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THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN

MARCH 8, 2019

A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times

‘VELOCITY’ REVIEW P8 WINE PASSPORT TOURS P12 MUSIC THERAPY P16

South Valley artist gains a following

SOUTH VALLEY MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Infused art

Nacho Moya illustrates a life of dreams P4

COUNTY TAKES OVER ST. LOUISE P2 | TARIFF DELAY HURTS GARLIC GROWER P11 | YOUTH, VETERANS ON SOBRATO SQUAD P14

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

MARCH 8, 2019

‘VELOCITY’ REVIEW P8 WINE PASSPORT TOURS P12 MUSIC THERAPY P16

Diane Ortiz proves a worthy ally for local youth

A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

XXXXX PXX | XXXXX PXX | XXXXX PXX

SAN BENITO MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FINDING MY PLACE Youth Alliance helps kids pave a path P4

$1 • Friday, March 8, 2019 • Vol. 126, No. 10 • morganhilltimes.com • Serving Morgan Hill since 1894

MH council considers cannabis businesses CULTIVATION RULED OUT AT FEB. 27 MEETING Jaqueline McCool Reporter

➝ Cannabis, 4

Scott Hinrichs

In November, Morgan Hill residents voted overwhelmingly to tax cannabis if it were to be allowed in the city. The 79 percent approval rate gave the council reason to pursue the idea of allowing cannabis businesses in Morgan Hill. At a Feb. 27 workshop, the council spent several hours hearing from law enforcement, cannabis experts and community members on possibilities for cannabis business in Morgan Hill. The council ultimately directed staff to come back with ordinance language options and answers to council questions about retail, manufacturing and testing. The council may have some additional motivation for pursuing a cannabis ordinance sooner rather than later. After the passage of proposition 64—which legalized

FLOATING DUCK Alex, age 1.5 years, and mother Kate Alfepov play in Coyote Creek March 2 at the Henry W. Coe State Park Hunting Hollow entrance.

Splashin’ good time PINE RIDGE ASSN. HOSTS EVENTS AT COE PARK Some local children got to spend their rainy Saturday splashing in the creek and learning about the insects, plants, animals and geology of South County at the annual Raincoats and Rubber Boots event at Henry W. Coe State Park.

The event took place March 2 at the park’s Hunting Hollow entrance, located on Gilroy Hot Springs Road in unincorporated eastern Santa Clara County. About 85 people—mostly children—attended, despite a persistent light rain. Children decked out in rain gear played with rubber ducks and boats in Coyote Creek, which was muddy, high and fast due to recent rains.

The families also participated in a scavenger hunt, in which they were given a list, with pictures, of different trees and other plants near the Hunting Hollow entrance, and asked to identify them and check them off the list. Kids who completed the scavenger hunt were rewarded with a coloring book or similar prize, according to Chere Bargar, cochair of the event.

Children were also given beads of different colors that represent the Earth’s water cycle, and made bracelets with them. A bicycle obstacle course was set up in the parking lot for children to enjoy. A volunteer geologist was on hand to educate children about the different types of rocks found in and around Coe ➝ Raincoats, 9

Charters fear impact of bills TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS FAVOR STRONGER OVERSIGHT Scott Forstner Reporter

Gov. Gavin Newsom late on Tuesday, March 5 signed into law Senate Bill 126, which ensures that all corporate charter schools are

held to the same transparency and accountability standards as neighborhood public schools. During the debate on the Senate bill and several still-pending Assembly measures, charter school advocates were concerned about the impact of the legislative initiatives aimed at their growing industry, which includes non-profit and for-profit schools. Traditional public school

officials and teacher union representatives said they believe that new oversight of charter schools is long overdue and will establish an equal playing field for their districts. “The charter schools industry is concerned with the package of bills that was introduced as they could have a devastating impact on the ability to provide equitable choices and education for

all students,” said Kirsten Carr, of the non-profit Navigator Schools, which operates charters in both Gilroy and Hollister. Senate Bill 126, along with Assembly Bills 1505, 1506, 1507 and 1508, could change the landscape of how charter schools have been allowed to operate under the existing charter school law established in 1992 and amended in 1998.

OPEN HOUSE Saturday, March 23 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Register today! StratfordSchools.com/NorCalOH Morgan Hill Campus

| 410 Llagas Road | (408) 776-8801

“The Morgan Hill Federation (of Teachers) has advocated for increased charter school transparency and accountability for many years because they receive public funds,” MHFT President Gemma Abels said. “We applaud the legislature for prioritizing this bill that makes Charter School and Charter Management Board ➝ Charter, 12


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