Enjoyable meeting with John Horner this week, who’s officially taking over the reins as Chamber Director. Great move forward. John has a passion for the community, the connections, the ability to listen and perform and has business fingers in pie far beyond the quaint and interesting shop, Thinker Toys. The toy shop is kind of like John, really, a pleasant place bent on customer service with an upbeat personality and an inventory geared to success. I also like his ideas on furthering business programs aimed at youth to expand views of the real world and business opportunities.
Opportunity knocks apparently for the thief that’s been plaguing the post offices in South County, stealing mail. The $10,000 reward might help seal this criminal in an envelope, however. If you have any information or think you’re a victim, call it in to the Post Office Inspector at 877-876-2455. Stealing mail ranks right up there with purse snatching from old ladies.
Snatching the party line gets old, so this quote from Morgan Hill Unified School Trustee Ron Woolf bothered me: “If this (public relations) person manages to bring five new students to our school district, that will pay the $30,000 for the year,” contract. Beyond the basic question of how trustees or the administration are going to know if the PR firm has diddly to do with the influx and outflow of students, there’s the big picture that’s seemingly eluding trustees. There are two more charter schools intending to open in Morgan Hill. Why? Because residents are not happy with the public school system for their children. If there’s no market, the charter schools couldn’t succeed. MHUSD hardly needs a PR firm, what it needs is better test scores, a dropout rate that’s in decline for 5 straight years and a sense of urgency about implementing improvements. The PR MHUSD needs is Public Reconciliation, and $30,000 worth of fluff isn’t going to buy that.
Can buy this or that at Aver Family Vineyards this weekend. It’s one of our boutique wineries that, if you haven’t visited and met owners John and Carol, treat yourself to a pleasant outing and do it. This weekend from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday marks the “Gathering of Local Artisans in the Vineyards.” So, besides the wine tasting, there are local products available like Maiden Flight Apiary of Morgan Hill honey, Frantoio Grove Olive Oils from San Martin and Roxanne’s Biscotti from Morgan Hill plus an art exhibit by Morgan Hill’s Pamala Meador. Aver is just south off Watsonville Road at 2900 Soma Way and the wines alone are well worth the stop.
Stop time, it’s August and I can’t believe how the summer is flying by. Not soon enough if you’re a Giants fan, it will be football season and 49ers time. Plus, the Sharks re-signed Joe Pavelski and who cares about the Halloween World Series this year.
Stop in and have coffee with Mayor Steve Tate Saturday at BookSmart from 10 to 11:30 a.m. You could ask him when the big bump in the road where the Butterfield extension meets Watsonville Road is going to be fixed, or whether it’s really the best use of the city’s $5 million to buy dirt for baseball/softball fields or what he thinks the plan should be for the properties the city owns post the redevelopment agency. Or you could just say “hi,” grab a cup of coffee on him and head for your favorite book aisle.
Book it that Mayor Steve will be at The Learning and Loving Education Center, 16890 Church St., on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 21 for a 2 to 4 p.m. “spirited Silent Auction and Wine Heist while sampling delicious hors d’oeuvres from local eateries, along with tasty desserts, with wine tastings from area vintners.” Wine Heist, now that’s a fun description I haven’t heard. For ticket information, visit the website at www.learningandloving.org or dial 408-776-1196. The good Sisters of the Presentation run the center which has been helping low-income immigrant women gain skills and move their lives and the lives of their families in a positive direction since 1994. It’s the kind of independent local program that really makes a difference in people’s lives and opens up doors of success, all without government assistance. It will make good use of your $40 for an afternoon of fun.
Yes, it’s too bad that fun in the fountain at the Community and Cultural Center hasn’t been available all summer, but don’t fret. The popular water feature that begged children to “run through the sprinkler” will be back before next summer after a three-year hiatus.
Hopefully, the development hiatus is over so that projects long sitting on the sidelines for Third Street and downtown on Monterey will get a fresh look. All the bones are there for a booming downtown. Just a couple of key pieces are necessary to launch the heart and soul of Morgan Hill onto a long and lucrative path.
Reach Editor Mark Derry at
ed****@mo*************.com
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