Community

Mistaken identities, slamming doors and a Scottish hitman in a kilt are just a few of the comedic elements audiences can expect in South Valley Civic Theater's upcoming production of “An Unnecessary Farce,” opening April 26. The plot revolves around two inept police officers conducting...

Mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders are getting more

A mainstay of Gilroy's once thriving historic business district

Gavilan College’s Theatre Arts Program will present the musical Cabaret for the spring production.  The show opens at 8pm May 3, with subsequent performances on May 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. An afternoon performance is scheduled for 2pm May 11, says a press release...

Community Solutions Chief Development Officer Lisa DeSilva was selected as Leadership Morgan Hill’s 2017 recipient of its prestigious Leadership Excellence Award during a Jan. 26 banquet at Guglielmo Winery.  The presentation of the award will take place at a July 22 evening outdoor celebration/fundraiser also at Guglielmo Winery, according to Mayor Steve Tate, an alumni of LMH. The Leadership Excellence Award recognizes the vision and leadership that advance the spirit of community and charity; it reflects courage and insight; and the award inspires others to lead in a similar manner.DeSilva’s labor is spent on her passion—supporting and improving the lives of the clients of Community Solutions, an “outstanding” human services agency that serves southern Santa Clara County as well as San Benito County, Tate said in a press release.DeSilva, who grew up in Ossining, New York, graduated from State University of New York (SUNY) in Geneseo with a degree in sociology and a minor in Women’s Studies.After graduation, DeSilva moved to Morgan Hill and helped start the South County Rape Crisis Service. The group approached another community service organization known then as the Bridge Counseling Center, and convinced them to adopt the Rape Crisis Service. Through the Bridge Center, they were able to secure funding from the state which in turn enabled them to hire DeSilva, who held various program coordination and management roles. That was almost 35 years ago, and the Bridge Counseling Center became Community Solutions in 1996. The nonprofit has since branched out to its many current social service offerings.DeSilva has held a list of positions in the organization through the years, settling into her Chief Development Officer role in 1999 where she is now a fixture coordinating community relations and fundraising for the organization.DeSilva also served terms on the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Board and the Board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She was an early graduate (1999) of Leadership Morgan Hill and has stayed involved ever since, annually presenting a Health and Human Services program that always wins rave reviews. In 2000, DeSilva joined the Rotary Club and after a stint on the board, joined the Membership Committee and assumed the role of “We Care” where she keeps the Club aware of all the joys as well as the tough times of current and past club members, making sure appropriate cards are sent and organizing support for events when appropriate.   “Community leaders, supporters of LMH and the many friends and relatives of the honoree will attend this community celebration honoring Lisa and benefiting the local nonprofit LMH educational organization,” Tate said.A panel of community leaders that includes all former Leadership Excellence Award recipients forms annually to select each year’s LEAD honoree. In addition to honoring DeSilva, the gala event raises funds that benefit the nonprofit LMH educational organization, now in its 22nd year of building community leadership.More information on the July 22 event and about LMH is available at leadershipmorganhill.org.

The sky may not be falling, yet the City of Morgan Hill is in a tough spot regarding its budget. City officials recently warned the council that the local government faces a structural budget deficit, requiring $4 million in additional annual revenue to maintain...