Among the attendees were special guests Ranu Sinha, an award winning filmmaker, writer and director, and Morgan Hill City Councilman Rene Spring.In her comments to the audience, Sinha addressed the youth.“Let no one else stop you, but be yourself,” Sinha said. “Do other things in life that make you happy. It’s not just about becoming doctors or engineers, but support your community and those who are less fortunate.”Spring noted that the City of Morgan Hill has actively strived to embrace and celebrate its cultural diversity in recent years, and the Nov. 18 Diwali celebration is an example.Chabra listed the increasing involvement of IASC within the broader South County community in recent years, with an annual Indian Independence Day flag ceremony and other events. But she said they can do more, and implored IASC members to help the association implement more programs such as a senior resources fair, a youth skills development program and a community focused social media site.Diwali is celebrated in October in India and among Indian-Americans. The IASC held its annual celebration about a month later due to the timing of acquiring a large enough venue.The holiday is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival acquired its name from rows of clay lamps that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects them from spiritual darkness.The IASC represents more than 400 families in Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin, Hollister and south San Jose. Their website is iascinfo.com.

The holiday season may have officially begun, but the local kickoff for winter spirits happens Dec. 2 at the 32nd annual Holiday Lights Parade, organized by the Morgan Hill Kiwanis Club.

Tickets are available for Community Solutions’ annual play—Historia de Mi Madre XI: Un Mundo Raro (A Strange World)—which will take place at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 inside the Gavilan College Theater (5055 Santa Teresa Blvd.) in Gilroy.

While most of their Live Oak High School classmates were at home enjoying the extended Thanksgiving break with family and friends, eight Future Business Leaders of America students were back on campus the morning of Nov. 20.

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.