Community

Call for artists The San Benito County Arts Council this week announced a call for artists for their upcoming fall exhibition, “Soul Searching: An Exploration of Portrait Art.” The exhibition aims to showcase the diverse and dynamic portrait works by local and regional artists, across...

San Benito County and its people, places and institutions could soon be showcased worldwide on the silver screen after local actor, director and producer Nico Quijano and his crew finish up production on the upcoming feature film, “Ranger.”  Quijano, who is originally from the Bronx,...

Re: Local turnout exceeds 64% in Nov. 5 election, Free Lance Nov. 15, 2024 We must think like detectives solving mysteries similar to Sherlock Holmes. Many times the person who looks most innocent is a killer. Confusing ballot measures concerning the future of Hazel Hawkins...

Ghosts, demons and moody teenagers are set to haunt the stage this season with San Benito Stage Company’s production of “Beetlejuice Jr.,” opening Oct. 24. This dark dramedy runs for three weekends in Hollister with eight performances, including two shows during Halloween weekend. “It’s a...

Two motorists died in separate accidents in San Benito County over the past week, according to authorities.  The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office identified one of the victims as Nicholas Langford, 33, of Hollister.  Langford died in a collision on State Route 25 that occurred...

The singers of San Benito Oriana Chorale—many of whom have performed with the group for more than three decades—are eager to be back in front of audiences this month for the first time since before the pandemic.  The local nonprofit community choral group has been...

The State Coastal Conservancy earlier this summer approved $758,000 to fund a San Benito Wildfire Regional Prioritization Plan, says a press release from the University of California Cooperative Extension.  Widespread collaboration across the county, as well as in neighboring counties, will result in a plan...

The Hollister Police Department will use a $79,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to help make local roads safer, authorities said.  The grant, which was announced by Hollister PD on Nov. 16, will support the department’s ongoing enforcement and education efforts “to...

Crews from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) completed a prescribed burn operation in northern San Benito County last week in an effort to reduce fuel for potential wildfires as the region continues to dry out from the soggy winter,...

Revisit downtown street configuration I am very excited that the current Hollister City Council has decided to support the motorcycle rally. If my parents were still here, they would be thrilled.   As the proprietors of the Dabo Hotel, Bar, Restaurant and liquor store that once occupied...