Community

Our rain has been great and so far, no rainbow. When a rainbow beauty does color over gray skies I wonder if Mayor Casey will find her pot of gold under that arc. With careful reading of her “State of the city” report (Free...

Mike Chambless wears a lot of hats for the city. In his role as airport director, Chambless has been a shining star while overseeing several important projects.

Hollister resident Jennifer Laine—who has had a lifelong passion for art and creativity and dedicated her career to arts advocacy—was honored this week as the 2023 Woman of the Year for the 29th Assembly District.  Assemblymember Robert Rivas, who represents District 29, announced the recognition...

The owner of a 23-acre property on Highway 101—where the Betabel Commercial Development proposal has been the subject of an environmental study and lawsuit—recently filed an application to change plans to allow hundreds of new homes.  Property owner McDowell Family Trust and architect Henry Ruhnke...

Proponents of an effort to recall San Benito County District 5 Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez—who has served on the board for less than one year—submitted a petition with more than 2,200 signatures to election officials last week.  In a Sept. 23 letter to the committee’s treasurer,...

Local art for sale at Night Market The San Benito County Arts Council invites the community to attend their inaugural Open Studios Night Market, taking place 5-8pm April 13 at the Art Depot, 35 Fifth Street in downtown Hollister. This art-focused Night Market will feature original...

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...

Martha’s Kitchen served a large turnout for their inaugural senior lunch service July 1 at the Pauline Valdivia Memorial Community Center.  With multiple City of Hollister and San Benito County representatives in attendance, Executive Director Bill Lee addressed the crowd. “Food is just a part of...

At its September statewide meeting, California County Superintendents named San Benito County Superintendent, Krystal Lomanto, and the San Benito County Office of Education the 2024 Small County Office of the Year, says a press release from the local office. The recognition is given to...

Re: City council postpones affordable housing ordinance, Free Lance May 12, 2023 A decision not to decide concerning a decisive issue is difficult to understand. This makes me think that Mia Casey might prefer to be mayor of a city like Monterey rather than of...