Nearly 50,000 flocked to Morgan Hill for a ‘taste’
Morgan Hill – Summer ended “Tastefully” in Morgan Hill this weekend, as residents and out-of-towners gathered in the city’s downtown in balmy weather to savor the Taste of Morgan Hill, the Chamber of Commerce’s 17th annual family festival.
“It was yummy,” squealed 7-year-old Maggie Copes as she munched Kettle Korn while watching her older brothers play games in the Kids Zone, which was moved this year from its usual location near the intersection of Monterey Road and Main Avenue to East Second Street.
“It was a good move, I heard lots of positive comments, and we were able to have more activities because we were able to use the parking area behind the Granada and the other businesses, thanks to the cooperation of the property owners,” said Dan Ehrler, executive director of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce.
“The Taste,” as it is familiarly called, is focused on family fun and sampling Morgan Hill restaurants’ wares. Regional wineries and breweries, including the local El Toro Brewing Company, also participate, serving up their specialties.
Ehrler’s enthusiasm for the weekend event was as sparkling as some of the wines that were served.
“It was absolutely a fabulous two days,” he said Monday. “Everything was very smooth, very well-organized right from the beginning. Starting with the weather both days, which was perfect, to the entry of vendors Friday night, all the way through the tear-down Sunday evening, things went really well.”
More than 40,000 people – possibly as many as 50,000, according to Ehrler – came to eat, drink, shop, socialize and enjoy the quilts and custom and classic cars during the festival.
Last year, organizers estimated 40,000 attended the event.
San Jose resident Mark Atkins said he brings his family every year.
“The food’s good, and my son and I like looking at the cars,” he said. “My wife likes the quilts and looking at all the stuff the vendors have. She usually does more than just look.”
Ehrler said event organizer Michele Naylor planned the set up of the booths differently this year, creating a block of businesses then a block of arts and crafts. She also set up food vendors in three different locations and moved the Kids Zone to Second Street.
Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing said there weren’t many problems with the festival, but there were a few “after-Taste” incidents.
“Some people continued the festivities after the event ended, and continued the drinking, and we had a few fights downtown,” he said. “But there were no major problems.”
In one incident, Swing said, Tanya Rodriguez, 22, of Morgan Hill was booked into Santa Clara County Jail early Sunday morning charged with alleged assault with a deadly weapon. She was in the M&H Tavern in downtown Morgan Hill with her boyfriend when a female friend of her boyfriend sent a text message to her boyfriend, Swing said.
“She took exception to it, and they got into an argument,” he said.
They took it outside, where Rodriguez hit her boyfriend’s friend with one of the cardboard and metal trash cans placed throughout the downtown for the festival. Police responded to the call at 1:54am. Swing said a witness told police Rodriguez also kicked the female victim multiple times.
On Sunday, two females were arrested and booked into county jail after allegedly stealing wares from Taste vendors and downtown stores.
Swing said Emeline Kioa, 45, of Baypoint and Teuila Tuitupou, 39, of Morgan Hill were “shopping” but not paying vendors for their purchases.
“They were perusing various businesses and vendors set up at the Taste of Morgan Hill; when our officers, contacted them, they found over 30 items of property in their possession from eight different vendors,” said Swing.
The pair had also apparently stolen items, including a pair of jeans, from two downtown businesses. Swing said police Cpl. Shane Palsgrove was flagged down by a vendor Sunday afternoon; the vendor pointed out Tuitupou as a suspect believed to have stolen earrings from the vendor’s booth. Palsgrove and other officers watched the suspects and then contacted them after they came out of a clothing store.
Kioa and Tuitupou were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, burglary and possession of stolen property. Kioa was also arrested on suspicion of possession of burglary tools.
