Community

San Benito County Recology customers can recycle their Christmas tree at the curb, free of charge. Trees should be cut into sections no greater than three feet and set out for collection the night before your normal service day, or no later than 6am...

Hollister High School recently announced the names of the school’s Fall Sports Academic Team of athletes who have competed on the field and demonstrated success in the classroom for the season.  The Academic Team members are: Lillian Mendonsa, Field Hockey, 4.67 GPA; Francesca Donati, Flag...

A group of San Benito County residents calling themselves the “Public Safety First” committee is seeking to recall two supervisors less than a year after they were sworn in for office.  The group recently began circulating petitions throughout the county to recall District 2 Supervisor...

The San Benito County Behavioral Health Department recently announced the launch of its new community Mobile Crisis Response program, which aims to bring crisis management and support to residents wherever they are.  The phone number for the Mobile Crisis Response Team is 831.902.2911. The line...

Two teenagers from Salinas stole two sports cars in Hollister early Friday morning, leading police on a high-speed pursuit, according to authorities. One of the teens allegedly rammed two sheriff’s office vehicles and struck a deputy before the suspects were arrested.  About 1:48am March 22,...

A bicyclist was killed July 18 when a tree branch fell on her in Gilroy, the California Highway Patrol said.  The 65-year-old woman was traveling southbound on Roop Road north of Leavesley Road at an unknown speed when a large tree branch broke off and...

I rise today to adjourn in the memory of Marty Cheek—a beautiful soul, the publisher of Morgan Hill and Gilroy Life, an arts and science advocate, a man who loved his community, and his community loved him.  Marty was born in Hollister and was a...

Re: Balers rule Gabilan, Free Lance May 5, 2023 Amazing to view lean lithe young bodies airborne gliding across your front page muscled by graceful legs counterbalanced by directional arms. These well-tuned bodies racked up division points in the PCAL, Hannah Vincent for the girls...

Gilroy High School hosted the 19th annual Gifted Games on May 3, bringing students with disabilities to the athletic field for an Olympic-style friendly competition.  The Gifted Games originated through Hollister High School’s Life Skills program, according to Hollister High. Now, HHS and Gilroy High...

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...