Help carriers help others
HOLLISTER
– This Saturday, May 12, San Benito County letter carriers are
asking people on their routes to leave bags of food by their mail
boxes as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp
Out Hunger! food drive. Now in its 15th year, the Stamp Out Hunger!
effort is the nation’s largest s
ingle-day food drive, having collected more than 765 million
pounds of food since its inception in 1993.
To help, people may simply leave a sturdy bag containing
non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned fruit, vegetables
or tuna, dry pasta, rice, beans or cereal next to mailboxes prior
to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday. Food items should
be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. Local
letter carriers will then collect donations from homes across the
county, and all donations will be delivered to Community Pantry in
Hollister. Pounds of food collected in the Letter Carrier Food
Drive for San Benito County and Santa Cruz County will be tallied
by Second Harvest Food Bank. For information on how to help Second
Harvest Food Bank and local agencies such as the Community Pantry
feed the hungry, go to www.thefoodbank.org.
Help carriers help others
HOLLISTER – This Saturday, May 12, San Benito County letter carriers are asking people on their routes to leave bags of food by their mail boxes as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger! food drive. Now in its 15th year, the Stamp Out Hunger! effort is the nation’s largest single-day food drive, having collected more than 765 million pounds of food since its inception in 1993.
To help, people may simply leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned fruit, vegetables or tuna, dry pasta, rice, beans or cereal next to mailboxes prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. Local letter carriers will then collect donations from homes across the county, and all donations will be delivered to Community Pantry in Hollister. Pounds of food collected in the Letter Carrier Food Drive for San Benito County and Santa Cruz County will be tallied by Second Harvest Food Bank. For information on how to help Second Harvest Food Bank and local agencies such as the Community Pantry feed the hungry, go to www.thefoodbank.org.
Running Rooster helps SBSC
HOLLISTER – People can treat Mom or the family to a meal and support the San Benito Stage Company at the same time through this weekend.
Customers dining at Running Rooster at San Benito and South streets or taking food out through May 12 can ask that 10 percent of the proceeds from their purchases go to support San Benito Stage Company. People need only mention SBSC when placing an order.
For hours or further information, people may call Running Rooster at 634-0135.
Clean air month
HOLLISTER – May is clean air month, and commuters who find an alternative to automobiles just four times during the month are eligible to win $1,000.
People may opt for walking, riding a bike, vanpool, the bus or telecommuting to be eligible for a drawing while helping keep the air clean.
People may register by visiting www.cleanairmonth.net or by calling 1-888-BAY-POOL.
Elks support court ruling
HOLLISTER – Members of the local Elks Lodge lauded a recent ruling by the Seventh District U.S. Court of Appeals dismissing an ACLU lawsuit targeting Boy Scouts.
The American Civil Liberties Union sought to block the Department of Defense from supporting the National Scout Jamboree, allowing the gathering to continue.
For more than 25 years, Boy Scouts have convened every four years at Fort A.P. Hill near Fredricksburg, VA. The 10-day gathering includes a variety of activities emphasizing fitness, the outdoors and patriotism. Seven presidents, starting with Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937, have attended the Jamboree.
The Fort Hill Jamborees are open to the public. An estimated 300,000 joined 43,000 Scouts and leaders at the 2005 event. In 2010, the Jamboree will mark the centennial anniversary of Boy Scouts of America.
Military spokesmen said they viewed the Jamboree, which requires construction of a tent city and support services for tens of thousands, as a valuable training opportunity.
The suit was filed in 1999, and rejected by the court in April of this year.
Work permits now available
HOLLISTER – Students from 12 to 18 who plan to work this summer must have a “Permit to Employ and Work” on file with employers while working.
Permits are now available through local public schools, according to the county Office of Education.
Students under 14 may only work in agricultural-related businesses or the entertainment field.
Students not attending public schools may direct work permit inquiries to the county Office of Education at 460 Fifth St., Hollister.
Graniterock wins court victory
WATSONVILLE – A jury last Friday, May 4, unanimously ruled in favor of local quarry operator Graniterock in a suit the company brought against the Teamsters Union.
Graniterock filed the suit in 2004, seeking an injunction requiring the end of a strike and that employees return to work. The suit sought damages from the Teamsters alleging breach of contract.
The jury agreed with Graniterock that in 2004, union members accepted the company’s contract proposal, rejecting the Teamster claim that the vote was merely a straw poll over one item in the proposal.
Teamsters told employees a strike remained in effect until Aug. 22, 2004, when a second vote was taken, according to a statement from Graniterock.
Graniterock’s more than 800 people work in heavy engineering, construction, and production of construction materials as well as operating retain landscape supply and design centers.
Help Scouts in time for Flag Day
HOLLISTER – Members of Boy Scout Troop 777 turn Hollister red, white and blue on several major holidays every year, in exchange for donations from local businesses.
Scouts are soliciting support before observances during Memorial Day May 28 and Flag Day June 17, when they will erect the large flags throughout downtown.
The patriotic effort is the troop’s only fund-raiser. Past proceeds funded a variety of activities, including a week at Lake Bowman in the Sierra Nevada last year. This summer, Troop 777 hopes to attend Camp Hi-Sierra.
The Scouts also use funds to support service projects. Troop 777 has erected planter boxes in front of local businesses, helped at local schools and parks and cleaned and stocked the Red Cross emergency vehicle.
Typically, businesses contribute $100, but larger or smaller donations are also welcome.
To arrange a donation, or a visit from a member of Troop 777, people may call Brent Hawks at 637-6736.
Emmaus House fund-raiser
GILROY – Gavilan College students and Emmaus House will benefit from a Monday, May 14 fund-raiser at Chevy’s Restaurant in Gilroy, 8440 Murray Ave. from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant will donate 25 percent of every bill between 3 and 9 p.m. to the students, who are raising money for Hollister’s domestic violence shelter.
Scholarship available
HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Republican Women are offering a scholarship to high school students. The “2007 Patriotic Scholarship” is $1,000 and is available to students who are enrolling in a four-year university who reside in San Benito County. The applicant, or their parents, must belong to the Republican Party. The deadline to submit applications is May 31.
For an application, or for more information, call 638-0938.
Blood drive
HOLLISTER – The American Red Cross mobile blood drive is heading to San Benito County. The mobile donation site will be in Hollister, Thursday, June 7 between 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church Hall, 1670 Cienega Road.
Residents interested in setting up an appointment to donate blood, can contact Dick Koleszar at 637-5536 or visit www.BeADonor.com and enter the code ROTARY.
Info source for new tomato disease
DAVIS – Information about a potentially devastating tomato virus new to California is now available through the University of California
Tomato yellow leaf curl appeared on plants being grown by a high school science class in March of this year. The disease is spread by whiteflies and leafhoppers. In addition to tomatoes, the virus can affect peppers, some tobacco species and a variety of weeds.
A brochure to help growers and pest control advisors covers how to identify the virus in plants and what to do if infection is suspected.
A PDF file of the brochure can be downloaded from U.C.’s integrated pest management website at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r783103311.html. A pest management guideline on the disease is to be posted on the website soon, according to Stephanie Klunk of U.C.
People who find tomato vines with symptoms resembling tomato yellow leaf curl should contact their local U.C. Cooperative Extention. The Hollister office can be reached at 637-5346.
