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City officials have started negotiating with a developer who plans to bring two restaurants to the former Simple Beverages liquor store property on the southeast corner of Third Street and Monterey Road.However, a firm that competed for the winning proposal says the city is missing an opportunity to meet its stated “placemaking” goals. That firm, Weston Miles Architects in partnership with Leal Vineyards, hoped to develop a boutique hotel and a locally sourced restaurant designed and run by professionals with lengthy experience in the Morgan Hill hospitality industry.For now, until any project begins construction at the site, the former parking area in front of the empty liquor store building will remain a temporary “pop-up park,” which celebrated its grand opening May 22. At the opening ceremony, City Manager Steve Rymer said if the park—which includes a number of interactive amenities such as a bike repair station and children’s play area—proves to be a hit, the city will consider relocating it to another site when construction of the permanent project begins.City staff recommended San Jose-based partners Kenneth Rodrigues and Imwalle Properties to build on the site because they have the cash to start construction on phase one of their roughly 18,000 square foot proposal as soon as negotiations are over.The developers, selected by the five-member council on a unanimous vote at the May 20 council meeting, also hold “letters of intent” from two restaurants—a fine dining establishment and an “all day breakfast and burger” restaurant, reads a staff report from Assistant City Manager Leslie Little.Furthermore, adding to the attractiveness of Rodrigues/Imwalle’s proposal is they can pay the city, which owns the property, $525,000 cash for the land, Little explained.Rodrigues declined to name the two restaurants that have committed to the project. He said if negotiations go well with the city, his crew can start building phase one—a 5,500-square-foot two-story building on Third Street—as soon as November. That part of the project would include both restaurants on the ground floor, though Rodrigues has not yet decided what to bring to the upper floor.The restaurants would feature indoor and outdoor dining and furniture, Rodrigues explained.“We’re trying to create a community oriented use, and I think the restaurants with the outdoor seating will be really attractive to citizens,” Rodrigues said. “And it will enliven the pedestrian streetscape and create more foot traffic and excitement between this project and the city’s parking garage (under construction on Fourth Street).”Rodrigues/Imwalle’s second phase on the property would be a 6,000-square-foot retail building next to the restaurants with space for up to three tenants on Monterey Road.The only other development team that submitted a competing proposal for the property—Weston Miles/Leal Vineyards—wanted to build a four-story mixed-use building on the site consisting of a ground-floor restaurant, also with outdoor seating, fronting both Third Street and Monterey Road, and 34-room boutique hotel. The proposal from the Morgan Hill-based developers included conference rooms and a day spa with a rooftop deck, city staff said.The restaurant would feature “farm to table” dining offered by South Valley vintner and hospitality veteran Frank Leal. Lesley Miles of Weston Miles Architects said their project, which includes a “market hall” focusing on local and sustainable wine and produce, is the only proposal of the two that reflects Morgan Hill’s unique character.Miles pulled the contract to negotiate exclusively with Rodrigues/Imwalle from the May 20 consent agenda, which consists of items typically considered routine that the council approves without discussion.Specifically, Miles said after the meeting, the unique character that city staff and her development team seek to portray downtown is Morgan Hill’s “agricultural heritage, and particularly our burgeoning wine industry.” The proposed conference space would be ideally suited for wine events, complementing the Santa Clara Valley’s growth as a wine region, she added.Miles cited previous downtown projects developed by Weston Miles—including the Granary building on Depot Street—and the development of other wine towns on the Central Coast such as Healdsburg and Paso Robles that have successfully preserved their respective region’s sense of place.“When we as a community look at the most successful independently developed projects in the last 10 years, projects developed by members of our development team stand at the forefront,” Miles said. “They have a unique Morgan Hill character and the ability to draw both tourists and locals alike because they successfully create that sense of place and harken back our agricultural past.”The city acquired the property through the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency’s former assets. The RDA purchased the liquor store site in 2009 with the intent to sell it to a developer who would build a mixed-use project similar to that proposed by Weston Miles and Rodrigues.However, the state closed the RDA in 2012 and ordered the city and county to dispose of its former properties and cash in a way that benefits public safety services and schools, among other basic services. The city purchased the liquor store site in March for $525,000, after convincing post-RDA regulators they could form a public-private partnership to develop the property consistent with the RDA’s original plan and the state’s desire to replenish the local taxing agencies’ coffers.The current temporary use of the property as a park filled with public art, patio furniture, kids’ games and bicycle amenities is an effort to “activate” the space for uses other than parking, according to city staff.

Firefighters battled a wild land blaze that started near the ninth hole of the Eagle Ridge Golf Course Wednesday afternoon, raced up a oak studded hillside and ultimately burned 7 acres in the east Gilroy foothills, according to Gilroy Fire Department Division Chief Mary Gutierrez.

John Flood, a longtime Morgan Hill resident, is remembered by those who knew him best as a veteran, a hero, a loving father and a friend who didn’t know a stranger.Flood, who would have turned 31 this week, died as a result of injuries suffered in an altercation outside a downtown Morgan Hill bar May 20, according to police.The Morgan Hill resident’s friends and family remembered him May 21 at a wake at The Hill bar and restaurant, where Flood worked security before his death.“John made friends with everybody,” said Michael Guizar, who knew Flood for 25 years.Flood grew up in Morgan Hill and graduated high school from Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville, Guizar said. He earned his Associate’s degree from Gavilan College.Flood served in the U.S. Air Force for about 9.5 years, during which time he spent a tour in Afghanistan, Guizar added. He is survived by his 7-year-old son Payton.A member of Morgan Hill Bible Church, Flood was devoted to his faith and his church.“He was a hero,” said MH Bible Church Pastor Billy Morin. “He was a true servant, a true friend and a true brother. A lot of the students (at the church) looked up to him.”Before the packed crowd of friends, family and acquaintances of Flood’s, a handful of those who knew him closely spoke through tears as they remembered the man whose death remained a shock less than 48 hours after the late-night incident in the rear parking lot of the M&H Tavern.Poster-sized photos of Flood, wearing a wide smile in each image, decked the small stage at the rear of the restaurant’s dining and entertainment area. The Hill staff and friends passed around buckets collecting cash donations for the Wounded Warrior Project and funeral expenses now borne by Flood’s parents and family members.Among those in attendance were Morgan Hill City Councilmembers Larry Carr and Rich Constantine.Constantine said the council heard about the death from MHPD Chief David Swing shortly after officers responded to the fatal May 20 incident.“I’m sorry to hear about any loss of life, especially of someone who was so well-liked, and working in our community,” Constantine said. “Tragedy can touch you when you’re least expecting it.”Morgan Hill police initially arrested Joseph Haley, 32 of San Jose, in relation to Flood’s death. However, Haley was released from Santa Clara County custody the evening of May 21 because prosecutors with the District Attorney’s office needed more time to review the evidence, Supervising Deputy D.A. Steve Lowney said last week.Officers responded to the rear parking lot of the Tavern, on the 17300 block of Monterey Road, on a call reporting a man lying on the ground bleeding from his head. Police located the man, later identified as Flood, suffering from major head trauma. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.Police said Flood and Haley had been involved in a physical altercation. Based on witness statements and other evidence including video surveillance of the incident from the Tavern’s security system, investigators identified Haley as the suspect who caused Flood’s injuries and death.Flood’s friends have also set up a fundraising site at Health Donor to collect donations for funeral and other expenses. The site, coordinated by Guizar and Michael White, has raised $12,000 as of May 26. The site can be found at healthdonor.com/campaigns/johnathansfund/.“As Christians, we believe that anyone who believes in Jesus and accepts Him as their Lord and Savior will someday join him in Heaven,” reads a message on the site from Flood’s parents, Paul and Pamela Flood.

A juvenile was rescued by helicopter on the side of Anderson Dam after getting stuck in a steep area covered with loose rock on Memorial Day, according to CalFire Battalion Chief Jim Crawford.About 3 p.m. May 25, CalFire received a call from staff at Anderson Reservoir park, on Cochrane Road in northeast Morgan Hill, that two juvenile hikers were stuck on a hillside next to the dam, on the north side of Coyote Creek, Crawford said.The hikers were “in an area that is usually closed to hikers,” Crawford said. The terrain they were on was comprised of steep shale, which can be difficult for a hiker to gain a foothold.“The ground is really slippery up there, which is why it’s closed to hikers,” Crawford said.One of the hikers was airlifted out of the area by an emergency helicopter. The other was able to climb back to firm ground with firefighters’ assistance.Both hikers suffered minor injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital, Crawford said.

Gavilan College held its graduation ceremony Thursday. See a slew of photos from the event.

Eevery weekday morning before the official start of school, 26 students at South Valley Middle School in Gilroy take extra time to make sure their shirts are tucked in, their belts are adjusted, and their sweaters are straightened. Why? Because they know their teacher, Carmen Kotto, expects the best from them.

The San Jose man accused by police of killing John Flood in a downtown Morgan Hill fight May 20 will be released from custody while prosecutors review the criminal case against him.Joseph Haley, 32, will be released “some time tonight,” May 21, Santa Clara County Supervising Deputy District Attorney Steve Lowney saidHaley was arrested by Morgan Hill police on suspicion of murder in relation to the early morning fight behind the M&H Tavern May 20. He is accused of causing major head injuries during the 1 a.m. incident that resulted in Flood’s death.“The case is under review. The review cannot be completed before the suspect's arraignment date. Consequently, the suspect will be released from custody,” Lowney said.Lowney did not specify how long it would take for prosecutors and investigators to complete the review of the case.Criminal defendants in California cannot be held for more than 48 hours after their arrest without an arraignment hearing, where charges are formally announced.Officers responded to the Tavern about 1:35 a.m. May 20 on a report of a man lying on the ground and bleeding from his head in the parking lot behind the establishment, on the 17300 block of Monterey Road, MHPD Sgt. Carson Thomas said. Officers located the man who was suffering from “major head trauma.” The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Police identified Haley as the suspect through witness statements and video surveillance footage from the Tavern’s security system.Flood worked at The Hill bar and restaurant across the street from the Tavern, according to The Hill’s owner Dustin Evanger. The Hill will host a 9 p.m. memorial wake for Flood May 21. Employees and patrons will pass around a bucket to take donations for the Wounded Warrior Project, per Flood’s father’s request, reads an announcement on The Hill’s Facebook page.Friends and family set up a fundraising site at healthdonor.com in Flood’s memory, to raise money for his family’s funeral costs and other expenses.“He was a father, a friend, a son, and a veteran. John dedicated his life to protecting others. We will cherish the memories we have of John forever,” reads a message on the website from Flood’s friends Michael White and Michael Guizar.Flood’s parents, Paul and Pamela Flood, added the following message to the fundraising website: “Johnathan’s mother and I want to thank you for your expressions of respect, friendship, and love for our son at this sad time. As Christians, we believe that anyone who believes in Jesus and accepts Him as their Lord and Savior will someday join him in Heaven. We know that we will see Johnathan again. Thank you again for remembering our son in this way.”The fundraising website is located at healthdonor.com/campaigns/johnathansfund/.Anyone with information about the May 20 incident can call MHPD at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.

On a warm spring afternoon 22 years ago, my dad and I sat chatting on the lawn outside a clinic where my mother, who suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s Disease, was having an MRI. My dad had been her caregiver for nearly 10 years. During a lull in our conversation, he took his worn leather wallet from his pocket and, from between two old photographs, he pulled out a lock of hair. “I think it’s time I told you about Helen…” he began.