Auditions set for ‘Big River’
HOLLISTER – The San Benito Stage Company will host auditions for its summer show, Rodger & Hammerstein’s “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Auditions are May 10 and 11 at 6:30 p.m., and May 12 at 10 a.m., at the Granada Theatre, 336 Fifth St., in Hollister. Auditions are open to children ages 8 through adult. Those trying out should be prepare an audition song, bring sheet music and comfortable shoes for dancing. The show will be July 13, 14,15, 30,21,22, 27, 28 and 29. Details: 636-0122 or www.sanbenitostage.org.
Scholarships for local new or returning college students
HOLLISTER – Monterey County Farm Bureau and Central Coast Young Farmers & Ranchers have announced the posting of its scholarship applications. Scholarships are available for new and returning college students attending a university or community college in Fall 2012 from San Benito or Monterey County.
Various scholarship amounts are available, depending on the number of applications. Applicants must have completed their high school education in Monterey or San Benito counties, and are seeking a higher education degree that focuses on an agricultural curriculum.
Completed applications are due by May 18 and can be found online at www.montereycfb.com.
Stroke and osteoporosis screenings
HOLLISTER – Life Line Screening will hold a screening to help people reduce their risk of having a stroke or bone fracture April 19 at Hillside Christian Fellowship, 281 San Felipe Road in Hollister. Packages start at $149. All five screenings take 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Pre-registration is required. Details or to schedule an appointment: (877) 237-1287 or visit lifelinescreening.com.
Deer Association Dinner
HOLLISTER – South County California Deer Association will hold a dinner April 21 at the Hollister Elks Lodge, 371 Astro Drive, Hollister. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the prime rib dinner begins at 7 p.m. There will be a no-host bar, games, auctions and raffles. Tickets: $75 per person; $110 per couple; $45 per Life Member and $45 per Junior. Seating is limited. Details: caldeer.org/South County.
Last chance for high school Europe trips
HOLLISTER – San Benito High School students still have time to sign up for summer trips to London and France, June 4-13. The trip includes stops at Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and more in London, Paris, Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley in France. It is a social science department field trip that will explore the area where American, British and Canadian soldiers landed on D-Day during anniversary celebrations that will going on. Details: For more information, call Andrea Walton at 637-5831 ext. 472 or email aw*****@sb***.us.
Housing Resource Center offers support in San Benito
HOLLISTER – The Housing Resource Center, a nonprofit Housing and Urban Development approved housing counseling agency has contracted with HUD to help San Benito homeowners facing financial hardships who need guidance. For more information on services, visit www.hrcmc.org.
Free computer seminar for seniors
HOLLISTER – Leadership San Benito will be hosting a free computer seminar for seniors. The seminars will cover information on how to use computers, how to surf the web, connect with friends on Facebook and how to use cell phones. The seminars will be April 21, with instruction from 9 to 11 a.m. and an open session from 11 a.m. to noon, at San Juan School, 100 Nyland Dr., in San Juan; May 5 and 19, with instruction from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., with an open session, from 11 a.m. to noon, at San Benito High School, Room 477. Space is limited so RSVP is required. Details: 205-1799 or se*************@gm***.com.
Local businesses called to participate in Shop Hop
HOLLISTER – The Spring Shop Hop is scheduled for May 5. Businesses that are interested in participating in the shop local event can call Kathina at 638-1188 or email ka*****@sa***********.com.
For the inaugural Shop Hop event before the holidays, more than 60 local businesses participated and they raffled off 11 baskets full of local products or gift certificates. There were 722 entries from shoppers on the day of the event. The spring event will be more of the same.
Caregiver University set for April
HOLLISTER – The Del Mar Caregiver Resource Center, the Area Agency on Aging, Jovenes de Antano and the Seniors Council will host a Caregiver University April 21, at the Hollister Community Center, 300 West St., in Hollister. The Caregiver University is a series of conferences that support and educate caregivers who are caring for loved ones with chronic health conditions. This year’s free events will include new topics designed especially to meet the needs of caregivers.
An additional Caregiver University will be held May 19, at the Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave., in Seaside.
Details: Sandra at 459-6639.
Test drive a car, support Baler athletics
HOLLISTER – San Benito High School’s Baler Backers Athletic Organization and Hollister’s Tiffany Ford are partnering for a fundraising event Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the football parking lot. For every test drive of a vehicle onsite at the school that day, a donation will be made to Baler Backers – up to $6,000.
The annual fundraising event, called Ford Drive One 4 UR School, brings in $20 to Baler Backers for every test drive. Baler Backers’ mission is to support and encourage student participation in Baler athletics by providing financial support to the programs of the San Benito High School Athletic Department. For more information, visit www.balerbackers.wordpress.com.
Local blood drive
HOLLISTER – There will be an American Red Cross blood drive held April 19, from 1 to 6 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1670 Cienega Road. To make an appointment, use the sponsor code HOLLISTER.
Details: 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or www.redcrossblood.org.
Class of 1982 plans reunion
HOLLISTER – The San Benito High School class of 1982 is planning a reunion for September. The reunion will be Sept. 15 at Leal Vineyards. Tickets are $50 per person.
Details: Call Teri at 636-8204, or visit the class of 1982 on Facebook, Classmates.com or SBJUHS website.
VFW wants to connect with those who served in French liberation
HOLLISTER – The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9242 of Hollister is looking for men and women from San Benito County that served in the Armed Forces that liberated France. The French government is planning to award those that are still alive with the Legion of Honor. Those who served in the liberation of France are asked to call the local post at 637-9028 and leave their name and phone number.
Pink flamingoes invade for fundraiser
HOLLISTER – The Hollister Women’s Club will be doing an interactive fundraiser during the first two weeks of April. According to their press release, “pink flamingoes are migrating our way and will soon be flocking to yards near you during the first two weeks of April. Keep an eye out for these pretty pink birds, but be cautious as they can be territorial. Safe removal of the flock may be accomplished by calling one of our removal specialists.” Details: For more information, call Kim Kimber, of the Women’s Club, at 207-7016.
Pat’s Place accepts donations
HOLLISTER –Pat’s Place is open on the first Saturday of each month from noon to 3 p.m. to receive donations. The store will be closed for shopping, but donations will be accepted.
The thrift store benefits the San Benito County Food Bank. It is located at 101 Fifth St., in Hollister.
Details: 637-5500.
Stage company scholarships available
HOLLISTER – The San Benito Stage Company is offering its first scholarships to graduating seniors this year. The San Benito Stage Company Alumni Scholarship and the Dave King Memorial Scholarship are $500.
To be eligible, students must be a graduating high school senior, a resident of San Benito County, and must have been a participant as a performer or tech crew in a San Benito Stage Company production during their high school term. Applications are due April 23.
Applications are available at the high school career center, from a counselor or can be downloaded at www.sanbenitostage.org.
Details: 636-0122.
Free compost class
HOLLISTER – A free composting class will be held May 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. Composting is a way to save money by lowering garbage bills and replacing store-bought soil conditioners. It helps garden and house plants by improving fertility and health of the soil, saving water by helping the soil hold moisture and reducing water runoff, and it benefits the environment by recycling valuable organic resources and extending the life of landfills. Participants will receive a free compost bin.
Limited space is available so call ahead to sign up. The workshop is sponsored by San Benito County’s Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency.
Details: 636-4110.
Hollister Hills offers educational opportunities
HOLLISTER – The interpretation department at Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area is gearing up to provide a variety of educational opportunities through the parks curriculum-based education program and its Junior Off-Highway Ranger adventure. The free programs offer educational, inspirational and recreational opportunities. The program will expose students to the various topics concerning the environment, cultural preservation, OHV safety and OHV recreational opportunities.
In addition to the outdoor program, Hollister Hills SVRA staff members will be holding a Junior Off-Highway Ranger program. The free program will provide participants the opportunities to reinforce safe riding habits, improve and enhance their skills and riding etiquette while learning about the importance of protecting natural and cultural resources.
Details: Those interested in scheduling a class field trip or participating in a Junior Off-Highway Ranger Program can call 636-2065 or e-mail hh***************@gm***.com.
Si, Se Puede! seeks activity leaders
HOLLISTER – Si, Se Puede! is seeking site activity leaders through the AmeriCorps program. The activity leaders assist with homework, reading, math and other learning activities at the after school program.
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, be a college student, be organized, a resource builder and a self-started, interested in helping children from a low-income community and able to commit to a six-moth term of service. The appointment is for April through Sept.
The position pays a living allowance of $2,590 paid our through the six months and an educational award of $1,175 upon completion of the term.
Details: Elise Hasty, 637-9097 or Ss*************@gm***.com or Facebook.com/ssplc.vl
Street Fest accepts vendor applications
HOLLISTER – The Hollister Downtown Association is seeking vendors for its 26th Annual Street Festival and Car Show, scheduled from July 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in downtown Hollister. Applications are available online at www.downtownhollister.org/StreetFestival or at the office, 455 San Benito St., Ste. 21. Booth discounts are available to nonprofits, HDA members and Hollister’s Farmers Market 2012 vendors.
Details: 636-8406 or ev****@do***************.org.
SBHS Class of 2002 reunion set
HOLLISTER – The San Benito High School class of 2002 reunion will be May 19, at Leal Vineyards, from 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $45 and reservations are required by April 19. Details: Monica Cordova at 562-754-4075 or class of 2002reunion on Facebook.
Foundation accepts grant application
HOLLISTER – The Community Foundation for San Benito County is accepting applications for is Community Impact Grants for 2012. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 28, and will be reviewed and approved on a monthly basis. To learn more about updated guidelines and the streamlined application process, visit www.cffsbv.org.
Details: 630-1924 or www.cffsbc.org.
Rotary plans for summer antiques fair
SAN JUAN – The Rotary Club of San Juan Bautista is planning its 49th Annual Antique and Collectibles Fair for Aug. 12, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in San Juan. An appraiser will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Applications are being accepted for vendor booths. The event this year will include an increase in vendors and food booths.
All proceeds go to the club’s community grants program, emergency fund for local families, leadership opportunities for high school students and the donation of dictionaries to all third-grade children in the Aromas-San Juan Unified School District.
Details: 207-2331 or email sj************@gm***.com.
Art League calendars on sale
HOLLISTER – The 2012 Hollister Art League Calendars of local flowers are now on sale.
This calendar entitled “Beauty Around” features reproductions of original art in
oils, watercolors, acrylics, lino-cuts and photography by local artists.
These colorful calendars may be purchased at Blak Sage Gallery and Country Rose Gallery & Frame. All proceeds go toward San Benito High School art scholarships.
This project was made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation.
Details: 637-6062 or 638-0277.
Red Cross seeks volunteers
HOLLISTER – The American Red Cross, Monterey Bay Area Chapter is looking for volunteers to staff the Hollister chapter office. The chapter office is located at 357 Fifth St., and the hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Shifts are four hours, once a week, but any hours will be considered.
Details: 636-2100 or contact volunteer Howard at 297-3696.
