Free income tax preparation
The AARP Tax-Aide program offers free personal tax preparation assistance to taxpayers of low to middle income, with special attention to those ages 60 and older. Volunteer tax counselors will be available by appointment Tuesday afternoons and all day Wednesdays between Feb. 4 and April 9. Those seeking help with their taxes should call Irma at (831) 630-0642. Appointments are at the Hollister Community Center, 300 West St. Participants should bring all tax documents they receive in the mail, valid photo I.D. for primary and secondary taxpayers, Social Security cards or ITINs for every person on the return, a copy of last year’s tax return and all relevant information on income and expenses. Volunteer counselors are not trained to assist in preparing tax returns that report business, rental or partnership income.
Auditions for ‘Odd Couple’
The San Benito Stage Company presents “The Odd Couple” By Neil Simon in April, with auditions being held Friday and Saturday this week. The auditions are set for 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday at the Granada Theatre, 336 Fifth St. Residents must be age 18 or over. Show dates are April 18-19 for men and April 25-26 for women. Details: (831) 636-0122 or sanbenitostage.org.
Car show, concert
The Hollister Benefit Custom Car Show & Concert benefits San Benito High School. Hosted by Impalas Magazine and Hollister Collision, it will feature the Heavy Weather Band and Junebug, with special appearances by Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and actor Danny De La Paz. It is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 8 at the high school, 1220 Monterey St. Tickets are $10.
Limelight dinner theater show
Over the last two weekends in March, join the teens of Limelight for the Knotting Family Reunion at the Wilcox Western Bed and Breakfast for the show “A Family Reunion to Die For.” Newlywed Christine Franklin is eager to show off her husband Freddie to the family she hasn’t seen in years. The joyful reunion quickly turns sour though when guests are murdered. They are dropping like flies, and Christine seems to be next in line to become a victim! To make matters worse, a terrible storm has trapped them all inside! It’s up to Freddie to catch the murderer and save his blushing bride. After all, he is a detective – well, a mall security guard turned wannabe detective, anyway. So come join us for dinner and this hysterically funny interactive murder mystery! See you there! Tickets available at www.limelighttheatrical.com, Paine’s Restaurant, or any cast member. The price is $25. Details: limelighttheatrical.com or Email Sally Hail at
li*****************@gm***.com
Winners of assemblyman’s contest
State Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, announced the winners of his “There Ought to Be a Law” contest, where constituents throughout the district were invited to present their ideas for new legislation, according to an announcement from Cannella. Based on the contest submissions of Natalie Rios and Wendi Salpa, high school students from Madera who wanted to create safer routes for schoolchildren to their schools, Cannella introduced Senate Bill 1151 (SB 1151). Sponsored by the Alliance for Community Research and Development and the Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP), SB 1151 promotes safer driving in school zones by enforcing an additional fine equal to the base fine of violations cited in school zones. “I am very pleased to announce Natalie and Wendi as winners of my ‘There Ought to Be a Law’ contest,” said Cannella. “Both Natalie and Wendi made very valid points in their submissions about reducing the risk of accidents in high-traffic areas around campuses by implementing stricter laws. SB 1151 adds additional fines to school zone violations, deterring drivers from going over the school zone speed limit and ultimately, preventing more pedestrian injuries and deaths,” Cannella said in the statement. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, California had the nation’s highest fatality rate among child pedestrians aged 4 to 7 years old and the second highest rate among child pedestrians aged 14 years and younger. Additionally, the Federal Highway Administration cites that child pedestrians who are hit by a car traveling at 40 miles per hour have a 10% chance of survival, as opposed to an 85% survival rate when hit by a car moving at 20 miles per hour.
Help monitor the condors
Residents can help monitor condors at Pinnacles National Park and become a “Condor Monitoring Assistant.” Orientation is March 15. Pinnacles is looking for long-term volunteers that can commit to a minimum of two survey days per month on weekends. The primary duties of the volunteer will be observing and recording condor behavior as well as communicating with park visitors. A nine-month commitment is required. Volunteers will need to be able to hike up to five 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. For more information is available at the following website: http://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=10463. Space is limited and RSVP is required by March 10. Please contact Alacia
_W****@np*.gov
or Veronica Johnson at 831-389-4486 x242.
Pinnacles pancake breakfast
Pinnacles Partnership will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser at the East Visitor Center at Pinnacles National Park on March 23 from 8 a.m. to 11 am. The breakfast is open to all neighbors, campers, and day visitors and is a bargain at just $5 per person. Help the park create less trash by bringing your own non-disposable plates, utensils, and cups and earn a $1 discount. The price is $5. Details: Rochelle Fischer at
in**@pi******************.org
or 831-637-4879, or go to www.pinnaclespartnership.org.
Champagne Tea and Treasures
The Friends of the San Benito County Free Library and Women’s Club of Hollister are hosting a “Champagne Tea and Treasures Silent Auction and Drawing” set for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. March 21 in the Oak Room at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. The price is $30. For tickets call 831-205-1373 or email
sb***************@gm***.com
Free Composting Classes
San Benito County Integrated Waste Management Regional Agency is providing free composting classes on March 25 and April 8, 2014 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Veterans Memorial Building. Free compost bin given at the end of class. Space is limited to 35 per class. Call (831) 636-4110 to register.
Bulky items
The bulky items recycle days are scheduled for March 29 and March 30 at the John Smith Road Landfill, 2650 John Smith Road. To take part, bring a current California driver’s license or I.D. indicating you’re a county resident. Bulky items are defined as weighing more than 25 pounds. There is a limit of two bulky items per household, per quarterly event. It is sponsored by Integrated Waste Management. Details: (831) 636-4110
Hospital support groups
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital has announced times for its support groups. The grief support group meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the HHH board room. For details, call 635-1148. The stroke support group meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the HHH board room. For details, call Wendy Bell at 637-5711, ext. 2038. The breast cancer support group meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the HHH board room. For details, call Frankie Gallagher at 636-2644. The multiple sclerosis group meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room.
Volunteers for Juvenile Justice Commission
The San Benito County Juvenile Justice Commission is seeking volunteers from the community that are interested in making a difference for our youth. The commission meets the second Monday of the each month from 6:30-8 p.m. If interested in acquiring an application or obtaining more information, contact Rita Campbell at (831) 636-4077 or stop in at the San Benito County Probation Department, 400 Monterey St., Hollister between 8-5 p.m.
Farm Day at Bolado
The San Benito County Farm Bureau presents Ag in the Classroom Farm Day on March 18. It is set for 8 a.m. to noon at Bolado Park, 9000 Airline Highway, with groups meeting at the fair office. It is organized by more than 150 volunteers to increase awareness about agriculture. Please RSVP to Mindy Sotelo at the farm bureau at (831) 637-7643.
Anti-fracking rally
Local environmentalists have organized a bus ride to Sacramento where they will join thousands of others from all over California on March 15 to protest the oil and natural gas extraction called “fracking.” The bus leaves from the Target parking lot in Hollister at 9:30 am and makes a stop to pick up people meeting at the Windmill market in San Juan Bautista at 9:50 a.m. Activists are urging Gov. Jerry Brown to ban the practice throughout the state. There are still plenty of seats available on the chartered bus. Tickets are just $20 and can be reserved at the Food and Water Watch website: Auhttp://bit.ly/DFCASanBenito.
