Event encourages good times without poor choices
San Benito residents went out to Dunne Park on Oct. 24 to
celebrate a day of drug- and alcohol-free fun at the annual Red
Ribbon Run, which this year included an all-day festival with food
vendors, entertainment and raffles.
Event encourages good times without poor choices
San Benito residents went out to Dunne Park on Oct. 24 to celebrate a day of drug- and alcohol-free fun at the annual Red Ribbon Run, which this year included an all-day festival with food vendors, entertainment and raffles.
The day started with the Red Ribbon Run, a two-mile run that had about 80 participants. Each participant got a Red Ribbon T-shirt, and many still had their numbers safety pinned to the front of their shirts hours after the run.
Monica Rodriguez, who works for the San Benito County Behavioral Health Department as a substance abuse counselor, said “everyone has been really excited.”
“The first guy was in pretty quick,” Rodriguez said. “We had a good turnout.”
She said much of the entertainment was geared to youth, such as the local band Africo, which performed a set of songs, or Aztec dancers who invited the participants to dance with them. Other entertainment included the Chicano All-Stars and dancer Sammy Ramirez.
“We are trying to focus on youth, to show them a neutral territory,” she said. “There is no alcohol, so they can realize they have a good time without it.”
Rodriguez said the event was also a chance for the staff of behavioral health to see how their work has an effect in the community.
“We work so hard so it’s nice to see the outcome,” she said.
After the members of Africo performed their set, awards were given out for the overall fastest running times and for each age group. Dozens of runners were honored with first-, second- or third-place medals.
In addition to the awards for the runners, the staff also put on a poetry contest for high school students (see below for winners) and a poster contest for elementary and middle school students. The posters were framed and shown in the clubhouse at Dunne Park.
Throughout the day, volunteers sold raffle tickets and the staff called out winning numbers a few times throughout the day. Many of the prizes were gift certificates at local businesses such as the Knife and Fork Cafe, Round Table Pizza and Super Taqueria.
“It went really smooth this year,” said Renee Hankla, the substance abuse program supervisor. “There were no real challenges. All the agencies worked together.”
Each year the Behavioral Health staff work together with the Hollister Police Department, the county Sheriff’s Office, the Probation Department, Hollister Youth Alliance, California Highway Patrol and the County Office of Education to put on the Red Ribbon Run. This year, the committee decided to put on a festival after the run to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Red Ribbon Run in Hollister.
At the festival, groups who help with prevention or promote alternatives to drug and alcohol were invited to have booths at the event. They include such groups as Hollister Youth Alliance, the YMCA of San Benito County and some others.
“They encourage healthy lifestyles,” Hankla said. “They are important partners in the community for what we do.”
Red Ribbon Run Top finishers
Overall male winner: Brian Lucas, with 11:35
Overall female winner: Jasmine McMahon, with 14:55:6
9 and under, females:
Marissa Castaneda, first
Kathryn Quinones, second
Destiny Barranza, third
9 and under, males:
Vincent Jacinto, first
Victor Jacinto, second
Trevor Turner, third
10-13, females
Amy Quinones, first
Linnae Rodriguez, second
Lori Hayes, third
10-13, males
Steven Velarde, first
Steven Johst, second
Christien Orozco, third
14-19, males
Kade Vessey, first
Gabe Orozco, second
Matthew Johst, third
20-29, females
Jasmine McMahon, first
Robin Beckwith, second
Angelica Rodriguez, third
20-29, males
Wayne Hambin, first
Chad Bojorquez, second
30-39, females
Pam Murray, first
Jennifer Logue, second
Stacy Plummer, third
30-39, males
Jonathan Sinclair, first
Josh Padron, second
Carlos Enriquez, third
40-49, females
Jacqueline Fancher, first
Maria Mansmith, second
Michelle Redmond, third
40-49, males
Don Jones, first
50-59, females
Lilia Figueroa, first
Nancy McLean, second
50-59, males
Brian Lucas, first
Daniel Dungy, second
Joseph Claus, third
60-69, males
William Ritz, first
Poster contest winners
K-second grade
Sarah Brewen, Bitterwater, first place
McKenna Neff, Spring Grove, second place
Robin Johnson, Bitterwater, third place
Third-fifth grade
Arely Navarro, Spring Grove, first place
Carla Vasquez, Spring Grove, second place
Karina Collins, Spring Grove, third place
Sixth-eighth grade
Kiana Khansmith, Marguerite Maze, first place
Cassandra Barraza, Marguerite Maze, second place
Destinee Rodriguez, Gabilan Hills, third place
Ninth-12th grade
Hannah Bernosky, first place, San Benito High School
Sienna Robrock, second place, San Benito High School
Jessica Stegeman, third place, San Benito High School
Poetry contest winners
First place
WAKE UP
By Sienna Jane Coile Robrock
feel of that one hit.
explodes my brain then implodes.
I’m six feet under.
Second place
“I’ll be your most unforgettable hello and your hardest goodbye”
By Brianna Marie Bueno
The Sweetest Taste of Sin
Unstoppable & Unbreakable
Heartbreaker & Breathtaker
Im Pretty Much a Big Deal
I’ll be your most unforgettable hello and your hardest goodbye
Im stubborn and impatient; but i can guarantee im worth it
So the balls in my court; not passin it; im runnin with it
I got my standards high; and my guard even higher
Heart the size of this planet; temper even bigger
Someone once told me that being conservative
Only means less pages in lifes many chapters
So given the opportunity you better take it
I am the difference. I am the influence
I am the dream. You are the dreamer
Take my heart; Ill take your hand
Talk Chill Conversate?
