Columnists

I recently mentioned that the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, in partnership with the City of Morgan Hill, invited construction projects downtown to participate in a competition to see who could make their site the most interesting.The prize for this competition was a lunch for the construction crews, so there was little incentive other than the spirit of competition and lots of community spirit.The Leal organization’s site for the future Granada Hotel and Spa won the competition with a decorated fence and a construction site that really doesn’t look like either anymore. This is a great example of how to make a normally unsightly looking construction site blend back into the background.So I told some people about the competition and realized that the Leal organization was not being recognized for some of the other good things they do.I originally started writing this column because I didn’t feel that the community knew enough about so many of the good things being done in Morgan Hill, and this is a good example.The Leal organization became visible to most of us in Morgan Hill with its purchase of the old Granada Theater site. Little did we know that someone could save that old building (it was structurally unsafe), let alone make it a thriving business and contemporary landmark.It took a lot of resources to save that sentimental old building, but the Leal organization made it happen. Now we don’t have to rely on just memories of the building; we can be entertained and dine in an updated version that can now make new memories.For me, most of those memories are associated with the philanthropic work in the way of charitable fundraisers in that building.Think about the Edward Boss Prado Foundation’s annual Gala Event which found a new home there. Community Solutions’ “Black, White & Bling” Gala was the first event in the newly renovated Granada (this year’s gala is Nov. 4). Those events were generously supported by donation of the venue by the Leal organization.New this year will be Rebekah Children’s Services’ “Festival of Trees” fundraiser which just moved to Morgan Hill from the swanky Corinthian in San Jose. The Live Oak High Booster Club will be the recipient of 25 percent of the receipts from the “Pasta for a Purpose” dinner. This is a takeoff of the “Pizza for a Purpose” event the Leal organization held in Hollister for their local needs.The Leal organization is a business and will conduct itself as one, as it has to. The organization is also very active philanthropically—it doesn’t have to be but it is.This organization is another example of how so many of our local businesses become partners in the community. I welcome them to the community.John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. He can be reached at takuhog@yahoo.com.

The season is winding down for those wonderful outdoor festivals. We only have a few events left, and then we’ll have to nourish our adventurous souls on memories or become more pack-like and venture out in small groups of friends and families over the winter.I realize that going out to these festivals is not for everyone, but I think they do hold something for just about everyone.There’s usually some food and some form of adult beverages, most likely music, shopping and nice people. Often, you get the owners of the businesses and brewery or winery right there serving and talking to you.What’s not to like?This weekend you get a double dose of fun. Both the Morgan Hill Downtown Association and the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley have events planned.Weather alert! It’s going to be in the 70s—perfect outdoor event weather, special ordered.Saturday afternoon, Oct. 14, the Downtown Association hosts the Brew Crawl. This event will bring in 19 breweries and a specialty drink (think selzer) to pour samples at various businesses in Morgan Hill’s downtown.The focus of the Brew Crawl is to bring in as many small craft breweries as possible to make the event special. Craft brews are taking the adult beverage world by storm and some of the finest will be here.This year there will be two check-in points to complement the two biggest sponsors of the event: The Trail Dust restaurant and Running Shop & Hops store and tap room.This event starts at 1pm and ends at 5pm, so enjoy those beverages and consider sticking around for dinner and shopping afterwards. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 day of event (if there are any left…).The big weekend actually gets started a day earlier with the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley’s Passport Friday Night event. This is a private event, but you can find out how to be a part of it by purchasing tickets to the weekend of tasting for $40—that’s an entire weekend of tasting with over 25 wineries participating.Friday night, 19 wineries will be serving tasting pours all in one location—The Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. This two-hour evening event (6 to 8pm) usually sees more of the winemakers themselves pouring their wines since it is a smaller crowd and shorter event. Don’t miss this intimate private event.If you got that Wine Passport you’ll have a pass to the over 25 wineries that will have all kinds of special treats in store all weekend for wine tasters on the prowl.The wineries really put on their best face for the weekend of tasting. Besides pouring samples of their fine wines, many will have entertainment and food. Some of the wineries are getting to be known for their special food offerings.  We should all be proud of our local wineries; their wines are just getting better and better, and tasting these wines in their festive settings just seems to make them even tastier.So get plenty of rest, eat well and get out starting Friday night to have a great time as you can only do right here in the South Valley.Brew Crawl info:morganhilldowntown.orgPassport Weekend info: santaclarawines.comJohn McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. He can be reached at takuhog@yahoo.com.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get in trouble for what I say. A lot of times I think it’s because of what I don’t say, because generally when I’m in trouble I didn’t mean what got me there.Sound familiar?Frequently, I’ll start to make a comment and before I finish, someone else takes it and runs with it. You know it’s never the same when you try to corral that conversation and finish your statement. It always feels like you’re changing your comment or being wishy washy. Makes me crazy, probably makes me sound crazy too.Like most people, I get asked questions about how I feel about things or what I know about something. I always try to be straightforward in what I say, but sometimes I think it might be better in the long run to taking the heat for politely walking away.I will often say something, but then realize that there is a whole conversation of conditions about what I said behind the comment. And then there’s the added dimension of not knowing if you might just ignite a debate when you weren’t looking for one.An example of that situation is being asked, “How do you feel about the growth in Morgan Hill?” This has come up with more frequency these days, and I have found that I rarely get it right. The reason I give includes a lot of background information, an exhaustive analysis of that information, and then I use that to inform my conclusion. But I have yet to find a person who is hopelessly interested in what I have say, or I have little enough sympathy for a human being to launch it on them.It’s times like those that remind me I’ve got to learn how to redirect the conversation. Ever notice how some politicians are terrible at redirection and others are masterful? One seems awfully guilty of something and the other a brilliant orator who knew better about where the conversation should be headed.Maybe that’s not the best example… Still, I could learn a thing or two about redirecting.I also think about what we say to our friends, but probably more importantly what we say to people we don’t know or don’t know well. Your friends tend to understand where you’re coming from, but others will take your comments at face value without further confirmation.Too often, I’ve heard someone repeat a rumor or state a blatant falsehood at a gathering or public setting. This is especially egregious when they are uttered by people that are respected because, well, they’re respected by others. People who are respected tend to be trusted, and that’s why respected people need to be the most honest (sorry if you feel like I’ve focused on you because you’re respected). Their words can affect many so if you’re respected, so maybe it’s best to have good information before passing it on. By the way, it only takes one other person to be respected.I promise to always be honest with you, or maybe we’ll just talk about something else.So in the process of writing this I have probably upset someone, please give me a chance to explain myself…John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, a city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. He can be reached at takuhog@yahoo.com.

I feel like talking a little bit about a whole bunch of things, maybe throw out some news and food for thought.Morgan Hill is about to say goodbye to a huge community asset. Steve Rymer will be heading back to a region familiar to him to be another lucky city’s city manager. I understand that there was virtually only one city that could draw him and his wife, Helene, away from Morgan Hill and even when that opportunity opened up he had to be the best of 300 candidates. Statistically speaking, the odds of all this coming together were pretty staggering. However, if you know Steve then it’s no surprise at all.We’ll miss you Steve and Helene.So with that sad news we get to announce some good news. We have a new city manager.The city council decided they didn’t need to look far for a new city manager with the quality of the existing teammates within Morgan Hill City Hall. I feel that the vision, values and culture that exist there are unique for a city office. Quite frankly, I was worried that the culture might be affected by someone coming from outside that might not “get it.” Culture is one of those things that can easily change with no conscious effort.Looking within, the city council found and selected Christina Turner. I used the term “teammate” because the culture at City Hall is that of a big team, and now Christina will be the leader and biggest cheerleader for city staff and the entire community. Christina is also one of the women highlighted during Women’s Week—we walk the walk in Morgan Hill.Okay, so what else is going on?How about the growth of a little corner of Morgan Hill that is on the verge of exploding. Over at the Granary (at First and Depot streets), two new shops are coming on line: a bike shop and wine bar. When you combine these two with Running Shop and Hops you will undoubtedly have the healthiest and happiest corner in Morgan Hill.Both of these unique new shops will be run by people who believe in Morgan Hill and want to make their shops and Morgan Hill stand out in the region.Bike Therapy is open now and The Grapevine will have a soft opening around the weekend of the Taste of Morgan Hill (Sept. 23-24).In other good news, the parking garage just got safer. I thought it was already pretty safe to begin with, but admit at times I was a little annoyed with the activities of some of the loiterers. Apparently not much enforcement was being done in the past because you need to have the right laws in place before you can enforce them. New laws are in place and the enforcement has begun (also: a fence has been placed limiting access to part of the garage and improvements are being made so people can’t access places they shouldn’t).If you have noticed something different about the fence around the future Granada Hotel site (corner of First and Monterey Road), you are seeing the results of an effort to make the downtown look just a little nicer during all the construction. The Leal organization took on the challenge and it’s nice. Take a look for yourself.Congratulations Morgan Hill, good stuff is happening.John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, a city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. He can be reached at takuhog@yahoo.com.

“Travesty” is a word that is getting more usage these days and I am about to use it a whole bunch right here.For some reason, someone out there has decided for all of us that we need to change the way we select our School District Board of Trustees, and now City Council. Some party alerted an attorney who specializes in making money on “enforcing” the California Voters Rights Act (CVRA) that will forever change the way we elect our local officials. We are headed toward district voting for our city council seats, joining the MHUSD Trustees in this method of election.It’s a travesty because the well-intended CVRA is being used where it just won’t help. In fact, it will now limit our already limited pool of qualified candidates even more for our most important government bodies, and therefore possibly affect the quality of decisions made in our community.There is no way that a minority group can be represented as a majority in any way the city can be sliced up in any meaning manner—as was proven by a consultant. Mathematically, it just doesn’t work here folks.So what’s the purpose of the CVRA? To make sure that minorities are fairly represented.I look at our current city council and think that they are pretty darn diverse. We have a young professional mother, African-American firefighter, LGBT project manager, retired senior (sorry Mayor, you will be forever young to me) and a middle-aged caucasian man. They are one council member away from being entirely minority or an underrepresented group.What is going on? It’s a travesty.The focus of this application of the CVRA was to provide an opportunity for the Hispanic community to be better represented. We will have a Hispanic councilmember or mayor soon. I can virtually guarantee it but it won’t be because of the misuse of the CVRA. It will be because we have a good candidate at the right time. Unfortunately, that time may now be pushed out even further. This is serving to split up the Hispanic vote, not make it more powerful. What was somebody thinking?I have some nits to pick on this whole CVRA thing.First, what makes you think that an elected official has to be Hispanic to care about the Hispanic community? A good official cares about all of their constituents. I would almost hate to see the potential backlash from the public if there was an obvious bias on the dais on a regular basis.Second, just because the name of a candidate is Hispanic doesn’t mean that Hispanics will vote for them, I hope. Or do you think that minority groups only vote for members of their group? The CVRA is almost demeaning there.The travesty of district voting is virtually certain to be implemented due to the cost of litigation and precedent of success of the complaint filing party.The way we’re getting to a supposed solution is being forced down our throats in a way that is creating a great amount of resentment in the community. How is that a good thing?I hope it all somehow works out for the better, but I just can’t see it now. Nobody wins here, and that is the greatest travesty.John McKay is the president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. He can be reached at takuhog@yahoo.com.

I made the mistake of turning on the TV during a mid-day break and all this bad news jumped out at me about misogyny, bigotry, religious intolerance and other things that don’t seem to fit in today’s world.All I could do was just shake my head and wonder about what’s happening now and what’s going to happen with civility breaking down all around us. It’s not okay, and we need to do something about it.Here in our community something is being done which directly contradicts what I just saw in the news. Next week will be Women’s Week in Morgan Hill. That’s right, we’re going to celebrate what others have been getting all misogynistic about—women just being women.Now that could be a dangerous thing to say but I mean it in only the best of ways—what were you thinking?I spend most of my time these days doing volunteer work in our community. That means spending the vast majority of my time working with women. Strong, smart and hard-working women.I sit on nonprofit boards and committees, the majority of whose members are women. I work with staff at City Hall—the majority are women. I work with a lot of downtown business owners and managers—the majority are women. I look to our local representatives in the State Legislature and Congress—the majority are women. This speaks volumes to me.Okay, so we’re going to have a week of events celebrating women, and who better to put this together than two smart, hard-working women, right?The idea came from our newest City Council member, Caitlin Jachimowicz, who teamed up with one of the smartest and hardest working women I know, Brittney Sherman. This pair has put a lot of energy into assembling a full week of programs and fun opportunities (I know there were others but these two made it happen).The week kicks off on Monday with a special showing of the movie “Hidden Figures” at the Cinelux Theater. That movie alone addresses and messes with the whole misogynistic and bigoted atmosphere out there.Tuesday is dedicated to effective communications with elected officials. Then, on Wednesday our City Council will formally proclaim this week “Women’s Week”.Thursday is a big night because there will be a “Leadership Professionals Panel” made up of women. Some of our finest will be sharing the stage with special guest Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. We have some impressive local women leaders. Do not miss that!Friday and Saturday includes honoring women at the Friday Night Music series and celebrating the passing of the 19th Amendment (Google it), respectively.Sunday holds an event every woman should be a part of—the “When I grow up” mixer. Young women are invited and the adult women are asked to dress as they do when they go to work in their diverse responsibilities. This is an opportunity to inspire young lives and for women to mingle with their peers.Celebrating women in our society shouldn’t be the exception and a big deal, but unfortunately it still is.For more information about times and locations please go to: morganhill.org/womensweek.John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, a city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. He can be contacted at takuhog@yahoo.com.

All things must come to pass. In some cases, it’s good because you want bad things to pass, but in too many cases it’s the good things that come to pass before you’re ready to let go.Right now we have a couple good things about to pass. One is short-term and satisfied the urge to have a good time eating with friends and family mid-week. The other satisfied a never-ending need for a leader and volunteer to help make and keep the community that place we’re all proud of and want to be.The first item that will pass is the Moveable Feast. It will end July 26 after eight consecutive weeks of providing a place for the community to gather and dine at an alternative location downtown.Going to the Moveable Feast nights were a lot of fun, filled with variety and new things. Next year’s events are being considered now so we can take comfort in knowing it will likely return just as good as ever. But for now, go out and enjoy it while you can.I hope you have developed a taste for the healthy habit of taking a mid-week mental break from your own kitchen—which includes all that cleaning. No reason for that to pass now…What will be passing and not returning is the ongoing leadership and volunteer work of Kathy Sullivan (no not the Historic Society Kathy Sullivan). Kathy’s just fine, but she will be leaving us to enjoy her retirement a little closer to family in the place where she grew up, Philadelphia.Right here is where I insert the old phrase, “Her absence will create a vacuum.” There will be a void like a sinkhole that will need many volunteers to fill.Kathy was the “universal volunteer.” She was involved with so many local nonprofit organizations and community efforts that I hear her going away parties are stacked up until well after she has left.The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce recognized Sullivan this year as the Volunteer of the Year. I don’t think there was ever a doubt that she would one day be the Volunteer of the Year, but little did we know it would be so soon.She will be honored for her work well into the future, her impact was notable and lack of presence will be noticeable across so much of the community. Another community will undoubtedly be getting a volunteer army of one. I hope they know how to utilize her well and appreciate her like we do.Kathy was also a leader. I got to know her leadership as the practical thinking strong board member of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association.Sometimes on the leading edge of pushing to accomplish what was considered best for the downtown, she was also one who was willing to reign in an idea whose wings might have needed some clipping. A leader does that. We count on our leaders to make the future a better place for the majority, and Kathy helped remind us of that time after time.Kathy will be missed in many ways as a volunteer, leader and friend to so many. Kathy, enjoy a great long life helping another community be its best.I wonder if they have a Moveable Feast in Philly…?John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, chair of the city planning commission and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance.

It’s the fifth of July, and it’s been a long and slow moving morning. Yesterday was the Fourth of July, and as a proud Morgan Hillan I enjoyed much of what our community and its hard working volunteers put together for us on this special holiday.I went to the July 3 Family Music Fest and saw Monterey Road filled with people of all ages out having a good time on a beautiful summer evening. This event is a huge undertaking by the Independence Day Celebrations organization, which started earlier that afternoon with the Patriotic Sing. The Family Music Fest fills the streets with tables and chairs, tents, bandstands and food trucks. It was all nice and tidy in time for the July 4 festivities, which includes the greatest Fourth of July parade in the region.The Music Fest also filled the streets with what has to be the best behaved group of people out having a good time. Most of these folks are from our community. For an event with adult beverages and a big crowd, we have to be proud of how well we celebrate together.I thought I got an early start on the Fourth, but by 9:30 the Freedom Run had been completed and the Freedom Fest cruise (rolling car show) was already underway.It was one of the nicest days I’ve ever seen for the July 4Parade. Not too warm and not too cool which was unusual for me. I’m used to roasting a bit.As usual, the parade was everything we expected and it set the tone for the rest of the Fourth of July. If you haven’t been out to the parade you just have to go next year.After the parade, the downtown clears out and becomes a virtual ghost town. There must be a way to keep some of the crowd—which numbers in the tens of thousands—busy downtown or nearby as we wait for the fireworks display. People are out with their families and friends having a good time, so this is a huge missed opportunity. Sounds like a project for someone out there.I have yet another project for someone out there…Every Fourth of July many of us sequester our pets in some quiet corner of the house so they won’t freak out at the Freedom Fest fireworks display, which we are also well known for. We love the planned fireworks and make this sacrifice for our pets’ well-being.What we can’t plan for are all of the illegal fireworks which startle our pets days before and after the Fourth.The evening of the Fourth, our dogs were fine through the official fireworks show as we cranked up the volume on the movie we watched with the house closed tight as a drum. The dogs were restless, but seemed fine.Then those idiots with those illegal fireworks got going all around us. I don’t know if these are alcohol fueled or stupidity fueled, but we need to do something about these inconsiderate scofflaws.I don’t know what these people were thinking with the dry hillsides all around us just waiting for a spark to send flames running across our open spaces. Seriously, this is just idiotic.Aside from the fire threat, what those fireworks do to our pets really angers me right now. I was up most of the night as one of our dogs would react to all of the nearby fireworks. Even after they stopped, she just couldn’t relax.Seeing what it did to one of my dogs, and my sleep, I am ready for some drastic measures. How do we fix this? I’m ready for some action.I really enjoyed my July 4 events, but the most vivid memory is of my dog huddled under the bed just shaking. I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore. How about you?John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, chair of the city planning commission and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. He can be contacted at takuhog@yahoo.com.

On June 2, I had the opportunity to spend some time with visionaries. Not the type of visionaries that change a community or the landscape you live in—although I guess ones I’m talking about can do that too—but the kind that provides previously unimagined conveniences and change how we live and function.I have to admit that I may initially think about some of our local folks when I think about that kind of visionary. But my mind typically goes north to all of the innovation that has made Silicon Valley what it is today, which is not just a place but a way of thinking and behaving.That way of thinking just changed a bit for me after attending the first ”Morgan Hill Disrupt Forum.” This was a day where the focus was on innovation and how to bring more of those that innovate to Morgan Hill.Let’s make no mistake that there are already great innovators here right now. We have a visionary that dreams of hydrogen power for all, a company that has brought the technology of Formula 1 to human powered bicycles and one that protects the grey matter between our ears if we fall off that two-wheeled technology. But I don’t feel the buzz of innovation.I grew up on the Peninsula and worked building high tech facilities. In that environment, the buzz of innovation was everywhere. In a coffee shop, cafeteria, park bench, meeting room—there was all of this palpable energy that there was something happening or about to happen.I sensed that buzz in the room at the Morgan Hill Disrupt Forum. Please forgive me if there is already a buzz of innovation in town and I’m just missing it (spend some time with Mike Cox and you’ll feel that energy around him like a force field). But it was fantastic for me to see the focus on it that day.The group who worked to put that event together should be lauded for their vision too. As mentioned, I usually think of Silicon Valley as the place of innovation. Well, we are a part of Silicon Valley and the organizers brought in one of those people that makes a living recognizing innovation and trends, and has mountains of statistics to prove we lead the world in innovation: Russell Hancock.Hancock is the president of Joint Venture Silicon Valley. I’ve seen him speak on several occasions at the State of the Valley Conference. The man has his fingers on the pulse of innovation and trends in the Valley, and he was here June 2 stumping for innovation to take a more prominent role in our economic development.For some time, there has been a discussion amongst our local visionaries about being that friendly and encouraging place for those willing to take the chance to succeed, or fail, on a dream—to create an incubator for innovators. The seeds of innovation were already here with our cadre of established innovators. Maybe openly promoting Morgan Hill as a place friendly to innovation will act as a catalyst and fertilizer to push us to be known as the new home for innovation.Let innovation grow in a place known for its fertile fields.John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. He can be contacted at takuhog@yahoo.com.