The second annual San Benito County Olive Festival is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11 at Bolado Park.
Halloween Comic Fest
Oct. 25 is 2014 Halloween Comic Fest at Bill’s Bullpen in downtown Hollister. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. and the event runs until 8 p.m. Trick or treat and get a free comic book. Batman and Catwoman will be on hand from 11-1. Take a free picture with our Gotham friends.
Arts Council’s new space
The San Benito County Arts Council celebrated the grand opening of its new “ARTspace” in downtown Hollister with food, music and art last Friday. The council previously called the now-closed Blak Sage Gallery of Fine Art at 727 San Benito St., but now they have an arts hub of their very own at 240 Fifth St. The open house included information about community art classes and painting parties. The council’s current exhibition – “El Teatro Campesino: A Retrospective” – was on display and includes masks; film and theater posters; and photos from the famous theater group’s archives. The exhibit will run through Nov. 14 and focuses on El Teatro Campesino’s work and impact in San Benito County. For more information, visit the council’s website sanbenitoarts.org or call (831) 636-2787.
Olive Festival
The second annual San Benito County Olive Festival is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11 at Bolado Park. According to an announcement: The San Benito Olive Festival is a gourmet celebration with a wide array of delicious artisanal foods, premium wines, and chocolates. If your friends and/or family would like to come to the Olive Festival for a fun reunion, or maybe a corporate outing, for groups of 25 or more, they are offering a 10% discount on all your tickets! Also, for the organizer who puts it all together, he or she will provide two free tickets. For more information, please call (408) 391-4409. Come and celebrate!
Food and Wine event
The fourth annual Food and Wine event to benefit Emmaus House is set for 3 p.m. Oct. 26 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. Tickets are limited and available at Flora Real Estate on San Benito Street, Postal Graphics at 1760 Airline Highway, Bear’s Hideaway at 403 3rd St. in San Juan or by calling the Emmaus House at (831) 630-5899. All net proceeds go to the Emmaus House.
Sacred Heart fundraiser
Sacred Heart School Foundation will be hosting its annual “Celebrating Catholic Education” dinner at San Juan Oaks on Sat. Nov. 1, 2014. Honorees at that time will be alumni Janet French (’69) and Richard Torres (’80), as well as past principal Sister Margaret Ann Reardon, O.P. Invitations are sent to those in our database, but the event is open to anyone who wishes to attend, so please encourage your family and friends to purchase tickets, support our award recipients, and help raise scholarship monies for the school. Price per ticket is $65 or you can reserve a table for eight for $500. Call the school office at 831-637-4157 if you wish to reserve a place or sponsor a table. A limited number of tickets are available so early purchase is recommended.
Tai Chi classes
Tai Chi evening classes are being offered at the Hollister Community Center, 300 West St., Monday and Thursday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. through Hollister Recreation. Elaine Frey is the certified instructor. Classes start Oct. 2. For information, call (831) 636-4390.
Business After Hours
The next monthly Business After Hours event hosted by the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is set for 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Dona Esther Mexican Restaurant at 25 Frankly St. in San Juan Bautista.
Women’s Club luncheon
Women’s Club of Hollister invites you to attend the monthly luncheon at San Juan Oaks on Oct. 15 at 11:15 a.m. The guest speaker, Laura Lee, will speak about endowments and a business meeting will follow. The Women’s Club is celebrating its 100th year as a volunteer organization in our community. Projects include raising funds with the Flamingo Flocking and Champagne Tea as well as local scholarships and the Backpack Projects. To reserve a seat contact Glenda at (831) 265-7027.
Walk for Life
The Hollister Pregnancy Center is hosting its annual Walk for Life event Oct. 18 at Dunne Park. Registration is at 8 a.m. with the walk at 9 a.m. For more information, go to 483 Fifth St. or call (831) 637-4020.
Courthouse dedication
A dedication for the new San Benito County Courthouse is scheduled for 3 p.m. Oct. 10 at the new courthouse, 450 Fourth St.
Fort Ord cemetery design OK’d
U.S. Representative Sam Farr, D-Carmel, and California State Senator Bill Monning, held a press conference today to announce that the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs approved the state’s design to build the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery at the former Fort Ord and has awarded $6.8 million in federal funds to build the cemetery. With the announcement, the state can now begin construction of the first phase of the cemetery, a 17-acre columbaria that will include 5,000 niches. The California Department of Veterans Affairs submitted the initial application last year to participate in the federal Veterans Cemetery Grants Service Program for FY 2014. The state then had to meet several design deadlines before the September 30th deadline to be eligible for the funds this fiscal year. Any delay would have prevented the federal government from awarding the $6.8 million grant, which could have put the entire project in jeopardy.
‘Pink Out’ football game
In recognition of national breast cancer awareness month, San Benito High’s football field will be painted pink for the team’s home game against Salinas on Oct. 3. The Pink Out Game honors breast cancer survivors or someone who has lost their battle with breast cancer. During the game, 300 balloons will be released, with each balloon having the name of a breast cancer survivor or someone who has died from breast cancer on it. If you would like to honor or remember someone, email bf************@gm***.com with their name and if you are honoring or remembering them. One can also add a name to a balloon during the freshmen game on Oct. 2 or before the junior varsity and varsity contests on Oct. 3. Baler Pink Out apparel will be available for sale by Baler Backers. Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital will be handing out pink pom-poms. If your business would like to join in on the evening’s events, please contact Mindy Sotelo at 801-1404 or Juli Vieira at 801-3599.
Community Solutions’ annual play
Bringing issues of violence against women and children to the forefront, a leading South County social services agency – Community Solutions – will open the curtains Nov. 2 on its seventh annual play entitled, “Historias de Mi Madre VII: El Puente. The bilingual play – which will discuss “socialization and the choices we make” – opens at 6:30 p.m. at the Gavilan College Theatre, located at 5055 Santa Teresa Boulevard in Gilroy. Organizers have suggested a $10 donation at the door. Due to mature content, the play may not be appropriate for children, according to the Sept. 26 press release. Proceeds from the play will support Community Solutions’ programs and services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Community Solutions, South County’s largest nonprofit human services agency for more than 40 years, offers a broad spectrum of services for mental health, substance abuse, family dysfunction, sexual assault, juvenile delinquency, domestic violence and youth development. They work in partnership with community-based organizations, law enforcement, local schools and County health and human service providers. For more information, visit www.communitysolutions.org or call 408-842-7138. For domestic violence/sexual assault services, call Community Solutions’ toll-free, 24-hour bilingual crisis line at 1-877-363-7238.
Patriot Pen contest
Hollister VFW Post 9242 will award a $100 check to the winner of this year’s Patriot Pen Essay Contest and $25 checks to runner-ups. It is open to students in grades 6-8. Rules and entry forms can be obtained at the county superintendent’s office or at vfw.org. The deadline to submit is Nov. 1. The theme is “Why I Appreciate America’s Veterans”. Any school that would like the contest chairman to visit and speak to students, call Bob Burnham at (831) 638-1703. Entries should go to: Bob Burnham at 860 Marne Drive, Hollister, 95023
Aromas School Veterans Day assembly
Aromas School is hosting its annual assembly at 9 a.m. Nov. 5 at the school, 365 Vega St., Aromas, in the school gymnasium with residents seated by 8:45 a.m. A reception for veterans will follow in the library. For information, contact Terry Strasser at (831) 726-3418 or ts********@sb*******.net. Areas will be reserved for veterans.
Retired teachers
The San Benito County Retired Teachers’ Association will host its next business meeting at San Juan Oaks Golf Club from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 1. A buffet lunch will follow the meeting. Reservations for the luncheon can be made by calling Marie Cosgrove at (831) 623-4931. The guest speaker will be the Emmaus House director.
Jacqueline Dilley fundraiser dance
The second annual Jacqueline Dilley Medical Fundraiser Dinner Dance is set for 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Elks Lodge, 351 Astro Drive. The theme is 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. It is optional to come dressed in costume from your favorite era. Tickets are $45 each and are available at Postal Graphics. For information, call (408) 960-9543. Tickets cannot be sold at the door.
Entertainers for boutique
Entertainers are needed for the Rancho-Maze Band Holiday Boutique. Organizers are looking for community performers who’d like to perform on Nov. 1 at Rancho San Justo Middle School. The Boutique’s from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. People can call (831) 245-8462 for information.
SJB historical society open house
The Historical Society and Library Auxiliary will once again host an Open House at Luck Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11. Details will be finalized in the next historical society newsletter, which will be circulated about three weeks before the event. Local organizations and nonprofits have been invited to participate for the purposes of showcasing their projects, fundraising, recruiting membership, etc. The Library Auxiliary will hold a silent auction to raise funds for their summer children’s program. The Digital San Juan Project will be a highlight of the day, featuring newly scanned and processed vintage photographs that have been donated over the years and more recently as well.
