THUMBS UP: Expect a much more old-fashioned, laid-back
environment at the corner of San Benito and Fifth streets for years
to come now that The Vault will give way to Country Rose, which is
set to move around the start of May into one of downtown’s most
historic, beautiful buildings.
THUMBS UP: Expect a much more old-fashioned, laid-back environment at the corner of San Benito and Fifth streets for years to come now that The Vault will give way to Country Rose, which is set to move around the start of May into one of downtown’s most historic, beautiful buildings. The restaurant with a breakfast-focused menu is leaving behind its more cramped quarters at 696 Fourth St. after owners Sharon Baker and Nicole Geslin reached a lease agreement with Ignacio Velazquez, the building’s owner and founder of The Vault.
This transition could end up being just what downtown Hollister has needed – and it undoubtedly will foster a boost for Country Rose – with a potential anchor restaurant in the heart of the city to draw additional foot traffic to the district. Baker told the Free Lance they intend to keep the same country feel to the business while trying some new ideas and venturing into a dinner menu. It’s a wise outlook considering that’s what got them where they are today, and we wish them luck and encouragement on their latest move into downtown.
THUMBS DOWN: Local philanthropists have some regrouping to do after the recent announcement that the United Way of America shut down the 22-year-old San Benito County chapter, which allocates about $100,000 annually to area nonprofit organizations. The local chapter run by all volunteers had been months late in submitting their latest reports and its leaders noted a transforming national philosophy moving away from the traditional, grassroots way of raising money.
This development was surprising – because the general public had no knowledge about the chapter’s troubles – but it wasn’t exactly stunning considering the poor economy and the coinciding difficult times for nonprofit organizations. For more than two decades, local volunteers offered their time and effort to this great cause and they deserve recognition for serving this community’s less fortunate.
THUMBS UP: It’s easy to take for granted the utter beauty of this county’s landscapes, but anyone who has visited Pinnacles National Monument knows it’s a treasure that exhibits the importance of preserving the scarcity of open spaces that remain today in our country.
The park celebrates its 100th birthday as a national monument this weekend. And while that’s certainly a long time, we hope it’s a relative blip in a much longer lifespan as a protected area. From today through Sunday, there are plenty of activities for adventurers and families to enjoy. We encourage residents to consider a trip to the park for the festivities, and anyone with questions can call 389-4485.
THUMBS DOWN: With many local citizens and business leaders frustrated with the state’s decision to choose the Flynn Road site for the new courthouse, Sheriff Curtis Hill’s warned that debating too much over the selection could potentially lead to San Benito County losing the money altogether.
Though Hill publicly takes no sides on the debate of whether to keep the courthouse downtown or move it near the jail, he told the Free Lance: “We need to watch the level of controversy that we create around the whole matter. If we get to involved in the process, we … could screw it up and lose the money.” 
His point goes against the crux of democratic reasoning and devalues citizens’ right to protest their governments’ poor decisions. The bottom line is that a move away from downtown would hurt businesses in that area and it would redefine the very core of Hollister’s civic and judicial identities.
What’s next if the centralized structure is broken: the probation department, district attorney’s office, communications department and sheriff’s office go next? And so what happens to downtown then? We, like the protesters, don’t want to find out.
