Community

Local land trusts receive grant funding Two area land trusts received more than $200,000 worth of grants from the California Council of Land Trusts’ Capacity Building Grant Program. The Amah Mutsun Land Trust, based in Santa Cruz County, received $105,500 for stewarding ancestral lands, says a...

Roughly 325,000 California residents may need to renew their driver’s licenses or ID cards after the California Department of Motor Vehicles discovered that outdated software gave them incorrect expiration dates. In a New Year’s Eve press release, DMV officials said they will send notices in...

Who’s up and who’s down? When the news broke late Nov. 21 that new Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas picked new committee chairpersons and canned others, the Sacramento political sphere was immediately abuzz with talk of winners and losers. The winners include Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, the Davis...

Re: Changing Rules & Cherry Picking Free Lance, July 4, 2025 Most people like to play Monopoly. It is a fun way to learn about the economy. One thing we learn is to stay out of jail. Jail happens when we land on the Jail...

Set amidst the stunning foothills and vibrant vineyards of Guerra Cellars Winery, the Hollister Concert Series this week revealed its 2024 Summer Concert Series schedule.  The lineup promises to bring an unforgettable summer of music, community and celebration under the stars, says a press release...

The fifth annual Pride event, presented by San Benito County and the City of Hollister, took place in front of Hollister City Hall on June 25 to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. The event featured food, performers, guest speakers, face painting, raffles and more. The...

San Jose, once known as “The Valley of Heart’s Delight,” became known as “Silicon Valley.”  Many San Joseans make Hollister their home. Do we want Hollister, like San Jose, to pass from nature’s beauty down a rabbit hole? The geography of Hollister is notable. Our...

The names of the two men whose bodies were found in a pickup truck in the Santa Cruz Mountains a week ago were released Tuesday by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office. The identities of the victims, previously identified by family members, are Colter...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is celebrating a year of meaningful progress in quality and safety. The Obstetrics (OB) team earned three 2025 Quality and Engagement Awards from the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC), while the Emergency Department completed BETA Healthcare Group’s Quest for...

The San Benito County Office of Education partnered with the San Benito County Arts Council to host the eighth annual San Benito County Arts Showcase on April 10, at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Hollister.  San Benito County’s Arts Showcase gives students in grades...