What received a thumbs up and thumbs down from the Free Lance
last week.
THUMBS UP: For the outpouring of community support for the families of Albert Hernandez, Vanessa Jimenez and Armando Limas – three teenagers who lost their lives in a tragic accident Monday night. A fourth teen remains in the hospital after the crash. The kids undoubtedly made some poor decisions that fateful night, but the support the families are receiving is heartwarming. Papa Murphy’s Pizza in Hollister will donate 25 percent of all its proceeds on Oct.14 to a fund for the Hernandez family. Ken Rose, owner of LTD SUV Limousine, also opened funds for the Hernandez’s at San Benito and South Valley banks. And Linda Stamatopoulos, ministry leader for the Seventh Day Adventist Church, opened a fund at San Benito Bank, to help Limas’s family pay for funeral expenses.
THUMBS UP: For everyone who supported the 4-H Make ‘Em Kiss a Pig Contest. Supervisor candidate Anthony Freitas raised $2,895, edging his competition for the board seat, Anthony Botelho. For his efforts, Freitas puckered up for the 247-pound porker twice. Also, the pig was sold for $10,000 giving 4-H plenty of money to make up for a funding shortfall created when county supervisors cut money from their University of California Cooperative Extension program this year. Everyone in the community who rallied to support 4-H deserves credit, but the real winners are the kids.
THUMBS UP: For the 81st Annual San Benito County Fair last weekend. Though attendance may have been down slightly – perhaps 2 percent – the fair seemed packed, and there was plenty to enjoy. People showed off their prize animals, jams and pies, just to name a few of the competitions, while having a lot of old-fashioned fun.
THUMBS UP: For San Juan Bautista, which is considering extending it’s ban on big box retail and chain stores. Maintaining the town’s unique charm – and the tourists who come just for that reason – should be a top priority for city leaders. The two-year ban on big box stores, put in place when worries about the possibility of a Wal-Mart and Subway coming to SJB cropped up, should be made permanent. The town, with its funky old buildings, its historic mission and itinerant chickens, needs to retain its unique atmosphere to be successful.
THUMBS DOWN: To whoever has set a string of small fires behind Park Hill dating back to early August. Firefighters responded to two vegetation fires over a quarter-acre in size last week. Investigators have no suspects, but we hope whoever is doing it comes to their senses and realizes that small fires could grow into large ones that could threaten people and their property.
THUMBS UP: For all the local candidates who have run clean races so far. With the Nov. 2 election fast approaching, this campaign season has been blessedly lacking accusations, finger-pointing and dirty-trick campaign flyers. We hope that those seeking office for school boards, city council and county seats continue to run positive campaigns and keep from slinging the mud.
To respond to this editorial or comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, The Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 or e-mail to
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