New development, leadership mark 2010 for SBC
The economy continued to permeate every aspect of life in San
Benito County in 2010, from a continued high unemployment rate to
budget woes that forced painful cutbacks to local schools,
including layoffs and the elimination of some sports programs.
While longtime businesses such as Maddux Jewelry and The Elegant
Touch announced closures, the venerable Tiffany Ford and McKinnon
Lumber each celebrated a century in business. Voters elected a new
sheriff, and officials approved the Santana Ranch residential
development and the Solargen solar farm.
What follows is a recap of some of the stories The Pinnacle
covered in 2010:
New development, leadership mark 2010 for SBC
The economy continued to permeate every aspect of life in San Benito County in 2010, from a continued high unemployment rate to budget woes that forced painful cutbacks to local schools, including layoffs and the elimination of some sports programs. While longtime businesses such as Maddux Jewelry and The Elegant Touch announced closures, the venerable Tiffany Ford and McKinnon Lumber each celebrated a century in business. Voters elected a new sheriff, and officials approved the Santana Ranch residential development and the Solargen solar farm.
What follows is a recap of some of the stories The Pinnacle covered in 2010:
JANUARY
– Pot dispensary opens
Beginning a saga that would include eviction notices, lawsuits and even a City Council candidacy, Hollister resident Scott McPhail opened a medical marijuana dispensary near the busiest intersection in downtown Hollister.
City officials immediately said Purple Cross Rx was operating in violation of zoning codes, while McPhail claimed the nonprofit had a right to dispense. By the end of the month, the City Council passed two ordinances banning dispensaries and setting up a legal battle with McPhail and his lawyers. He eventually closed shop but expects to open again soon on Bolsa Road.
– Solar partnership to power sewer plan
The Hollister council approved a deal with ClearSpot Energy to build a 1.2-megawatt solar plant around the city’s wastewater treatment facility on Old San Juan Highway.
The company, which pledged to pay all operating installation costs for the facility, planned to sell the clean energy to the city at a discount, claiming the city would save more than $10 million over a 30-year period.
– Air show plans take off
The City of Hollister announced plans to sponsor a Memorial Day Weekend air show at the Hollister Airport as a means of promoting the venue.
“One thing that’s dangerous for an airport is a lack of public awareness and information,” said Airport Director Mike Chambless.
The event was planned on a weekend that wouldn’t conflict with other air shows in the region, including Salinas and Watsonville.
FEBRUARY
– Students, community rally for ill SBHS student
San Benito High School students created YouTube videos promoting a fundraising drive to help Diana Magana, a freshman who was battling cancer.
The videos went viral, earning recognition on local television stations and eventually helped raise more than $15,000 for Magana.
– Gas station proposed at Windmill Market
The owners of Windmill Market at the intersection of Hwy. 156 and The Alameda in San Juan Bautista proposed building a gas station in a portion of the shopping center’s parking lot.
The goal was to draw more business to Windmill Market and downtown San Juan.
“(The shopping center) has been a successful place, but we need to jack it up a little bit,” said Jim Gibson, who also owns Hollister Super and Baler Market in Hollister.
The plan was eventually nixed by the city council in October.
– Social host law enacted by city
The Hollister City Council approved the first reading of a social host ordinance that established monetary fines for anyone who provides alcohol to people under age 21. The ordinance would fine offenders $500 for a first violation, $750 for a second violation and $1,000 for a third or subsequent violations.
“We want to help people understand the impact that alcohol has on youth and the community,” said Mayor Victor Gomez.
– San Benito healthy and stressed
San Benito County was ranked the second healthiest of California’s 56 counties in a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin. But in the same month, it was announced that the county had the 17th-highest economic stress level of the more than 3,100 counties in the United States, according to an Associated Press analysis that factored in unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates.
– Shore Road flea market proposal denied
The county Board of Supervisors denied an applicant’s prospects for a flea market on Shore Road. Robert Rodriguez initially proposed neighboring rodeo and flea market businesses but removed the rodeo complex portion of the plan before a public hearing in which approximately 60 residents spoke against the plan.
Rodriguez would later be rebuffed in his attempts to build a flea market near the Hollister Airport, while a final decision is coming from county supervisors.
MARCH
– SBHS approves budget cuts
Facing a $1.8-million shortfall for the 2010-11 school year, San Benito High School District trustees approved most of the cuts proposed to shore up the deficit, including personnel and program cuts.
Among the cuts was $100,000 to the athletics department, which later in the year would lead to the announcement that freshman sports would be eliminated in the 2011-12 academic year.
– Bob Cruz passes away
Bob Cruz, a two-term county supervisor who championed controlled growth, services for children and the rights of low-income residents, died after battling an illness.
Before serving two terms representing District 2, Cruz worked at San Benito Foods and other canneries.
– HSD sends out 95 pink slips
Portending budget, personnel and program cuts to come, the Hollister School District in mid-March sent out pink slips to 80 teachers and 15 administrators.
“I’ve never seen it this bad,” Superintendent Ron Crates said of the budget crisis. “We have declining enrollment, less kids and a huge budget crisis. I am trying to mitigate against that number.” The district in May sent second notices to 71 teachers.
APRIL
– Condor hatchling
Biologists announced that a California condor egg hatched in Pinnacles National Monument for the first time in more than a century.
Two 7-year-old condors that were released along the Big Sur coast by the Ventana Wildlife Society were seen in courtship displays during the winter and paired up for their first breeding attempt.
– Jobless rate hits 22 percent
San Benito County’s unemployment rate rose to 22.1 percent in February, well above the state average of 12.5 percent and the national rate of 9.7 percent.
Six thousand people in the county’s labor force were unemployed at the time of the report.
– An opus ends for Mr. O
After nearly 45 years teaching music to generations of Hollister children, Joe Ostenson – or “Mr. O” as he is affectionately known – announced that he would be retiring in June at age 68.
“It’s time,” he said. “The eyes don’t work quite as well. The back doesn’t work as well. It’s time to get out so I can still do some things.”
– About two-thirds in county return Census
As the deadline passed for locals to mail in their 2010 Census forms, 69 percent of San Benito County residents had returned their form. Census staff later went door-to-door attempting to count residents in person between May 1 and July 15.
MAY
– SJB bans pot dispensaries
Aware of the legal battles being waged between cities and medical marijuana dispensaries around the area – including nearby Hollister – the San Juan Bautista council adopted an urgency ordinance banning dispensaries in the town at least through March 2011. Though there had been no specific request to open a dispensary in San Juan, City Manager Steve Julian said the ordinance offered “protection of the public health and welfare.”
– Missing soldier honored 67 years later in Arlington
Joseph Gulli was one of four brothers to serve in World
War II, but he was the only one who didn’t return. In 1943, the 22-year-old’s B-52 plane was shot down off the New Guinea coast by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and his remains were never found.
On May 13, his surviving family members gathered at Arlington National Cemetery for a full military burial, three days after what would have been Gulli’s 89th birthday.
– Dog attacks, overpopulation spark action
Responding to a spike in local attacks involving pit bulls as well as an increase in abandoned Chihuahuas, Hollister officials announced they were working on an ordinance that would require that those breeds be spayed or neutered.
“We’ve had a spate of pit bull attacks where we’ve had dogs attacking dogs, dogs attacking humans and dogs attacking humans and dogs,” said Police Chief Jeff Miller. “We need to do something to ensure public safety.” The ordinance was approved in October.
– Gavilan leaving Hollister Airport site
After the City of Hollister announced plans to raise the rent on Gavilan College’s aviation program by nearly $7,000 per month, the college announced the program would relocate to the San Martin Airport.
– RDA hit hard by money transfer to state
The Hollister Redevelopment Agency was forced to transfer $5 million to the state, a “devastating” hit that will likely ground most projects to a halt for a few years, City Manager Clint Quilter said.
May 10 was the deadline for Hollister and other California cities with redevelopment agencies to transfer a total of $2 billion to the state to help with the budget crisis. Hollister sent more than $4.5 million in May and owes another $1 million or so in early 2011.
– Idea for Leatherback location falls through
Gavilan College officials declined a proposal to partner with developers of the local YMCA to place temporary classroom space at the former Leatherback property owned by the Hollister RDA. The site has been vacant for about three years since the RDA purchased it for $4 million. Gavilan officials in recent months said they would reconsider the site.
JUNE
– June primary sets stage for November races
Undersheriff Pat Turturici finished about 200 votes shy of winning the county sheriff’s seat outright, forcing a runoff between him and Watsonville Lt. Darren Thompson. Turturici, who finished with nearly twice as many votes as runner-up Thompson, would lose the election in November.
In the 28th Assembly race, San Benito County Republican Robert Bernosky and Watsonville Mayor and Democrat Luis Alejo won their parties’ primaries. Alejo won the general election race in November.
County supervisorial incumbents Reb Monaco and Pat Loe were ousted in the primary, with Phil Fortino and Jerry Muenzer besting Monaco and forcing a November run-off – which Muenzer won. Loe was bested by Robert Rivas, who earned the seat by winning more than 70 percent of the vote.
JULY
– City sets stage for cuts, layoffs
The Hollister City Council approved a $38.6 million budget that includes a general fund reduction of 12.5 percent.
It was announced that if the city continued to spend at the same pace, Hollister would be $8.4 million in the red by fiscal year 2013-14.
– Median installation starts on Hwy. 25
Construction workers installed the first third of the Hwy. 25 median divider running north from Shore Road. The other sections of the divider were installed in subsequent weeks, creating a barrier from Hudner Lane northward.
AUGUST
– Animal shelter changes hours
Reversing a schedule adopted nearly a year-and-a-half before to increase adoptions, reduce euthanasia and provide greater public access, the Hollister Animal Shelter announced it would reinstate Monday hours and no longer be open on Saturdays.
While shelter admissions jumped nearly 10.5 percent between March 2009 and February 2010, the adoption rate decreased by 4.5 percent and the euthanasia rate jumped more than 8 percent.
“People expect government offices to be open Monday through Friday,” said Police Chief Jeff Miller.
– Purple Cross vacates downtown
One week before a lawsuit brought by the City of Hollister against Purple Cross Rx was set to be heard in court, Scott McPhail moved the medical marijuana dispensary from its downtown location to a building near the Hollister Airport.
“It was a strategic move to step away from that building and it worked,” said McPhail, who then opened a dispensary in Los Banos in a building owned by former San Benito County Supervisor Richard Scagliotti.
– Restoring a neighborhood treasure
The Hollister Youth Alliance was awarded a $100,000 grant for a 16-month Dunne Park Restoration Project designed to make the park more family-friendly.
The grant will be used to survey neighbors about potential improvements and to upgrade the bathroom and drinking fountains. Plans also call for the promotion of healthy activities at the oldest of Hollister’s 12 parks.
SEPTEMBER
– No downtown parking patrols
The search for someone to fill the part-time parking enforcement position at the Hollister Police Department continued and downtown parking patrols stopped after two temporary officers finished their stints.
Since re-establishing downtown enforcement of parking rules and purchasing a new vehicle to help with the job, more than $30,000 in tickets had been issued.
“We are not doing it for the revenue,” said Police Chief Jeff Miller. “We are doing it for compliance.”
– Hwy. 25 median completed
The completion of the Hwy. 25 median project was celebrated in early September after nearly 5 miles of concrete barriers were added to the well-traveled corridor between Hudner Lane and the Santa Clara County line.
The more than $13 million project included an upgraded rumble strip, the addition of frontage roads for agricultural vehicles and improved lighting at Hudner Lane and Shore Road.
– Pipeline near SJB on PG&E fix list
A gas pipeline that runs over the San Andreas Fault just outside of San Juan Bautista between Hwy. 156 and Crazy Horse Road was placed on Pacific Gas and Electric’s list of 100 long-range pipeline repairs.
The report came after the large gas line explosion in San Bruno in early September.
Because of the pipeline’s remote location, work on the pipeline would not affect San Juan, though the unpredictable nature of the ground in earthquake country, Mayor Ed Laverone said other gas lines in or near the city could be a concern as well.
– McKinnon Lumber celebrates 100th
McKinnon Lumber in downtown Hollister celebrated a century in business Sept. 10, treating customers to cake in honor of the anniversary.
OCTOBER
– Santana Ranch gets environmental OK
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors approved the Santa Ranch housing project’s environmental report, clearing the path for full approval of the proposed 1,092-unit development planned for 292 acres near the intersections of Fairview, Hillcrest and Sunnyslope roads.
The project was formally approved by supervisors in early November.
– San Benito grad awarded Purple Heart
Private Second Class Clayton Swanson, a 2008 graduate of San Benito High School, received a Purple Heart after getting wounded during combat in Afghanistan.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates bestowed the award on Swanson while visiting troops outside Kandahar.
– New truck route designated
The truck route that used to take big rigs from San Felipe Road to Santa Ana and over to Fourth Street via McCray was officially moved to the Hwy. 25 bypass, more than a year after it was opened to traffic.
– Middle school sports cut
The Hollister School District announced plans to cut middle school sports starting in January. The move was expected to save approximately $28,000 this academic year and $56,000 annually after that.
The announcement came on the heels of $100,000 in cuts to San Benito High School’s sports program. The YMCA later announced that it would take over the sports programs for three schools, with the parent-teacher organization at Rancho San Justo School considering managing a fee-based program there.
– School district faces state takeover
With a decreasing cash flow and less money from the state, the Hollister School
District has fallen into a financial crisis and is in the final steps before a possible state takeover.
The district must cut between $2.5 million and $2.75 million from its $40 million budget in each of the next two years.
– Gas leak found, fixed
Crews found and repaired a “potentially hazardous” gas leak at the PG&E valve station on Santa Ana Road near Fairview during a survey of transmission lines, the utility reported.
The local leak, one of four found statewide on main transmission pipelines, was repaired by tightening a cap or bolt on the line.
NOVEMBER
– Reclaimed water gets a tryout
In the latest effort to prove the efficacy of using reclaimed water to irrigate local crops, the San Benito County Water District displayed the bounty from a five-acre test plot grown with water from Hollister’s wastewater treatment facility.
“You can see no difference between the crops grown by groundwater and the water that produced this crop,” said Jeff Cattaneo, director of the water district.
– Locals cast their ballots
In the November general election, voters cast their ballot for a number of state measures and selected new state and local representatives. In other races, incumbent Pauline Valdivia and former councilman Robert Scattini were elected to the Hollister City Council.
Voter turnout was higher than expected in the county, with an estimated 62 percent of registered voters casting a ballot.
The only bond measure on local ballots, a $9.7 million facilities bond for the Aromas-San Juan Unified School District, passed. Among the various school board races, newcomers Tony Ruiz of Hollister and Walt Glines of Gilroy earned spots on the Gavilan College board of trustees while incumbent and Hollister resident Kent Child was re-elected.
– Alternative energy means business
Despite opposition from some ranchers, landowners and environmentalists, the Solargen Energy 399-megawatt solar plant in Panoche Valley earned approval from the county.
The scaled-back project is expected to bring a number of construction jobs as well as up to 50 full-time jobs once completed. Save Panoche Valley and the Santa Clara Audubon Society later filed a joint lawsuit against Solargen and the county challenging approval of the project’s environmental report.
Elsewhere in south county, it was reported that electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors applied for a permit to do periodic safety testing of electric vehicle components 20 miles south of Hollister.
– Teachers, high school reach accord
After declaring an impasse in contract negotiations, the San Benito High School District and its teachers’ association agreed on a three-year agreement that would restore two professional development days and give teachers the right to negotiate raises in the next two years.
The district also announced that it would use the $645,000 it received from the federal jobs bill to hire one full-time English teacher, re-hire a retired science teacher and also add other teachers in an effort to reduce class sizes.
DECEMBER
– City wants state to pay for Hwy. 25
Hollister officials, upset by what they see as the state reneging on a planned swap of the existing, state-controlled Hwy. 25 route through downtown for the locally-funded, year-old bypass, are hoping to find resolution through the California Transportation Commission.
The City Council voted not to simply transfer control of the old state highway through downtown to the state, but to seek state funding of repairs to the roadway before an exchange occurs.
– Marshal’s office closure causes rift
The impending closure of the San Benito County Marshal’s Office at the end of the year prompted Robbie Scattini to prevent a transition before then.
“Nobody is taking a thing from my office until my time is off,” the outgoing marshal and incoming city councilman told the Board of Supervisors. “We’ve gotten little respect from anyone in the county…If I seem upset, it’s because I am.”
– Bolado Park course struggles
Officials running the Bolado Park Golf Course said the 64-year-old, 9-hole course isn’t scheduled to close, but needs a big boost or could face its demise sometime soon.
“There’s a pulse, but it’s kind of a weak one,” said Steve Janisch, the PGA general manager who joined Bolado two years ago. “We’re trying everything we can. Right now, it is literally a month-to-month situation here.”
* For a rundown of the Free Lance’s Top 10 stories of 2010, go to the paper’s website at www.freelancenews.com.
