Briefs: Business After Hours at Youth Alliance

Alejo hosts open house
HOLLISTER – Assemlyman Luis Alejo will host an open house at his Hollister office March 7, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., at 365 Fourth St. Residents are invited to stop by to learn more about the services in the office, meet the staff members and discuss community and state issues. To RSVP, call 831-759-8676 or email Brandi Garcia at

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Business After Hours
The next Business After Hours event from the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is set for 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 13. It will be hosted by the Youth Alliance, 310 Fourth St., suite 101.
‘Sound of Music’
HOLLISTER – San Benito High School’s spring musical “Sound of Music” will be performed March 13, 14, 21, 22 and 23 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are available at the door.
SJB crab feed
The annual San Juan Bautista Crab Feed is set for 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. March 16 at Casa Maria, 600 First St. It is $45 per person and includes all you can eat crab, pasta, salad and bread with a no-host bar, music, dancing and a silent auction. It is presented by the chamber, which can be reached at (831) 637-5315.
Top Hatters Bike Blessing
The 20th annual Top Hatters Motorcycle Club Bike Blessing is set for March 24. Check-in is at 11 a.m. to noon at Whiskey Creek Saloon, 201 Fifth St. It is $20 and includes food, door prizes, vendors, entertainment and 50/50. The end stop is Bolado Park.
‘Karma – Cause and Effect’
HOLLISTER – Jim Macur will be visiting from Denver as part of his West Coast teaching tour on March 26, at 7:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Building, 649 San Benito St., Rm. 218. The lecture topic will be “Karma – Cause and Effect.” For more details, go to the website diamondway.org/hollister. It is $10.
Geocache bash
HOLLISTER – Visit Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area April 13 for the second annual four-wheel drive Geocache Bash. Registration from 8 to 9 a.m, with geocaching form 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be a free raffle at 3 p.m. and a free lunch at noon complements of the Hollister Hills Off Road Association. The event is free to the public. Details: Call 831-638-3207
Applications due for Open Studios
HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Arts Council is accepting applications through March 1 from artists in all media for the annual Open Studios Art Tour June 1 and 2. Artists with studios based in San Benito County are encouraged to submit an application online at www.sanbenitoarts.org. The exhibition will be launched by a month-long preview exhibition of the participating artists’ work at the Blak Sage Gallery in Hollister, with a preview reception on May 3. New and past participants can learn more about this year’s tour at the website. For more information, email

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or call 636-2787.
Caregiver University
HOLLISTER – A free Caregiver University will be hosted March 23, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Hollister Community Center, 300 West St., for residents caring for a loved one with memory loss or dementia. The day will include workshops on: challenging behaviors, communication, anger and paranoia; personal care issues and wandering; and healthy body, healthy brain. Speakers include Bonnie Bollwinkel and Alexandra Morris, and Alzheimer’s Association. Spanish translation is available. Respite or transportation may be available. To register, call Juanita at Jovenes de Antano, at 831-637-9275.
Eric Tognazzini Memorial Fundraising Dinner
HOLLISTER – A fundraising dinner for a memorial statue of Eric Tognazzini to be placed in downtown Hollister will be held March 8, at 6 p.m. at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. The evening will begin with a no-host cocktail hour at 6 p.m. with dinner being served at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 each and table sponsorships are still available. Tickets may be purchased at Postal Graphics. If you’d like to donate an auction item, please contact Gordon Machado at 831-637-5051 or Ken Bettencourt at 831-801-2737.
Free Buddhist meditation
HOLLISTER – Free Buddhist meditation will be held in the Barbara Memorial Room at the San Benito County Free Library every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. through Feb. 27. Details: Visit http://www.diamondway.org/hollister.
AARP tax aide offered through April 10
HOLLISTER – The AARP Tax-Aide program offers free personal tax counseling and preparation assistance to taxpayers of low-to-middle income, with special attention to those ages 60 and older. Volunteers will be available to assist residents on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., thru April 10, at the Hollister Community Center, 300 West St. Please call ahead to make an appointment. Participants should bring their photo identification and Social Security cards or ITIN documents for each individual on their return, along with any tax documents they have received in the mail, last year’s return, and all relevant information on income and expenses. Volunteer counselors are not trained to assist in preparing tax returns that report business, rental or partnership income.
Champagne Tea and Treasures
HOLLISTER – The Friends of the San Benito County Free Library and Women’s Club of Hollister will host the annual Champagne Tea and Treasures Silent Auction and Drawing March 15, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., in the Oak Room at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. Tickets are $30 per person. Bring an item for the silent auction and receive a free ticket for the drawing. Additional tickets available for purchase. Details: Call 831-205-1373.
Merit badge university
HOLLISTER – Hollister Boy Scout Troop 436 will hold its third annual Merit Badge University March 9 at Sacred Heart School. Interesting merit badges such as Animal Science, Fingerprinting, Cinematography, Pulp & Paper, Fire Safety, Scholarship, Dentistry, Art, Public Speaking, Music and Law are being offered. Registration is open on a first come basis to all ranks of Boy Scouts. Details 636-6810 or

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