Nicole Franco speaks in front of her home during the San Juan Bautista Ghost Walk. A young ghost named Joanna, nicknamed Brownie, haunts her house.

The Rotary Club of San Juan Bautista is hosting its sixth annual Ghost Walk with proceeds going to the community. It is set for Oct. 25 and tours will leave from 3rd and Mariposa at 6:30 p.m. and in half-hour intervals through 8:30 p.m. It will include A guided walking tour visiting haunted businesses, and residences, with presentations, sightings and paranormal phenomena. It is $30 per person and includes a gift bag, snacks and beverages.
San Juan Ghost Walk
The Rotary Club of San Juan Bautista is hosting its sixth annual Ghost Walk with proceeds going to the community. It is set for Oct. 25 and tours will leave from 3rd and Mariposa at 6:30 p.m. and in half-hour intervals through 8:30 p.m. It will include A guided walking tour visiting haunted businesses, and residences, with presentations, sightings and paranormal phenomena. It is $30 per person and includes a gift bag, snacks and beverages.
Cattlewomen Fall Fashion Show
The San Benito County Cattlewomen are hosting the 9th annual Fall Fashion Show and Luncheon at noon Nov. 2 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club, 3825 Union Road. There are raffle prizes involved. The price is $34. Make reservations by Oct. 25.
Sacred Heart fundraiser
Sacred Heart School Foundation will be hosting its annual “Celebrating Catholic Education” dinner at San Juan Oaks on Sat. Nov. 1. 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.
‘Addams Family’
San Benito Stage Company presents “The Addams Family.” The weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life when the story unfolds into every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. This musical is performed by local teens ages 13-19 and opens at the Granada Theatre on Fifth Street in Hollister on Halloween, Oct. 31, and will run three consecutive weekends closing on Nov. 15. Tickets are available in advance at San Benito Bene and Postal Graphics. For more information you may call (831) 636-6810.
Rancho-Maze band performs with Pacific Brass Band
The Pacific Brass Band of Monterey County pairs with the Rancho-Maze Middle School Band to present an afternoon of music at the school, 1201 Rancho Drive. The program is a fundraiser for the Rancho-Maze Band, tickets are $3 each. The program begins at 2 pm and is held at Rancho San Justo Middle School Gymnasium. Please support the Rancho-Maze Band. It is set for 2 p.m. Nov. 2.
Rancho-Maze band fundraiser
The Rancho-Maze Middle School Band is holding a fundraiser at ZeeBee Toys in Hollister on Saturday, Oct. 25, all day. Ten percent of each sale made that day goes to support the band. Game night from 4 to 8 pm. Challenge band director, Ruben Morales, to some games during that time period! No flyer necessary!
Float-building workshop
The Hollister Downtown Association invites you to attend a free float and parade workshop from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Oct. 21 at Hollister City Hall, 375 Fifth Street. This year’s Lights On Celebration parade theme is “The Magic of Christmas!” The float and parade workshop will be taught by Ray Pulver of Upbeat Parade Productions. This workshop provides ideas for all aspects of float building including design concept, vehicles to use for a float, building and decorating materials to use, and how to present a float on parade day. For more information about the float and parade workshop or to RSVP, call Teri at 831-636-8406 or email [email protected]. The Hollister Downtown Association is located at 455 San Benito St., Ste. 21.
Lights On Celebration
The Hollister Downtown Association invites you to attend its 24th Annual Lights On Celebration, on Nov. 29. This family-friendly community event brings up to 10,000 people to downtown. This year’s parade theme is “The Magic of Christmas!” and will be led by Jaime the Elf. The celebration continues to be a day-long event with the Holiday Boutique open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., the return of the car show from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (entry fee is a new, unwrapped toy), and the parade starts at 5:30 p.m. Continuing are the traditional lights in the trees, bright red bows on lighted wreaths and local community entertainment. If you would like an application to participate in the parade or car show, as a vendor in the boutique, as a sponsor or submit an Act of Kindness to Jaime, please visit our web site: http://www.downtownhollister.org/lightson.php
YMCA Halloween event
The “Spooktacular Community Event” at the San Benito County YMCA is set for 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at 351 Tres Pinos Road. Celebrations to include face painting, costume parade, pumpkin decorating contest and arts and crafts. Free to the public. Membership discounts available for new YMCA members. For information, call (831) 637-8600.
Downtown fall cleanup
The Hollister Downtown Association is hosting a Downtown Fall Cleanup from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. 25. Meet at the 400 block of San Benito Street at 8 a.m. For information, call (831) 636-8406.
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.
Top Hatters’ Nighttime Pack Run
The Hollister Top Hatters Motorcycle Club is hosting its 17th annual Nighttime Pack Run on Oct. 25. The event has a 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. sign in at the Top Hatters Clubhouse, 843 San Benito St., suite E. The last top is at Mom & Pop’s Saloon in San Juan Bautista from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. There will be food, music by JJ Hawg, door prizes, 50-50 and hi hand low hand. The costume contest has a $100 cash prize with best costume winners announced at midnight. For more information, call (831) 537-4629.
SBHS swap meet
The Class of 2016 at San Benito High School will be putting on a swap meet. Anyone interested in participating by renting a space to sell items can contact Derek Barnes at [email protected]. It is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 1 in the high school parking lot, 1220 Monterey St.
Sunnyslope Christmas Boutique
The Sunnyslope Christian Center at 1520 Sunnyslope Road is presenting its 34th annual Christmas Boutique from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 8. Included are Christmas items and gifts, various vendor booths and a Mexican restaurant. Pictures with Santa are from 10 a.m. to noon.
Holiday Boutique
The United Methodist Church is hosting its Holiday Boutique from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Hollister United Methodist Church at Fifth and Monterey streets. It will include many handmade gifts, jams, jellies, salsa, pickles, baked goods and seasonal decorations. There will be complimentary tea, coffee and cookies with raffle prizes. Vendor space is available. Call Kim White at (831) 801-8451.
Arts Council’s new space
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 [email protected]. Areas will be reserved for veterans.
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.
CASA seeks advocates
CASA is looking for adult volunteers interested in becoming advocates for foster children from San Benito County. No special background or education is required, just someone who cares about making a difference in their community and a foster child’s life. For more information, please call (831) 637-4992 or email: [email protected].

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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