Community

With the month of May beginning this week, with its warmer weather, lower humidity and drying vegetation, Cal Fire is urging Bay Area homeowners to do all they can to protect against fire. “Fires are mostly caused by the human factor,” Cal Fire Battalion Chief...

Downtown Hollister was covered in green Friday night for an evening of family-friendly festivities in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.  The City of Hollister’s Parks and Recreation department sponsored and organized the March 15 St. Patrick’s Day Dash events—the centerpiece of which was a 1K...

Congressman Sam Farr is stepping up big again for San Benito County during his final stretch run as the local representative. The latest reflection is Farr’s bill pushing to reopen Clear Creek Recreation Area to the public for the first time since its closure in 2008.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Aug. 24 announced $300 million worth of zero-interest loans for struggling hospitals, including Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital which will receive $10 million from the program.  The Hollister hospital, which declared bankruptcy earlier this year, will receive the funds in the coming...

The San Benito County Arts Council is seeking local artists or artist teams to submit their qualifications to create and install a mural on one of five utility boxes along Highway 25 in Hollister.  This project is part of a State Highway Beautification Project, sponsored...

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...

Incentives up to $5,000 are available for San Benito County residents who purchase or lease a new or used electric or hybrid vehicle.  The 2025-26 Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (EVIP) was launched July 1 by the Monterey Bay Air Resources District. Residents of Monterey and...

The local Poppy Jasper International Film Festival was recently named one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” by MovieMaker Magazine—a prestigious recognition that PJIFF producers say validates all the work and dedication that has gone into growing the South Valley event...

A 3.0-magnitude earthquake was reported Tuesday morning near San Martin in southern Santa Clara County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was reported at 10:40am April 11 and was centered about 5 miles east-northeast of San Martin and 12 miles east of Morgan...

In an effort to cut costs as Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital (HHMH) faces a potential bankruptcy, the San Benito Health Care District Board of Directors voted Jan. 6 to close the hospital system’s home healthcare department.  The board’s vote was in line with a recommendation...