Prep Roundup: Live Oak boys win in OT thriller
The Live Oak boys basketball team needed two overtimes to take down Hill Wednesday night, winning in a 54-49 thriller in San Jose.
Girls Hoops: Strong defense overcomes imperfections in Sobrato win
Sobrato overcame 28 turnovers against Leland to improve to 3-1 in South Division play thanks to a 56-43 Thursday night.
Police arrest two in stolen car after chase
Morgan Hill Police arrested two suspects after they tried to flee the officers in a stolen vehicle, according to authorities.About 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12, an MHPD officer noticed an occupied stolen vehicle in the parking lot of Cochrane Plaza. As other officers arrived on scene, the vehicle’s driver, later identified as Josephine Frias, 31 of San Jose, attempted to flee at a high rate of speed, according to a post on the MHPD Facebook page.Officers established a perimeter and were able to contain the fleeing vehicle within a small space, and used a PIT maneuver to cause the driver to spin out of control and end the pursuit, police said. The officers then took Frias and the passenger, Michael Lavarias, 41 of Union City, into custody.The vehicle had been stolen out of Milpitas, police said. Frias was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft, evading a police officer, reckless driving, hit and run, resisting arrest, possession of narcotics, probation violations and a felony no bail warrant.A search of Lavarias uncovered more narcotics, believed to be methamphetamine, police said. He also had a warrant out of San Jose.Both suspects were booked at Santa Clara County Jail.Anyone with information about this incident can call MHPD at (408) 779-2101.
Best of Out & About, Jan. 13, 2017
Come to the Barn at Hoey Ranch and shop for great antique and rustic finds for your home. Inside the 130 year-old barn, you'll find everything from iceboxes to jukeboxes, from vintage furniture to farm equipment. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover beautiful vintage pieces you’ll fall in love with. The Barn will be open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. all weekend long January 14-16. Visit www.thebarnathoeyranch.com for more information.GILROYBike Safety RodeoHelp keep kids safe when riding their bikes, through family-fun activities at the Annual Bike Safety Rodeo. Bring the kids and their bikes and line up for a free bike inspection. Parents will have an opportunity to have their child fingerprinted and license their bikes. Meet the K-9 and mounted units, get free helmets and hot dogs and have a great day on Saturday, Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the parking lot between the police department and senior center at 7301 Hanna St. in Gilroy. Art ExhibitGilroy Center for the Arts presents Contemporary Art by Richard Young, a local businessman who will share his works of art with the community. Art lovers are encouraged to browse and shop unique items at the Artisan’s Corner from Jan. 21 to Feb. 19, Tuesdays through Fridays from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Center for the Arts on 7341 Monterey St. Join the reception on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Admission to the Gallery and Reception is free. Visit gilroycenterforthearts.com.MONTEREYDune RestorationJoin Return of the Natives (RON), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California State Parks for an exercise in Dune Restoration. Help protect the natural habitat for the threatened Western Snowy Plover bird species, which has been listed as critical all along the Western Coastal areas. Get outside and learn about native restoration and native plant species, earn service hours or just spend the morning on the dunes on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Monterey State Beach on 2600 Sand Dunes Dr. in Monterey. Free and open to all ages. Visit seemonterey.comMORGAN HILLMusical MomentsRekindle your passion for learning with the launch of South County Lifelong Learning classes and enjoy the discussions, lectures and workshops. View film clips of Great Musical Moments in Movie History along with a presented lecture. Listen to cover songs, dance numbers and background music from films such as The Jazz Singer in 1927 and ending with present-day films. Venture back to some of the greatest sounds in history on Wednesday, Jan. 18 and 25 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center on 17000 Monterey Rd. Tickets are $20 and include both days. Visit eltorosc.com.SAN JUAN BAUTISTARotary Mission 10Dust off those running shoes, pack up the kids and get ready to run in the family, friendly, 2017 Rotary Mission 10 Race, sponsored by the Rotary of Hollister and benefiting local scholarships and charities. All races are timed with medals and trophies awarded in age categories. Theme teams are encouraged to participate. Fee ranges from $10 to $60 if registered before Saturday, Jan. 21 and includes an event T-shirt. Kids Fun Run registration accepted on race day. Be inspired as you run through beautiful, rural farmland on Saturday, Jan. 28. Packet pickup starts at 7:30 a.m. at Mission Green on 406 Second St. Register at mission10.racemine.com.THE VALLEYChildren’s MusicalThe Gilroy Children's Musical Theater presents Broadway Movie Musical where local youth perform songs from hit shows such as Wicked, Matilda, Legally Blonde, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and more.This full-length feature film will premiere at Cinemark’s Century 20 Oakridge Theater on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan 29 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The theater is located at 925 Blossom Hill Rd. in South San Jose. Limited tickets are $16 and can be purchased at broadwaymoviemusical.com.2017 MLK CelebrationHop on the Caltrain NorcalMLK Celebration Train and take part in the MLK2017 March/Parade or go directly to Yerba Buena Gardens for a day of festivities in San Francisco. All events are free and open to the public. Tickets good for the Celebration Train plus one southbound trip on Monday, Jan. 16 departing for the following train stations: San Jose Diridon on 65 Cahill St. at 9:45 a.m., Palo Alto Station on 95 University Ave. at 10:05 or the San Mateo Station on 385 First Ave. at 10:22. Visit sfmlkday.org.Quinceañera ExpoThe San Jose Quinceañera Expo in is one of the most anticipated events for teenage Latinas approaching their 15th Birthday. Here a young girl can find ideas to plan a very special Quince Party, all under one roof. Enjoy fashion shows, choreographed dance performances, prizes and special demonstrations on Sunday, Jan. 22 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds on 344 Tully Rd, San Jose. Tickets are $8 online and $10 at the door. Find out more at eventbrite.com.
Committed to Fitness
It’s the beginning of a new year, which means one thing is certain in the fitness industry: more new members sign up in January than in any other month of the year.
Federal immigration enforcement office moves to Morgan Hill
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency recently moved one of its regional offices into a building in Morgan Hill, but city officials promise the relocation doesn’t mean local police will start cooperating with federal authorities on immigration enforcement.The ICE office located off Vineyard Boulevard a block away from the Morgan Hill Police station is an Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) sub-office that moved from San Jose in September 2016, according to ICE spokesman James Schwab. He added the move is simply a relocation after the agency’s lease expired at their previous office up north.The office is not a detention facility, and ICE does not have any plans to establish a detention center in Morgan Hill, Schwab said.However, federal authorities can temporarily hold subjects accused of violating immigration laws at the site. In fact, ICE has submitted an application to the city’s planning department to expand their new Morgan Hill location with temporary “holding rooms.”“Anyone arrested by ICE who is going to remain in the agency’s custody for more than 12 hours will be transferred to a detention facility specifically equipped for that purpose,” Schwab said in a statement.He added the ERO sub-office serves as a worksite for assigned ICE employees, and “like all ERO office space,” the office has to be secure for interviewing and “briefly holding” subjects from the area who enter ICE custody.ICE submitted its expansion plans to the Morgan Hill planning office on Dec. 21, according to City Manager Steve Rymer. “The proposed tenant improvements would expand an existing ICE administrative office facility to include temporary holding rooms and detainee processing,” reads a statement from the city.The city has not approved the ICE expansion plans, and has told the federal office that its proposal would be in violation of the city’s zoning ordinance, which prohibits detention facilities, according to Rymer.ICE responded to the city that it will “comply with local safety regulations and will work with the city to comply with local zoning and development standards as much as feasible,” Rymer’s statement continues.Even if Morgan Hill formally rejects ICE’s proposal, as a federal agency it can override local land use laws, according to city staff.Rymer added that ICE has not asked the city for anything that would require council approval, and the two layers of government are not sharing any funding or resources as part of the federal agency’s move.The Morgan Hill City Council in December issued a public “statement of support and assurance” in response to community concern about the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened to take forceful action against undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and other marginalized segments of the country’s population.The city council’s statement says, in part, that MHPD has not and will not be used for federal immigration enforcement, and that will continue to be the case even with a federal enforcement office in the same neighborhood as the police department.“We totally stand by the statement we made last month,” Mayor Steve Tate said Jan. 12 when contacted by the Times.The council’s statement also more broadly addresses concerns about discrimination based on “race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, color or disability.”The statement is about 450 words. The section on immigration enforcement reads, “Local police should not be involved in federal immigration enforcement and our police officers will continue to focus their time on high priority crimes. In accordance with best practices of local law enforcement professionals nationally, we will stay out of immigration enforcement. Our priority is to maintain the trusting relationship Morgan Hill police officers have with our community.”Morgan Hill resident Ann Horner was among those who pushed the council to issue such a statement, though she told the body in December she wished it was stronger.She said Thursday, without knowing all the details of the new local ICE office and its purpose, that it could seem unsafe to some residents, including those who were born here to foreign-born or undocumented parents.“If Donald Trump is willing to put people on a list and export them out, that’s why I was pushing for a more powerful stance,” Horner said. The relocation of the ICE office “doesn’t seem consistent with (the statement), ‘This is going to be a safe place.’ It causes pause and concern.”
Sobrato rolls past Gunderson
Sobrato coach Erica Wallace said she had just implemented a full court press earlier in the week and had only spent a half hour teaching it.
Sobrato 2-0 at start of South Div play
The Sobrato boys basketball team are off to a ferocious start, defeating Oak Grove and Andrew Hill to open South Division play in decisive fashion.
Top four to proceed to second-round interviews for council seat
After spending about four hours interviewing nearly 30 applicants for the Morgan Hill City Council Jan. 11, the body determined they could not appoint someone that evening due to an error that left one candidate off the list.The council, which currently only has four of five seats occupied, will reconvene at the regular Jan. 18 meeting to conduct a preliminary interview of the last applicant, Mariana Solomon. The council will then conduct a second round of interviews with a shortlist of finalists before appointing one as the newest member to fill the seat left vacant with former Councilman Gordon Siebert’s Dec. 8 resignation.At the Jan. 11 meeting, the council was able to narrow down the field of applicants to the top four, who will return Jan. 18 for follow-up grilling by the elected officials. These top four are attorney Caitlin Jachimowicz, Santa Clara Valley Water District retiree Carol Fredrickson, corporate board member and advisor Danielle Davenport and city Planning Commissioner John McKay.The four existing council members—Mayor Steve Tate, Larry Carr, Rich Constantine and Rene Spring—reduced the field to these four by submitting their individual top three to the deputy city clerk after hearing a five-minute statement from each of the 24 applicants and reading all their resumes. Deputy City Clerk Michelle Wilson tallied all the votes, and the council decided to invite the four receiving the most votes to the Jan. 18 meeting.Jachimowicz received three nods from the council, topping the vote tally. Davenport, Fredrickson and McKay each received two votes.Applicants Yvonne Martinez, former Councilwoman Marilyn Librers and Mario Banuelos each received one vote from different council members—not enough to remain in the running.Solomon, a fiscal services controller at Gilroy Unified School District, was left off the initial long list of applicants due to an “administrative” error by city staff, Tate said. She will have a chance to give a five-minute pitch to the council Jan. 18.The council’s appointee to the vacant fifth seat will serve the remainder of Siebert’s unexpired term before the office goes up for election in November 2018. Caitlin JachimowiczDuring her allotted five-minute pitch to the four council members Jan. 11, Jachimowicz said she wants to increase tourism in Morgan Hill while continuing to maintain the “small-town” atmosphere. She added that the city’s infrastructure could some improvement and the tax base could stand for some growth.Jachimowicz is a criminal attorney at Jachimowicz Pointer Attorney at Law in San Jose, “focusing on record clearances, record reductions and other post-conviction relief,” among other areas, according to her resume.She grew up in Morgan Hill, and cited this background as her “most important qualification” for serving on the council.Danielle DavenportDavenport, who ran for Gavilan College’s board of trustees in the Nov. 8 election, works as chair of the board of Palo Alto-based StratusVR, and is a co-founder of South Valley Angels, a venture capital funding network. She told the council that Morgan Hill is at a “tipping point” with encroaching regional development and growth.“We have a unique opportunity to maintain our plans and values in Morgan Hill,” Davenport said. In response to questioning from council members, she said this balance can be maintained by “influencing people to get the best deal for us” when it comes to attracting new businesses or working with other groups or agencies in the region.Carol FredricksonFredrickson’s resume lists a variety of previous jobs related to public safety, environmental enforcement and the outdoors. These include work as a sworn peace officer and park ranger for the City of San Jose, environmental inspector/investigator and operations manager. She is retired from the Santa Clara Valley Water District.She now works part-time and volunteers at the Morgan Hill Centennial Recreation Center and the Red Cross.Responding to a question from Carr about growth—which was frequently asked of applicants during the Jan. 11 interview session—Fredrickson said the city is “doing a pretty good job” of finding a “happy medium” of a growth rate that maintains the small-town charm while also providing tax revenue.John McKayMcKay is a familiar face to the council. He has been involved in numerous local community efforts since he graduated from Leadership Morgan Hill in 2010. These include the planning commission of which he has been a member since 2011, the Morgan Hill Downtown Association and the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance, among others.He told the council Jan. 11 that the fact he is a “good listener” ranks high on his list of qualifications to serve on the city’s governing body.He added that his experience working with “a lot of different people in the community” would be valuable as a council member who is expected to do the same.McKay is also the author of the Morgan Hill Times’ “Our Town” column.The Jan. 18 city council meeting will start at 7 p.m. at council meeting chambers, 17575 Peak Ave.















