Community

Joe Aiello has a message for the self proclaimed “World Pumpkin Capital.”

Thousands of visitors and Morgan Hill residents attended the 2013 Kihncert, which was also the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Complex’s first attempt to pull off an all-day rock and roll concert complete with food, beer, wine and merchandise vendors. Kihncert organizers said about 7,000 people attended the show throughout the day. Performances started at 12 p.m and continued to about 11 p.m.“For a first-time effort, I think this was a good showing,” said Gary Harmon, President of Kihncert co-producer Arts Related Technical Training for Entertainment Careers (ARTTEC). “That says something about the capabilities of (the OSC).”The Kihncert is a South Bay live entertainment tradition emceed by Greg Kihn and featuring a full day of classic rock performers. Neil Marlow, 46, and his wife Christine traveled to the OSC with a group of friends from San Jose for the Kihncert. Veteran attendees of the annual South Bay classic rock concert, the Marlows were drawn to the event this year by one act - Greg Kihn himself.“He always puts on an awesome show - lots of energy,” Neil Marlow said. In previous years, the Kihncert has been held at larger venues such as Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View. Earlier Kihncerts might have featured bigger names on the lineup than the 2013 Kihncert, Marlow explained while standing a few feet from the front of the stage between sets, but the OSC was a “more intimate” venue than places like Shoreline.The headliner at this year’s Kihncert was former Poison frontman Bret Michaels. Also performing were The Tubes, dada, Tommy Tutone and the Brodie Stewart Band. The event also featured an “emerging artists” stage featuring local and youth acts. Police reported no significant incidents related to the event, other than a few complaints of concert noise from nearby residents. The Kihncert was co-produced by ARTTEC, ISE Entertainment and the Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance. ARTTEC’s mission is to work with local youth who are interested in careers in video and concert production. About 50 students participated in the production of the 2013 Kihncert through ARTTEC, Harmon said. “My opinion is we’ve demonstrated to the music industry that the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Complex is a viable concert venue,” said Jeff Dixon, president of MHYSA which runs the City’s OSC. It was the first time the OSC had hosted an event as complex as the all-day Kihncert, with two stages, more than a dozen vendors and even a video arcade. Harmon and ISE Entertainment President Mike DiRubio said they “definitely” hope to produce more concerts - including hopefully the 2014 Kihncert - at the OSC and other Morgan Hill venues in the future. Kihn and Michaels have already offered the producers positive feedback on the venue and the city of Morgan Hill.“The show was great, the artists enjoyed being here, there was a lot of crowd from outside Morgan Hill,” DiRubio said. “We believe we definitely generated some revenue for the City.”Dixon called the event a “community success,” as scores of local businesses, volunteers, residents and local agencies worked together to make sure all the logistical details were taken care of, right up to the day of the show. ARTTEC’s only “disappointment” with the event was the cancellation of a flyover and transportation of military servicemen to the show due to the federal government shutdown, DiRubio said. Kihncert producers organized the show of support for the troops through the nonprofit Operation: Care and Comfort weeks before the Kihncert, but the effort was nixed due to lack of federal funding. “Greg Kihn is a big supporter of the troops and the military, so is Bret Michaels. It was really important to them that we recognize (the troops),” Harmon said. “But for everybody that did go, the feedback we got was very positive.” 

The Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs, a “place that has been a source of relaxation and healing for over 100 years,” will host its “Travel Through History Event” from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday inside Henry W. Coe State Park.

More than 200 bicyclists, including injured veterans, gathered outside of the Gilroy Best Western Monday morning before heading out on day three of their seven-day, 450-mile ride along the scenic coast of California.

Pablo Mazon Balancio Jr., a longtime Hollister resident who became a staple on the Gavilan Community College campus in recent years while showcasing his lively personality, died at age 56.

Three days after performing on stage at the 2013 Kihncert, classic rock musician Greg Kihn will return to Morgan Hill for a “Meet The Author” book signing event Tuesday at BookSmart, located at 80 E. 2nd St. in downtown.

The Morgan Hill Library is one of several throughout Santa Clara County that will offer free legal assistance from Oct. 15 to Oct. 25 through its Virtual Lawyers in the Library Program.

Tickets are still available for Saturday’s Kihncert, which will take place at Morgan Hill’s Outdoor Sports Complex and features a full day of live entertainment including The Greg Kihn Band and former Poison frontman Bret Michaels as the headliner. With gates opening at 12 p.m. (or 11 a.m. for “soundcheck party pass” holders”) the Kihncert grounds will also host a variety of food, arts and merchandise vendors, a classic car show, and a “Kihntoberfest” beer and wine garden. The main stage will feature Bret Michaels, The Greg Kihn Band, The Tubes, Dada, The Brodie Steward Band and Tommy Tutone. The Kihntoberfest Garden Stage will also feature a full day of local emerging artists. The music goes until 11 p.m.The Kihncert is an annual South Bay tradition that started about 12 years ago. Previous Kihncert events have featured legendary acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Boston, Eddie Money, The Who, Steve Miller Band, George Thorogood, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, .38 Special, Yes, Foghat, Kansas and more. Kihncert tickets cost $15 each, or $95 each for the “soundcheck party package” which includes a preferred parking pass, early entry, a soundcheck party lunch and access to Kihn’s soundcheck. General parking passes can be purchased separately for $10 per vehicle, and preferred parking passes for $25. Tickets and more information about the Kihncert are available on the Web at kihncert.com. Parking will be available at the OSC lot, the Aquatics Center next door to the venue, along San Pedro Avenue and in a nearby lot on Tennant Avenue. The Kihncert is produced by Arts Related Technical Training for Entertainment Careers, ISE Entertainment and the Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance. The Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Complex is located at 16500 Condit Road in east Morgan Hill. 

Friends of the San Martin Animal Shelter are hosting a fundraiser rummage sale Oct. 18 through Oct. 20 at the 12370 Murphy Avenue facility in San Martin.