Kinship Wine & Food Tasting event
Gabilan Chapter Kinship Center presents its annual Wine & Food Tasting – the oldest wine tasting event in California. It is set for Sept. 6 from 4-7 p.m. at the historic Paicines Ranch, just south of Hollister. More than 50 regional wineries and restaurants will be featured, as well as live and silent auctions. All proceeds benefit foster and adoption services in San Benito County. Tickets are $50 per person before Aug. 23. Thereafter, tickets are $55 until sold out. Tickets may be purchased online at www.kinshipcenter.org , or in Hollister at Bene, She’s or Postal Graphics.
Gavilan ‘Spirit Awards’
Nominations are open now through Aug. 29 for the 2014 Gavilan College Community Spirit Awards. Anyone who lives or works in the Gavilan Joint Community College District may nominate a business, individual or organization for all they do that contributes to the quality of life in our communities. Each year, three sets of awards are presented, for the communities of Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Benito County. In each community an individual, a business, and a nonprofit organization are selected for their history of service, their impact on the community and the inspiration they provide to others. Nomination forms, more information, and a listing of past award recipients are available online at hgavilan.edu/pio/Community_Spirit_Awards.html. For more information, call (408) 848-4724 or email jb*******@ga*****.edu.
Pet Friends Fur Ball
Pet Friends is hosting its second annual Fur Ball event set for 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Hollister Elks Club, 351 Astro Drive, at the airport. It is an evening of music, dining, raffles and fellowship to benefit animals at Pet Friends. Attendees can don their best “fake fur” apparel and join the group for a tri-tip buffet with pasta, salads, garlic bred and dessert. There is a no-host bar with a D.J. and dancing. Tickets are $35 per person or $350 for a table of 10 plus 20 complimentary raffle tickets. Ticket sales close Oct. 18. Contact Pet Friends at (831) 634-1191 or go to petfriends.org. Tickets are also available at Postal Graphics, Country Groomers or from any board member. All proceeds benefit the care of animals at Pet Friends.
Pinnacles park seeks youths for team
Pinnacles National Park is seeking up to two enthusiastic local youth (age 18 – 25 years) to join our team and make a difference in Pinnacles’ stewardship. Join the Ranger Corps as a part-time to full-time local intern (16-40 hrs/week) for this fall. Learn about the ecology, geology, cultural history, flora and fauna of our area with an emphasis on ethnobotany and California condor recovery. Help visitors have a safe and enjoyable visit to the park. Work alongside National Park Service professionals and experience the various jobs required to manage a national park. Must be between the ages of 18-25 and pass a background check. Benefits include a bi-weekly stipend ranging from $144-360 per week and an AmeriCorps educational award of $1,175 after completion of a minimum of 300 hours of service between September and December. Program begins mid-September; the application deadline is Sept. 8. To apply, send a cover letter, resume and references to De**********@np*.gov. For more information, contact Denise via email (De**********@np*.gov) or at (831) 389-4486 x222.
Hospital gets 4-star rating for skilled nursing
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital’s two Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF’s), Wm. & Inez Mabie Southside and Mabie Northside, have been awarded a 4-Star rating from the most recent evaluation from the Centers for MediCare & MediCaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Compare for 5-Star Ratings. The two SNF’s have outranked other facilities nationwide in 13 out of 17 quality indicators compared to national benchmarks. “We are pleased to receive the 4-star rating recognizing the excellent care we provide to our patients.” said Sherry Hua, RN, MSN, Director of Nursing for Wm. & Inez Mabie Southside, in a press release. “Our staff is extremely dedicated and it certainly shows in the way we care for our patients.” The 5-Star rating system for nursing homes from CMS is based on three parts or domains: health inspections, staffing ratios and quality measures. A star rating is provided for each of these three sources, then, these three ratings are combined to calculate an overall rating ranging from 1 star to 5 stars with more stars indicating better quality. For more information about the rating system please go to the following website: www.medicare.gov/NursingHomeCompare.
Fall art classes
The San Benito County Arts Council is offering three sets of fall art classes, which include courses in painting and drawing with charcoal. There will be three month long sessions including one from Sept. 8 to Oct. 3, a second from Oct. 6 to Oct. 31 and a third from Nov. 3 to Dec. 5. Classes will be held in the council’s new art space at 240 5th Street. For more information, including the full class schedule, registration forms and rates, go to sanbenitoarts.org or call Jennifer Laine at (831) 636-2787.
Whooping cough still a threat to students
San Benito County public health officials have been encouraging students to get their immunizations before they head back to school, where it is easy for peers to swap germs over shared playground structures, desks and books. In San Benito County, about 95 percent of students have received their vaccinations. The numbers are slightly above the state’s 90 percent vaccination rate, but at least 5 percent of the county’s students are still missing at least one shot. “Currently, California’s whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic continues to be a threat,” said Lynn Mello, director of nursing for San Benito County Public Health Services. “As families make plans for heading back to school, they should also make sure their children all have their immunizations required for childcare or school. That includes an adolescent whooping cough booster (Tdap) for students entering 7th grade.”
Schools are required to verify that students have all the required vaccines before pupils enter kindergarten and seventh grade. If a child does not have health insurance or is only partially insured, a doctor or local health department can provide information about the Vaccines for Children Program, which provides free or low-cost immunizations. Public Health Services is also offering expanded immunization clinics during August, which is National Immunization Awareness Month.
To learn more about the immunization required for childcare or school, visit shotsforschool.org.
