Ballroom dance benefit at Tres Pinos School
A ballroom dance class fundraiser at Tres Pinos School is set for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It benefits the eighth-grade class and PTO. The price is $10. All are welcome.
Lights On Celebration Parade
The Hollister Downtown Association will present the 23rd Annual Lights On Celebration Parade on Nov. 30. It is a wonderful family-friendly, community event in downtown Hollister. This year’s parade theme is “A Family Tradition!” and will start at 5:30 p.m. For details visit the website www.downtownhollister.org.
Lights On Celebration Holiday Boutique
The Hollister Downtown Association’s Lights On Holiday Boutique will be held from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Hollister. The boutique features a diverse market place of over 50 vendors selling unique gifts for the entire family including candles, scarves, purses, jewelry, and much more. Entertainment will be provided during the day in the plaza.
Lights On Celebration Acts of Kindness
The Hollister Downtown Association’s Annual Lights On Celebration will include an Acts of Kindness Program where students in grades K-8 can submit their own “Acts of Kindness” with the chance of riding on the official Lights On Celebration Float during the Lights On Parade on Nov. 30. Anyone interested in participating can download an Acts of Kindness form at www.downtownhollister.org or call the HDA at 831-636-8406. Deadline for submissions is November 18.
Taizé Evensong
Taizé Evensong is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 720 Monterey St. in Hollister. It will include jazz guitar; chanted prayers in the style of the ecumenical community at Taizé, France; spoken word; and silence in a candle-lit sanctuary combine to offer a unique opportunity for 45 minutes of peace in your week. Free childcare is provided in the Parish House at 431 7th St. www.hollisterepiscopal.com
Holiday of Lights Parade
The 8th Annual San Juan Bautista Holiday of Lights Parade year’s theme of The Holidays in San Juan Bautista is promised to be the biggest and the best. Parade attendees will enjoy Grand Marshall San Benito County Supervisor Anthony Botelho, holiday floats, marching bands, and horses on parade. This fun-filled event will also feature Santa Claus. Santa will joyfully welcome children to share each holiday wish on 3rd and Mariposa streets. Parents and grandparents, please bring your cameras. You will enjoy the pictures you take for years to come. Not to be missed is the generous gift of candy by the SJB Historical Society at the Jim Jack Cabin at the Luck Museum (2nd Street & Monterey). Applications are being accepted through Nov. 30. Parade awards include judges’ favorite, best use of lights and best community organization. Details: Donna Holmes at (831) 902-5767 or [email protected].
Holiday Resource Fair
Learn about organizations that have free or low-cost programs to assist you and your family. (i.e. Health care, Legal, Education, Youth Services, Food, Transportation, Telephone). Food and Unwrapped Toys will be collected. Santa will be available for photos. It is set for 10 a.m. Dec. 7 at the Briggs Building. Details: Contact: Annette ([email protected]) or Vanessa at (831) 636-2853.
Cannella announces ‘There Ought to Be a Law’ contest
State Sen. Anthony Cannella has announced his “There Ought to a Be a Law” contest “to provide constituents the opportunity to present ideas for new legislation,” according to announcement from his office. That statement notes that Cannella, R-Ceres, will sponsor legislation from winning submissions. The deadline for submission is Dec. 20. Winners will also be invited up to Sacramento to testify at a hearing on their bill.
Pinnacles event explores use of fire
A panel presentation scheduled for Wednesday at the University of California, Berkeley was to explore the traditional use of fire in the coastal mountains of Central California, while a related field trip is set to follow Saturday at Pinnacles National Park.
First, the presentation was scheduled for 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Archaeological Research Facility, Room 101 at UC-Berkeley. The field trip portion was set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on the east side of Pinnacles at the campground. At Pinnacles, the group will take a walk up to one of the park’s study sites with all of the primary research participants. They should bring sturdy walking shoes, water, sun protection and a lunch, according to an announcement about the events. Participants should meet at 11 a.m. in front of the East Side Visitor Center. For more information or directions, call Brent Johnson at (831) 389-4486, ext. 259.
Rodeo board meeting
The annual Saddle Horse Association membership meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Bolado Park boardroom. Please mail your proxy vote today.
AARP tax-aide program seeks volunteers
Join the dedicated corps of volunteers for the 2014 tax season or recommend the opportunity to others. Help people in our local community with free tax help. Although volunteer preparers must be experienced computer users, other volunteer roles are available. All volunteers are asked for a commitment of 40 hours during the tax preparation session beginning in February through mid-April. Free tax training will be provided locally in January. Volunteers do not need to be AARP members. To learn more go to www.aarp.org/taxvolunteer.
Gavilan’s ‘Tales from Native America’
Gavilan College Children’s Theatre production of Tales from Native America focuses on origin stories and myths from tribes of North and South America. It is set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Gavilan College Theater at 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd., Gilroy. Adult tickets are $12. Student and senior tickets are $8. Two adults and two children is $30. Tickets will also be sold at the door. For more information, please call (408) 846.4973.
California Condor Recovery Interns Needed
Pinnacles National Park is seeking full-time interns (40 hours a week) to join the California Condor Recovery Program. Primary duties: observing and recording nesting behavior; tracking, monitoring and recording condor movements, behaviors and interactions; and communicating with park visitors. Interns will need to be able to hike up to 10 miles on steep and rugged terrain carrying 40-plus pounds of equipment, have a tolerance for summer temperatures that exceed 100 degrees, and possess a sense of humor and a great deal of patience. This is a six-month internship for candidates in the local commuting area, no housing available. Weekend and evening work required. Stipend of $200-275/week, with a possibility of an AmeriCorps educational award. Position begins in January 2014. Application deadline: December 1, 2013. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to Jennie Jones at [email protected]; Questions call 831-389-4486 x276.
Senior center fundraiser
The Hollister Senior Center is hosting a fundraiser trip to Chukchansi & Table Mountain Indian Casinos on Dec. 7. The departure is set for 6:30 a.m. from the Hollister Community Center, 300 West St. The price is $30 per person. Each participant gets $10 in e-cash, a $5 food voucher at the casino and $5 in free play at Table Mountain. The trip is open to anyone 21 and older. Advanced registration is required. For more information call Pauline at (831) 637-9275 or Dolly at (831) 637-1980.
Boy Scouts tree pick-up
Hollister’s Boy Scout Troop 436 and San Juan Bautista’s Troop 428 will be providing curbside pick-up service for Christmas trees. The troops are asking for an $8 donation. All trees are recycled. On the pick-up dates, leave your tree visible at the curb by 9 a.m., stripped of all decorations and stands. Trees do not need to be cut into sections. They accept flocked trees. Both cities are served twice on each pick-up date, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. There is no need to call to give us an address unless you have special instructions. Please call for special pick-ups outside the city limits. Donations can be left under the doormat. On the pick-up dates, they will also have drop sites available at Veterans Memorial Park and at the San Juan Bautista Scout House. Scouts will be present to process trees at the drop-off sites between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. For Hollister trees, please make checks payable to BSA Troop 436. For San Juan Bautista trees, please make checks payable to BSA Troop 428. Donations can also be mailed to: BS Troop 436, c/o Tom Wright, 1745 San Felipe Road, Suite 10, Hollister, CA 95023. BS Troop 428 P.O. Box 847 San Juan Bautista, CA 95045. If you have special instructions, such as directions, gate codes, or additional questions, please call 831-637-8022 in Hollister or 831-636-8360 in San Juan Bautista or use the contact form on the website.
Women’s Club centennial anniversary
Please join us for “100 Years of Ice Cream Socials” as the Women’s Club of Hollister celebrates its Centennial Anniversary on Dec. 7, a Saturday, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 2066 San Benito St. Former Junior Women’s Club and General Club members, Girls of the Month, and Scholarship winners are particularly invited. Live music by Mr. O’s Academy jazz band and Triple Creek will be included as well as a walk down memory lane with vintage costumes and more. Tickets of $5 are being pre-sold and may be purchased from members of the club by calling Cindy at 831-637-0362 or [email protected]. The local Women’s Club is a member of the international organization General Federation of Women’s Clubs and the California Federation of Women’s Clubs. In the early years, the club planted trees down San Benito Street, helped start the San Benito County Free Library, and has provided assistance to many local nonprofit organizations throughout its 100 years.
Aromas Bands Together
Aromas musicians will kick off the holiday season with a special concert to help families in need at the second annual Aromas Bands Together event on Nov. 30 at the Aromas Grange Hall. Last year’s event raised about $3,000 for Adopt-A-Family, a program of the Aromas Grange. The event features performances from Aromas bands that volunteer their talents for this evening. The event is sponsored by KPIG, the Aromas Eagles, and the Rotary Club of San Juan Bautista. Concert ticket recommended donations are $15 for adults, $10 for children. Food, beer and wine will be available for a separate charge, and we’re adding a special “Late Night” show this year at the Aromas Grill with a separate cover charge. Doors open at 6 p.m. The music starts at 7 p.m. The late show at the Aromas Grill starts at 10 p.m. For information call 726-2457 or 254-2444.
Askew at Mars Hill
Local 16-year-old Hollister musician Kaleb Askew is playing at Mars Hill on San Benito Street on Nov. 30. His styles mix hip-hop with soul and ties it all into an acoustic sound. He plays from 7 p.m.-7:45 p.m. Check out his music on YouTube (http://youtube.com/kalebaskew) and Soundcloud (soundcloud.com/kalebaskew).
Get rid of bulky items
HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency will accept two bulky items per household free of charge on select dates this year. Suggested items for disposal include furniture, appliances, tires or other items. To participate, residents must bring a driver license or ID that identifies them as a resident of San Benito County or its incorporated cities. The bulky item collections dates for 2013 are Dec. 28 and 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at John Smith Landfill, 2650 John Smith Road. To confirm dates or for details on what items will be accepted, call 831-637-4515.
Zazen meditation starts at Japanese Temple
HOLLISTER – The Hollister Japanese Temple Garden will start offering weekly zazen meditation classes on the forms, spirit and practice of Soto Zen with Robert Reese. It includes 40 minutes of sitting meditation, ten minutes of walking meditation, followed by dharma talk and discussion. The sessions are Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at 920 Riverside Road, in Hollister. Reese has been practicing in the zen lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi for 25 years. He has been teaching classes and workshops at the Monterey Bay Zen Center in Carmel. Details: Call Don Belt at 831-637-6361 or email [email protected].
Singles 55+ are invited to dinner
HOLLISTER – Singles 55 and up are invited to join a dinner club in San Benito County that meets on the third Saturday of the month. The group visits area restaurants for the meal, with the choice of each month’s restaurant selected by group majority. The group also enjoys the occasional dinner at a member’s home. The group is not a dating group, but for individuals who would like to meet and socialize with others. For details on the Jan. 19 dinner, email Sandi Gowers at [email protected].
