Community

A local couple who have devoted their careers to educating children and young adults are now on a mission to bring a playground for children with special needs to Morgan Hill.Ron Locicero and his wife Shirlee started this effort about 18 months ago, and they continue to push forth in the planning and fundraising effort to provide a park within the city limits designed specifically for developmentally disabled kids. They don’t expect significant public funding for the project, but they are eyeing a section of the city’s Community Park on West Edmundson Avenue as the future site for an inclusive playground.“My wife and I are both former teachers. We both believed this was one of the things we would like to see done in Morgan Hill for the children,” Ron Locicero said. He taught high school and junior college for 41 years, while Shirlee taught elementary school for 30 years—starting out with special education classes. Ron also holds his Master’s degree in education. The couple have lived in Morgan Hill for about 34 years.“We’ve come across quite a few people in Morgan Hill that have an interest in making this successful,” Ron said.The couple and a small group of volunteers they have solicited have researched inclusive playgrounds throughout the state, Ron said.Along with specially designed play equipment, Ron would like to see the inclusive playground host more interactive amenities at a Morgan Hill site, such as an arts and crafts area where volunteers could help the kids with their creations, musical instruments, a children’s garden, sand and water features and even a petting zoo.City and Morgan Hill Unified School District officials have voiced their support for the effort, said Ron, who is now a real estate agent and a Morgan Hill Parks and Recreation Commissioner. He and other volunteers hope to go to the city and formally request a site and begin the planning process by the end of September.Morgan Hill resident Claudia Rossi, who has been a persistent advocate for special needs education programs while serving as an elected board of education trustee, said she is excited to hear the push for an inclusive playground is gaining ground.Rossi’s son was diagnosed with autism in second grade. She said one of his challenges as a youngster was discovering activities and places to play like other kids his age.“As a parent (you’re) trying to find a place in the world for them where they are comfortable being themselves and feel welcome. I am delighted and deeply moved that there would be an effort around this part of a child’s life, which is ‘How do I play, (and) how do I interact with others?’ I think it’s wonderful,” said Rossi, who is a Santa Clara County Office of Education trustee.The Lociceros and a core group of about 15 volunteers are holding regular community meetings to discuss and plan the playground, every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. The next meeting will take place 6:30 p.m. July 22 at the Community Park. Anyone from the public who wants to help out or volunteer their expertise can attend.For more information about the effort to bring an inclusive playground to Morgan Hill, call or email Ron Locicero at [email protected] or (408) 710-0570, or visit the website morganhillplayground.org.

Local law enforcement and first responders invited members of the public to join them from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4 in downtown Morgan Hill for the 2015 National Night Out event.

Sourcewise, a community resource solutions nonprofit organization that helps with coordinating services and support systems for adults in Santa Clara County, will host 10 workshops in Morgan Hill beginning next month.

The 10th annual Youth Leadership Morgan Hill’s Youth Action Council has opened recruitment which will continue through July 17 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center (17000 Monterey Road).

One Thursday evening in 2014 after working construction with his father, Felix Canales Jr. sprung an idea on his parents: With their blessing and support, he wanted to start his own food truck business.

Downtown Morgan Hill’s own Trail Dust BBQ was the recipient of a popular radio station’s listener-driven contest to determine who has the best barbecue in the South Bay.

I LOVE Morgan Hill members will host a free backpack giveaway for local children from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center (17000 Monterey Road).

The sixth annual pet wash fundraiser in the parking lot of Cherisse's Hair Salon June 28 raised $3,366 for two area nonprofits, according to salon owner Cherisse White. 

More than 300 people attended the June 27 grand opening the Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve, Morgan Hill’s newest park that features sweeping views of the valley as well as recreational opportunities for hikers, cyclists and equestrians.The Santa Clara County Open Space Authority acquired the 348-acre preserve in 2010 for about $3.4 million, according to OSA spokeswoman Patty Eaton.The entrance and parking area to the preserve, which is a former home and ceremonial site of the Ohlone People who lived on the land for about 6,000 years, is located at 550 Palm Ave.The preserve is now open to the public 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to sunset. There is no parking or use fee required to enjoy the preserve.The grand opening this past weekend featured guest speakers San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and State Senator Jim Beall, and a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new four-mile multi-purpose loop recreational trail.The preservation of the Coyote Valley parcel marks a new era in the region which straddles north Morgan Hill and south San Jose. Up until the recession and real estate crash of 2009, Coyote Valley, which stretches from north Morgan Hill to south San Jose, was eyed by developers for decades as a potential site for corporate campuses, tract homes and other commercial ventures. The economic downturn offered the OSA an opportunity to purchase the property and preserve it for generations to come, according to OSA staff.The Coyote Valley is not identified by the OSA as one of the top 10 priority natural landscapes remaining in Santa Clara County that are critically important to protect from development, according to OSA staff. The preserve’s many conservation values include cultural history, water resources, farm and ranchland and a critical wildlife corridor.The preservation of Coyote Valley is also key to protecting the local water supply, as the Coyote Valley floor contains the last remaining undeveloped groundwater recharge area for Silicon Valley, OSA staff added. In addition, the land surrounding Coyote Creek is critical for rainfall capture and provision of water supply.Heritage valley oaks and serpentine grasslands dot the preserve, which encompasses rolling hills, rock outcroppings and native grasslands with blankets of wildflowers in the spring months, according to OSA.The Coyote Valley preserve lands also provide habitat for some of the Bay Area’s iconic plant and animal species, including the Bay checkerspot butterfly, Opler’s longhorn moth, golden eagles, Santa Clara Valley dudleya, smooth lessingia and jewelflower.The preserve even offers agriculture, as the OSA leases pasture for cattle grazing to the nearby Tilton Ranch, according to OSA staff. Cattle grazing on the property promises to enhance habitat for the Bay checkerspot butterfly and other threatened species by reducing invasive plants.The park is the third public preserve to be opened by the OSA. Since 1993, the OSA has acquired and preserved more than 16,000 acres of open space in Santa Clara County.

The 2015 Morgan Hill Freedom Fest Parade will be led Saturday by retired United States Army officer James Allen Taylor, a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War, according to event organizers.Taylor, born in Arcata, joined the U.S. Army from San Francisco in 1956 and was commissioned as an officer in 1965. He earned the military’s highest honor while a first lieutenant in Troop B, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, American Division.On Nov. 8, 1967, Taylor took over after his commander was wounded in action and led preparations for a search-and-destroy mission. During a battle the next day, west of Que Son in the Republic of Vietnam, Taylor repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue crewmen from damaged assault vehicles and personnel carriers, according to Freedom Fest organizers. He was subsequently promoted to Captain and awarded the Medal of Honor Nov. 19, 1968.“His troop was engaged in an attack on a fortified position west of Que Son when it came under intense enemy recoilless rifle, mortar, and automatic weapons fire from an enemy strong point located immediately to its front,” according to a description on the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website. “One armored cavalry assault vehicle was hit immediately by recoilless rifle fire and all 5 crewmembers were wounded. Aware that the stricken vehicle was in grave danger of exploding, Capt. Taylor rushed forward and personally extracted the wounded to safety despite the hail of enemy fire and exploding ammunition.”Taylor reached the rank of Major before retiring from the Army in 1980. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Tampa.“His actions of unsurpassed valor were a source of inspiration to his entire troop, contributed significantly to the success of the overall assault on the enemy position, and were directly responsible for saving the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers,” according to cmohs.org. “His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military profession and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.”As the 2015 Grand Marshal, Taylor will lead more than 100 participants in the Morgan Hill Freedom Fest’s Fourth of July parade, which is considered the largest privately organized parade in Northern California and the official Fourth of July Parade of Santa Clara County, according to organizers.Local war veteran Art Gonzales has known Taylor through various fundraiser functions he helped with in the 1980s and lined him up to come to Morgan Hill for last year’s Fourth of July. However, a death in Taylor’s family prevented him from coming in 2014. Gonzales said Taylor is in charge of the western region for the CMOHS.The Medal of Honor has been awarded to 3,495 American combat veterans, and 79 of those recipients are alive today, according to the CMOHS website.“(Morgan Hill Freedom Fest organizers) are very honored to have him here in Morgan Hill and so are a lot of us who know him,” Gonzales said.The local nonprofit Independence Day Celebration fundraises more than $150,000 and encompasses more than 500 volunteers each year to organize and produce the weeklong activities.Along with the parade, the July 3-4 activities include The Patriotic Sing, Street Dance, Freedom Run, Car Cruise ‘n Show, award-winning parade and Fireworks on the Green show.