The following events, organizations and individuals deserve
either a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down this week.
THUMBS UP: For today’s Lights On celebration. Tonight, downtown businesses will flip the switch on their holiday lights and a parade will make it’s way down San Benito Street. It’s one of Hollister’s favorite events and is a good way for the entire family to ring in the holidays. The festivities start at 5:15pm downtown. Check it out. And while you’re there, take a look at some of the downtown shops.
THUMBS DOWN: For the fact that Marley Holte’s dream of opening an overnight shelter appears to have withered for at least another winter. Holte ran into resistance from the city and the Federal Aviation Administration when he asked to use the National Guard Armory at the airport for a shelter. Officials said they would support a shelter almost anywhere else, but so far none have formally proposed another location. At least San Benito County Supervisor Pat Loe now sounds ready to start working on the problem. She says it’s time the city and county stop arguing about which should be the lead agency to address homelessness and to start finding a way to help.
THUMBS UP: For the Pinnacles National Monument which is slated to get $2.6 million from the federal government to expand the park’s boundaries. That’s a healthy chunk of change and it’s nearly half of what is needed to buy the 2,000 acre historic Pinnacles Ranch near the monument’s entrance. Monument officials are hoping to raise the rest of the money through private donations. We hope they are successful. The Pinnacles is a jewel for our county and conserving more land will only add to the monument’s appeal while protecting our wild areas.
THUMBS UP: For the progress on the Emmaus House, a shelter for battered women. The house on Sunnyslope and Valley View roads is built, the rooms are furnished and organizers are having an open house on Dec. 5. It has been a long road for organizers who have been working on their dream for nearly a decade, but there is still more to be done. They need to raise $200,000 to run the program for a year before it becomes eligible for state funding. They have $10,000 so far. But Rev. David Rodriguez, who conceived the idea, is positive that planned fundraisers and some grant writers who are donating time will help them raise the cash. If you want to help, you can learn about the fundraisers by calling: 637-4350.
THUMBS DOWN: For the river of trash that flows through Hollister. The San Benito River has become a dumping ground for people who don’t want to pay the fees to take their trash to the county dump. A walk through the river reveals a surfeit of old tires, car parts, rusting appliances, a trailer and bags upon bags of garbage. We encourage the county and district attorney in their efforts to clamp down on the polluters who are trashing the area. The garbage building up is an eyesore and an embarrassment.
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
ed****@fr***********.com
