Community

Three mothers from California's South Valley have turned their grief into advocacy after losing their teenage sons to fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills. Gilroy residents Geralyn Vasquez, Lisa Marquez and Stephanie Carrasco each lost sons between ages 17 and 21 to what the young men believed were...

Bill’s Bullpen comic book store in downtown Hollister has chalked up its 35th year and counting. Owner Bill Mifsud said that Dec. 1 marked three-and-a-half decades of marketing a huge array of comic books, on top of sports apparel, sports cards, non-sports cards, shirts...

Author reflects on iconic moment, upcoming local performances Every August, I reminisce about my adventurous week at the legendary Woodstock Music & Art Fair, now 56 years ago. I think about the heat and humidity and the smell of patchouli oil, incense, cow manure and...

For the first time in its 89-year history, the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo hosted a sellout crowd in the 3,000-plus seat Bolado Park arena, according to organizers.  The show and rodeo took place this past weekend, June 23-25, in Tres Pinos....

Hundreds of people spent the late morning and early afternoon April 19 strolling through downtown Hollister celebrating Earth Day.  With 30 booths that included the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, San Benito Agricultural Land Trust, Master Gardener Otis, Hollister Hill SVRA, Green Foothills and many...

Sometimes it’s important to step back and connect the dots. I don’t know Laura Garcilazo personally. But after receiving her campaign mailer for the auditor-controller election and seeing some of the sensationalistic headlines being used, I started to look more closely at the circumstances surrounding...

San Benito County has drastically increased fines in an effort to combat the scourge of illegal dumping on roadsides, public property and other unauthorized locations.  The new fines, which became effective Sept. 21, are $2,500 for the first offense (previously $100), $5,000 for the second...

Rancho San Justo Middle School hosted its inaugural Winter Wellness Wonderland event Dec. 2 with nearly 150 families in attendance.  Those families left with resources available throughout the community thanks to participation by Behavioral Health, Youth Alliance, the YMCA, Rebekah Children's Services, San Benito County...

A political controversy has been swirling around the Hollister fire contract and triggering of a termination clause in the contract between Hollister, the County and San Juan Bautista. Two elected officials are at the center of this political drama.  Supervisor Kollin Kosmicki and Hollister Councilmember...

Hollister High School culinary teacher and chef Mike Fisher has been named San Benito High School District’s Manager of Nutrition Services, effective at the start of the new semester in January.  Mr. Fisher, a 2003 Baler alumnus, has led the school’s culinary program for the...