Workshop for growers set for Jan. 19
The San Benito County Water District will be hosting a workshop on the Advanced Pumping Efficiency Program from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 19 at the office, 30 Mansfield Road, in Hollister. The program was designed and is managed by the Center for Irrigation Technology at California State University, Fresno. The program is designed to improve pump efficiency in California and assist growers in water conservation, water quality, energy conservation and air quality.
The focus of the workshop will be subsidized pump efficiency tests information; incentives for pump retrofit/repair information; technical assistance explained; and educational information. Free lunch is included.
A second workshop on chemigation/fertigation will be held Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the water district office. The lecture and demonstration will use the mobile education center to teach about the four main items the grower has to accomplish when chemigating or fertigating to protect the environment and properly inject chemicals through the irrigation system; how chemigation rules came into being; information brochures and diagrams of proper equipment flow and pressure so that the irrigation system maximizes the Distribution Uniformity to enhance the chemigation event; see what happens when improper maintenance and equipment subjects water sources (groundwater, streams, canals, rivers, etc) to potential contamination or spills.
For more information or to register, call Shawn Novack at 637-4378 or e-mail sn*****@sb***.com.
CMAP MLK fair
Community 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 CMAP 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 sp*****@cm**.tv.
LULAC raises funds
San Benito LULAC youth will be selling enchiladas to raise money for members to travel to the National LULAC Youth Leadership Convention in June, at Disney World, in Orlando, Florida. Enchilada sales will be held Jan. 14, Feb. 18 and March 17. Orders must be placed in advance. The cheese-corn tortilla enchiladas are $14 per dozen. For more information or to place an order, call Vince Luna at 673-1977, Sami Salazar Weaver at 408-706-8485, Julio Salazar at 245-9608 or Francisco Lezama at 537-8332.
Housing workshop
Homeowners and perspective homebuyers in San Benito County are invited to attend a free community workshop Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Building, 649 San Benito St., Room 218, to learn about a variety of programs that can save them money. The event is sponsored by Energy Upgrade California, a new statewide program that aims to reduce energy use, save homeowners money and create local jobs. Guest speakers will include housing staff representatives from the city of Hollister Redevelopment Agency and the county of San Benito. Topics covered will include an explanation of the complete home-buying process, how to access Energy Upgrade California rebates of up to $4,000 for home energy upgrades and how to attain financing and down payment assistance for a new home purchase. The workshop will be conducted in English and Spanish. Residents can RSVP online to sanbenito-euc.eventbrite.com.
