Briefs: San Juan Rotary hosts ‘saints’

Donations of ‘Buddies’
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 pack 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.
Make a child’s holidays better
CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates of San Benito County, is collecting gifts for San Benito County foster children. Those who would like to can help by sponsoring a child, donating unwrapped gifts or contributing a monetary donation to the CASA Holiday Project. There are about 80 children in the dependency program, many of which are in foster or group homes. Most of these children will not be with their families to celebrate the holidays. 
For more information, call CASA at 637-4992.
Livestock workshop
The San Benito Resource Conservation District, with Ecology Action and State Water Resources Control Board, will be holding a Livestock and Land workshop Dec. 3. The San Benito Resource Conservation District, with Ecology Action and State Water Resources Control Board, will be holding Livestock and Land workshops Nov. 12, 19 and Dec. 3. On Dec. 3, Build and Inexpensive Manure Bunker will be hosted at Stillman Ranch in Morgan Hill from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., free of charge. Learn local regulations, site preparation and construction options for every budget. Space is limited, so please register early. For more information, contact Camille Abreu-Woida at 637-4360 ext. 103; ca*****@rc**********.org or visit livestockandland.org.
Cowboy art show gallery
Southwest Roundup Studio Gallery, 106 Third St., San Juan Bautista, will be hosting Cowboy Heritage Art Nov. 25 through Dec. 24. Original paintings and fine art giclee prints will be featured. Features include watercolors by Don Weller; Oils by J.N. Swanson; stone art by Susan von Borstel; acrylics by Shannon Lawlor; framed vintage Charles M. Russell and Jo Mora prints along with other fine western artists. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 623-1128.
Retired teachers
The San Benito Chapter of California Retired Teachers will have its next “Social Gathering” at San Juan Oaks on Dec. 7 at 10:30 a.m.
Members are asked to bring food for the Community Pantry food barrel. There will also be a raffle with the proceeds benefiting the Community Food Bank. A buffet luncheon will be served with accompanying music provided by Erin Barca-Hall and The Rancho Band at noon.
Red Cross blood drive
The American Red Cross will be hosting a Mobile Blood Drive 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. For more information call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrosssblood.org.
Winter Dance Concert
Come enjoy a night full of Baler students performing to hip hop, modern, African, lyrical, belly dance, tango, and jazz dance styles at the annual Winter Dance Concert. 
Tickets are $5 for SBHS students with an ASB card and children 3-12; $6 for students without an ASB card; and $8 for adults. Children under 2 are free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7, 8 and 9.
Baler Backers
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.
Rotary hosts ‘saints’
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 do**********@sb*******.net. 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.
Adult literacy tutors
The San Benito County Free Library is seeking volunteer tutors for its adult literacy program. The goal of the program is to reduce illiteracy within the county, raise education levels through instruction, teach the importance of reading to children and help local families or individuals become lifelong readers.
The program offers free tutoring to any resident of San Benito County. Learners meet weekly with trained volunteer tutors, for personalized one-on-one instruction and assignments. Tutors will be trained in supporting adults as they improve their reading and writing skills. Volunteers should have knowledge of basic English spelling and grammar, must be 18 years of age, and willing to commit to at least 1.5 hours a week for six months.
For more information, call Wendy Kay or Rosa Garcia at 636-4107, ext. 20, or e-mail wk**@li*.us or rg*****@li*.us.