Community

Applications are now available for the Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras Scholarship program, and there will be even more money for college-bound high school seniors to go around this year.

The city of Morgan Hill was issued an Overall Tobacco Control Grade of a “C” by the American Lung Association in California in its recently released 2017 State of Tobacco Control-California Local Grades report.

“Yan can cook, so can you!”

Among those taking the stage in welcoming the country’s new president Jan. 20 was Morgan Hill native Stephen Pocus, who performed with The Fryed Brothers band at inauguration festivities in Washington, D.C.Pocus, 25, grew up in Morgan Hill with his three brothers and sister. He attended El Toro Elementary, Britton Middle and Live Oak High schools before becoming a full-time professional musician, according to his mother Janet Pocus.“Since my husband is a musician and I sing, our kids grew up playing different instruments,” Janet said in an email.The afternoon of Jan. 20, after President Donald Trump took the oath of office on the steps of the nation’s capitol, The Fryed Brothers performed at John Marshall Park as part of the Bikers for Trump rally. Stephen Pocus has played keyboards and piano for the band since 2014, and has toured with the popular rock-and-roll biker band nationwide.Pocus began playing piano since he was about 5, his mother said. He played trumpet and French horn in the Britton band, as well as the Live Oak Marching Band. He also participated in the Valley Christian High School Latin jazz band, and was accepted to the prestigious California State Honors Band two years in a row, playing French horn.After high school, Stephen studied at the Jazz Institute in Berkeley for two years on a full scholarship, Janet added. After that, he went to New York to “try to make a name for himself.”He later returned to the Sacramento area, where he has played with two state bands. He has started “a few different bands,” and teaches at the Natomas Music School, Janet Pocus said.“Stephen has a natural ability to compose and transcribe music, as well as move between different genres of music with ease,” his mother said. “Latin, jazz, country, gospel, he can do it all.”The Fryed Brothers band was founded by Harry Fryed 25 years ago, “carving out a reputation as the best biker band in the world,” reads the band’s website, fryedbrothersband.com. Over the years, The Fryeds have shared the stage with music legends Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Charlie Daniels, John Mayall, Billy Idol, David Allen Coe, Eddie Money, Marshall Tucker Band and many more.Bikers for Trump is an organization of motorcyclists that has conducted rallies and voter outreach “with the sole purpose of electing Donald Trump President of the United States,” reads their website, bikersfortrump2016.com.

More extensive design plans for Anderson Dam’s earthquake retrofitting project have doubled the overall cost and pushed the start date to 2020, according to Santa Clara Valley Water District staff’s Dec. 9 presentation to its board.

Dozens of brave Morgan Hill residents took the Polar Bear Plunge challenge at the Dennis Kennedy Aquatics Center Jan. 14.Thirty-four participants started off the chilly event by wading or running into the center’s 50-degree recreational pool, where they each tried to grab a toy polar bear off miniature “icebergs” floating throughout the pool. Aquatics Center Coordinator Lisa Rick made the icebergs herself by freezing turkey pans full of water before the event.Next, participants could choose to “complete the challenge” by conquering the Aquatics Center’s inflatable obstacle course in a separate, heated pool, Rick said. Then they could take their time warming up in the center’s instructional pool, which is heated to 85 degrees.“We gave out hot chocolate and medals to all the participants,” Rick said.It was the third annual Polar Bear Plunge sponsored by the City of Morgan Hill at its Aquatics Center, located at 16200 Condit Road.Organizers planned the Polar Bear Plunge as a fun wintertime activity for local families, Rick said.

Three approaching storm fronts expected to hit South County over the next few days will not bring as much rain as the previous one that caused flooding throughout Morgan Hill, according to Ana Schneider, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The seventh annual Citywide Science Fair, held Jan. 12 inside the Oakwood School gymnasium, brought about many first-time victors, participants and coveted ribbon winners.

With the heavy rains and winds leaving the area for the foreseeable future, freezing temperatures forecast in the coming days have prompted a sixth Inclement Weather Episode declaration in recent weeks for south Santa Clara County starting Jan. 11 through Jan. 16.