Community

Morgan Hill’s annual Independence Day celebrations, which have brought thousands of visitors to town for the holiday festivities, promise to bring a busy slate of family-friendly fun yet again.The two-day celebration will start July 3 with the children’s Patriotic Sing and Family Street Dance in the heart of downtown.On July 4, the festivities continue early in the morning with the Freedom Fest 5K and 1-mile children’s run, for which registration starts at 6:30 a.m. That will be followed by the July 4 Car Cruise n’ Show at 9:30 a.m.Then is the cornerstone of the annual festivities organized by nonprofit organization Independence Day Celebration—the Independence Day parade. The procession will follow its usual route around the downtown core: Monterey Road, West Main Avenue, Peak Avenue and West Dunne. Pre-parade entertainment starts at 9 a.m., with the parade starting at 10 a.m.This year’s parade theme is “America, My Home Sweet Home.” The grand marshal is Eddie Bowers, a local resident and Vietnam War veteran. Bowers is known to locals chiefly as the organizer for annual ceremonies honoring veterans at the downtown First Street memorial every Memorial Day and Veterans Day.The parade will be dedicated to the memory of former Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy, who died due to complications from a brain tumor earlier this year. Kennedy is also a past grand marshal of the Morgan Hill July 4 parade.After the parade, revelers can relax by taking in the car show downtown, and making their way over to Condit Road for “fireworks with a splash.” The Dennis Kennedy Aquatics Center, 16200 Condit Road, will be welcoming swimmers from 6 to 10 p.m. (purchase tickets at morganhillaquaticfoundation.org).Bring a picnic to the Outdoor Sports Center (Condit Road between Tennant and East Dunne avenues), where pre-fireworks live entertainment starts at 5 p.m. Fireworks will begin at dark at the OSC.The annual Freedom Fest celebration is organized and funded by nonprofit IDC.“Morgan Hill has been a special home for me,” reads IDC President Jeff Dixon’s introduction to the 2016 Freedom Fest, found in the event’s program. “It is a vibrant place with a strong sense of community and willingness to give back that I haven’t seen anywhere else in my travels.”For more information and a complete schedule of Freedom Fest events, visit morganhillfreedomfest.com.

South County residents and public safety officers paid their respects to fallen San Jose Police Officer Michael Katherman June 21 by gathering on U.S. 101 overpasses as his funeral procession traveled through the area.  Funeral services for Katherman, who died June 14 in a traffic accident while on duty with SJPD, took place at SAP Center in San Jose June 21. He was 34 years old, and left behind his wife April and sons Josh, 10 and Jason, 8. April teaches at Pacific Point Christian School in Gilroy.After the funeral, his remains were escorted by hundreds of police officers from throughout the state to the Gavilan Hills Memorial Cemetery in Gilroy. Leading the procession were dozens of Katherman’s fellow motorcycle officers.On the East Dunne Avenue overpass, two Morgan Hill Fire Department officers stood atop an engine and saluted the procession as it passed. Residents waved American flags as they lined up along the edge of the overpass, peering through the fence facing the southbound traffic as it passed underneath them.“We’re here to show our respects,” said Morgan Hill resident Cindy Chapman, who brought her grandsons Jonah Roush and Devin McCusker to the procession. “We know that officers give their lives for us every day.”On the Burnett Avenue overpass about the same time, Dave Carney and his wife Monica showed their support for Katherman and his colleagues. Dave Carney lost his leg 16 years after being hit by a drunk driver while he was riding his motorcycle. He makes an effort to support law enforcement whenever he can as a thank you.Katherman’s remains were buried in a private service at 2:30 p.m. June 21 in Gilroy.

The Morgan Hill Community Foundation awarded more than $13,000 in local grants through its spring grant cycle and donor advised fund program, as well as $5,500 in high school scholarships.

Earlier this month, a 17-year-old Chicago teen diagnosed non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma last summer was granted his wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to tour Specialized Bicycle Components headquarters in Morgan Hill.

The Leadership Morgan Hill’s 2016 fundraiser project, titled “Paving the Way to Success,” is hoping to spruce up the grounds at the Loritta Bonfante Johnson Education Center, which is located at 85 Tilton Avenue.

The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill’s 11th annual Dazzle event—held May 27 at the Clos LaChance Winery—raised $52,000 for community organizations, according to a June 15 announcement.

The Morgan Hill Library kicked off its summer reading challenge and youth programs June 11 with a sidewalk chalk art extravaganza. Children of all ages were invited to the library, located at 660 W. Main Ave., to display their colorful creations on the sidewalks and walkways outside the building.The library also started its “Read for the Win” summer reading challenge June 1. All kids, teens and adults are invited to step up to the challenge by reading five books from June 1 to July 31. Registration can be done in person at the library, or online at sccl.org/summer2016. Programs and incentives are divided into three age group activities.Participants in the challenge get a chance to talk to a Santa Clara County Parks Ranger at one of the Santa Clara County Library District’s scheduled Ranger visits throughout the summer. And all reading challenge participants get a free pass to the Children’s Discovery Museum.According to the California Library Association, reading for pleasure is one of the building blocks needed for young people to grow into healthy, productive adults. Enhanced vocabulary, increased knowledge and reduction in stress, improved memory and better focus concentration are all benefits of reading, according to a SCCLD press release.Upcoming events for children and teens at the Morgan Hill Library include Toy Box Physics with Children’s Discovery Museum, 3 p.m. June 17; clay class for teens, 3 p.m. June 21 (registration required);  Wild Cats, 3 and 4:30 p.m. June 22; and Sean’s Music Factory, 3 p.m. June 29.For a full schedule of summer events and more information about the “Read for the Win” challenge, visit sccl.org.

Downtown Morgan Hill’s “Pop-Up Park 2.0” celebrated its grand opening June 10 with the fanfare of playing children, local artwork, pickup checkers games, impromptu piano performances—and even the appearance of rescued wild animals.The new, temporary park opened on the corner of Second Street and Monterey Road, on property owned by downtown restaurateur Dan McCranie. It is in fact a relocation of the pop-up park previously located at Third Street and Monterey Road. The facility had to abandon that location because the developer is preparing to begin construction on a four-restaurant complex.But the new pop-up park contains all the attractions of the previous version, in a slightly smaller space and with a few new additions—including an outdoor piano hand-painted by Morgan Hill artist Lina Velasquez. As children, families, city officials and volunteers gathered just prior to the grand opening ceremony June 10, Karen Nelson graced the piano’s keys with lively renditions of Walt Disney favorites and other classics.New, movable picnic tables offer a seat for parents to rest while they watch their children play, or for youngsters of all ages to challenge a friend to a game of chess or checkers.About half a dozen mature orchard trees, growing from giant planters scattered throughout the park, provide shade and ambiance. The trees and planters were donated to the city park by the American Institute of Mathematics and George Chiala Farms, according to Mayor Steve Tate.Artwork that decorated the first version of the pop-up park—including a giant mural created by Empire7 Studio which adorned the wall of the former Simple Beverages building—has reappeared at the new park. A wall shared with the neighboring restaurant on the southern edge of the park is a giant chalkboard, where kids and artists are encouraged to produce their own creations.A repurposed newspaper rack on the Second Street side of the park allows park users to share and donate children’s books.“I drove by here this morning and my jaw dropped,” Tate told the crowd into a portable PA system, while standing atop the giant Adirondack chair that moved to the site from the park’s previous location.Tate explained that McCranie, owner of Ladera Grill, is donating the use of his property for the city and the public to use as a park until he starts out on his plans to build a temporary commercial structure.The mayor listed a host of companies and residents who donated items and labor for the park, including TenCate for the artificial turf, Kent Construction and City Hall’s economic development staff headed by Edith Ramirez.He also commended Morgan Hill resident and Downtown Association Interim President John McKay, who stayed at the park site into the early morning hours the days preceding its opening to make sure it was ready by June 10.“It’s a jewel of the downtown,” McKay said.Morgan Hill resident Maria Pareja and her 4-year-old grandson Michael Vasques were enjoying the park’s new opening. They frequented the pop-up park at its previous location, and they expect to continue to do so at the new site.“It’s great for the kids,” Pareja said. 

More than 100 local youngsters tackled the City of Morgan Hill’s Splash 2 Dash Youth Triathlon 2016, which was held June 11 at Ann Sobrato High School.