News/Blog

August 15, 2025

National Night Out in Morgan Hill

By Brittney Sherman

Hundreds of residents gathered at the Civic Center Plaza on Aug. 5 for Morgan Hill’s National Night Out, hosted by the Police Department and city officials. Families explored police cars, fire engines, and motorcycles, while learning about local nonprofits and city services at interactive booths. The evening featured games, live entertainment, and a raffle that awarded prizes including bikes for local kids. National Night Out is part of a nationwide effort to strengthen community ties and foster positive relationships with law enforcement.

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August 13, 2025

Rosso Furniture set to close Gilroy, Morgan Hill stores

By Brittney Sherman

After nearly 50 years in South County, Rosso Furniture & Décor is closing its Morgan Hill and Gilroy stores. Founded in 1978 by Anthony and Jaime Rosso Jr., the family business grew into a local home furnishings destination and community supporter. Melissa O’Malley, who purchased the company in 2021, cited ongoing economic challenges in the decision to close the stores permanently.

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August 11, 2025

Economic Development Visit Pinnacle Exhibits

By Brittney Sherman

Founded in 1998, Pinnacle Exhibits designs and builds custom trade show exhibits, brand environments, and event displays for clients across a wide range of industries. One of 5 locations in the country, they lease an 85,000-square-foot facility within the Morgan Hill Butterfield 5 industrial park. Pinnacle Exhibits serves a diverse client base ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. Their 35 strong team of designers, project managers, and fabricators draws from the local talent pool spanning Hollister to San Jose. While they face competition from both regional and national firms their ability to offer fully integrated services under one roof enables them to quickly adapt to client needs and market trends. The company continues to expand into and make efficiencies in their new building at Butterfield 5 following a move from their prior 62,000 sqft. facility on Sutter boulevard.

August 08, 2025

County pushes new sales tax after federal cuts

By Brittney Sherman

Santa Clara County supervisors voted unanimously on Aug. 7 to put a sales tax increase before voters this November to help close a looming budget gap. The measure would raise the countywide sales tax to 9.75%, which translates to $1.25 on a $200 purchase or nearly $190 on a $30,000 car. County Executive James Williams projects the county will lose $1.3 billion by 2029–30 due to cuts in federal healthcare funding for programs like Medicare and Medi-Cal. Officials say the proposed five-eighths cent increase could bring in over $330 million across five years to help offset the shortfall.

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August 06, 2025

Theme parks press forward with developments

By Brittney Sherman

Theme park operators are pushing ahead with new projects despite a tough first half marked by severe weather and weaker spending on nonessential activities. Regional chains like Six Flags, which posted a $100 million quarterly loss while searching for a new CEO, are under particular pressure. Larger destination parks such as Disney and Universal held up better, but overall industry performance fell short of expectations, and analysts say it may take another two to three years to reach pre-pandemic attendance and revenue levels. Uncertainty from tariffs and poor weather in 2025 have further weighed on demand, discouraging some consumers from renewing annual passes.

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August 04, 2025

6 Trends Still Defining Consumer Behavior

By Brittney Sherman

Five years after the pandemic, consumer behavior continues to reshape retail, dining, entertainment, and office trends. Visits to brick-and-mortar retail and dining venues are now higher than pre-COVID, driven by major brand expansions and a strong appetite for in-person experiences. Shoppers are increasingly selective, often visiting multiple chains rather than relying on one-stop shops, while value remains a decisive factor—discount and premium segments are thriving as mid-market players lose ground. Entertainment has stabilized at new levels, with museums and “eatertainment” venues holding steady, though movie theaters remain volatile and dependent on box office performance. Meanwhile, hybrid work has left office visits a third below 2019 levels despite return-to-office efforts. Overall, consumers continue to embrace offline shopping and dining, signaling that physical experiences still hold strong appeal alongside digital convenience.

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