Community

The nonprofit South Valley Symphony is seeking volunteers to serve on its board of directors. Applicants should have a strong interest in helping to shape the symphony’s activities over the coming years, and should be enthusiastic about becoming a part of the symphony’s long-standing...

Hollister School District sites enthusiastically participated in the recent Mental Health Awareness Week with a variety of activities for students and staff members.  District schools held activities for Mental Health Awareness Week from May 13-17. The days’ themes included Meditation Monday, Thoughtful Tuesday, White Out...

There are three crucial components to solve Hollister’s serious safety problem with lacking helmet use by minors on skateboards, bicycles and scooters.

On a recent July afternoon, Calaveras School buzzed with activity and enthusiasm. In one classroom, students made and played songs on iPads under Andrew Iriarte’s instruction. The instructor explained how they can use GarageBand to play piano, drums and guitar to record songs—and he mentioned...

Most true lovers of pinot noir have made a pilgrimage to Calera Winery in Hollister, the place that firmly established North America’s ability to produce “the heartbreak grape.”  Calera Wine Company, established in 1975 in the remote hills of San Benito County, was the beautiful...

The 35th annual Red Ribbon Run and Festival brought hundreds of people to downtown Hollister Oct. 18 to help raise awareness of substance abuse prevention and education in San Benito County.  The event’s signature 3k Fun Run started at 8am at the Veterans Memorial Building...

Hot/cold, run/walk, up/down, fast/slow, like these opposites the Free Lance front page (June 30) displayed two stories each one opposite to the other. I am wondering what readers think and how they respond.   One story, a true bottom report, documented, “Hollister OKs more housing hookups...

More than 2,000 free comic books were handed out at Bill’s Bullpen Baseball Cards & Comics in downtown Hollister during the annual Free Comic Book Day event May 2. Owner Bill Mifsud has participated in the annual event every year since its inception, making his...

Good news for our California law enforcement: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in your favor! I applaud all our law enforcement officials who have pledged to obey our state law, SB 54.  This law, known as the California Values Act, also referred to as the Sanctuary...

Bernice “B” Bode and her great-granddaughter, Jasmin Sauer, have similar personalities and they enjoy spending time together—in much the same way that intergenerational members of many families do.  But Bernice and Jasmin’s relationship is unique because they are 100 years apart in age. Bode, who...