NTime Events USA celebrates grand opening
NTime Events USA celebrated its grand opening and ribbon cutting Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Bella Viva Wine Bar, 7423 Monterey St. in Gilroy. Based in California and Rio, Brazil, Ntime Events USA provides Brazilian-themed events, tourism and executive business travel services to Rio, Brazil. NTime Events USA was founded this year in Gilroy and will be offering ongoing Brazilian themed events. Owner Sally Arruda was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has lived in the United States for 30 years - but still maintains her charming Brazilian accent and culture.
Blue Christmas: A Service of Longest Night
Christmas can be a painful time for some. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member who has recently died; it may be a time that has always been difficult. The constant refrains on radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost and they feel alone in the midst of the celebrating and joy.
Woman saddened by wonderful partner who doesn’t want kids
DEAR ABBY: I am a 38-year-old woman who has been dating a 41-year-old man for seven months. He's wonderful and treats me magnificently. We have similar values and interests and are very much in love. Sadly, although I have always wanted children, he does not.
Freeze watch in effect for South County this week
The National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch for the Santa Clara Valley for later this week, and local emergency authorities are reminding residents to prepare their homes for the extreme cold weather on the way. The NWS alert will be in effect from Tuesday night through Thursday morning for most of the Bay Area, including South Santa Clara County, according to the NWS website. “A mainly dry cold front will pass over the Bay Area by Tuesday morning with the coldest air so far this season filtering in behind the front,” the alert says. A freeze watch means that sub-freezing temperatures are expected, and these conditions could kill crops and other vegetation, according to the NWS. This week’s forecast for Morgan Hill predicts low temperatures of 29 degrees both Wednesday and Thursday nights, and temperatures as low as 27 degrees the same nights, according to the NWS website. The City of Morgan Hill sent out a press release advising the Centers for Disease Control offers the following precautions for residents and homeowners during extreme cold weather: -If you plan to use a fireplace or wood stove for emergency heating, have your chimney or flue inspected every year.-If using a fireplace, wood stove or kerosene heater, install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector near the area to be heated.-Insulate any water lines that run along exterior walls so your water supply will be less likely to freeze and burst. -If you have pets, bring indoors. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they have access to unfrozen water. The City of Morgan Hill offers its recreation facilities as "warming centers" during periods of extreme cold weather. The hours for these facilities are as follows:-Centennial Recreation Center, 171 W. Edmundson Ave., Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.-Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Restaurant, stores destroyed in San Juan blaze
A fire Saturday destroyed a decades-old building at 35 Washington St. in historic San Juan Bautista housing a Chinese restaurant, antique shop and lamp store.
Lexi Pino proves she can mix it up with the boys
Meeting Lexi Pino on the street, you’d peg her for a typical teenage girl. She’s bubbly with a good sense of humor and a smile that goes ear to ear.
Morgan Hill Library to open Mondays starting Jan. 6
Starting in January, the Morgan Hill Library will be open every Monday for the first time in several years, according to the County librarian. Due to heavy demand from residents, the library will be open six days a week, starting Jan. 6, 2014, according to Santa Clara County Librarian Nancy Howe. The library will remain closed on Sundays. Another notable change to the Morgan Hill library’s schedule is the facility will open later on Wednesdays starting Jan. 6, Howe said. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays the library’s hours will be 1 to 9 p.m., with lobby or “self service” hours starting at 12 p.m.Currently the library is closed on Mondays. The library will be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting in January, Howe said.The new schedule increases the total weekly library hours by two, and is based on use data collected from library patrons, Howe explained. “It’s a balance. What we’re trying to do is have the library meet the needs of a cross section of people,” Howe said. “We analyze how busy we are.” Mondays are typically busy days at other libraries that are open that day, she added. Morgan Hill Community Librarian Peggy Tomasso added, “There was a survey of residents a couple of years ago about what days and hours they would like to see the library open. Monday was overwhelmingly the day that the community wanted the library open. Evening hours are popular for students and community members who work during the day.” The new and extended hours are possible due to extra revenue from the redistributed property tax income from the Redevelopment Agency, which closed in 2012, Howe said. The state shut down the agencies statewide in an effort to direct their assets and income to more basic services offered by school districts, the library district, cities and counties. In Morgan Hill, the RDA received about $22 million annually in property tax revenues, a portion of which is still used to pay off some of the RDA’s outstanding debts and obligations. “If this works, and redevelopment continues to flow in, we’ll try to increase these hours,” Howe said. The Morgan Hill library is located at 660 West Main Avenue. Starting Jan. 6, 2014, the Morgan Hill library’s hours will be:-Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, 1 to 9 p.m. (with unstaffed “self service” lobby hours starting at 12 p.m.)-Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.-Sunday, closed
Police briefs: Burglaries, candy theft reported
Morgan Hill police responded to numerous incidents during the week of the Thanksgiving holiday, including the following.Cash stolen in alleged burglarySomeone broke into The Little Gym on Vineyard Boulevard last Monday and stole about $200 in cash from the register, according to police reports. The thief or thieves broke a glass window to gain entry to the business. The crime was reported about 4 p.m. Nov. 25. Break-in reported at substance abuse treatment facilityA thief or thieves broke into a substance abuse treatment center and stole a pair of shoes and $108 in cash, police said. The crime was reported about 9:30 p.m. last Monday at Advent Group Ministries, 865 Black Walnut Court. Ford Fusion stolen, recoveredSomeone stole a gray four-door 2010 Ford Fusion from a parking spot on Wright Avenue, according to police reports. The car was parked on the 100 block of Wright Avenue when it disappeared, and was later found in an unincorporated area of Gilroy. The crime was reported about 6 a.m. Tuesday. Candy theft reported at dollar storeTwo juveniles stole about $10 worth of candy from Dollar Tree, 16975 Monterey Road Wednesday, according to police reports. The two suspects fled the store on scooters. They were described as 13 or 14 years old, and were wearing light gray hooded jackets at the time of the theft, which was reported about 3:15 p.m. Nov. 27.
Compassionate Friends help parents cope with loss
DEAR ABBY: My little girl was born with a heart defect. She made it through the first heart surgery, but passed away a week later right in front of me while the doctors and nurses tried to save her.










