[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 49 (Thursday, March 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E616-E617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     ``SHOWCASE MORGAN HILL AWARDS''

                                 ______


                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 15, 1995
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in congratulating the eight 
winners of the Second Annual Morgan Hill Awards. These awards are 
presented by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce.
  The female volunteer of the year is Mrs. Elena Moreno, a longtime 
educator and resident of Morgan Hill, who has served the community for 
60 years. She has been and is currently on numerous boards ranging from 
the American Association of University Women to Head Start to the 
California Retired Teacher's Association. Mrs. Moreno was instrumental 
in instituting the wildflower program in Morgan Hill area schools. She 
has also served as a docent for school groups at the Morgan hill 
Historical Museum. As part of a dance troupe called the Fabulous 
Flappers, she performs tap, jazz, rock, and Latin dances for retirees 
functions, convalescent homes, benefits and many other events in the 
area.
  The male volunteer of the year is Mr. Curtis Wright, another longtime 
resident of the Morgan Hill area. Mr. Wright is a past mayor of the 
city of Morgan Hill, former city councilman for Morgan Hill, past 
president of the Morgan hill chapter of the American Heart Association 
and past president of the Pet Assisted Therapy. He has also been 
instrumental in encouraging businesses to relocate in Morgan hill by 
forming the Economic Development Council. As president of an 
advertising agency in San Jose, he has used his promotional abilities 
and advertising expertise to help launch successful events in the 
Morgan Hill area.
  Mr. James Yinger has been selected to receive the Educator of the 
Year Award. Mr. Yinger is currently the principal of the Nordstrom 
School, currently a regional nominee for the California School 
Recognition Program. This school, under Mr. Yinger's tenure, has been 
recognized for its outstanding integrated GATE, Gifted and Talented 
Education, program. As an education leader, he takes the initiative to 
make changes that will have a positive effect in the school system from 
organizing a safety patrol program to extending daycare for 
disadvantaged students.
  The Bridge Counseling Center, which is a private non-profit 
community-based mental health agency, has been awarded the Non-Profit 
of the Year Award. This center has become one of the largest and most 
extensive mental health agencies in the South County region part of 
Santa Clara County. Recently, the United Way of Santa Clara County 
presented the distinguished VIDA award to this counseling center. This 
counseling center has a plethora of services including prevention 
programs, intervention and treatment. Recently, The Bridge Counseling 
Center has 
[[Page E617]] been involved in the formation of the Morgan Hill Family 
Center and bringing experts into the Gang Awareness Task Force.
  The winner in the Civic Category is Mr. Al Alciati, city of Morgan 
Hill's chief building official. His expertise and knowledge in the 
building inspection field is recognized statewide. He has served
 on the California building officials board of directors and was past 
president of the Peninsula Chapter for the International Council of 
Building Officials. Mr. Alciati has also given his time and talents to 
youth in the community by officiating at football and baseball games, 
and he has been a longtime member of the Live Oak Boosters Century 
Club.

  The Guglielmo Winery has been selected as the Small Business of the 
Year. The winery will be celebrating its 70th year in business in 
Morgan Hill. The Guglielmo Winery has made many contributions to the 
Morgan Hill community through support of the American Heart 
Association, the American Red Cross, the local Girl and Boy Scouts, and 
many of the Chamber of Commerce's event through the year. it has been 
involved with the Santa Clara Valley Winegrowers by serving on the 
board of directors. The Guglielmo family members consistently donate 
their time and talents for many community functions and fundraisers.
  The Partner in Education Award is presented to the Live Oak 
Foundation, founded in 1981. The sole purpose of this foundation is to 
raise funds for the district schools. These funds are used to provide 
scholarships to graduating students and contribute extra funds for 
academic programs to all the schools in the area. The foundation 
operates entirely through volunteers who organize fundraising projects 
and administer the grants to schools.
  The Nob Hill Foods Co. is the recipient of the Chamber's Large 
Business Award. The Nob Hill Foods Co. was founded by and still run by 
the Bonfante family of Morgan Hill and Gilroy. The company has 25 
stores serving more than 200,000 local customers a week, and employs 
over 2,200 employees. This company has built its solid reputation from 
the outstanding customer service they provide. The Bonfante family are 
recognized as very strong supporters of the schools and non-profit 
organizations in our community.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud and command these people whose commitment and 
dedication to the community has greatly enriched the Morgan Hill area.


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