Community

As a registered nurse and fitness enthusiast, 40-year-old Morgan Hill resident Michelle Fithian never thought that she was at risk for a stroke and, even so, that she wouldn’t pick up on the symptoms if it ever happened to her.

The local nonprofit Edward “Boss” Prado Foundation announced its board of directors for 2017. Pictured seated in the front row are (left to right) board members Laura Escoto, Jennifer Tate, Prado Foundation CEO Cecelia Ponzini, CFO Melissa Santos and Secretary Connie Sue Murray. Standing in the back row are board members John Horner, Kathy Carrera, President Gary Ponzini, Vice President Steven Riley Prado, Betty Beach, Michelle McKay and Mayor Steve Tate.The Prado Foundation was founded by the Ponzinis in 2013 as a legacy to Cecelia’s son, Edward “Boss” Prado, who died at the age of 29. The foundation is built on Edward’s values of generosity, sensitivity and being a good neighbor, explains the foundation’s website at edwardbossprado.org. The foundation operates a number of programs that strive to preserve these values by helping those who are less fortunate. These include Cecelia’s Closet and Food Pantry on Peebles Avenue, Share The Runway prom dress donations, the No Child Goes Unfed school lunch program and others.For more information, visit the foundation’s website at edwardbossprado.org.

Any residents interested in helping to keep officials accountable in the expenditure of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Measure B sales tax funds can apply to be a member of the Measure B Citizens Oversight Committee. VTA is seeking eight candidates for this committee, and applications must be submitted by April 21. Each committee member will serve a four-year term.

A storm is brewing as heavy rains and strong winds are expected to hit South County beginning in the late afternoon April 6, according to Anna Schneider, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Easter Sunday 2012 is one that the Nunez family will likely never forget.

Ann Sobrato High School’s gymnasium was invaded by aspiring musicians from all of Morgan Hill Unified School District’s secondary schools for a March 29 free community concert.

Local Rotarians served up some grub for more than 300 senior citizens March 25 as part of the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill’s annual Harvey Barrett Senior Dinner at the Morgan Hill Buddhist Hall.

Students of Voices College-Bound Language Academy honored Cesar Chavez on the holiday named after the farmworkers’ rights activist by hosting a march and demonstration at Nordstrom Park in east Morgan Hill.The afternoon of March 31, known as Cesar Chavez Day in California, about 140 elementary students from the charter school marched with parents and teachers from their campus on Murphy Avenue to the park. Along the way, they chanted motivational slogans such as “Si se puede!” and held up pictures of Chavez and other activists.Some of the adults marching played hand drums and bells. Voices principal Juan Carlos Villasenor led the march while directing the students through a megaphone.Shortly after the march concluded at Nordstrom Park, Villasenor handed the megaphone to Monica Delgado, a granddaughter of Chavez.“It’s very important to my grandfather that we come together as a community to honor the people who bring fruits and vegetables to our plates—the farmworkers,” said Delgado, who works for the City of Morgan Hill as budget manager. “When you think of Cesar, you should always think of farmworkers.”Chavez, who died in 1993, was an American labor and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association. He became known as an influential Latino rights activist who dedicated his life to supporting farmworkers.Every year, March 31 is Cesar Chavez Day in California, Colorado and Texas.The demonstration was also a celebration of activism more broadly, one of Voices Academy’s key values. At one point while the students were assembled at Nordstrom Park, Villasenor asked the second-grade students to tell an adult in the audience something they have learned about activism.Luis Casas, 7, approached a Times reporter and told him about Mahatma Gandhi, another world-renowned activist who peacefully led the Indian independence movement in the 1940s.“Gandhi said, ‘We don’t fight, we talk. We want peace,’” Casas said.Students who participated in the march were in grades transitional kindergarten through second, Villasenor said.Voices Language Academy is a dual-language charter school organization that opened an elementary school in Morgan Hill in 2015. The school is currently housed at Advent Lutheran Church on Murphy Avenue, but is in the process of acquiring a permanent facility in Morgan Hill.

Anderson Reservoir in north Morgan Hill is brimming with water and is about to be full of activity. Santa Clara County Parks’ biggest lake is opening Saturday, April 1 for the 2017 water sports season, according to a press release from the county.Anderson’s seven-mile long lake will be home again to power and non-power boating, jet skiing, as well as float tube, boat and shore fishing.Picnic facilities are open too. Woodchopper’s picnic area can be accessed by boat or by vehicle at the south end of the lake. There are additional picnic areas available below the dam along Coyote Creek on a first come, first served basis. Anderson County Park is open year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset. The lake is also open at 8 a.m., but closes 30 minutes before sunset.Other Santa Clara County Parks’ lakes and reservoirs will also open 7 days a week starting Saturday, April 15. Those include Calero, Coyote Lake, Lexington and Stevens Creek reservoirs.Vessel launch reservations ($8 per reservation) are encouraged on Anderson and Calero reservoirs starting weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Weekend, the press release advises. To make a reservation call (408) 355-2201 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or online at gooutsideandplay.org.Remember all vessels and floats placed upon a Santa Clara County reservoir must pass a vessel inspection prior to launching. Refer to “Boating in Santa Clara County Reservoirs” at parkhere.org for further information on registration, inspection and entry fees.

To help customers who otherwise cannot schedule an appointment for passport service, the Morgan Hill Post Office will accept walk-ins for passport applications from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 2 at its 16600 Monterey Road location.