THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN
NOVEMBER 2, 2018
Wall of Wine
South Valley unveils tribute to local wine makers
SOUTH VALLEY MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times
Mural honors Wineries Santa Clara Valley
BEST BIKING P8 | BRAIN CHANGES P12 | CALERRAIN P17
LAST MINUTE ELECTION QUESTIONS ANSWERED P2 | POLICE BLOTTER P11 | SOBRATO FOOTBALL DUO SHINES P18
THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY
NOVEMBER 2, 2018
Dog Park breaks ground in Aromas
BEST BIKING P8 BRAIN CHANGES P12 CALERRAIN P17
Wet Nose Wonder
SAN BENITO MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Park for pooches breaks ground in Aromas A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance
$1 • Friday, November 2, 2018 • Vol. 124, No. 44 • morganhilltimes.com • Serving Morgan Hill since 1894
New local gun regs approved by city council RENE SPRING CASTS LONE DISSENTING VOTE ON NEW MORGAN HILL ORDINANCE Jaqueline McCool Reporter
➝ Gun Ordinance, 10
Scott Forstner
At an Oct. 24 meeting, the Morgan Hill City Council passed a gun ordinance that has been in the works since March of 2018. The three-part ordinance made additions to the existing local weapons ordinance that was put in place in the 1970s. The meeting lasted nearly five hours in a room full mostly of gun rights advocates, with a few supporters of the ordinance throughout the crowd. Councilmember Rene Spring had been a part of the unanimous decision to ask City Attorney Donald Larkin to create an ordinance that would place greater regulation on
EYE IN THE SKY Gavilan College instructor Mike Bonillas pilots a drone Oct. 19 as three of his students observe at the
Coyote Valley campus on Bailey Road. Gavilan is now offering a six-class drone certification program to students.
Gavilan drones fly COLLEGE IS ONE OF FEW TO OFFER DRONE CERTIFICATE Scott Forstner Reporter
When 21-year-old Gavilan College student Brandon Puthoff learned about the
new drone program being offered at the Coyote Valley campus north of Morgan Hill, he jumped on the opportunity right away and signed up for several classes in the six-course certificate program. “I’m hoping to make a career out of it,” said Puthoff, of Morgan Hill, who is currently enrolled
in the advanced aerial photography class after completing the introductory course last semester. “The most important thing is the classes are being taught by people who are professionals in the field.” In the same Oct. 19 class held at Gavilan’s Bailey Avenue site,
55-year-old San Jose resident Larry Gonzales was looking to parlay his previous career in software development into a new venture in the drone industry by completing the certificate program. “I’m in the process of switching careers and wanted to learn more about this industry,” said
Gonzales, who holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from San Jose State University. He started with two introductory classes and is now taking advanced aerial photography and a second in drone maintenance. Next semester, ➝ Drones, 9
Poll workers train for a one-day job COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICIALS STILL IN NEED OF WORKERS FOR NOV. 6 VOTING Jaqueline McCool Reporter
It’s a perfect fall afternoon on the Saturday
before Halloween, and the Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church is full of folding chairs and people of all ages. In just a few days, these people will be the first faces you see greeting you at the polls, as they will spend a nearly 15-hour day as election officers in Santa Clara County. The Oct. 26 training was just one of several three-hour sessions
offered to seasonal election officers by the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 6 balloting. A 90-minute training is offered for more seasoned election officers who have volunteered for previous elections. While the election officers receive a stipend of up to $200, and $15 more if they are able to offer bilingual services, their
work goes beyond an average 9-to-5 day. When the first ballot is cast at 7am Nov. 6 at Santa Clara County polling places, the dedicated election officers have already been there for an hour. Election officers in Santa Clara County come from all walks of life: retirees, full-time professionals, stay-at-home mothers, enthusiastic immigrants and more.
They must be 18 or older, or 16 with a parent and principal’s consent. They don’t even need to be registered voters to participate, although it is recommended. Wendy Hudson, county election division coordinator of public and legislative affairs, said she thinks the allure of giving back to their communities ➝ Poll Workers, 14
The Morgan Hill Federation of Teachers is proud to endorse the following candidates for MHUSD Board of Education:
Trustee Area 1
Trustee Area 4
Wendy Sullivan
Trustee Area 5
Carol Gittens
Angelica Diaz
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Tony Thurmond
Santa Clara County Board of Education Area 7
Claudia Rossi