Dear Editor, I got a real treat that I have to share with you.
Dec. 16, I came back to Britton to stop in on the cheerleader
holiday dinner and saw way more than I ever imagined. The concept
for the event started as a holiday party but grew to include
supplying some Christmas trees to needy families.
Britton School cheer squad goes above and beyond
Dear Editor,
I got a real treat that I have to share with you. Dec. 16, I came back to Britton to stop in on the cheerleader holiday dinner and saw way more than I ever imagined. The concept for the event started as a holiday party but grew to include supplying some Christmas trees to needy families. Then it grew again to include a tree decorating contest so that the families could have a decorated tree. So why stop there … the girls managed to get a hold of Christmas lists and buy gifts for the all the members of the families and added a gift wrapping contest to the activities. Of course, what would Christmas be without dinner? So they put together food baskets and turkeys too … and then went even further, assembling a care package for a squad of soldiers. The auditorium was truly a workshop of energetic Bobcats who had taken holiday cheer to a whole new level. Hats off to Patti Finck, our coaches Shae Kirkman and Shannon Pate, and of course our cheerleaders and their parents.
Glen Webb, Principal, Britton Middle School
Earlier notice of local businesses selling goods would have been nice
Dear Editor,
What a shame! Eight days before Christmas the Morgan Hill Times does a feature on “Rural Riches,” encouraging people to buy locally. The article featured seven farms that produce their locally grown fresh fruits, jams, wines, etc., all kinds of wonderful sounding items for gift giving. At this late date many are through with their Christmas shopping.
I was unaware as to what some of these businesses had to offer, let alone that they even existed.
The Times is always encouraging your readers to buy locally. Why not feature these businesses the first week of December next year, not eight days before Christmas when a lot of people have finished their shopping?
Having been in the retail business for 30 years, I know the impact of getting the word out early in the season. We’ll buy locally, but tell us way ahead of time about these unique businesses.
Marilyn Cameron, Morgan Hill
Now is the time to consider creating a creek walk
Dear Editor,
Synergy is what we need to create the vibrant downtown we all want for Morgan Hill!
And now’s the time for citizens to organize to make it happen! We’re at the same place we were when citizens fought to keep the library in its present location.
Now is the time – and there is plenty of time – to link the flood control project discussed at last week’s City Council meeting with the Redevelopment Agency’s Streetscape Project to make downtown a happening place. By expanding our vision, our downtown can draw people from far and wide, promote economic development, increase tax revenues for the city and makes us all proud.
Some very good ideas came up regarding the streetscape project. One of them was the idea of a Creek Walk in the downtown. There is a way that the flood control project for the downtown could be designed to include a meandering Creek Walk for pedestrians and bike riders, a serene haven steps from shopping to enjoy your lunch in a natural setting. To meet your friends or take evening walks.
Unfortunately, Mayor Steve Tate and City Manager Ed Tewes went to great lengths to discourage even looking into this option. We all understand that it is hard to reconsider, after long efforts and lots of investment. But Councilmembers Carr, Librers, Constantine and Siebert all expressed interest and some enthusiasm for the idea and exploring the possibilities.
The local funding from the Redevelopment Agency being considered for streetscape could be combined with the other funding from the Army Corps of Engineers (which will not be available for Morgan Hill’s downtown until 2015).
The other idea brought up was the need for a vision that attracts visitors. In a way, this is another way of saying that no matter how we change the streetscape, which many residents feel is very nice as is, people won’t visit just because of it.
The question is why would a family in Milpitas or Mountain View or Salinas decide to come to spend the day in Morgan Hill? There are many potential answers and they are not mutually exclusive. Winery tours followed by dinner at a nice restaurant, perhaps even a stay at a bed and breakfast. Hot air balloon rides and events. Bike trails that bring people downtown for lunch and a movie. A theater that shows old movies and new art films. Unique activities for children. A well-supervised teenage dance club. Outside concerts. A collection of craft stores in one place. What’s your idea?
Now is the time to link the flood control project which won’t have funding to build in downtown before 2015 and the Redevelopment Agency’s streetscape or other projects. Now is the time to organize to ensure this idea is thoroughly explored. Now is the time for citizen action.
Dennis Kennedy, former Mayor, city of Morgan Hill
