THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN
A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times
JULY 13, 2018
State of Repair
Rebuilding Together beneficiary Leonarda Guzman
Rebuilding Together changes South Valley lives
SOUTH VALLEY MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Rebuilding Together carries the weight MY FAIR LADY P8 | SARAH’S VINEYARD P12 | WEEKEND IN SONOMA P16
THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY
JULY 13, 2018
A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance
Police inJulyPursuit helps Special Olympics $1 • Friday, 13, 2018 • Vol. 124, No. 28 • morganhilltimes.com • Serving Morgan Hill since 1894
SAN BENITO MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Police in Pursuit transports lives through the joy of sport
Racing for Special Needs
New faces in future for MHUSD board in November MY FAIR LADY P8 | SARAH’S VINEYARD P12 | WEEKEND IN SONOMA P16
WOOLF, ARNETT, RUEBUSCH WON’T RUN; BORGIOLI, GERARD UNDECIDED Scott Forstner Reporter
➝ MHUSD, 15
Robert Eliason
As many as five new faces could be seated on the Morgan Hill Unified School District’s governing dais come November with two trustees stating they will not seek re-election, two others remaining undecided and another prematurely resigning prior to his term’s completion. Retired educators Ron Woolf, who has been on the school board since 2010, and Donna Ruebusch, whose initial fouryear term is expiring with the Nov. 6 election, confirmed last week that they will not campaign for four more years. “I really wrestled with this decision. I very much enjoyed the challenge of being a board member and trying to contribute and contribute to the
MARCH ON The Sobrato High School marching band performs in the July 4 Independence Day parade in downtown Morgan Hill.
Freedom Fest reigns ABOUT 80K ATTENDED ANNUAL HOLIDAY EVENTS Michael Moore
Morgan Hill was decked in red, white and blue this Independence Day as visitors from far and wide joined locals in the annual
Fourth of July Freedom Fest celebrations. Organizers said this year’s Freedom Fest was one of the best and biggest celebrations of the holiday ever presented in Morgan Hill. “It’s a pleasure to do this every year,” said Jeff Dixon, President of Independence Day Celebrations, the nonprofit that produces Freedom Fest. “The team and I love giving to
the community, and people seem to appreciate what we do. It feels good.” The festivities started in downtown Morgan Hill the night of July 3, with the Patriotic Sing and Family Music Fest. The Events continued the morning of July 4 with the 5K Freedom Run, 142nd annual Independence Day parade, Classic Car Cruise and Show and the Fireworks on the Green. Dixon noted that the
parade theme, “Happy Birthday, America” was embraced by parade participants and across all the events. The parade theme was selected by IDC parade chairs Bob and Maureen Hunt. About 80,000 people attended the Freedom Fest events, Dixon estimated. Freedom Fest organizers noticed that during the July 4 evening fireworks show at the Outdoor
Sports Center, some civilian drones were flying in the area. Dixon said the organizers “would love” to use any photos or videos captured by these devices. He invited any drone owners who captured footage of the fireworks to contact Freedom Fest on their Facebook page or by emailing vpofevents@ mhfreedomfest.com. ➝ Freedom Fest, 12
Plans for $1 billion reservoir advance GIANT LAKE, AND DAM AT PACHECO PASS COULD EASE STRAIN FROM FUTURE DROUGHT By Barry Holtzclaw Managing Editor
The Santa Clara Valley Water District is moving forward with plans to build a new Pacheco Pass reservoir in San Benito County, which the district describes as a “game-changer” to ease the
impact of future droughts in the Bay Area. If $485 million in state funds are approved this month, supporters they could raise the rest of the $969 million project budget from federal grants and increased water rates to build the largest reservoir constructed in the Bay Area in the past 20 years. The water district board on June 26 approved a memorandum of understanding between the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Pacheco Pass Water District and San Benito County Water
District and approved an option to buy land with the Pacheco Pass Water District for the massive dam and reservoir project, which has been in the planning stages for a decade. The board last year submitted an application to the California Water Commission for funding of the project under Proposition 1, and final hearings before the commission were held in late June. The commission’s decision on state funding is expected by the end of July. While the Prop. 1 application
is being evaluated by the water commission, the water district said it may seek federal legislative authorization for construction funding from Federal Water Infrastructure Improvements. “The Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project is a modern solution to the age-old challenges of providing a sustainable water supply for our expanding population and businesses,” district staff said in a report. “This project will reduce the frequency and severity ➝ Reservoir, 10