Community

San Mateo-based Nazareth Enterprises, Inc., a privately-held, diversified investment firm, has completed the acquisition of two properties in the Madrone Business Park, located at 18705 and 18715 Madrone Parkway for $15.6 million, according to a July 21 announcement.

Morgan Hill’s storied Emerald Regime marching band and Gilroy’s annual Garlic Festival have gone hand in hand for decades, each standing the test of time and remaining South County staples.

BookSmart, formerly a cornerstone of the downtown Morgan Hill retail scene, has gained some reprieve on their eviction deadline as long as they adhere to a “very aggressive” schedule to pay several months’ worth of back rent, according to the store’s owner.The book and toy store, now located at 1295 E. Dunne Ave. in east Morgan Hill, was served with a 10-day eviction notice on July 11 because they owed about $60,000 of unpaid rent (at about $7,500 a month) to the landlord.After gaining some help from BookSmart customers after they were informed of the predicament, and reaching at least a temporary détente with the landlord, the popular family-owned store will get to stay open a little bit longer, according to Brad Jones, who owns the store with his wife Cinda Meister.The owners and landlord agreed after July 11 that BookSmart will pay $8,000 toward the back rent every 10 days until they are caught up, Jones said.“We made the first two (payments) through donations from our community,” Jones said. He specified that two different customers each paid a month of rent after they heard about BookSmart’s dilemma, which he called “amazing.” Jones did not name the donors.“It makes you feel like the struggle is worth it,” Jones added.But the store has yet to find a way to refinance a mountain of high-interest and short-term debt that will continue to devour BookSmart’s cash flow even if they get caught up on their rent payments, Jones said.He set up a fundraising campaign on the website indiegogo.com to raise a goal of $20,000 to go toward these debts. But this campaign is “all or nothing,” meaning if they don’t reach the goal then no contributors will pay, the page explains.The fundraising page, found at indiegogo.com by searching for “BookSmart Evolution,” lists other ways customers and contributors can help the store surmount its financial challenges: giving directly at the store; purchasing gift cards; and spreading the word.As of July 21, the campaign raised $4,875 with 22 days left.BookSmart has been in business for 23 years, mostly in downtown Morgan Hill. The store—which is popular not just for their merchandise but also as a café and community gathering place—had to move from its previous location on East Second Street last year to make way for redevelopment of the downtown property.Moving expenses forced the owners to dig deep, “using credit cards, personal loans and cash advances” to pay for the relocation, the indiegogo website says.Also last year, after they moved into the East Dunne location, the store created BookSmart Community Advantage, a nonprofit that promotes local culture and arts. Part of BCA’s agenda is a summer-long calendar of fun and educational workshops, art lessons, music classes and more, primarily geared toward children.On July 29, BookSmart will host a party/fundraiser with entertainment, food, wine and prizes. They will display original artwork, much of it created by local children during previous summertime BCA classes at BookSmart. The event will go from 4 to 7 p.m.To see more details about BCA and other activities at BookSmart, visit the store’s website, mybooksmart.com.

A U.S. District Court reaffirmed its order blocking President Donald Trump Administration’s plan to de-fund Santa Clara County and other state and local governments across the nation that it considers “sanctuary jurisdictions,” according to a July 21 press release.

Morgan Hill-based Specialized Bicycle Components has launched a new campaign through its foundation called “Outride ADHD,” to create awareness about an alternative method to combat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Tomorrow, July 21, Morgan Hill residents can swim for free at the Aquatics Center, located at 16200 Condit Road.Residents only have to show their ID or other proof that they live in Morgan Hill to enjoy free swimming from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.This summer’s next and final day of free entry to the Aquatics Center for locals will be Aug. 18.Swimming at the center—which features a number of pools, slides and water park features—is normally only allowed for those who have purchased memberships or day passes.For more information, call (408) 782-2134 or visit mhaquaticscenter.com.

In the wake of half a decade of drought and torrential rains last winter, the Santa Clara Valley Water District is proposing an $800 million dam that will make the Pacheco Reservoir 25 times bigger and ease droughts and floods, the district says.

A town hall meeting covering the California High Speed Rail’s proposed routes through San Martin will take place at 7 p.m. July 20 at the San Martin Lion’s Club (12415 Murphy Ave.), according to an announcement from the San Martin Neighborhood Alliance.

Locating a house on the market for under $800,000 in Morgan Hill is like finding a needle in a haystack these days, and home sale prices are only on the rise, according to local real estate people.

Ron McGee, known as “Python Ron,” brought his traveling reptile kingdom to the Morgan Hill Library July 14 to give local children a chance to get up close and personal with giant snakes and other critters they’re unlikely to encounter anywhere else near their homes.The kids and their parents learned all about the albino python, black and white tegu, bearded dragon, Borneo roughneck lizard, African spur tortoise and other reptiles while getting a chance to pet and hold the animals.Python Ron’s Reptile Kingdom is based in Modesto. McGee and his animals travel the state to give educational and entertaining hands-on presentations about “the world of reptiles, spiders and insects,” according to his website, pythonron.com.The July 14 presentation at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main Ave., is one event in a summer filled with educational programs for children at the site. For more information about summer learning and events at the library, visit sccl.org/Locations/Morgan-Hill.