The Sacred Heart Parish School Ranch Dance and Auction is Jan. 31 from 5-11 p.m. at the Bolado Park Pavilion, while the fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 19 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club.
Sacred Heart Ranch Dance
The Sacred Heart Parish School Ranch Dance and Auction is Jan. 31 from 5-11 p.m. at the Bolado Park Pavilion. This always fun event will have the Brigantino’s tri-tip BBQ, full no host bar, local wines, cold beer and sweet snacks. Bid on unique items in the live and silent auctions and try your luck in the reverse drawing for a cash prize. Enjoy music by Soul Kiss as you dance the night away. For more information about the event and tickets please visit the web site www.sacredheartschool.org.
Women’s Club scholarships
The Women’s Club of Hollister Scholarship Awards Program applications are available to young women who are active in community service, academic leadership and activities selected by graduating high school senior females. Seniors with a 4.0 GPA are encouraged to complete the application available at their school, regardless of household size or financial status. Each year $2,000 is awarded from the club and applications are due to be returned completed to their local schools by Feb. 6th. For schools located outside San Benito County, please have the application returned by mail by Feb. 6.
Local MLK event
The fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 19 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. There will be an array of keynote speakers in the program including Assemblyman Luis Alejo. There will be community awards and a silent auction, along with performances by Bethany Youth Empowerment. For ticket information, call Elvira Robinson at (831) 801-5530. The price is $35.
Chamber awards dinner
The San Benito County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau announced details on this year’s annual awards dinner where the organization will honor a man, woman, business and ambassador of the year. The 94th annual awards dinner is set for 6 p.m. Jan. 24 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club and has a theme, “The Stars of San Benito County.” The evening starts with a champagne reception and includes some “changes and surprises,” according to the announcement. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased from the chamber, or any board member or ambassador. People can contact the chamber to pay for their tickets or sponsorships at (831) 637-5315.
Pinnacles interns
Pinnacles National Park is looking for local weekend interns to join the Ranger Corps Program. This program is designed to allow young people (ages 18-25) the chance to work alongside National Park Service professionals and experience the various jobs required to manage a National Park. Questions: (831) 389-4486, ext. 276.
Emergency response team
The San Benito County Office of Emergency Services and Hollister Fire Department are sponsoring a Community Emergency Response Team Citizens’ Academy for the area. The two agencies are partnering for the endeavor designed to “help the citizens, businesses and organizations of San Benito County to be self-sufficient after a major disaster,” according to an announcement from the groups. The program launched in 1995 involves volunteers who help after disasters working with public safety officials. Local classes start Jan. 21 and will be held for eight weeks at the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a conclusion March 14. Members must attend all the classes, and there is no charge. The deadline to sign up is Jan. 12. For more information, call the San Benito County Office of Emergency Services at (831) 636-4168 or email km******@co**.us.
Homeless census volunteers
The San Benito County 2015 Homeless Census is looking for 25 to 40 volunteers to create a point-in-time count of people living outdoors in January as part of a nationwide effort to quantify homelessness.
Volunteers will join a homeless guide to walk the county from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Jan. 28 and will add local numbers to other counts occurring at the same time across the nation. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires this point-in-time count during the last 10 days of January every two years. The census is important because it increases communities’ understandings of homelessness, helps retain and improve funding for services, and creates data that informs future program and policy planning.
The training for volunteers will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 19 in Room 203 at the Veterans Memorial Building at 649 San Benito St. in Hollister. A virtual training is available upon request. For details, email ha****@ap*******************.org.
Volunteers are expected to have a car and cell phone. They should also be able to walk two to three miles. Community members interested in volunteering should go to surveymonkey.com/s/SanBenito2015VolunteerRegistration.
Meetings on future of schools
The Hollister School District is holding forums on the future of two local schools. The Gabilan Hills community is encouraged to share their comments at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the school’s Gecko Hall on Santa Ana Road. Trustees will hold a second special discussion meeting focusing on the Hollister Dual Language Academy community’s thoughts on expanding at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15 at Gabilan Hills’ Gecko Hall on Santa Ana Road. During the most recent regularly scheduled board meeting, Superintendent Gary McIntire suggested staff officials could present plans for the site to the board based on input from community members at the next regularly scheduled board meeting Jan. 27.
