Backyard burn season begins
HOLLISTER – The backyard burn season for San Benito County, during which the residential burning of dry yard trimmings is permitted in rural areas – with some restrictions – began Dec. 1 and will run through April 30. Backyard burns are not allowed within the Hollister city limits.
Fires to dispose of dry vegetation cleared prior to a construction project are also permitted, while the burning of garbage and treated wood is prohibited at all times.
A list of requirements and clean, safe burning tips can be found on the air district’s website, www.mbuapcd.org or by calling Betsy Hibbits at 831-647-9411, ext. 213.
Baler Backers raffle
HOLLISTER – The Baler Bakers Athletic Organization, which helps support all athletic programs at San Benito High School, is holding a fundraising raffle featuring a grand prize of a two-night stay for two at The Palms resort in Las Vegas, with roundtrip airfare provided.
In addition to being a tax-deductible donation, the $20 ticket also includes an iPad 2 as the second place prize and an Xbox Kinect as third prize. Tickets will available though December at the Student Activities Office at San Benito High School, Ding-A-Ling Cafe at the Hollister Airport or by calling Mary at 831-902-7542.
Boy Scouts offer tree pick-up
HOLLISTER – The Boy Scouts will be picking up used Christmas trees in Hollister and San Juan, on Jan. 1, 7 and 8, by 9 a.m. The trees should be stripped of decorations and stands. They will pick up within the city limits of both cities, and will also offer drop-off sites at the Veterans Memorial Park, Enterprise Road and the San Juan Bautista Scout House. Those living outside city limits can call to arrange a pick up. All trees are recycled.
The donation for tree pick-up is $8. Donations can be left under the doormat. Hollister residents can make the checks payable to BSA Troop 436 while San Juan residents can make the checks payable to BSA Troop 428.
The funds raised support troop activities, send scouts to camp in the summer and fund the Gerald Rawn Memorial Endowment.
For more information, call 638-9646, in Hollister, or 636-8360, in San Juan, or visit www.pageeasy.com/troop436christmastrees.
CMAP and Si, Se Puede sponsor MLK Community Fair
HOLLISTER – Communtiy Media Access Partnership and the Si, Se Puede! Learning Center are hosting a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Fair Jan. 16 that will celebrate and honor local community leaders for their courage and service. The event will feature a digital storytelling program called “Stories of Courage,” as well as food, beverages, live entertainment, speakers and more.
Community members are invited to honor a volunteer or community member who has exhibited courage and service in the last year; invite youth and community members to attend the event on Jan. 16 to share their “Stories of Courage”; bring children’s books and canned goods to the event for donations; or volunteer at the event or attend to enjoy the fun.
Those who would like to honor a community member should write CMPA with the names of the individuals and a short description of the reason they should be honored. Teachers contact CMAP to see about using “Stories of Courage” curriculum in their classrooms. The books, as well as arts and crafts supplies will be used by the Si, Se Puede Learning Center, and the good will be donated to the Community Food Bank of San Benito.
For more information on the event or on how to get involved, call 205-1320 or e-mail [email protected].
Bridge lessons
HOLLISTER – New bridge classes will begin in January, including modern bridge conventions for duplicate and social bridge players of all levels.
Learn about: Stayman and Jacoby Transfers – Jan. 3 and 10
Strong opening bids and responses – Jan. 31 and Feb. 7
Slam bidding – Feb. 21 and 28, March 6
All classes are from 10:30-11:30 am at Dunne Park. The cost of classes is $8 each.
For more information, call Linda King at 801-9257 or e-mail [email protected].
Red Cross blood drive
HOLLISTER – The American Red Cross will be hosting a Mobile Blood Drive on Dec. 29, from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Cultural Hall, 1670 Cienega Road. The drive is open to the public and appointments are recommended. To schedule an appointment, use Sponsor Code “HOLLISTER.” Donors will have a chance to enter a drawing to win two passes to the new “Ingenious Innovations: Islamic Science Rediscovered” exhibition at the Tech Museum. Passes include admission to the exhibit and Tech Museum gallery, but not the IMAX theater. One winner will be selected from each blood drive.
For more information call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrosssblood.org.
Save the Music Program instrument drive
HOLLISTER – Tyler Klindt is collecting musical instruments from the local community to donate to the Hollister School District elementary school music program for his Eagle Scout project. Any well-kept or damaged instruments that can be donated or help with repairing damaged instruments will be accepted.
For more information on donating or repairing items, call Tyler Klindt at 801-0854 or e-mail [email protected].
Local spearheads donation of ‘Buddies’
HOLLISTER – Allacyn Spears, an independent Scentsy consultant, is selling “Scentsy Buddies” for $27.06, with tax included, to be donated to the Stanford Children’s Hospital. A “buddy” is a stuffed animal with a zippered back pocket into which a scent pak is slipped. There are 10 buddies from which to choose.
Spears will be delivering the stuffed animals at the beginning of January to coincide with her father’s admission to the hospital for cancer treatment. She said she hopes to collect at least 200 stuffed animals to give to the young patients. She will be donating her commission from the sales of the stuffed animals to Stanford Hospital in honor of her father’s fight with lymphoma.
To learn more, call Allacyn at 262-6027.
Rotary of San Juan Bautista hosts “saints”
SAN JUAN – The posting of the California Mission saints on Third Street in San Juan Bautista during the holiday season is an historic and traditional event. In the past, community members have sponsored a saint in remembrance of a family member or friend.
The Rotary Club of San Juan Bautista is most interested in keeping the traditions of the City alive! Therefore to ensure this tradition continues, the Rotary Club will be responsible for organizing sponsorship donations and the posting of the Saints during the 2011 holiday season.
Those who are interested in sponsoring a saint (for $100) or who would like more information, can call past SJB Rotary Club President Donna Holmes at 623-1168 or email her at [email protected]. Proceeds are exclusively for the saints’ restoration and secure storage. Sponsorships can be sent to: San Juan Bautista Rotary Club, P.O. Box 823, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045.
Move and learn with YMCA
HOLLISTER – YMCA of San Benito County will be holding their Move and Learn Program on Wednesdays, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., Jan. 11 through Feb. 15; Feb. 29 through April 4; and April 25 through May 30. Preschoolers with an adult guardian are invited to learn the joy of an active lifestyle and develop a healthy curiosity of the world. Cost is $50 per session and a program membership is required. Financial assistance is available. Space is limited, so please register early. For more information contact Nicole Hartshorn at 637-8600 or [email protected].
