There was a food sampling and a petition for everyone at the
19th annual Taste of Morgan Hill this weekend.
Also with this story, a video of photo gallery.
There was a food sampling and a petition for everyone at the 19th annual Taste of Morgan Hill this weekend.
The city’s largest party and the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce’s largest fundraiser, featuring more than 20 food booths and more than 100 business booths, was unfazed by Saturday’s blasting heat, Chamber of Commerce President Christine Giusiana said.
Sure, people walked around like “zombies,” as one attendee said. And they didn’t stay as long on Saturday as they did Sunday, but they still came – and ate while strolling down Monterey Road between Main and Dunne avenues.
“It would take a lot more (than heat) to keep us from eating,” Katie Asplund said. Her husband Marty Asplund added that they’re used to Morgan Hill getting “a little toasty” in September.
Mark and Carole Lloyd, on the other hand, would have liked to have seen more shade. They sat in a sliver of shade on the side of Main Street Bagels during a particularly sweltering hour Saturday afternoon. All the family of four had had to eat was kettle korn.
Down Monterey at Fourth Street, however, longtime Taste attendees Dale and Lani Dixon devoured funnel cakes from Cinnamon Roll Peddler.
“There’s a nice variety this year,” Lani Dixon said. They, like the Asplunds, like the socializing aspect of the Taste. Dale Dixon said it brings back the rural, small-town charm of Morgan Hill.
“The people just mingle, and there’s no rush,” he said. “You see people you haven’t seen in a while.”
Along with the usual food fair, there were causes and caucuses aplenty. Business owners raised money for pet causes as political groups gained exposure for their platforms.
Gilroy resident Paula Kelly said Saturday’s heat created a sort of zombie effect in the crowd, with people milling around without stopping as often at the booths. Saturday’s high temperature was 97, while Sunday’s was 92 degrees.
Frank Manoccio, who manned the Concerned Citizens booth aimed at stopping the city’s Santa Teresa Boulevard expansion, said Saturday was a good day for them since most people wanted to duck in the shade of their booth and didn’t mind hearing about their platform in the meantime.
Stopping Santa Teresa Boulevard’s expansion wasn’t the only agenda out this weekend. The Democratic and Republican parties had a presence, as did Citizens for a Safer Morgan Hill, a group backing the utility users tax on the city’s November ballot. San Martin incorporation opponents also had clipboards in hand.
The hair stylist community, led by Tiffany Goller of Tiffany’s Salon, hosted a fundraiser to raise money for P.A. Walsh Elementary School’s Special Day Class, which teaches almost 20 students with autism. Goller’s 7-year-old son has autism. Stylists from five different local salons raised more than $3,000 to donate to the class.
Mike and Jana Castelan, who lead the Santa Clara County chapter of Jimmy Buffett’s Parrot Heads In Paradise charitable organization, raised more than $10,000 for the family of Dominic Loperenza. Loperenza, 7, was seriously injured in a bicycle accident in July. Morgan Hill-based Specialized Bicycle Components donated eight bicycles and 50 bicycle helmets as items to raffle during the event, held at the Castelan’s restaurant Poppy’s Fish, Poultry & More.
Aside from these causes, Taste traditions like San Martin Meats and Trail Dust BBQ Joint had successful turnouts as well. Taste mainstays like the car show, boasting more than 150 cars, and the quilt show, were again a hit this year.
Preliminary estimates have attendance at about 47,000 people, Giusiana said. She does not yet have an estimate of how much was raised for the Chamber, but the previous events have raised an average of about $40,000. The money is used for the nonprofit’s general operations.
Eight bands, including oldies group Hot Rods Band, and Shane Dwight, performed throughout the weekend event.
