Opinion

If I had to use one word to describe Morgan Hill resident (and Santa Clara County social worker) Cynthia Stocker, it would be “passionate.” Or “dedicated.” Or “energetic.” Well, OK, let’s forget that idea because one word doesn’t do justice to this animated, community-engaged woman.

You will have to trust me when I say my dad and I do more things together than watch baseball, but I think some of my favorite memories are doing just that.

Cheers to the graduates of local high schools’ class of 2014. Students, families, friends and faculty have spent the last two weeks celebrating commencement ceremonies at Live Oak High School, Ann Sobrato High School, Central High School, Oakwood School and Silicon Valley Flex Academy. We congratulate all of this year’s graduates, and wish them the best of luck as they proceed into adulthood and the next big stage of their lives—whether that’s college, the armed forces, volunteerism or new careers. Jeers to Santa Clara County registered voters for their embarrassing display of apathy at the polls in the June 3 gubernatorial primary. A dismal 20 percent of the county’s 806,000 voters showed up for the election. That’s far below election officials’ and experts’ hopeful predictions of a meager 35-percent turnout. In American democracy, voters are tasked with making important decisions that can have a profound effect on the future of their communities, neighborhoods and the entire country. When voters fail at that task and don’t even show up to the polls, they can blame themselves first when barely-elected officials break their promises or make it clear they’re not going to do their jobs. Cheers to Morgan Hill’s Outdoor Sports Center for winning the bid to host US Youth Soccer’s Region IV Presidents Cup this week, June 11 through June 15. The tournament will bring 120 boys and girls soccer teams, age 12 and up, from throughout the Western states to the southeast Morgan Hill soccer complex. The event will not only elevate the facility on Condit Road to a “prestige” it hasn’t seen before, with the eyes of the country’s largest youth soccer governing body focused on the local 38-acre complex, according to Jeff Dixon of Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance, the nonprofit that runs the OSC. It will also bring an economic boon worth a “conservative” estimate of $1 million to Morgan Hill, as players, coaches and soccer officials are likely to spend their down time after games eating at local restaurants, staying at local hotels, visiting Morgan Hill parks, or even bowling or at the movies.Jeers to city officials who want to move the First Street veterans monument from its current site in the median of Monterey Road in downtown Morgan Hill. Complaints of a traffic hazard and road closures during annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies at the memorial are bunk. The intersection is no more hazardous than others, and the city has many other options to improve pedestrian safety as part of the overall plan to spruce up and redevelop the downtown. And Morgan Hill residents and officials should be proud that so many people show up to ceremonies honoring their veterans that the police have to block vehicle traffic, even if it is for a mere 45 minutes or so, twice a year. 

School board networking helps inform trusteesDear Editor,Your editorial about the school board travel expenses was small-minded and ill-informed. First of all, most school board members volunteer their time. They are community members with great intentions, but often lacking in the extensive knowledge needed to be effective in their volunteer jobs. A couple of bone-headed decisions could cost the school district many times this expense.  Effective school board members educate themselves by networking with peers around the state, and building both political and other alliances within their immediate and neighboring communities. It is important to be able to tap into the knowledge of others when making important decisions, and to connect with those who fund education and pass legislation in Sacramento affecting local schools. You don't get this by staying at home, or making it harder to attend meetings and events in various locations around the state.  Tom Scott, Morgan Hill