Sacred Heart foundation hosts dinner
Vision San Benito County is hosting a community forum on the future of county libraries. It is set for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the San Benito County Free Library, 470 Fifth St., with Julie Morris moderating. Invited panelists include Supervisor Jerry Muenzer, Salinas Library Director Elizabeth Martinez, Gavilan Head Librarian Doug Achterman, Councilman Victor Gomez and GOP Chairman Robert Bernosky. The organization will be asking people about their vision for libraries in Hollister and San Juan. Details: (408) 506-0801 or li********************@ya***.com.
HDA fall cleanup
The Hollister Downtown Association is hosting a fall cleanup set for 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 26. The organization encourages groups to take part. The HDA said the participants can bring brooms, dustpans, shovels, gloves and other supplies. The gathering will meet at the 400 block of San Benito Street starting at 8:30 a.m. Details: (831) 636-4306.
Food & Wine to benefit Emmaus House
The third annual Best of San Benito County Food & Wine event is set for Oct. 27 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. The event benefiting the Emmaus House shelter for women and children is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on that Sunday. It will feature food, wines and chefs with local ties, according to an announcement on the event. Wines this year include Teague, Jayse, Alicats, Leal, Donate and Pessagno. Chefs donating their time and talents include Ella King from Ella’s Café on appetizers paired with Teague wines; Danny Mendoza doing a salad course – he is formerly of Mauricios, Knife & Fork and Don Ciccio’s – paired with Donati chardonnay; Max Bailey from Pendergrass on the fish course paired with Pessagno Pinot Noir; and Rob Stevens from Inn at Tres Pinos on Poultry paired with Jayse Grenache. The main entrée is provided by a generous donation from the Morris family – Grass feed beef prepared by Doug Kuerschner III from Carmel Valley Ranch paired with Leal’s LaVanda. And the finale is from Kim Keller Brandon of The Grove with a special dessert featuring B&R Farms apricots served with Alicats Viognier. The local produce is provided by Swank Farms, and Olive Oil is from Brigantino Farms. There will be both silent and live auctions with many great items. It kicks off with a casual gathering beginning at 3 p.m. with appetizers and wine. The five-course, sit-down dinner starts about an hour later. The event has limited seating. Tickets are $125 per person. They’re available at Richard Shelton Insurance on San Benito Street or Postal Graphics near Nob Hill. For details: (831) 630-5839
Top Hatters Halloween Run
The Top Hatters annual Halloween Poker Run and Party is set for Oct. 26. The check-in is set for Whiskey Creek from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., or the end party is at Elk’s Lodge at the airport from 8 p.m. to midnight. It will include food, music, games, drinks, door prizes, poker hand, the mystery prize and a costume contest. The public is invited with $20 donations. It benefits the San Benito High School scholarship fund. Tickets are available at Whiskey Creek, Mom & Pop’s in San Juan or at the door of the Elk’s Lodge the night of the event.
Christmas Boutique
Sunnyslope Christian Center, 1520 Sunnyslope Road, is hosting its 33rd annual Christmas Boutique from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 9. It will include Christmas items and gifts, various vendor booths, Mexican food, and pictures with Santa from 10 a.m. to noon.
Annual benefit concert
The YMCA of San Benito County and Save the Music present the 13th annual benefit concert. Pacific Brass, a british-style brass band and the Rancho San Justo/Marguerite Maze Middle Schools Band will perform individually and together in concert on Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. in the Rancho San Justo Middle School Gym, 1201 Rancho Drive. The band is made up of musicians from San Benito, Monterey, Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties. Their repertoire consists of traditional brass band and symphonic music as well as American folk songs, rangs, marches and selections from musical theater. Howard Miyata is the conductor of Pacific Brass. Proceeds benefit Hollister elementary school music and middle school sports programs. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students. Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult. Tickets are available at the YMCA of San Benito County, Mr. O’s Academy, Postal Graphics, Ace Hardware or online at savehollistermusic.org. Details: (831) 637-7200
Red Cross volunteer winners announced
The American Red Cross Monterey Bay Area Chapter is proud to announce this year’s Volunteer of the Year, Dennis Alexander of Seaside. The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to an individual who best exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism and who has contributed significantly to operations, programs, and services as well as the mission of the Red Cross. The award was given at the Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Oct. 10 at the Bayonet and Black Horse Golf Course. Nearly 100 volunteers were in attendance. Cindy Snow of Hollister made the list of winners for her service to the Hollister area.
Autumn Art Festival, raffle
Oct. 28 is a morning to mark on your calendar. The annual Autumn Art Festival begins at 7 a.m. with a country-style breakfast at the Aromas Grange, at the corner of Rose and Bardue avenues. After a breakfast, classes begin at 9 a.m. and end at 11 a.m. They are given in the Aromas Grange by Aromas Hills Artisans. There will be hands-on workshops (free except for a small materials fee in some cases) open to the public. Classes being offered are: instruction on stained glass by Linda Bjornson; drawing instruction by Gayle Sleznick; beading instruction by Jacque and Vicki; and more classes to be announced. The Autumn Art Festival is your last chance to purchase a raffle ticket, giving you an opportunity to win a piece of artwork donated by one of the Aromas Hills Artisans. The drawing will be held at 11 a.m. at the Aromas Grange. Profits from the raffle go to AHA’s programs, such as scholarships for the artists, programs for enrichment and art supplies for local schools. Details: Louise at 408-607-5888.
