Community

Saying

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...

Mayor Steve Tate was a guest speaker at an Oct. 10 ribbon cutting for a new 114-unit senior affordable housing complex known as “The Huntington,” located at 16505 Butterfield Blvd.

Community Solutions, an organization dedicated to offering an array of services to those in need, was honored June 22 as the Nonprofit of the Year by Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) during the inaugural California Nonprofits Day celebration in Sacramento.“Community Solutions is a well-established nonprofit that has fought for those who have the greatest need for more than 40 years,” Monning said.  “It tackles some of the most difficult social issues, such as human trafficking, mental health, and housing. I commend Community Solutions for its service to our region.”Community Solutions, which was first established as a teen drop-in center in 1972, is headquartered in Gilroy and has offices in Morgan Hill, San Jose and Hollister. Today, it offers a comprehensive spectrum of prevention, intervention, treatment and residential services, which include help to overcome challenges engendered by mental health problems, substance abuse, trauma, severe family dysfunction, sexual and domestic violence and human trafficking.From 2014 to 2015, Community Solutions helped more than 3,880 children, families, and individuals and offered a myriad of community volunteer opportunities throughout the year, such as assisting with the annual Holiday Giving Program, organizing clothing that has been donated, and advocating for domestic violence, sexual assault and/or human trafficking victims.For more information about Community Solutions, visit communitysolutions.org/index.html.Monning represents the 17th senate district, which includes all of San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties, as well as portions of Monterey and Santa Clara counties.

South County residents and public safety officers paid their respects to fallen San Jose Police Officer Michael Katherman June 21 by gathering on U.S. 101 overpasses as his funeral procession traveled through the area.  Funeral services for Katherman, who died June 14 in a traffic accident while on duty with SJPD, took place at SAP Center in San Jose June 21. He was 34 years old, and left behind his wife April and sons Josh, 10 and Jason, 8. April teaches at Pacific Point Christian School in Gilroy.After the funeral, his remains were escorted by hundreds of police officers from throughout the state to the Gavilan Hills Memorial Cemetery in Gilroy. Leading the procession were dozens of Katherman’s fellow motorcycle officers.On the East Dunne Avenue overpass, two Morgan Hill Fire Department officers stood atop an engine and saluted the procession as it passed. Residents waved American flags as they lined up along the edge of the overpass, peering through the fence facing the southbound traffic as it passed underneath them.“We’re here to show our respects,” said Morgan Hill resident Cindy Chapman, who brought her grandsons Jonah Roush and Devin McCusker to the procession. “We know that officers give their lives for us every day.”On the Burnett Avenue overpass about the same time, Dave Carney and his wife Monica showed their support for Katherman and his colleagues. Dave Carney lost his leg 16 years after being hit by a drunk driver while he was riding his motorcycle. He makes an effort to support law enforcement whenever he can as a thank you.Katherman’s remains were buried in a private service at 2:30 p.m. June 21 in Gilroy.

The Morgan Hill Times presents its picks for the top five local things to do for this weekend. South County has it all: from the great outdoors to breathe in that fresh air, a gleeful movie, to picture-perfect pets. Feel free to comment to let your fellow Morgan Hillians know what’s up around town this weekend.