Community

The holiday season officially rolled into town Saturday night as an estimated 8,000 people lined the streets for the 35th annual community Christmas parade, a sparkling procession of lights, music and hometown pride. With families bundled in blankets and children waving eagerly from the curb,...

Proponents of an effort to recall San Benito County District 5 Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez—who has served on the board for less than one year—submitted a petition with more than 2,200 signatures to election officials last week.  In a Sept. 23 letter to the committee’s treasurer,...

We are excited to bring you the Inaugural Battle of the Bands and Car Show to honor a Band of Brothers Fundraiser.  VFW Auxiliary 9242 and APEX Specialty Planning is honored to sponsor this family fun event at Bolado Park Event Center as a fundraiser...

A decade ago, California summers brought not only heat, but the threat of rolling blackouts. Extreme heat waves pushed our electricity system to the brink, leaving millions without power when they needed it most.  The story has changed. Thanks to battery energy storage systems (BESS),...

For Hollister football fans, it sure was worth the 40-mile trip to the coast last Friday. On a chilly night at Monterey High’s renovated home field, the Baler football team stunned the Toreadores with an incredible and dramatic finish for a 27-14 victory. With just...

Gurleen Khajuria, a Gavilan College STEM tutor and aspiring materials scientist, has been awarded the 2025 Karl S. Pister Leadership Opportunity Scholarship.  The $20,000 award supports community college students transferring to UC Santa Cruz who have shown exceptional academic achievement, leadership and commitment to service. Gavilan...

Gavilan College honored its largest graduating class in school history May 24, awarding 1,779 associate degrees and certificates during a ceremony at the college’s Gilroy campus. It was Gavilan’s 105th commencement ceremony.  “Class of 2025, congratulations. You are a part of history,” Gavilan College Superintendent...

Re: County leaders show support, Free Lance 6/27/25 Never before has this decision by our sheriff, Eric Taylor, in union with our neighboring counties been importantly decisive.  “The direction to my staff is that hardworking migrants …must be left alone.” Because law is about being human; that...

At a recent Town Hall in Aromas, a resident asked me to describe the vision for tourism as an economic driver in San Benito County.  I explained how it all starts with Pinnacles National Park. If we are going to reach our potential as a...

South Valley Civic Theatre will present the Tony-nominated musical “The Prom” beginning June 20 at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, bringing a story of acceptance and inclusion to local audiences through song, dance and comedy. Directed by Tressa Bender, the production follows a group of...