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Nerves were threatening to get the best of Samantha Sadoff, the 17-year-old President of Live Oak High School’s Future Business Leaders of America, as she awaited her turn in front of judges for the leadership conference’s national competition for public speaking in Chicago.Sadoff, who bested the regional and state fields prior to the national event held June 29-July 2, was already chosen as one of 14 finalists from a field of 104 competitors representing their respective states during the preliminary round. The LOHS senior—a budding actress, accomplished filmmaker and ambitious student—was the only Californian to reach the championship round among the 8,500 “best and brightest high school students” from across the country.“The morning of the final round I was so nervous. I barely got any sleep the night before. I didn’t eat a good breakfast. I was too nervous to even think straight,” said Sadoff, who was in a back room with the other “Step Up to the Challenge” finalists waiting for her name to be called.Three hours went by before it was her turn to give the public speech she had practiced and performed dozens of times—modifying it here and there along the way—about what the FBLA had done for her career path. Sadoff hopes to study film in college and become a director.“As soon as I start speaking, I get in that zone and I just came alive,” said Sadoff, who shook off the nerves and believed she had given her best performance in front of the three-judge panel. “I could tell by looking at them they were satisfied....When I was done, other students came over and congratulated me (on my speech.)”The next day at the awards ceremony, Sadoff again waited three hours before 10 of the 14 finalists in the “public speaking two” category (for juniors and seniors) were called up on the stage. Sadoff was glad to just be in the top 10, but she got ever more excited as the judges started announcing the place-winners beginning with 10th place and working up to first.“It was really exciting watching people getting called and receiving their awards,” said Sadoff, whose trip to Chicago was paid for by a $1,000 sponsorship from the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club. “Then, there were fewer and fewer people and I was excited to be top five, then just elated to be top three and then it was just me and one girl. Then they called her name for second place and I knew I won. It was the best moment ever.”Chamber President John Horner said he first heard Sadoff’s speech at a Morgan Hill Unified School District school board meeting after she won the regional competition and was immediately impressed. Horner later invited her to speak before the Kiwanis Club and again scheduled her as one of the speakers at the Chamber’s August breakfast.“What an amazing young lady,” said Horner of Sadoff. “She’s obviously a very talented young lady in a lot of different dimensions. She has the passion, the skill set and the vision for using that for positive change.”For her public speaking prowess, Sadoff took home a glass trophy as well as $1,000 prize from her category sponsor Balfour. Participants, who qualified in any of the 68 categories, competed for a total of $175,000 in cash awards, according to FBLA event organizers.“It was really cool,” said Sadoff, who was accompanied by her brother on the trip. “Going to Chicago in itself was exciting because I’d never been there. Getting to go and represent the entire state of California was such a huge honor.”Earlier this year, Sadoff was named as an Honorable Mention Award recipient for her short film in the 2015 White House Student Film Festival. Sadoff, who also plans to study psychology and/or neuroscience in college, has appeared in commercials for McDonald’s and Walmart. She has also earned acting roles in “Tropic Thunder” starring Ben Stiller, Disney’s “Monsters University” and several independent films.

Police arrested a San Jose man after he was seen stealing mail from a Morgan Hill apartment complex, according to authorities. About 10:20pm May 10, Morgan Hill Police responded to Jasmine Square Apartments at 16530 Monterey Road, on reports of a male suspect breaking into...

Since then, as of Dec. 28, Covid-19 has killed 27 more people in San Benito County, and another 652 in Santa Clara County, according to public health officials. The rate of the virus’ spread has expanded exponentially—with more than 1,000 positive cases reported daily in recent weeks in Santa Clara, and a positivity rate of 68.3 new cases per 100,000 residents per day in San Benito.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said he will revisit the statewide stay-at-home order in two weeks if the curve of COVID-19 cases in California is not only “flattening” but “declining.” That does not mean the order will be completely lifted, Newsom said, but certain aspects...

It may have taken two years because of circumstances beyond its control, but South Valley Civic Theatre is at last ready to perform its dark musical, “Cabaret,” in front of a live audience.  Ten performances will run on select days from March 11-27 at the...

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has voted to limit development across some 7,500 acres in unincorporated Coyote Valley in an effort to preserve agricultural land for local farmers. The plan, which the board approved unanimously Dec. 14, will limit the number of single-family...

Less than 24 hours after a riveting one-run win over Willow Glen in 11 innings, the Live Oak baseball team wasn’t in the mood to go extra innings again. So on Friday, they made sure to end things early. Displaying superiority in every phase...

Floodwaters spilling over Highway 101 have forced officials to shut down the southbound lanes of the highway at Mesa Road in Gilroy late Monday morning. Bolsa Road is also flooded between Travel Park Circle and Carnadero Avenue. Recent rains and saturated ground conditions are adding to...

Six juvenile Live Oak High School students were arrested on suspicion of violent felonies after an altercation on campus during school hours Nov. 18, according to police. Morgan Hill Police officers responded to the school, 1505 East Main Ave., at about 10:45am on a report...