Community

A 3.2-magnitude earthquake occurred near the city of Morgan Hill early in the morning April 10, the U.S. Geological Survey said.  The quake was reported at 1:09am, centered more than 9 miles north of Morgan Hill and nearly 15 miles west-northwest of San Jose, according...

The beginning of another week brought another soaking storm with cold temperatures and strong wind gusts to the region.  The brunt of the latest significant rain storm hit South County just after lunch time on Tuesday, March 21, as a heavy band of rain and...

A meticulous and driven retired college professor’s unique passion for rabbits has landed her in the newest edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.

The American Institute of Mathematics hopes to build a

Ron McGee, known as “Python Ron,” brought his traveling reptile kingdom to the Morgan Hill Library July 14 to give local children a chance to get up close and personal with giant snakes and other critters they’re unlikely to encounter anywhere else near their homes.The kids and their parents learned all about the albino python, black and white tegu, bearded dragon, Borneo roughneck lizard, African spur tortoise and other reptiles while getting a chance to pet and hold the animals.Python Ron’s Reptile Kingdom is based in Modesto. McGee and his animals travel the state to give educational and entertaining hands-on presentations about “the world of reptiles, spiders and insects,” according to his website, pythonron.com.The July 14 presentation at the Morgan Hill Library, 660 W. Main Ave., is one event in a summer filled with educational programs for children at the site. For more information about summer learning and events at the library, visit sccl.org/Locations/Morgan-Hill.

Damaged runway lights, a non-functioning airport beacon, potholes and gravel in the taxiways, deteriorating hangar buildings, rats and snakes in indoor areas, a rampant ground squirrel problem—these are among the many issues that pilots at San Martin Airport have been reporting to county officials...

As the founder of the Mushroom Mardi Gras festival, an innovative fire chief, former mentor for at-risk youth and a family man respected by colleagues and friends alike, Brad Spencer’s impact on Morgan Hill is likely to last for generations.Spencer died July 2 at his west Morgan Hill home of a sudden heart attack, according to his wife of 42 years, Rene Spencer. He was 72.“He’s going to be missed by the community,” Brad’s son Devin Spencer, 41, said days after his father’s death.Brad Spencer is also survived by his daughter Brynne Spencer, 38, grandson (Devin’s son) Aiden Spencer, 9, both of Morgan Hill. His brother Robert Spencer, as well as his sister and brother-in-law Susan and Richard Moore live in Vancouver, Wash., and his father and mother-in-law Ray and Dorean Miller live in Lindon, Utah.Originally from Mountain View and the descendant of two Santa Clara Valley pioneer families, Brad Spencer moved to Morgan Hill in 1965 where he worked at Sterling Lumber Company, Rene explained while sharing stories and photographs in the couple’s longtime living room.That same year, Spencer joined the Morgan Hill Fire Department, where he served as chief from 1974 to 1994. Former colleagues noted his devotion to the safety of his crew, a passion for innovative efficiencies and his easy-going demeanor as a leader.Devin recounted how one year in the 1980s, before communications and records systems were computerized anywhere in California, his father went to Toys R Us to purchase Commodore 64 computers for the Morgan Hill Fire Department in order to store data and implement administrative programs.He also led the effort—started in 1974 and ongoing to this day—to restore the city’s 1927 Seagrave fire engine, in which Spencer rode in many consecutive Fourth of July parades. The engine, still owned by the city, remains a staple of the annual parade, driven by retired MHFD Capt. Jim Xavier.Although Spencer knew how to delegate department tasks and hold his men accountable, he was “a really easy guy to work for,” said Xavier, who has known Spencer since they both started working for MHFD in 1965.Retired MHFD Capt. Mike Sanders started working for the department in 1974, on the day that Spencer became chief. He added that Spencer spearheaded local advances in technology and equipment that improved safety, not only for the community but also his staff. Simple things like upgrading fire hoses and painting fire engines lime green for better visibility illustrated this commitment.“Brad was a mover and a forward thinker,” Sanders said.Most of all, even when on the job, Spencer was devoted to family, Xavier said.“For the big earthquakes (including the 1989 Loma Prieta quake) he would tell us, ‘Make sure your family is safe first, because you can’t do your job not knowing if your family is safe.’ That always stuck in my mind. He was a very strong, family first type of guy,” Xavier said.He was also an enthusiastic grandfather up until his last days, not only to grandson Aiden but also to Devin’s girlfriend’s 8-year-old daughter Maggie, who he treated like one of his own, Devin said.“Being grandpa was one of his last proud moments in life,” Devin said, describing Brad’s love of magic tricks and practical jokes. He enjoyed taking the family on vacations and day trips, which he organized meticulously, laughed Devin’s girlfriend Audra Stoneking.Rene recalled that when she first met Brad, he had been involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, which connects at-risk youth with adult mentors. “He had already had at least three ‘little brothers,’” Rene recalled.By the time of his death, Brad Spencer was also involved for decades with the Knights of Columbus and the Morgan Hill Historical Society, Rene added as she listed some of his community activities over the years. He worked for the American Red Cross in Hollister at one time, and volunteered as a poll worker for elections in Morgan Hill.Brad helped save the Acton House, an historical abode which is now preserved at the MHHS museum, Rene added.He was also a partner, with Rene, in the couple’s antique business, which occupies a space at Collective Past in downtown Gilroy.“He did repairs and restoration. He loved working with tools,” Rene said.Perhaps Brad Spencer’s biggest legacy is one enjoyed by countless locals and visitors, many who never even knew him. Spencer thought up the Mushroom Mardi Gras food, wine and art festival as a fundraiser to buy fire equipment at a time when the city was struggling financially, according to family and colleagues.In the early days, the festival was held off Foothill Avenue in southeast Morgan Hill. As the MMG grew, it moved to more spacious accommodations. And as the city’s finances improved, the festival’s beneficiaries changed. It is now a fundraiser for scholarships and grants for local high school students, and over the years has raised nearly $1 million for that cause, Rene said.In May, the festival celebrated its 36th year on Depot Street and the grounds of the Community and Cultural Center. It is now run by a nonprofit organization that works year-round to organize the two-day event, for which Brad served as a board member until his death.“There was something in my dad’s makeup,” Devin said, attempting to put in words what motivated Brad to help others so generously. “He had a loving heart.”

A quiet, likable and athletic young Morgan Hill teen is in a coma suffering from a mysterious illness characterized by a low white blood cell count, while his family and friends eagerly await his return to health.

Smoke from a series of large wildfires burning in Northern California and Oregon is riding steady northerly winds into the Bay Area, lowering air quality to unhealthy levels in much of the region.  The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a Spare the Air...

The City of Morgan Hill this week released its recommended two-year budget for the fiscal years starting this fall, and officials are urging members of the public to attend a series of upcoming meetings to learn more about the spending plan and offer suggestions.  The...