$1 • Friday, February 23, 2018 • Vol. 124, No. 8 • morganhilltimes.com • Serving Morgan Hill since 1894
Pioneers serving domestic violence victims COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS HONORS LA ISLA PACIFICA FOR FORTY YEARS OF SERVICE Scott Forstner Reporter
➝ Domestic Violence, 18
BIG CITY Brianna Pember rehearses for her role as “Millie,” a small-town girl trying to make it in New York, in South Valley Civic Theatre’s upcoming production of ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie,’ opening Friday, Feb. 23 at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse.
‘Millie’ charms the Civic
THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN
FEBRUARY 23, 2018
OU T & AB OU T CA LE ND EV EN AR OF TS
A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times
Elizabeth Mandel
Forty years ago, Lupe Arellano and Laura GonzalezEscoto founded “La Isla Pacifica” (translated to “The Peaceful Island”), a confidential shelter in south Santa Clara County for victims of domestic violence. Today, the location of La Isla Pacifica—which has been under the umbrella of Community Solutions since 1996—remains a secret to protect the victims and their
Local garage named 2018 Small Business of the Year
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Inside this issue: 2018 Small Business of the Year MODERN MILLIE P8 | MOSS GRAFFITI P9 | CALERRAIN P12
‘THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE’ FINDS HER WAY IN SVCT’S LATEST PRODUCTION By Debra Eskinazi Magazine and Features Editor
When a small-town girl, determined to make a new life for herself, comes to the Big Apple, she discovers life is more complicated than she first thought. South Valley Civic Theatre’s
portrayal of Thoroughly Modern Millie starring Live Oak High School senior Brianna Pember as “Millie Dillmount” offers a fun, uplifting look at a young, modern woman coming of age. “It’s a complicated story about love, coming into your own, and figuring out what you want out of life,” says producer Marianne Snook. “It’s like you have a list, but your list changes when you open your eyes and see all of the other possibilities.” Like many of the playhouses’ performances, this musical includes many seasoned actors,
orchestral accompaniment and a top-notch set design, which Snook says are on par with Broadway. “The whole setting will draw you into the story,” Snook says of Andrew Cummings high-quality set designs. In the end, Snook says when people think they are looking back upon “simpler times,” people are really dealing with the same issues we are now: “Where does work fit in? Where does money fit into your life? Who do you know? What’s truly important? If I just find a rich man, my life is going to be complete.”
But, it’s a lot more than that, Snook says. “It’s about who makes you happy. It’s friends and family that are there to support you. And, all of those things that were important in the ’20s are still important now.” South Valley Civic Theatre presents ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie.’ Performances run Feb. 23-March 17 at Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill. For tickets, call (408) 842-7469 or visit svct.org.
Downtown update: Building continues FOUR NEWEST RESTAURANTS COULD OPEN IN MAY Bryce Stoepfel Reporter
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Within the next couple of months, residents and visitors can expect to see some of downtown Morgan Hill’s flagship, highprofile construction projects transform into more dining, nightlife,
shopping and lodging choices. By March, assuming the current dry weather maintains, developers are expected to complete excavation and lay concrete foundations for the Granada Hotel. “Frank Léal has done most of the offsite work, including sewer and water line work,” said Morgan Hill Assistant City Manager Leslie Little. “There will be more to be done, such as sidewalk
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replacement and landscaping, but the big stuff that would be a disruption regarding infrastructure is finished.” The Morgan Hill City Council agreed to sell the 1.09 acres of land at 17490 Monterey Road— formerly the site of the Downtown Mall—to Frank Léal, of Léal Vineyards on Sept. 2, 2015 for about $1.1 million. Following the demolition of the Downtown Mall building, Léal entered into a
contract with KTGY, an architecture firm out of Oakland, to construct the 64,940 square foot, fourstory, 60-room multi-use luxury hotel. The project will be built in accordance with Morgan Hill General Plan, which designates 68 parcels of land in the downtown to encourage a mix of residential and commercial uses. The Granada Hotel will feature a restaurant, bar, retail space, banquet
hall, along with the hotel’s lobby, guest rooms, spa and other hotel amenities. The Granada Hotel, which will stand next to the Granada Theater, another development project spearheaded by Léal, carries on the drive to promote downtown Morgan Hill as a destination for tourists and visitors in South County. The city is looking forward to more tax revenue from the ➝ Granada, 12
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