Health

Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were included in a list of areas statewide where people have been severely sickened by Amanita phalloides—commonly known as the death cap mushroom. A group of doctors from across California warned Jan. 14 that foraging for wild mushrooms can be...

Santa Clara Family Health Plan on July 28 commemorated the start of construction of its newest public facility, the South County Community Resource Center in Gilroy. The resource center, set to open in early 2026, will serve residents of Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San...

The Peninsula Open Space Trust recently completed the transfer of 1,908 acres of Lakeside Ranch in Morgan Hill to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency.  With the transaction, the Habitat Agency gains stewardship of one of the largest remaining intact ranches in the South Bay,...

Santa Clara County is steering $15 million into expanding childcare services in the county, officially launching last week a grant program that was approved in February.  Funds can be used by recipients for facility improvements and operating costs, including rent and wages.  The county Board of...

The idea of the Morgan Hill Magical Bridge inclusive playground started out nearly eight years ago as the brainchild of local couple Ron and Shirlee Locicero. The new park—which is home to a variety of swings, slides, sensory features, musical installations and an outdoor...

Food pantries across South County are experiencing unprecedented demand following the suspension of SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown, with lines wrapping around blocks and new families seeking assistance at rates not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Reach Out Food Pantry in...

The rain-weary Central Coast and Bay Area are being asked, again, to prepare for another round of soaking storms this week, as another atmospheric river system is expected to drench the region.  According to the National Weather Service, the atmospheric river is forecast to make...

On Aug. 12, 2022, a man arrived at the trauma unit of the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose bleeding from multiple stab wounds to his wrist and abdomen. Doctors determined that he had stabbed himself with a four-inch knife. After emergency surgery...

Julie Hutcheson, a longtime Morgan Hill resident and environmental advocate for the South Bay, is the new executive director for Green Foothills.  Hutcheson has been on Green Foothills’ staff for more than 12 years and has taken an active role in leading the organization, most...

Gilroy Assistance League has announced the opening of its 2026 Grants Program, with applications available beginning Jan. 5.  The annual Grants Program supports local youth-focused organizations and programs that provide meaningful services to children and teens throughout the Gilroy, San Martin and Morgan Hill communities, says...