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A data breach earlier this year at City Hall resulted in the unauthorized release of personal information of hundreds of Morgan Hill employees, according to City Manager Christina Turner.The city hired a private cybersecurity firm to investigate the breach, which city staff learned about in July. Authorities from the Federal Bureau of Investigation contacted city officials to notify them the breach had occurred, Turner said.The unknown suspect or suspects gained access to the personal information of about 480 former and current full-time and part-time city employees, including the elected city councilmembers, Turner said. Everyone who was employed by the City of Morgan Hill in 2017 was affected by the security incident.Specifically, each of the impacted employees’ “W-2 Summary” report was accessed. Personal information on such reports typically includes the employee’s wages and salary details, as well as Social Security Number, address and other personal information.All the impacted current and former city employees have been notified that their information was accessed, Turner added. Each of the victims has been sent a letter notifying them of the breach, as well as offering recommendations on what they can do to protect their identities from being used for fraudulent purposes.“We’re just making sure we are doing what we can for our teammates,” Turner said. “We have established a toll-free line they can call with any questions, so they can understand how credit monitoring works.”She encouraged the affected city staff people to reach out to her or City Attorney Don Larkin—who also serves as the city’s risk manager—with any questions.Turner said city officials do not yet know who is responsible for the breach. The city hired the business law firm McDonald Hopkins, which includes cybersecurity counseling as an area of expertise, to investigate the breach and advise City Hall how to improve data security in the future.“We take privacy and security of personal information very seriously, so as soon as we found out we engaged (McDonald Hopkins) on what needed to be done, making sure we have the proper security controls in place to avoid these things,” Turner said.City staff added in a statement: “We remain committed to maintaining the privacy of information entrusted to us and, moving forward, are taking steps to strengthen our security protocols and practices to help prevent similar issues in the future.”

Lifelong Santa Clara County resident Tony Bowden was appointed by the board of supervisors as the county fire department’s new fire chief.Bowden, who is currently working as the Santa Clara County Fire Department’s Assistant Chief, will begin his new assignment Aug. 13, according to county staff.“Chief Bowden is a trusted, dedicated leader who knows our county and cares about our residents. I have no doubt that he will maintain the level of excellence that the Santa Clara County Fire Department is known for,” said Supervisor Mike Wasserman.Bowden began his firefighting career with the Los Altos Fire Department in 1996. He joined the county fire department later the same year when the City of Los Altos and town of Los Altos Hills contracted with the county for services.Bowden has worked his way up the ranks since then, holding every rank in the organization.“I look forward to this new opportunity,” Bowden said. “I was born and raised in this community and have worked for the fire department nearly all of my adult life. I am honored the board of supervisors has entrusted me with leading County Fire as we serve the community.”The Santa Clara County Fire Department provides emergency response and preparedness services to unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, and the communities of Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga.“County Fire is a unique organization,” Bowden said. “We provide emergency services throughout Santa Clara County, including our recent partnership to assume management of the county’s 911 Communications Center. Upgrading the center’s critical infrastructure, as well as other department facilities, will be my near-term focus to ensure we can continue to meet the changing needs of the communities we serve.”As County Fire Chief, Bowden also serves as the Santa Clara County Fire Marshal.Bowden, a San Jose resident, holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration from Waldorf University, and is completing a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. He is a state certified Fire Officer, Chief Officer and Fire Instructor.Bowden will replace County Fire Chief Kenneth R. Kehmna, who will be retired as of Aug. 12 after more than 30 years of service.County staff did not immediately provide Bowden’s salary details. Kehmna received a salary of $259,213 in 2016, according to the website transparentcalifornia.com. Kehmna also received benefits worth about $125,429 in 2016.For more information about the Santa Clara County Fire Department, visit www.sccfd.org.

Flocks of smiling kids gathered with the community for the 2018 Santa Clara County Fair Aug. 2-5. Each August, 4-H clubs and Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters from throughout the county head to the fairgrounds in the culminating event of the year—bringing their projects and livestock to market.The four-day event, which included a variety of fair food, live entertainment, carnival rides, livestock and exhibits at the county fairgrounds on Tully Road in San Jose, also held its first “Out at the Fair” event Friday, Aug. 3 in solidarity with the LGBT community.The county fair, in its 74th year, had such a large turnout that by Saturday afternoon on Aug. 4, fair organizers were asking the public to take Uber and Lyft to the fairgrounds “due to high attendance,” according to its website.

What does $1 million get you these days in Morgan Hill? If you're a prospective home buyer, not much. Case in point: a two-bedroom, one-bathroom, 832-square-foot home on 1.5 acres at 185 Sanchez Drive. The modest home has an $899,950 price tag, according to Trulia.com. Described as a “great development opportunity” the knocker-downer on the city’s west side serves as a prime example of skyrocketing home prices.

Former Sobrato High School teacher Gary Harmon, who is accused of bilking investors to the tune of half a million dollars, was ordered by a judge in civil court last month to pay one of his alleged victims $248,000—even though Harmon was the one demanding damages for defamation and other offenses.The alleged victim, Morgan Hill resident Mike DiRubio, who previously reported Harmon to police for embezzling money from him, said he feels vindicated by the civil judgment.The civil lawsuit is separate from and has no bearing on the criminal complaint charging Harmon with five felonies in relation to the alleged theft of about $500,000 from four victims in Morgan Hill. Harmon, 42, will next appear in court on those charges 1:30pm Aug. 30 at South County Courthouse.But Harmon also faces monetary damages in the civil defamation lawsuit that he and business partner Mark Masoni filed against DiRubio. The $248,000 judgment applies to both Harmon and Masoni. Harmon and Masoni, both former teachers at Sobrato, filed the lawsuit in July 2015. The complaint claims that DiRubio defamed their character by posting social media comments and sending emails to third parties stating that Harmon and Masoni stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from him after they convinced DiRubio to invest in their production company, ISE Entertainment. DiRubio has maintained that after investing about $250,000 for ownership shares of ISE Entertainment in 2013, Harmon simply kept the money; and both Harmon and Masoni reneged on their promise to repay him with recurring income.Harmon and Masoni’s lawsuit also claims DiRubio damaged their reputation and revenue opportunities by telling ISE’s vendors and potential investors to avoid doing business with Harmon and Masoni because the company is being run by “thieves,” reads Superior Court Judge Carrie Zepeda’s summary contained in her July 27 judgment.The judge ruled that “the gist” of DiRubio’s unflattering comments about Harmon and Masoni were true, and thus not defamatory. The written ruling notes that, based on testimony and evidence presented at a bench trial in November 2017, the Morgan Hill Police investigation and district attorney’s charges against Harmon show that DiRubio had a strong case for his accusations of theft.Zepeda’s ruling also includes a list of unsavory or careless actions on the part of ISE Entertainment, Harmon and Masoni that cripple the plaintiffs’ credibility, including the fact that both testified that nobody had been tasked with keeping financial records of the company’s transactions.“(The) facts show Mr. Harmon and Mr. Masoni to be less than credible and that they have a history of fabricating evidence in and outside of court proceedings in an attempt to gain an advantage,” reads part of Zepeda’s ruling. “In addition, it is highly unusual and suspicious that a business keeps no financial records of its transactions and losses. To add to the cloud of suspicion, ISE Entertainment was not registered with the Secretary of State to conduct business in California, despite producing several concerts in the state. Furthermore, it appears that ISE did not complete tax returns for the business it conducted in the state.”Zepeda also ruled that Harmon and Masoni have no cause to claim DiRubio breached his fiduciary duty to ISE Entertainment because there was no record that he had such a duty, and DiRubio was “duped into believing” he had a stake in the company.Harmon and Masoni sought $2.5 million in damages from DiRubio. Instead, the judge ruled that the plaintiffs will “take nothing by way of their complaint” and they owe DiRubio $248,000. DiRubio must return his shared in ISE Entertainment to the company—shares that DiRubio said “are not worth the paper they’re printed on.”Harmon and Masoni filed objections to the judge’s tentative ruling in June. However, those were rejected by Zepeda, who issued the final ruling in late July.DiRubio’s attorney, Carlos Martinez, said he was pleased that “justice prevailed” in the civil case, but now he faces the difficult task of collecting $248,000 from Harmon and Masoni.“I’m happy Mike prevailed—he said what he said (about Harmon and Masoni), but he was justified in saying it,” Martinez said.Harmon and Masoni plan to appeal Zepeda’s ruling, according to their attorney.“Mr. Harmon and the other plaintiffs respectfully disagree with the trial court’s statement of decision and judgment,” said attorney Dhaivat H. Shah. “Plaintiffs were the victims of acts of defamation for which they have not yet been provided a remedy.  Plaintiffs intend to address their concerns with the California Court of Appeal.”Harmon, DiRubio and Masoni also worked together for the production company ARTTEC, which was highly active in 2013 and 2014 producing concerts and bringing celebrities to Morgan Hill. The company—which had a stated goal of helping young people get started on careers in entertainment production—brought such acts as Kiefer Sutherland, Queensryche, Survivor, Greg Kihn and Bret Michaels to local venues.In recent years, Harmon has filed a number of civil lawsuits against others who have accused him of fraud.In the criminal case, Harmon is charged with two counts of grand theft and three counts of communications containing untrue statements and omissions of fact, in relation to the embezzlement of more than $500,000 from four local victims. If convicted, he faces up to 16 years in prison.He was arrested March 23, 2017 in Las Vegas on a warrant from Morgan Hill Police. Harmon allegedly convinced his victims to invest in his production companies or projects, with promises of repayment that never materialized. Police reports claim Harmon exaggerated or fabricated relationships with  beloved celebrities—including country music legend Willie Nelson, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and former Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil—to fraudulently sell hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of investments to the marks, according to police.DiRubio is named as one of the victims in the criminal case. He has said Harmon not only stole his money—he also robbed his daughter of her college fund.

Petty theftSomeone stole a 50-pound bag of dog food, worth about $40, from Wal-mart, 170 Cochrane Plaza. The thief left in a white Mercedes with a black driver’s side door. The crime was reported 8:23pm July 31.A thief or thieves stole a treadmill worth about $300 from the front porch of a residence on La Mancha Lane. The crime was reported 4:10pm July 24.Someone walked out of Safeway, 235 Tennant Station, with two quarts of vodka and bread, without paying for the items. The crime was reported 8:23am July 25.Suspicious personPolice arrested a man on suspicion of auto theft after an employee of Rite Aid, 16000 Monterey Road, reported a suspicious vehicle in the store’s parking lot. The employee called police to report the man was sitting in a black Acura after the store closed, and the employee was afraid to go outside. Officers arrived and contacted the Acura driver, who was arrested on suspicion of stealing the vehicle he was sitting in. The crime was reported 10:35pm July 31.Auto burglarySomeone broke into a Toyota Tacoma truck on East Dunne Avenue and stole tools. The crime was reported 5:59am Aug. 1.A thief or thieves stole tools from a locked toolbox on a Dodge pickup on the 2200 block of Brega Lane. The crime was reported 6:24am Aug. 1.Someone broke into a Ford F150 pickup on Cosmo Avenue and stole tools. The crime was reported 7:13am Aug. 1.A burglar or burglars smashed the window of a Chrysler 300 on Burnett Avenue and stole a computer. The burglary was reported 7:26am July 29.A thief or thieves broke into a Chevrolet Silverado pickup on Del Monte Avenue and stole tools. The crime was reported 3:38pm Aug. 1.Someone broke into a white Dodge Ram parked on Condit Road and stole power tools. The crime was reported 7:12am July 31.A burglar or burglars broke into a Chevrolet 3500 pickup parked on Condit Road and stole a pressure washer and blower from the vehicle. The burglary was reported 11:19am July 26.A thief or thieves broke into three vehicles parked on the 18400 block of Shadowbrook Way. The vehicles were identified as a Dodge Ram pickup, a Toyota Camry and a Kia. The crime was reported 9:50am July 22. Stolen vehicleA thief or thieves stole a gold 1995 Honda Accord parked on Burnett Avenue. The crime was reported 10:39pm July 27.Someone stole a white Toyota pickup with a camper shell from the parking lot of Josephine’s Bakery Cafe, 19500 Monterey Road. The theft was reported 5:48am July 29.A vehicle that was previously reported stolen out of Alameda County was recovered in the parking lot of California Inn, 16525 Condit Road in Morgan Hill. The vehicle was recovered 9:22am July 23.Someone stole a dark green Dodge van from the area of Wright and Del Monte avenues. The crime was reported 4:55pm July 26.A thief or thieves stole a green BMW from a spot on East Edmundson Avenue. The owner of the vehicle left the key in the center console. The crime was reported 10:41pm July 26.Someone stole a brown 2016 Mazda CX5 from a spot on El Pajaro Court. The crime was reported 8:19am July 27.AccidentA bicyclist suffered minor injuries—including pain to his leg and road rash—when a motorist collided with the bicycle in the area of Hale and Tilton avenues. The accident was reported 6:28pm Aug. 2.TheftSomeone broke into a storage container at a construction site on Golden Eagle Drive, and stole speakers, a jackhammer and other items. The total loss was about $650. The crime was reported 3:23pm July 30.A suspect stole about 20 cartons of cigarettes from Safeway, 235 Tennant Station. The crime was reported 1:52am July 20. VandalismSomeone tried to break into a vehicle in Paradise Park, 449 La Crosse Drive, and broke off a piece of metal in the door lock. The crime was reported 2:18pm July 20.BurglarySomeone broke into a home on Gitana Court and stole a large safe. The crime was reported 11:46pm July 21.All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.

Since Willard Hicks opened July 10, business has been brisk. The restaurant, located on Monterey Road just south of Third Street, fills up quickly. Right before the restaurant opens at 4pm, servers, bartenders and managers busy themselves with their preparatory duties. Shortly after 4pm, almost all the tables and bar stools are full.

The California Water Commission July 24 approved $484.55 million to dramatically expand the Pacheco Reservoir in southeast Santa Clara County for drinking water reserves and improved protections for steelhead salmon.The money comes from the state’s Proposition 1 approved by California voters, and represents the full amount sought by the Santa Clara Valley Water District.“We are elated that our proposal to expand Pacheco Reservoir was viewed so favorably by the commission,” said water district board chairman Richard P. Santos. “We are also pleased that the commission has approved our request for early funding of $24.2 million. Given these approvals, we can proceed with the next steps in completing environmental documents and permit applications without delay.”Completion of the new reservoir project is more than a decade away, according to the water district’s timetable.The Prop. 1 monies will provide half of the estimated $969 million cost of the project, which could be completed in 2029, with construction beginning in 2024 following public hearings on an environmental impact report and a feasibility study.Prop. 1 was approved by nearly three-quarters of San Benito and Santa Clara county voters in 2014. The funding would come from the $2.7 billion Water Storage Investment Program, part of California’s Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, a $7.5 billion bond passed by voters.The Pacheco Reservoir project received the highest ranking among eight projects submitted to the commission for consideration this week. Another $1.12 billion was approved for four other projects.The project would establish a new dam and expanded reservoir on the North Fork of Pacheco Creek that could hold 141,000 acre-feet of water, a substantial increase from the 6,000-acre-foot capacity of the existing reservoir. Constructed in 1939 and used for groundwater recharge, the reservoir is located about 13 miles southwest of San Luis Reservoir, off Highway 152, near Casa de Fruta.The Santa Clara Valley Water District would also have to find the remaining 50 percent of the project cost, from federal sources and from the district’s own resources and ratepayers.“Santa Clara Valley Water District and our project partners, San Benito County Water District and Pacheco Pass Water District, will pursue federal funds,” Santos said in a statement.The remainder would be paid through local water rates “over several decades,” he said.The water district said the project would expand Pacheco Reservoir's storage capacity to provide for increased emergency water supplies, improved water quality and ecosystem benefits throughout the region and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.“This reservoir would serve as an insurance investment to support a secure water supply for our future,” said Santos in the statement. “Today’s good news portends well for Pacheco’s delivery of investment value to the public and environment.”The water district describes the project’s potential benefits as “vast,” including the following:Increase suitable habitat in Pacheco Creek for the federally threatened South Central California Coast steelheadDevelop water supplies for the environmental needs of wildlife refuges to support habitat management in the delta watershedReduce flood risks for communities along Pacheco Creek and the Pajaro River as it flows through WatsonvilleImprove water quality, reducing taste and odor problems that result from seasonal algae blooms in San Luis Reservoir and cause Santa Clara Valley Water District operators to curtail deliveries from this sourceProvide an emergency water supply to Santa Clara and San Benito countiesIncrease reliability of imported water supplies to Santa Clara and San Benito countiesProvide additional water for groundwater recharge, benefiting agricultural water users downstream of the new damIncrease operational flexibility of water supplies at San Luis Reservoir and throughout Santa Clara CountyImprove opportunities for water transfers through San Luis ReservoirThe Santa Clara Valley Water District manages an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water, flood protection and stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara County's more than 1.9 million residents.The district manages 10 dams and surface water reservoirs, three water treatment plants, an advanced recycled water purification center, a state-of-the-art water quality laboratory, nearly 400 acres of groundwater recharge ponds and more than 275 miles of streams.It provides wholesale water and groundwater management services to local municipalities and private water retailers that deliver drinking water directly to homes and businesses in Santa Clara County.For more information, visit https://www.valleywater.org/project-updates/dam-reservoir-projects/pacheco-reservoir-expansion-project-proposed.

When busy weeknights leave little opportunity for extravagant meals, bring the family together with a simpler recipe that provides just as much tasty flavor, such as these Turkey Potato Dinner Wraps. Requiring just 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cook time, a half-hour is all you need to create an enjoyable meal for all. Find more quick dinner recipes at eatwisconsinpotatoes.com.

*This story and candidate list was updated Aug. 6.