Community

“It can be seen. It can be heard. The community is here. We are here for families. We are here for immigrants. The children should not be separated from their parents.”

With lawn chairs already beginning to line the parade route, it’s an annual indication that Morgan Hill Freedom Fest’s Fourth of July extravaganza is on the horizon.

Tickets are now on sale for a July 20 live jazz and dinner fundraiser featuring chart-topping saxophonist Greg Chambers, with proceeds to support local music education.

Public agencies throughout the South Valley are warning residents of scorching outdoor temperatures approaching throughout the day Saturday.The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for all of Santa Clara and San Benito counties, from 11am to 8pm June 23. Above-average temperatures are expected at these locations and times, with highs expected to surpass 100 degrees in some areas.A notice from the Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services advises that potential heat impacts include a “moderate to very high risk for heat related illness for (the) entire population,” including heat stress or heat exhaustion. Heat in vehicles “poses extreme dangers” to any animals or children, who should not be left inside a parked car in such temperatures.Elderly residents are particularly vulnerable to heat related illnesses.Increased fire concerns are also a risk during hot and dry conditions, the county’s press release adds.A notice from the Hollister Police Department advises residents to drink plenty of fluids when it is abnormally hot and dry outside, stay inside air-conditioned rooms and out of the sun when possible, and check on their relatives and neighbors.The City of Morgan Hill sent a notice to residents June 22 notifying them that the Centennial Recreation Center, Community and Cultural Center and Morgan Hill Library will serve as “cooling centers” during the spike in temperatures Saturday.

The man found dead June 6 outside a Morgan Hill retail building has been identified as 54-year-old Kevin Hart.

A homeless man, previously known to local police, was found dead next to a retail building on Monterey Road near Spring Avenue June 6, according to authorities. Police do not think foul play was a factor in the death.Morgan Hill Police received a phone call about 3:30pm from an employee of one of the businesses located at 16795 Monterey Road. The caller reported a person was lying motionless next to the building, according to police.Firefighters and police arrived and confirmed the adult male was dead, MHPD Sgt. Carson Thomas said at the scene Wednesday. Officers taped off the building and parking lot while they waited for Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office to arrive and take custody of the body.The area where the man was found is in a culvert several feet away from the north side of the building, partially concealed by shrubs, grass and other vegetation.Police are working on notifying the man’s next of kin before authorities release his identity, MHPD Sgt. Troy Hoefling added.Officers gathered footage from surveillance cameras in the area, Hoefling said. The footage and other evidence confirms the man was not a victim of a crime or other foul play. He likely died from an unspecified “medical issue.”Hoefling said officers think they recognized the man when they saw his body at the scene, and  Morgan Hill Police have had contact with him in the past.

“We would love to have you come back to Morgan Hill,” Mayor Steve Tate exclaimed to Amgen Tour of California organizers on the finish line stage—at Fourth Street and Monterey Road in the city’s downtown—at the conclusion of the competition’s May 16 individual time trial. “Thank you!”

Long-time Gilroy resident and author Deanne Deaville will be facilitating a discussion titled, “Manage the Stress Before it Manages You” at Booksmart in Morgan Hill from 6:30pm to 7:30pm May 31.

Parents, are you nervous about how your children and teens will spend their time in an active, productive and challenging way when school gets out this summer?If so,  the YMCA of Silicon Valley’s Summer Day Camps might assuage your concerns. Camps are available at YMCA facilities throughout Santa Clara County, including in Morgan Hill. Children can register for “traditional day camps,” which offer a variety of fitness, arts, life skills and educational (yet fun) activities for youth, according to the YMCA’s website at ymcasv.org.In addition to the traditional day camps, the youth organization also offers arts camps, specialty camps, sports camps, STEM camps, teen day camps and overnight camps. The YMCA even offers a “High Five Camp” for children who are too young for other options.More information about all of the YMCA’s summer youth camp and activity offerings is available on the organization’s website.Summer is a crucial time for children to remain active and continue learning when school and seasonal sports are not in session, according to YMCA staff. Spending the time indoors glued to technology can waste valuable developmental time for children. Kids and teens left at home throughout the summer can become bored and disengaged.“Connecting with friends and staying physically active are the backbone of an amazing summer,” YMCA of Silicon Valley spokeswoman Rachel Basso said in a press release. “Engaging and interactive programs allow kids and teens the opportunity to embrace the exciting potential of the summer months. Campers discover a passion for learning that leaves them confidently seeking new experiences and striving for success.”YMCA’s day camps and overnight camps help ensure children’s summer is “filled with adventure, friendship and discovery,” the press release states.The YMCA offers five clear benefits of summer camp:• Adventure: cooking, singing, dancing, solving, creating, running, playing and more;• Healthy fun: Summer camps set the foundation for a healthy lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of nutrition and staying active;• Personal growth: developing skills, making friends and exploring the unknown helps kids build confidence, establish independence and find a lifelong love of learning;• Friendship: Campers can make new friends and strengthen existing relationships. The confidence built at summer camp helps youth flourish throughout the year;• Memories: Summer camp offers an unforgettable experience, as campers return to school with a renewed spirit and stories of summertime adventures.There are more than 300 varieties of affordable day camps and other summer programs offered by the YMCA of Silicon Valley. Financial assistance and reduced member pricing is available to ensure all youth have access to these programs, reads the press release.