Letters to the editor: Clear plants from creek
Clear plants from creekMy property—as well as many more, including the Woodland Estates Senior MobilE Home Park—backs up to the Llagas Creek between Santa Teresa Boulevard, and Olive Avenue, which is all part of the city.In 2010, I brought up the issue about the overgrown vegetation to both the Santa Clara Valley Water District, as well as the City of Morgan Hill. This vegetation could create possible fire danger in the summer, and also the impairment of the water flow in the creek.I was impressed with the immediate response from both the city and the Water District. The city was out there the next day to cut down the tall grass up to or about 30 feet from the property lines for weed abatement, and the Water District set up a plan to cut down the overgrown berry plants and remove some of the dead vegetation—which they did a couple months later.In March 2011, we had a lot of rain in a short amount of time, and with Chesbro Reservoir already filled, the water was not only going over the spillway but some water had to be released from the dam. In doing so, Llagas Creek was totally filled with fast running water, within two feet from flooding my property, and had encroached onto other properties along the creek. Water was also bubbling out of the storm drain at the end of our cul-de-sac, putting the end of our street two feet under water.In the last couple of years, the berry plants have come back. Even though they are not nearly as tall as before, they are tall enough to impair the natural water flow in the creek.I have meet with both the Water District and a representative from the city of Morgan Hill, and have had no luck because of the bureaucracy getting in the way. I have even sent an email to Mayor Steve Tate of Morgan Hill, over a month ago with no reply!With El Nino in the forecast this winter, we are expecting more rain than we have had in the past. If the creek isn't cleaned out once again there is a definite potential of flooding of the properties along the creek as well as some mobile homes lifting off their foundations and floating away.Because of this urgency, the bureaucracy needs to be put aside, and matters to take care of the creek area is a must before this negligence causes thousands of dollars of damages. If this were to happen, someone will be and should be liable!Roger MartaranoMorgan HillSpaceX landing an historic eventI want to congratulate Elon Musk and SpaceX for making history by landing the first stage of a rocket back on Earth (in one piece this time) after deploying a payload into space. This is an historic event because the cost of getting stuff into space just got at least three times cheaper.In a world where news is dominated by ISIS, mass shootings and Donald Trump, it's time the smart people get the spotlight and we have good news to report. This event is another milestone representing the progress of humanity on a road that will eventually lead to the human colonization of the planet Mars. All of humanity rejoices tonight at this great accomplishment.Thank you Elon and the team at SpaceX.Marc PerkelGilroy
Letter to the editor: Good news in the Southeast Quad
Dear City of Morgan Hill,My understanding is that the Catholic Diocese is to begin construction in 2016 on the South County Catholic High School. This is very positive news of a project brought to fruition. We needmore projects that benefit all of humankind in the Southeast Quadrant (SEQ).In September, I met with the founder of a national Montessori franchise to view sites in the BayArea. His franchise is opening several new locations in the U.S.There is interest in Morgan Hill, but in order for a Montessori franchise to be profitable, there needs to be 85 to 100 students enrolled at all times. We agreed to stay in contact; with SiliconValley so close to Morgan Hill, this type of academic program seems so vital. This academic application would be a positive complement to the academic environment of the Catholic High School.I am happy with this progressive forward advancement, as it benefits my family's property as well. We have encountered setbacks beyond control in the past, but I am determined to one day bring a very positive and lucrative business to my family property, as I also hope to work with our government officials to present laws and bills, that are taken seriously and passed.If not for what my family endured, I would have a custom home business to serve as a senior residential or other allowed land use built on my family property by now, generating a very lucrative income and serving both the community and our family trust and business.Best regards,Julie Borina DriscollMorgan Hill
Letters to the editor: Storm runoff, Oak Meadow, thanks for clothing drive
Clean up local parking lots
Letter to the editor: Every day becomes a Mother’s Day
I wrote the following letter to the Times 26 years ago. It was about my dear sweet and very gentle Mom, written for Mother’s Day. Today with Mother’s Day fast approaching, I want to write one last letter.My dear Mom turned 98 years old last November. I am now 72. A lot has happened in both our lives over the years, some bad, but most of the time good. Yet the thing that was always the same since the day I was born was our love for each other. So today as I write this, there are no words to describe the deep sorrow I have felt the past month, since on March 21 my gentle, beautiful Mom quietly passed away while I held her tiny hand for the last time.While at the grocery store yesterday, I passed by all the gifts and cards and potted plants lining the shelves for Mother’s Day. I bought nothing because for the first time in my life I had no one to buy for. Mom is with God and I can’t bring her back. But her love and gentle spirit will remain with me forever. I will think about our years together and relive our special moments as beautiful memories. And as I picture her in my mind I will always see her sweet smile.I love you, Mom!Carole JonesMorgan HillThe following letter, also written by Jones, was published in the Morgan Hill Times May 23, 1989:Mother’s Day has just passed, and of all the holidays the year presents it is the most important to me.When I think about my dear Mom, the sweet memories go back to when I was a child and we lived in Los Gatos on Blossom Hill Road, when it truly was hills of blossoms.My Mom and I would walk up the hill behind our house. She would bring our lunch and after our picnic I would pick handfuls of the tiny blue flowers that grew there to give to her. Thinking back, I’m sure that those flowers that looked so beautiful to me were probably nothing more than weeds. But my Mom would take the tiny blossoms and fuss over them as though they were bouquets of roses.I remember watching her make clothes for my dolls, and the beautiful gowns of silk she would sew for my favorite doll with the long blond hair.Sometimes we would play tea party together. We even had our pretend names. She was Mrs. Flannagan and I was Mrs. Gogenhiemer.Another special memory of childhood is once, upon my return from Girl Scout camp, how surprised and happy I was to walk into my bedroom and find that she had completely redone it. There was fresh paint, lace curtains and lace covers on my dressers. It was all done in white. There was even a blue and white parakeet that I later named Fluff.Those are just a few of my many memories that are so special because of my special Mom.I’m 46 now, and realize more with each passing year how precious she is to me.I guess the most unique thing about her is that I never remember her raising her voice or being unkind to anyone.What Mother’s Day gift would a store carry that could possibly express the love and gratitude I feel toward my beautiful Mother for those 46 years of her devotion? I wound up with my usual. A potted plant.But that was just a token. Our real gift to each other is simply our time. I see her once a week and this keeps us close so that we can continue to share our lives with one another. We talk on the phone more often. Sometimes our calls are brief, but they always end in “I love you.”As I write this it occurs to me that it’s time to start getting ready for next Mother’s Day. I will start tonight with a phone call just to let her know I’m thinking of her.For my Mom and I, every day is Mother’s Day because the one gift we have in abundance and can afford to give every day of the year is lots and lots of LOVE.Carole JonesMorgan Hill
Letter to the editor: Filling pool deemed a ‘hardship’ during drought?
Having received, like everyone else in Morgan Hill, the official notice for drought water restrictions I was somewhat perturbed to hear the continued construction of a neighbor’s new pool. Yes we had signed off on it per home owner’s requirements but that was before the dire notice sent out by the city.When speaking to an official from the city I was told that they did know of the pool which was under construction but because a permit had been pulled prior to April 1 it was deemed a “hardship” if the pool would not be completed.Don’t get me wrong but water needed to grow food, to drink, and generally survive constitutes a hardship if we do not have it—not being unable to fill a pool and continually top it up throughout the summer.I think classifying a pool not being filled during a drought as a hardship is an affront to those of us who try and save water!Ashley DuncombeMorgan Hill
