Columnists

It sure feels like spring these days with the beautiful warm and clear days. I had almost forgotten that the Godzilla of El Ninos was here with the spring like weather but that should be changing right about the time you read this.While it may feel like spring right now it won’t officially be here until March 20,  which just happens to coincide with one of my favorite things: the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley (WSCV) Spring Passport Weekend held March 18 to 20.You can hold a wake for the passing of winter and celebrate the beginning of spring in one weekend while enjoying wine in a region we can call our own.As usual, our local wineries have brought in dozens of wine awards in the prestigious 2016 SF Chronicle Wine Competition. And as great as it is reading about winners, it’s a lot more satisfying having one of those winners in a glass in front you right where it was made.Our Santa Clara Valley wines are constantly getting better and better, and their local association is always working to improve just about everything related to the exposure of local wines. This year you should be able to experience some of those efforts for yourself.Starting Friday, March 18, the WSCV Spring Passport Weekend kicks off with an invitation-only evening tasting event. You have to be a Passport Weekend ticket holder to get into this event (it’s really like a party) at the Morgan Hill Grange Hall. There will be at least 16 wineries pouring samples of their wines with many of the top local restaurants providing some special victuals that will again remind you that food and wine are an unbeatable pair, especially when done well.On these special weekends I usually set out right at the noon starting time since things can get busy, which means that some food is usually also in order.Over time many of the wineries have developed a reputation for their Passport food offerings—Satori Cellars with their chili and Morgan Hill Cellars with their pork sliders, amongst others.This year, something new will be added in the way of local restaurants also setting up to serve food at some of the wineries. Look for this as it promises to be a treat that could be a lifesaver later in the day.With only two days to sample the finest bounty of our valley in a glass, I recommend you plan ahead and try not to rush the experience. You don’t have to hit every winery in one weekend—they will be there for another visit.Take some time and enjoy the grounds at the wineries you visit. Some have elaborate properties, some funky and rustic, and some are like being at home. You could even plan a relaxing return visit with friends and a lunch basket.Get your tickets early; they will sell out (and remember you want to go to that Friday evening event), plan and pace your weekend and enjoy what few others have—our own local wine region.Go to santaclarawines.com for full details on the event and enjoy yourself in a safe and responsible manner.John McKay is a Morgan Hill resident, city planning commissioner, Vice President of the Downtown Association and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance.

“Valley of the Heart” is a heart wrenching story of actual happenings and how the almost forgotten Second World War affected the people of the time. It jars those of us that lived through that moment to remember a time we would rather forget. It also shows this generation what went on and cautions about it not letting the past happen again.

On Feb. 2, I attended my first and, I think, last Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Education meeting.The meeting started out normal enough with recognition of community members and programs. Then came the open comment period, where several speakers asked for Trustee David Gerard’s resignation, plus a couple who supported him—one saying he was just “talking smack” and it was no big deal (certainly the threshold for acceptable behavior for some can be remarkably different than mine…).Then came the big agenda item which was the public hearing for censure of embattled Trustee Gerard involving his emails from his MHUSD address.The usual administrative readings were followed by questions/comments from the trustees themselves. Trustees Ron Woolf and Donna Ruebusch expressed how they had felt attacked and belittled in the now infamous emails.Not surprisingly, Trustees Rick Badillo and Gino Borgioli offered Gerard their support.It appeared to me that the cornerstone of Badillo’s comments was freedom of speech. I am prepared to accept that what Gerard said was not illegal but if we are to use minimum legal standards to justify actions then we are operating in the basement of behavior.I think we all expect our elected public officials to operate at the highest levels of behavior, and not merely squeaking by on a legal judgment.Then came one of the most incredible things I have ever seen in a public meeting, and I’ve been to a lot: Trustee Borgioli’s comments and alternate resolution for censure. I felt that the atmosphere at the meeting was turning a bit theatrical but this moved it into three-ring circus material.Borgioli had previously asked President Benevento who wrote the current resolution under consideration. The answer from the president was fellow trustees, community members and an attorney.All eyes were on Trustee Borgioli as he read a prepared statement, which I was not convinced he wrote himself from his reading. Then he proposed an alternative resolution which no one had seen and he could not easily describe.President Benevento then asked Trustee Borgioli who wrote the resolution. You would think that what happened next was part of a comedy skit.Trustee Borgioli, now faced with question reciprocity, did not answer for several seconds. I can only imagine how long those few seconds felt as all of the eyes in a packed room were on him.  “Armando Benavides” finally spilled out of Trustee Borgioli’s mouth, and there was a murmur in the room.Apparently Mr. Benavides has been at odds with the three that were supporting the censure resolution. I was gobsmacked.Is Armando Benavides the fourth man allied to the apparent trinity of Gerard, Borgioli and Badillo? He sure seemed to exert some influence over the hearing from his seat in the audience.I left during Trustee Gerard’s very long prepared speech which finally included the apologies many had been asking to hear for so long. That apology rang hollow to me since he was under the pressure of a censure resolution.Apparently I missed an incident later in the evening where Trustee Badillo was requested to be questioned by the MHPD. More theater was created when Badillo moved briskly to the front door past the audience and away from the police. He was met at the front door by another officer, and a chaotic scene ensued in which it was later learned that police received a report that Badillo might have been carrying a weapon (he was not; it was a utility tool on his belt).This is getting ridiculous and I feel that the community of Morgan Hill is now starting to pay for the behavior of Badillo, Borgioli and Gerard.Morgan Hill is becoming a laughing stock with the behavior of the trinity which I now call the “Holy Cow!” trinity.Holy cow! We need a change in behavior at the MHUSD board level now!John McKay is a Morgan Hill resident, city planning commissioner, Vice President of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance.

FINALLY, a free afternoon. You still have a long to-do list, but the heck with it. Everything can wait for a few hours, so you light out for your favorite trail. Good for you. You deserve a break; a bit of quiet solitude.