Uncategorized

MORGAN HILL resident Katie Fernandez was one of three Californians to begin a 10-month term of service in the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), an AmeriCorps program.

In an attempt to get a jump on upcoming state laws, the Morgan Hill City Council amended its medical marijuana ordinance to prohibit the delivery and cultivation of the medicine within the city limits.The addition to the ordinance, which has prohibited medical marijuana dispensaries in the city since 2011, was recommended by the Morgan Hill Police Department.In October, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the “Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act,” which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2016, according to MHPD Capt. Jerry Neumayer. Among other provisions, this law allows local cities and counties to enact ordinances prohibiting marijuana cultivation, processing, delivery and dispensaries. If a city does not enact such an ordinance by March 1, the state may issue licenses for local cultivation up to 100 square feet per residence.Thus, now is the right time to prohibit these activities if the city intends to do so, Neumayer explained.Although there is “no express deadline” to prohibit medical marijuana delivery in Morgan Hill, if the city does not adopt such a ban before the state begins issuing licenses, it is anticipated that a state licensed delivery service would be allowed, police said.“This is the best practice for local governments as, although adoption of an ordinance banning deliveries after the state begins to issue licenses is permitted, it may be difficult to terminate the state licensee’s deliveries at that time,” Neumayer explained in a city staff report.The council approved the ordinance amendments unanimously, but only after hearing from one member of the public who opposed it.Morgan Hill resident Doug Muirhead said he opposes the ban of dispensaries, as well as the new prohibitions approved by the council Dec. 16. He added that the latest ordinance was approved without any apparent effort to engage or inform the community.“Prop 215 (the 1996 state medical marijuana law) was passed by a vote of the people,” Muirhead said. “Santa Clara County supported it, and our city supported it (with) 60 percent (voting yes). You effectively prohibit medical use by prohibiting supply.”Neumayer added that “several California cities” have reported negative impacts to the public resulting from marijuana cultivation, processing and distribution activities. These include illegals sales, trespassing, theft, robberies, fire hazards and public health problems associated with mold and bugs.Muirhead complained that this section of the staff report cited “unnamed cities.”“Based on these negative impacts found in other jurisdictions, the Police Department believes cultivation, delivery, and dispensing of medicinal marijuana in Morgan Hill could result in higher crime, secondary negative social impacts, as well as complicated and costly enforcement efforts,” Neumayer said.

A 35-year-old Gilroy man died in a traffic accident in Morgan Hill early Sunday morning, according to police.

MEET OUR GENTLE giant, Nibbles. A sweet and handsome Abyssinian who has been waiting to meet his forever family since August. He is a mellow boy and loves his quiet time—let’s face it, what cat doesn’t? Nibbles is a friend to all and especially to those with wet-food.He keeps a watchful eye on the other cats and kittens in the center but would really like to get away from it all and go #HomeForTheHolidays. His owner who originally adopted him from Town Cats of Morgan Hill surrendered him because she was unable to care for him any longer. If you have room in your heart and a quiet space in your home for him to chill and be the cool cat that he is, come meet him at Pet Food Express on Blossom Hill in San Jose on weekends from 1-5 p.m. or contact Sarah at [email protected] or Denise at (408)410-5268 to make an appointment to meet Mr. Nibbles. For more information visit towncats.org

BECAUSE Santa travels by flying through the sky and landing on roofs, you’re not likely to come into contact with Rudolph or his fellow reindeer while driving home from work or a holiday party. But, you DO need to drive cautiously to avoid their cousins, black-tailed deer, which are often to be found crossing local roads during deer breeding and migrating season (October to December).  Even in the daytime, they can be found close to our suburban developments, browsing on acorns, berries, fungi, grasses, sage, lichen, nuts, and shrubs and varying their diet with garden plants and tree fruit.  The black-tails, a subspecies of mule deer, prefer mixed habitat with both open areas for feeding and forest or brushy areas for protection.  The south Bay Area provides them such a prime habitat, such as at Anderson Lake where this deer was seen.

There is more to a natural landscape than meets the eye. We stand in awed reverence beneath Yosemite Falls or on the rim of the Grand Canyon. Who wouldn't? The grandeur is overwhelming. But what about those ho-hum areas that we pass without notice? Are those places empty wasteland, or do they hold some importance beyond our ken?