Community

Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone announced July 1 that the county’s net property assessment roll increased by 7.9 percent in the last year to $419 billion, an increase of $30.9 billion.

Supporters of the forthcoming Morgan Hill Inclusive Playground continue to raise awareness and funds for their project, which needs another $3.5 million in funding before it can proceed.The City of Morgan Hill so far has contributed about $100,000 of public funds for the project design, which was presented by contractor Verde Design at a city council meeting this summer. The city’s six-year Capital Improvement Program dedicated another $300,000 of city funds to go toward construction of the new park, which will be located on the grounds of the Community Park, located between West Edmundson and Cosmo avenues.The remainder of the funds will have to be raised from private donors, grants and other sources, according to Morgan Hill Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ron Locicero, one of the chief supporters of the project.“We’re trying to make it a regional park for the Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Hollister areas, and even Salinas and San Jose,” Locicero said. “We want to make it a destination.”Locicero and other inclusive park supporters are currently in search of a “major donor” who can contribute significant funding to the effort and add clout that will help carry the word far beyond Morgan Hill.The inclusive park will be designed to accommodate all children, including those with disabilities who might not be able to enjoy traditional public parks with their peers.The design for the Morgan Hill Inclusive Park shows a variety of features intended to stimulate participants’ tactile senses and facilitate observation and interaction between park attendees.A tree house has a view deck, moveable parts, a climbing net, slide and other creative features, the design concept illustrates. A “sound play garden” allows children to make music with a laser harp, chimes and percussion instruments built into the ground. Also planned for the park is a sand play area, water spray feature, swing set that can accommodate children in wheelchairs, a climbing wall, a seating area aimed at the action where kids can simply watch their peers, an amphitheater and outdoor classroom.Access to the facility, including parking and restrooms, will be designed to ease the path for those with physical disabilities, according to the designs.Locicero added the park can even be used by senior citizens and veterans who suffer from disabilities.The city held a “Fun Day at the Park” June 25 to raise awareness and funds for the project. More than 200 people attended that event at the Community Park, which featured games, face painting and animal balloons, Locicero said. Home Depot oversaw a station where kids could place their handprint in a clay tile, which they gave to the children to take home after the solution hardened.Inclusive playground advocates also guided guests on a virtual tour of the project within its proposed footprint.“We tried to show them the size of the park,” Locicero said.Locicero and his wife Shirlee are both former teachers—a background that inspired them to embark on the mission to bring an inclusive playground to Morgan Hill. They started the effort about two years ago. Morgan Hill Unified School District has also voiced its support for an inclusive playground in town.

Brittany Lang wasn’t the only winner at San Martin’s CordeValle Golf Club, the site of the 71st U.S. Women’s Open. Local nonprofit organizations were able to take the event—which drew more than 50,000 people to the venue—as an opportunity to raise money for their respective causes.Volunteers from Operation Freedom Paws and the Sobrato High School Athletic Boosters manned some of the concession booths at the site, and in return took home 10 percent of sales proceeds from food and soft drinks, as well as 100 percent of tips collected. “Folks are very generous. It’s been a very positive experience,” said volunteer Diane Jimenez at the OFP concession booth July 8, during the second round of the USGA golf tournament. She was joined behind the counter by fellow volunteers Ed Brown and Nicole Martinez.OFP is a nonprofit that helps veterans and people with disabilities improve their quality of life by helping them to train their own dogs, and certifying them as service dog teams. The San Martin-based organization will host the 5K “Hoofs and Woofs” 5K run/walk 8 to 11 a.m. July 16 at Harvey Bear County Park to raise more funds to support their mission. For more information about the 5K and upcoming OFP fundraisers, or to learn more about the organization, visit operationfreedompaws.org.Sobrato High School football and volleyball team members and parents also participated in fundraising opportunities at the U.S. Women’s Open last week. Sophomore quarterback Sebastian Degroot, 14, said July 8 that he and his volunteer crewmates had raised about $600 in tips at their counter so far. He and freshman Nick Thrappus, a 14-year-old wide receiver, said the team plans to use the proceeds to purchase new equipment for the upcoming fall season.

Community members invite Morgan Hill residents to help raise awareness of traffic-related injuries and support the family of two children who were hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle downtown July 4.A “yellow candle campaign” and downtown march is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 17, starting in front of Alain Pinel Realtors, 17200 Monterey Road, according to event organizer Mark Preader of Heroes4Hope.“The recent Fourth of July accident has left the community in sadness, despair and anger,” Preader said in a press release. “However, during this challenging time the only people that should really be focused on are those children and family that was affected by this…as we focus on raising the proper awareness to help tragic events like this from happening.”At the July 17 event, Heroes4Hope will donate 250 yellow ribbons that attendees can pin to their clothing, as well as 100 yellow candles that participants can carry as they march through downtown to show support.The July 4 accident took place about 9 p.m. at the intersection of Monterey Road and Fourth Street. Two boys—a 13-year-old and a 6-year-old—were crossing eastbound on the Fourth Street crosswalk when a white Jeep struck them, according to police. The Jeep was traveling northbound.The 13-year-old was riding a bicycle and the younger child was riding a scooter at the time, police said.When officers arrived to the scene, one of the juveniles was trapped under the vehicle, according to police. Both pedestrians were transported to Valley Medical Center.Police do not suspect alcohol or drugs to be a factor in the accident. Police said the female adult driver of the Jeep remained at the scene and cooperated with authorities.The July 4 accident is the second collision involving a pedestrian downtown in 2016. The first accident took place March 12, when a gray Ford hit two female pedestrians in the crosswalk at Third Street and Monterey Road. One of those pedestrians was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, and was released later that evening, according to police.Heroes4Hope is a nonprofit whose mission is to impact and empower children and teach them that they can be a hero, according to the group’s website heroes4hope.us.

Officials from Pacific Gas & Electric will host three informational, open house meetings regarding its proposed South County Power Connect project next week in Morgan Hill and Gilroy.

The 71st U.S. Women’s Open was a special experience for families as countless moms and dads from around the globe shared the game of golf with their little ones by walking the links and admiring the elite athletes on the wondrous 18-hole course July 4-10 at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin.

The eyes of the world are on San Martin and South County for this week’s 2016 U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at CordeValle Resort, and few are more grateful than Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman.

“America, My Home Sweet Home” was the theme of the 2016 Morgan Hill Freedom Fest’s Fourth of July parade, and thousands of participants and spectators displayed their patriotism like only a small town can during Monday’s all-day-and-night South County celebration.

For two months after graduating from the Academy of Art University in 2009, local actor Mickey Casab commuted weekly about 760 miles round trip from Daly City to Los Angeles.

When the owners of a Morgan Hill children’s gymnasium woke up recently to find the centerpiece of their float for the upcoming Fourth of July parade stolen, they didn’t expect the outpouring of generosity that helped them quickly replace the lost item.Carol and Kurt Kromer, owners of The Little Gym, are veterans of the downtown Morgan Hill Independence Day parade, as they have entered a float each of the last 10 years—as long as The Little Gym has been in business. This year’s parade theme is “Home Sweet Home,” and the Kromers’ idea was to purchase and decorate a pre-fabricated playhouse structure, “and build the float around that,” Carol Kromer explained.Carol’s husband Kurt started working on the float earlier this month outside The Little Gym, which is located at 15750 Vineyard Blvd. The night of June 19, he nailed the playhouse down onto the flatbed of the parade float, and went home to get some sleep. When he returned to continue working the next morning, the playhouse was missing.“I was devastated, and he was really upset,” Carol said.The couple reported the theft to Morgan Hill police. A nearby video surveillance video captured a blurry image of the theft about 12:25 a.m. June 20, Carol Kromer said.The couple also posted information about the theft and the stolen item on Facebook. Carol said she was merely hoping someone had seen the playhouse and could help the couple retrieve it.“Instead, I received such overwhelming love and support from the community,” Carol beamed. “People stopped by with donations, and we purchased the very last (playhouse) that CostCo had. I was brought to tears by the generosity of the community.”Now the couple and their son are in the process of rebuilding their float with the new playhouse. This time, they have a locked storage unit to work in and secure the items when the owners are not on site.And on July 16, the Kromers plan to give away the playhouse to one of their members as part of The Little Gym’s 10th anniversary celebration. The community is invited to the celebration, which will take place 3 to 5 p.m. at The Little Gym.The Little Gym offers classes in gymnastics and other sports, as well as dance, karate and music for children from 4 months to 12 years of age. They also host birthday parties and camps, Carol Kromer explained. She expects up to half a dozen of her member children to ride on the Independence Day parade float.“We are even more excited to take our amazing float down the parade route and show it to the community and thank them for helping make it possible,” Carol Kromer added by email. “A huge thank you to the individuals and families that donated money to help us purchase the second house.”The downtown Morgan Hill Independence Day parade will start at 10 a.m. July 4. The route begins on Monterey Road, and circles to West Main, Peak and West Dunne avenues. Last year, the parade featured more than 2,500 participants, including marching bands, colorful floats, a variety of performance groups and numerous specialty entities.For more information about the Freedom Fest holiday festivities—including the July 3 Patriotic Sing and Street Dance, and July 4 fireworks—visit morganhillfreedomfest.com.