Community

A multitude of elected officials, workers and law enforcement officials from Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties gathered at the Government Center in Salinas last week to send a message to the community and the federal government. “Today we stand together, locally, statewide and...

When Esthefani Montelon enrolled in Gavilan College’s Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) program in fall 2019, she had no idea she was embarking on a journey that would lead to aerospace engineering internships at NASA and Pratt & Whitney. “I wanted to do something with my...

I was sorry to read the article, “Locals celebrate highway opening” in the latest Free Lance (June 13 edition), as well as the letter calling the California High-Speed Rail a “boondoggle.” Supervisor Kosmicki is correct in saying Highway 156 will “drastically” improve our quality of...

Agreement on a new fire protection contract last week means local residents can rest assured they will continue to have high-level safety services into the future. This was a monumental win for our community.  This agreement marked the end of a collective process to extend...

Lately, it can feel like the world is weighed down with stress—global conflicts, economic uncertainty and the fast pace of everyday life. It’s easy to get caught up in the heaviness of it all. But right here in our own community, there are still...

After months of fraught negotiations, San Benito County and the City of San Juan Bautista have finally come to an agreement on fire and emergency medical services with the City of Hollister.  The board of supervisors approved the county’s side of the contract for fire...

Crews are pictured June 13 moving dirt on the west side of the interchange of Highway 101 and State Route 25 in south Gilroy. Construction began earlier this month on the long planned new interchange project, which is designed to ease congestion, improve safety...

A family of three, along with their three dogs and three cats, are displaced after their home caught on fire west of downtown Hollister the morning of June 12.  Shyliene Days, who owns the now heavily damaged home with her husband Allan, said nobody was...

The San Benito County Chamber of Commerce and Foundation will honor local people, businesses and organizations Sept. 20 at their 104th annual Awards Dinner.  The purpose of the “Man and Woman of the Year” awards is to recognize residents of San Benito County who serve...

The Community Foundation for San Benito County recently hired Shannon Chastaine as its new Director of Development and Donor Services. With a career dedicated to fostering relationships, advancing meaningful causes and aligning donor passions with impactful giving, Chastaine brings a wealth of experience and...