Community

In a world increasingly shaped by technology, commerce and rapid urbanization, public art stands as a profound counterbalance—a humanizing force that elevates the collective spirit of a community. Art in public spaces does far more than decorate; it educates, inspires and connects. Public art is...

California’s legal system should be used to uphold justice—not to line the pockets of trial lawyers exploiting outdated laws. Yet that’s exactly what’s happening today under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), a criminal wiretapping statute from 1967 that is being twisted into...

Operators of the Gilroy Gardens and the Garlic Festival Association have been busy working together to finalize details for the 2025 Garlic Festival—which is returning this summer after a five-year absence.  Tickets for the event will go on sale 12pm May 31on the association’s website.  On...

City of Hollister and San Benito County authorities this week completed a cleanup of the San Benito River that resulted in the removal of tons of garbage and debris, including vehicles, mattresses, shopping carts and a boat.  The riverbed had become a site of illegal...

Sanchez makes president’s list Jenifer Sanchez, of Hollister, was named to the Southern New Hampshire University president’s list for the spring semester. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the president's...

The annual Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival is set to return May 24-25 at the Morgan Hill Downtown Amphitheater and surrounding area, bringing with it an enhanced focus on community involvement and educational scholarships while celebrating the region's fungal heritage. The festival, which has been running...

Authorities are trying to find the owner of a dog that was found abandoned with injuries off the side of a highway near Hollister.  On May 5, officers from Hollister Police Animal Care and Services and the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office responded to a...

Gavilan College on May 13 announced it has named Gilroy native and college alumnus Joffre Longoria as its new football coach. Longoria is also Gavilan’s new manager of the Rams Athletic Academic Mentorship Program.  Longoria played for the Rams in 1995-96 and was on the...

With major graduations from the last two phenomenally successful Hollister softball teams, the 2024-25 squad faced big challenges. An incredibly young team has grown during the year and a solid league campaign has them headed to post-season play again. Early in the schedule, the Balers...

Hollister High School welcomed hundreds of local students to Andy Hardin Stadium on May 9 for the 20th annual Unified Gifted Games, an Olympic-style event that allows students with disabilities to participate in friendly competition.  The event featured nearly 600 athletes—from preschoolers to adults—from Gilroy...