December 3rd
ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARADES AND TREE LIGHTINGS
Morgan Hill Organized by Kiwanis Club with support from the Morgan Hill Downtown Association and the City of Morgan Hill. This year’ s parade is expected to include approximately fifty entrants including decorative floats, local high school and middle school bands, dance troupes and much more. After the mayor lights the tree, Santa hangs out with kids in the Community and Cultural Center courtyard to find out what’ s on their wish lists.
Gilroy Organized by the Gilroy Downtown Business Association. The parade is a true multi-generational event. A grand marshal nominated from the community gets to ride with Santa in the parade, help him light the Christmas tree, and share a personal story. Parade day activities also include the traditional Doggie Dress-Up contest as well as musical and dance performances by local youth. After the tree lighting, families can bring their kids to Mango Street Kids to have their picture taken and share their wishes with Santa Claus.
Both events begin at 5:30 pm
12 be collected at the Chamber of Commerce, Morgan Hill Community Recreation Center, Noah’ s, Commonwealth Bank, and other locations around town. On December 16th, community leaders deliver the toys to Morgan Hill Unified School District’ s elementary schools for kids who might not otherwise receive gifts during the holidays. The foundation is also collaborating with BookSmart on its annual Gift of Reading initiative, which gathers donated books for underprivileged families given out at Cecilia’ s Closet. Girl Scout Troop 62224 volunteers in this drive too.
Our community service organizations may only fundraise once or twice a year: they need our support! Consider giving to organizations that focus on the needs of the underserved in our community, including seniors, the homeless population, families living with poverty, foster youth and others. Among these organizations are the Morgan Hill Community Foundation, the Gilroy Foundation, Cecelia’ s Closet, Salvation Army, Gilroy Compassion Center, St. Joseph’ s Family Center and many local faith-based organizations. Consider“ adopting a family” through the holiday giving program organized by Community Solutions. Give a membership to a local organization of choice on behalf of a friend or loved one who wants to engage with community service organizations and causes. Give a bike, a car, or a set of new tires to a local nonprofit. Or, give a scholarship to a deserving student.
PICTURE THIS
Time flies. Maybe it’ s time for a family portrait. Portraits By Rebecca, Morgan Hill, offers professional studio and on-location photo sessions to capture the family, a new baby, or a teen’ s special accomplishments. Then have your photos exquisitely framed by Leedo Art & Framing, Gilroy; or Fastframe of Morgan Hill. Both shops offer custom matting and framing for everything from original paintings and photographs to sports jerseys, awards, travel souvenirs, diplomas and even 3-D objects. They can also do restoration of oil paintings and digital enhancement of photos.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 gmhtoday. com
TOYS AND GAMES
Thinker Toys of Morgan Hill has a wellthought-out inventory of toys and games for youth. According to proprietor John Horner,“ We shy away from toys that‘ do all the work,’ because kids quickly get bored. We look for toys, puzzles and games that spark the imagination, beyond the fads that come and go and always seems to require batteries. Customers love our free giftwrapping service. They can grab a coffee from Starbucks while we wrap, and their packages are ready when they return. We can help them find gifts that appeal to kids of different ages and interests. That’ s not something you’ ll find in a big box store.”
For that little princess on your shopping list, a Girls Only party at Miss Ooh La La in Gilroy is sure to excite. They provide a variety of themed party options for girls ages 4-12. Your little princess and her friends will enjoy a glam and dress-up session, followed by entertainment and of course, dessert.