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Can you hear me now?Listen up. There’s an event happening in America that’s sweeping children and teenagers’ lives that’s causing deafness. It’s been happening for the past 25 years. It’s not a virus; it’s a socially accepted technologically driven addition conveniently made available. Communication devices for school learning and online testing, and music enjoyment are being strapped to the ears of youths from kindergarten through college and beyond that is deafening Americans.Your children are at risk. Oh, it’s less than the CDC recommendations of 85 db, you might convince yourself. And I’ve purchased a limiting feature, so I’m covered. Ah, strapping those headphones on your little children’s’ ears sends a message to them that it’s OK to listen in this manner. When they become stubborn, independent teens with the newest earbud and listening device marketed to us, “Mom’s nowhere in sight, hearing this piece of music loud is fantastic!” Oh, yes it is. This is how the deafening of our children occurs. It’s gradual.My first son started using headphones as early as 6 years old in 1992 and continued through high school with each advancing music device marketed—new headphones, new earbuds, loud music listening occurred at school, on the school bus and in his bedroom. The devastating announcement made to me from the audiologist with my 15-year-old son sitting in the doctor’s office went like this: “I’m sorry to tell you, but your son has considerable hearing loss, and it’s permanent and he should never use headphones again, because it just furthers his hearing decline.”Then the ENT doctor went on to tell me that sound should never be delivered next to the human ear, because it wears the ear out and causes deafness.One thing had changed since I grew up—the loud music coming from our bedroom stereos is now turned inward, pumped right into the ear canals of my sons, and I didn’t hear a thing.Sneaky little devils, aren’t they? The way a new device is marketed to us under the fantastic name of “technological advancement?’’One thing has not changed though—our human ears. Our ears are not built to receive sound close to the ear for repeated periods and at loud volumes. Irreparable hearing damage occurs and only worsens with aging. Hearing loss is cumulative, and most people, including my teenagers, had to be dragged to the auditory specialists for a hearing test.  When was the last time you had a hearing test? Mine was two years ago and I have hearing losses due to living with the abundant increase in listening devices due to the onslaught of technology, loud concert music events (oh, I loved those!), and loud movie theaters.I recently took my 5-year-old to the local theatre and he complained, “This is too loud Mom, I do not want to go back!”The tears of mothers dwell in rivers. My first son, soon to turn 29, has deafness caused by technology’s great advancement of headphones and earbuds. Your child came into this world new and wonderful. Isn’t it our responsibility to keep them safe and as healthy as possible?Please take some time to read the facts that no one is talking about. If we ignore JAMA’s (Journal of American Medical Association) current data studies and doctors’ recommendations, then in the future, are we going to ignore the educated recommendations of the very children we are currently educating? If a glass of water is poison, is teaching our children to take small frequent sips of it still okay?I hope you gain some insight from my experience and these medical facts, so you can make an informed decision about whether you want to begin your child’s hearing loss or not.  Sincerely,Carol SternMorgan Hill

Are you wondering how to spend the Fourth of July weekend? Why not stay in Morgan Hill, our “Home, Sweet, Home”? This is the theme of Morgan Hill Freedom Fest’s annual Fourth of July Celebration. Why not stay close to home and experience events which will rekindle your patriotism, make wonderful memories and honor this amazing country of ours? All events are free to the public.This year, our Parade Grand Marshal is none other than Eddie Bowers. This Live Oak High School graduate is a champion for veterans’ causes. Because of Eddie, Morgan Hill has its own Veterans Memorial Square located in downtown. Many of you gather there on both Veterans Day and Memorial Day as we remember those soldiers from Morgan Hill who have lost their lives serving this country.As Chairperson of the 28th annual Patriotic Sing, I would like to take this opportunity to invite members of our community, families and friends to this year’s performance at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 3, at the Morgan Hill Amphitheater. Angeline Madriaga will sing the National Anthem.The event will feature children of our community singing songs of our country, essay contest awards and a chance to celebrate America’s birthday.Special guests include the South Bay Chapter of the Blue Star Moms. Our soloist, Catherine Connor, will be singing “I’ll Be Seeing You,” honoring past Mayor Dennis Kennedy and William Brown—two men who worked tirelessly to make Morgan Hill what it has become today and who passed away this year.We extend a special invitation to those who have served or continue to serve in our armed forces. Please consider wearing your service uniform.Following the sing, walk over to the Family Street Dance.Then, on Monday, start your Fourth of July off by watching or even participating in the Freedom Fest 1 Mile Walk or 5K Walk/Run.Later, grab a seat along the Parade route for the Car Cruise ‘n Show, beginning at 9:30 a.m.Then just stay where you are: you’ll be ready to cheer as bands, floats and equestrians pass by in our annual Parade at 10 a.m.One event remains: the Freedom Fest Fireworks with a Splash at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center, on Condit Road between Tennant and San Pedro avenues. Entertainment begins at 6 p.m., with fireworks at dusk.As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, Fourth of July in Morgan Hill is an example of what makes this community our “Home, Sweet, Home.”Karen Ann Crane is Chair of the 2016 Freedom Fest Patriotic Sing and Essay Contest.

In late November 2015, a plan of sorts was proposed by the city of Morgan Hill where water rates for hillside communities would be raised considerably. Depending on where you lived, starting in 2016 some residents would pay up to 300 percent more than the previous year. It was argued that it was only fair since extra costs were incurred to serve the hillside residents.  In early December and after much discussion coupled with a petition submitted to the city council, the planned increase was modified and the city proposed that hillside residents pay a surcharge to cover the electrical cost for pumping water up to hillside properties. This will become a “done deal” later this month when addressed by the city council.I’m in my fortieth year of living in Jackson Oaks, and I believe it is ill advised to create classes of ratepayers when paying for city services. I’m against this approach as I believe it is divisive to the city at large.In my neighborhood, there are no curbs or sidewalks and the streets are so narrow that only the brave try parking a car on the street. The amount of street lighting in the hillside is scant versus many areas in the flat land. I can recall seeing a street cleaner once in my 40 years of hillside living. There are no city parks in or close to my neighborhood. All of these have costs tied to them and it’s fair to ask, why are residents asked to pay for unequal amounts of city services?  Remember when the city committed about $5 million (in conjunction with the Santa Clara Valley Water District) to renew the out-of-date environmental study for the city flood control project?  Although this was Redevelopment Agency money, hillside residents are probably not going to be underwater.   Do we not all remember when perchlorate threatened some of the city water supply from the Olin Corporation Tennant Avenue facility? Even though not all parts of the city were affected, a citywide surcharge was imposed to pay for equipment to filter out the perchlorate at contaminated wells.The police know the areas in the city where their resource is spent, just as they know where there is less (or little) crime or public safety issues. Why not create classes of ratepayers in the city to make it fair? Use more, pay more.What does this have to do with paying for the electrical power to pump water to hillside residents?  Let’s be clear: Morgan Hill is a city, and city services should come with a flat rate structure for all services, including water.  I don’t support classes of users allocated on costs. The perchlorate citywide surcharge was just. The notion that police costs should be set up by zone is nuts. I defend the city’s flood control expenditures. As for Jackson Oaks’ narrow streets, absence of parks or minimal street lighting, I knew this when I moved here.Also when I moved here, and for 40 years after, all city residents paid the same rate for water. It was sound policy then and that wisdom should prevail today.The Morgan Hill City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed water and wastewater rate increases 7 p.m. Jan. 20, at council meeting chambers, 17555 Peak Ave.

Eat, drink, play, work out, get healthy and beautiful, design or buy a house and get it financed all at the Historic Granary located on Depot Street by the train station in downtown Morgan Hill.  Wander the garden paths and take in the quiet nature...