Community

In these turbulent times, North Korea is breathing threats of nuclear war and ISIS continues to wreak havoc; people are divided over immigration policies and racial tension; our nation is experiencing a sharp increase of demonstrations by various groups in the community, airing their frustration with the government and its elected officials. The recent catastrophic floods that struck San Jose last February added to the challenges our community faced.

The June 2 kickoff of this season’s Friday Night Music Series drew the largest crowd the popular summertime event has ever seen to the Morgan Hill Downtown Amphitheater, and organizers promise the fun won’t let up as the series continues over the next 12 weeks.“We have a stellar lineup (of bands) all the way through” the summer, said Rich Firato, Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce board member and chair of the FNMS committee. “Not every community has these featured cover bands playing.”On June 2, cover band Entourage was the main act at the music series. Firato estimated more than 3,000 people attended the show.With the large crowd and accompanying cars looking for parking came some complaints. Some attendees noted that the event layout blocked off some parking spots designated for disabled people, but Firato said that issue will be resolved before the June 9 show.Organizers are constantly looking for ways to improve the event anyway, Firato said.“We’re just trying to improve all the logistics that go into the concert, because there’s so many people that enjoy it,” Firato said.The series continues 6 to 9 p.m. every Friday until Sept. 1, with a different main act entertaining the crowd. Before the main act and in between sets, local artists, students and children perform. Food, beer and wine are for sale at each event, and attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to make a “perfect evening” out of their Friday night in downtown Morgan Hill, Firato said.The FNMS is organized by the Chamber. Attendance is free.This Friday, June 9, Night Fever, “a high energy dance band,” will headline the FNMS, Firato said.For a full lineup of FNMS performers and more information, visit morganhill.org.

The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce annual Friday Night Music Series starts this evening, June 2, with Entourage taking the stage as the main act.The festivities go from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center Downtown Amphitheater, 17000 Monterey Road. On June 2, Entourage will play R&B, soul and dance hits “with an infectious, groovy enthusiasm,” reads the event announcement on the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.The music series will continue at the same time and place, every Friday night through Aug. 25.Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and dancing shoes. Beer, wine and food will be available for sale at the family friendly event.For more information and a full schedule of performers throughout the FNMS, visit the Chamber’s website at morganhill.org.

Thousands of Morgan Hill residents and visitors from out of town enjoyed the 38th Mushroom Mardi Gras in the city's downtown May 27 and 28. The annual festival is a fundraiser for college scholarships for local high school students, as well as grants for nonprofits. 

At the June 2 Disrupt Forum, Morgan Hill’s inaugural “pitchfest” for tech startups seeking investments and industry expertise, attendees can learn about a variety of cutting-edge apps under development that could improve the outdoor sporting experience, make it easier to help the environment and connect people to those looking to advance these endeavors.For example, Archer Components will pitch an “aftermarket wireless shifting solution” for bicycle riders. Another startup, RoboRod, will present the latest coupling of sport angling with high technology—“the first fully integrated fishing rod with a drone that is guided on the surface of the water to the destination of your choice.”In yet another example of scheduled pitches that adhere to the event theme of “Innovation Goes Outside,” startup Cruz Foam “transforms shrimp shells into surfboards to shape the future of sustainable surfing.”These are just some of the pitches lined up to compete for the attention and wallets of investors at the Disrupt Forum, according to investor Danielle Davenport, one of the event organizers. The event will take place at Specialized Bicycle Components headquarters, 15130 Concord Circle, starting at 9 a.m. June 2.  Along with the introduction of new technologies to the South County tech world, another highlight of the Disrupt Forum is “an amazing lineup of speakers,” Davenport said. Keeping with the event theme, speakers will focus on the latest technology in sports, agriculture and renewable energy, and how these fields relate to the “Internet of things,” wearable apps and virtual reality.“If you care about the environment, and like sports and food, this is for you,” Davenport said.Twenty investors will be on hand, and organizers plan to make the Disrupt Forum “very engaging” for attendees, Davenport said.Another goal of the Disrupt Forum is to gauge the interest in expanding opportunities for technological innovation in Morgan Hill. To that end, the Chamber of Commerce has been helping to promote the June 2 pitchfest and Disrupt Forum.Economic development officials and experts in Morgan Hill have often touted the need for more businesses in town, to offset the cost of residential development. Davenport said by promoting innovation that “touches every part of our lives,” efforts like the Disrupt Forum could help build a “sustainable, recurring revenue model.”The Disrupt Forum will last from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a full day of presentations, speeches and plenty of networking. Tickets cost $30 per person, and can be purchased at igo.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit the Facebook page titled “Disrupt Forum-Innovation Goes Outside” which is hosted by the Morgan Hill Chamber.

It was quite the weekend for local families, friends and community members of loved ones surviving or remembered for their bouts with cancer as Relay For Life/Morgan Hill eclipsed six figures in funds raised for cancer research.

Swarms of bicycling enthusiasts hit the road and enjoyed a Saturday afternoon of scenic views throughout Santa Clara County as part of the 26th annual I Care Classic Springtime Bike Tour, which launched from Morgan Hill’s Paramit Corporation campus.

Mayor Steve Tate, Councilwoman Caitlin Jachimowicz, County Supervisor Mike Wasserman and Superintendent of Schools Steve Betando were among the notable participants at the May 13 Let’s All go to the Park event.

Every May for the last 60 years, the Fasano family of Morgan Hill heads out to a secret location in San Joaquin Valley and hunts for frogs.

Morgan Hill teen Nikhita Gopisetty was selected as one of nearly 160 kids from across the country to advocate for type 1 diabetes (T1D) research in Washington, D.C.