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Developer Weston Miles Architects moved the building to make way for a new two-story, 2,750-square-foot commercial building west of the Union Pacific railroad tracks.

Summer Reading ChallengeThere’s still time to “Read for the Win” in the Santa Clara County’s Summer Reading Challenge. Participants can enjoy the many activities scheduled throughout the summer at their local library. All teens and adults enrolled in the program will receive a free tote bag and children 12 and under receive book prizes. All participants will receive free passes to Children’s Discovery Museum. All are welcome to participate in the challenge of reading five books from now until July 31. For complete instructions go to sccl.org/summer2016. Splash 2 DashKids ages 5-13 years old are welcome to join in on the ninth Annual Splash 2 Dash Youth Triathlon. Emphasis is placed on accomplishment rather than results in a “funpetitive” spirit, guaranteed to help build confidence. There are four Swim Bike Run Divisions depending on the age group. Bring a swimsuit, good running shoes and bike with helmet. Participants need to check in at least 20 minutes before the race. The big day is Saturday, June 11 starting at 6:30 a.m. at Sobrato High School, located at 401 Burnett Ave, Morgan Hill. For course maps and registration go to mhreconline.com. On the ProwlLearn about the lifestyles and characteristic of two wild animals, Mountain Lions and Bobcats, living in and around our rural communities. Leave with a better understanding of why it’s important to co-exist with these felines as we encroach upon their natural habitats. Meet with Santa Clara County Staff on Monday, June 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Casa Grande and the New Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museums are located at 21350 Almaden Rd., in San Jose. Reservations are required. Call (408) 355-2201 or go to parkhere.org. A Day at the RanchDreamor Ranch will open their gates for the Annual Day of Miracles, free for children and their families who struggle with special needs. Dreamor Ranch supports horse rescue and rehabilitation programs along with providing lessons and riding programs. Kids will get a chance to meet and ride these beautiful animals. The day will also include games, singing and visits with other animals such as turkeys, cats, dogs and ducks and enjoy a lunch of Hot Dogs and ice cream. There is no parking on the ranch, but shuttles will be provided. There will be no shortage of smiles on Sunday, June 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 80 Brown Road, San Juan Bautista. For more information and directions call (408) 799-4052 or visit dreamorranch.net.Father’s Day adventureYou can take Dad back in time without using a time machine at San Juan Bautista’s Annual Early Days event. The San Juan Bautista State Historic Park and the Plaza History Association will take you back to the 1800’s to early California Mountain Men encampments. Discover history through clothing, crafts and cooking demonstrations. Enjoy an old-fashioned soda at the Plaza Hotel Saloon or take a horse-drawn wagon ride and experience the transportation of the day. Workers will be dressed in period costume and ready to greet you Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, June 19from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Historic Park. Admission to the park is $3 for adults and free for kids 15 and under. For more information call (831) 623-4881 or visit sanjuanbautistaca.com.

Pools for play, to swim laps and an Olympic-sized competition

The next time Morgan Hill residents vote in a municipal election, they will only select a single choice for city council among candidates who reside within the newly established voting district where they live.As of Sept. 6, there are now four city council districts in Morgan Hill—equal in population—each to be represented by a single councilmember who lives inside that district. At the Sept. 6 meeting—after a series of public meetings and workshops and perusing more than a dozen draft maps created by a professional demographer and Morgan Hill citizens—the council approved a four-district map that will apply until the 2020 U.S. Census.This is a stark change from the way local voters have elected council members since the city was incorporated in 1906. Until now, councilmembers have always served the city on an at-large basis, and voters have typically voted for two councilmembers in each regular election (roughly every two years).Earlier this summer, the council begrudgingly approved the new by-district election system in response to a demand letter threatening a lawsuit under the California Voting Rights Act.Although councilmembers dislike the new system, they approved a district map that considers traditional specific neighborhood interests and protects the voting rights of all minority groups.“We tried to keep communities of interest and neighborhoods together. It’s not perfect, and it’s going to be really hard now to get good qualified candidates to run for city council,” Mayor Pro Tem Larry Carr said.The map approved by the council keeps current councilmembers (not including the mayor) in separate districts. Demographer Doug Johnson, who the city hired to help guide the council and the public through the districting process, said this is a common practice among agencies required to draw new districts because it respects the electorate’s desire to be able to choose the incumbents.The by-district system will start with the November 2018 election, when the seats occupied by Councilmembers Rich Constantine and Caitlin Jachimowicz will be on the ballot.Constantine’s district, labeled “District B” on the map, cuts a swath down the middle of Morgan Hill from the northern to the southern city limits. Jachimowicz’ district, known as “District D,” occupies the eastern side of Morgan Hill.The seats occupied by Councilmembers Larry Carr and Rene Spring will be elected within the new districts starting with the November 2020 election.“District A,” where Carr resides, goes from a corner of downtown Morgan Hill southwest past West Middle Avenue. “District C,” where Spring lives, occupies northwest Morgan Hill.The mayor’s seat will continue to be elected at large under the new system.Three of the districts contain at least a small geographic portion of downtown Morgan Hill, a neighborhood where councilmembers say many different interests for residents from all over the city coincide.In May, the council received a demand letter from Oakland law firm Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho, alleging that the city’s traditional at-large system violates the CVRA because it limits the influence of minority groups.The firm was hired by local Latino residents Armando Benavides, Sally Casas and Brenda Cayme. Benavides has previously run for Morgan Hill City Council and the Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Trustees. In 2012, he was also involved in the effort to force MHUSD to switch from an at-large to a by-district system.Cayme has previously run for MHUSD trustee as well.By approving the change, the council aimed to protect the city from a potentially costly civil rights lawsuit. But it also forced the city to fast track the process of notifying the public and creating four new districts equal in population, without gerrymandering.Residents were encouraged to use online mapmaking tools provided by Johnson’s company, National Demographics Corporation, to draw districts for the council’s consideration. Six residents submitted such maps. The map ultimately approved by the council was proposed by NDC.“I continue to be disappointed that a couple of disgruntled people who have not been able to win an election in Morgan Hill have forced this on us,” Carr added. “I don’t think district elections will improve representation for anyone in Morgan Hill, and it will bring some unintended consequences we will have to work through.”