The following events, organizations and people deserve either a
Thumbs Up or a Thumbs Down this week:
THUMBS UP: The San Benito County Council of Governments awarded a $23.2 million construction contract this week for the long-awaited Highway 25 bypass. The low bid, submitted Pavex Construction, a subsidiary of Graniterock Inc., came in $2.2 million less than COG’s construction estimate. The bypass will move Highway 25 traffic off San Benito Street. Many downtown business owners say that will help with downtown revitalization efforts by making Hollister’s main downtown commercial artery a more pedestrian-friendly place. Groundbreaking for the bypass project is set for Tuesday. The bypass is expected to be completed by late 2008.
THUMBS DOWN: The light brown apple moth appears to be quickly making its way toward San Benito County. The Australian pest was first detected in Alameda County in late February and since then has been found in nearby Contra Costa, San Francisco, Marin, Santa Clara, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Local orchardists say the moth can cause widespread damage to fruit crops. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish quarantines and county ag officials are placing traps in local orchards.
THUMBS UP: Folks who showed up at Pinnacles National Monument April 21 for the planned release of three California condors into the wild were disappointed when the big birds declined to fly the coop. But on Tuesday, two 1-year-old condors did leave the holding area at Pinnacles, where the endangered birds are raised for release. There are now 17 free-flying condors in the Pinnacles area among the 130 that live in the wild worldwide.
THUMBS DOWN: Burglars are keeping far too busy in Hollister. Police fielded 92 burglary reports here in the first three months of 2007 – up from 59 in the first quarter of 2006 and 51 during the same period in 2005. Police say they are badly understaffed, which might explain the problem. On a positive note, Police Chief Jeff Miller said the Hollister Police Department is working with several groups looking to start neighborhood watch programs.
THUMBS UP: Ridgemark resident Doris Jones is bringing some spring color to the community with her spectacular iris garden. Jones has 2,000 irises blooming in her yard, which boasts nearly 200 different varieties of the flower. Jones said she caught the “iris virus” 10 years ago when a friend gave her a few samples for planting. Now, she’s sharing the bounty with others. “I enjoy showing off my garden because I’ve spent so much time in it,” Jones said. “I want to share it with everyone.”
