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Let life's challenges drive you Jean Gorby Calicdan Co-Valedictorian, Sobrato High School I want to start off this speech with a very, very strong statement I heard the other day. It went something like, “Wow. Life really sucks.” And ya know, sadly I really can’t disagree. Life is hard;...

Pianist David Kerr, a senior at Mount Madonna School, will perform his first original composition as part of the United States Open Competition, which is scheduled for Feb. 16-21 in Oakland.The Morgan Hill resident, who started playing the piano at age 4 and currently studies with teacher K.K. Koo, will compete in two of the 88 events that encompass the music competition.“I absolutely loved the process of writing my own music,” said Kerr of his first composition. “Music has, and always will be, a huge part of my life. In creating my own music, I found that I learned more about myself and now have an entirely new field in which to expand upon my studies.”On Feb. 19, he will perform his original composition, titled “Thoughts Racing.” The next day, Kerr will compete at the senior level in a Liszt duo with partner Kristin Wolfe, performing “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.” For the duo competition, two pianists play simultaneously and both parts are considered solos.“Initially, I was very resistant, mainly because I felt I wasn’t good enough,” said Kerr of his first upcoming competition. “Now, I feel that it’s a wonderful way to push myself to new levels in terms of my performance. It does induce a certain level of stress, although for what I feel I am getting out of it, I am totally willing to put my best effort forward.”Kerr said he was inspired by a friend to work on his own composition. Eight months later, he completed “Thoughts Racing.”“I have always enjoyed playing the piano, although the countless hours of work required to reach that enjoyment is quite daunting,” Kerr said. “Fortunately, I stayed with it and now I’m at the point where even the hard work is enjoyable.”For more information on the competition, visit usomc.org.

With the intensive care unit beds full at St. Louise Regional Hospital, health and city officials converged in Gilroy Dec. 28 to urge residents in South County to stay home and avoid gathering with others over the New Year holiday. South County continues to be...

Santa Clara County planning officials have released the draft Environmental Impact Report for the 403-acre Sargent Ranch quarry project that is proposed south of Gilroy. The public comment period on the EIR began July 25 and will continue until Sept. 26, according to county staff. Representatives...

The Morgan Hill City Council unanimously approved a resolution “condemning all forms of hate and violence” at the March 17 meeting, in response to the deadly riots that occurred at the U.S. Capitol earlier this year. The resolution not only repudiates the Jan. 6 attack...

In between rain storms, Morgan Hill residents have likely noticed this winter that several new residential developments are under construction in town.  According to City Hall staff reports, there are currently eight residential projects under construction. These range from a small cluster of single-family homes...

Students do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of

A $12 million grant program to create and expand school-based behavioral health wellness centers in Santa Clara County was approved Aug. 29 by the county Board of Supervisors.  Most of the grant money will be awarded to school districts to help establish new campus wellness...

Authorities identified the person who died in the Oct. 30 shooting at a Gilroy city council member’s home as 18-year-old Michael Daniel Zunigas-Macias. Zunigas-Macias was one of four people shot at the home of Rebeca Armendariz during a large outdoor party on the 400 block...

Former San Benito County supervisor talks about 18th District issues