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James Branik, a Morgan Hill resident and a California Highway Patrol officer remembered as a “leader” by his commander, died Tuesday morning in a traffic accident in San Martin, according to authorities.Branik, 44, was off duty riding a Suzuki motorcycle at the time of the collision on Monterey Road Sept. 19.About 5:51 a.m., the driver of a Chevrolet pickup was traveling north in the left-turn lane on Monterey Road, just south of Chester Avenue. For an “unknown reason,” the pickup driver—a 47-year-old Gilroy man—turned left directly into the path of Branik’s motorcycle which was traveling south on Monterey Road, according to a press release from CHP Officer Chris Miceli.The motorcycle hit the right front side of the pickup, according to authorities. Branik suffered major injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived.Branik started working for the CHP in 2005, according to his commanding officer, CHP Lt. Robb Kaczor. At the time of his death, Branik was assigned to the Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility, which is located on U.S. 101 in San Martin. He began that assignment in 2010.Specifically, Branik’s role was a mobile road enforcement officer. This post included patrolling county roads and freeways in the area of the weigh station for vehicle safety violations, making traffic stops and issuing citations, according to Kaczor, the commanding officer at the San Martin facility.“He was a leader in commercial vehicle safety knowledge, including both state and federal laws,” Kaczor said. “He was a resource for me and his peers with commercial vehicle (enforcement) questions.”In his personal life, Branik was a motorcycle enthusiast. “He passed away on his personal motorcycle this morning,” Kaczor added.Branik grew up in San Jose and was “happily married,” Kaczor said. He is survived by his parents and wife.The Hollister-Gilroy area CHP issued the following statement on its Facebook page following Branik’s death: “It is with great sadness that the Hollister-Gilroy Area office has to report that CHP Officer James Branik was involved in a motor vehicle collision this morning that took his life. Although James was assigned to the Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility at the time of his death, many of us here at the Hollister-Gilroy Area office worked side by side with him in the field over the past several years or worked with him when he was assigned to the San Jose Area office. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family. He will be truly missed!”The cause of the Sept. 19 accident is under investigation, according to authorities. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the collision.Anyone with information about the accident can contact CHP Officer Sean Nichols at (408) 848-2324.

James Branik, a California Highway Patrol officer whose recent assignment was at the commercial vehicle scales and inspection facility on U.S. 101, died Tuesday morning in a traffic accident in San Martin, according to authorities.Branik, 44 of Morgan Hill, was off duty riding a Suzuki motorcycle at the time of the collision on Monterey Road Sept. 19.About 5:51 a.m., the driver of a Chevrolet pickup was traveling north in the left-turn lane on Monterey Road, just south of Chester Avenue. For an “unknown reason,” the pickup driver—a 47-year-old Gilroy man—turned left directly into the path of Branik’s motorcycle which was traveling south on Monterey Road, according to a press release from CHP Officer Chris Miceli.The motorcycle hit the right front side of the pickup, according to authorities. Branik suffered major injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived.At the time of his death, Branik was assigned to the Gilroy Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility, which is located on U.S. 101 in San Martin, according to authorities.The cause of the accident is under investigation, according to authorities. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the collision, according to the CHP.Anyone with information about the accident can contact CHP Officer Sean Nichols at (408) 848-2324.

Santa Clara County’s Board of Supervisors approved a 45-day ban on commercial, non-medical cannabis-related businesses and commercial marijuana cultivation in unincorporated areas Sept. 13.

A premium commercial property on the corner of Monterey Road and Main Avenue in Morgan Hill’s popular downtown is up for sale, according to an online real estate listing.

Young musicians from the Mariachi Academy helped kick off National Hispanic Heritage Month with a Sept. 12 performance at the Morgan Hill Library.

Local educators, community activists and public officials are increasingly worried about the fate of thousands of California residents and their families—including some in South County—who are suddenly in danger of being detained and deported from the country, several years after their parents brought them to the U.S. as children.

The Chamber of Commerce’s popular Friday Night Music Series came to an end last week under scorching outdoor temperatures, but the organization isn’t finished bringing the community together this summer.The 28th annual Taste of Morgan Hill art, wine, music and street fair will take place Sept. 23 and 24 in downtown Morgan Hill, on Monterey Road between Dunne and Main avenues. The event, organized by the local chamber, will feature gift and merchandise vendors, food and live entertainment from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 23, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 24.The festival’s Saturday evening entertainment will also include a Street Dance on East Third Street, from 7 to 9 p.m.Admission to the Taste of Morgan Hill is free. For more information, visit morganhill.org.The chamber’s FNMS completed its 14-week run of free Friday night concerts with the Sept. 1 performance by Entourage.Chamber Executive Director John Horner said the scorching heat—113 degrees just before show time—didn’t seem to keep the crowds away. He estimated between 2,000 and 3,000 people attended the show, which featured one of the series’ most popular recurring acts. Entourage also kicked off the 2017 FNMS on June 2.FNMS has grown significantly since its inception more than 20 years ago. It has become not only a fun, family-friendly concert; it is also a way to showcase downtown Morgan Hill and encourage visits to the neighborhood’s restaurants and shops—which has been the Chamber’s goal all along, Horner said.“We continue to love that it draws people from every possible demographic,” Horner said. “We really enjoy putting on something that is accessible and available to everybody to just come out and have a good time.”

Local art instructor Anthony Stenberg wants to “build community through art and literacy,” and he’s starting with his new nonprofit business venture, the Morgan Hill Art School.

A parent of a Britton Middle School student claims her child, as well as two of his friends, are victims of persistent bullying by a group of classmates who have been targeting them since last school year.

If temperatures in the high 90s and low 100s weren’t hot enough for area residents over the last few days, a South County scorcher of epic proportions is forecast for the upcoming Labor Day Weekend.