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Gwendolyn Baquiran, San Benito County Office of Education’s Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, has been selected to receive the Filipina Women’s Network’s 2025 Most Influential Filipina Women of the World Award in the category of “Innovator & Thought Leader; Pioneer of Progress.” Chosen from a...

San Benito County recovered $696,602 that was stolen by a suspect or suspects through a complicated phishing scam, according to local officials.  Authorities are investigating the fraud attempt, in which the county’s auditor-controller’s office had approved the payment to someone who falsely posed as a...

Halloween, where yards become planted in gravestones and ghosts and offices appear cobwebbed and spidery to make scary fun… Children love to transform into monsters with big mouths and sharply pointed teeth to scare everyone.   Scary Halloween is enjoyable because it is all in fun....

To commemorate its 150th anniversary, the Hollister Fire Department invites the public to a celebratory event during Fire Prevention Month on Oct. 18. Held ahead of the December anniversary date, the event provides an opportunity for the community to join in honoring the department’s...

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...

The Hollister volleyball team is back in gear. After a rebuilding season with a young team that missed the playoffs, the Balers are back in the thick of the turbulent waters of the competitive Pacific Coast Athletic League, Gabilan Division. Led by six-rotation outside hitter...

Central California Alliance for Health this week announced the launch of TotalCare, a Medicare Advantage plan that is also a dual-eligible special needs plan. The plan offers all-in-one care for those eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare, and is available for people in San Benito,...

Ballots and voting information packets for the Nov. 4 special statewide election are in the mail for San Benito County’s 37,000-plus registered voters.  Early voting started Oct. 6. Voters can begin casting their ballots by mail; 24-hour drop box; or in person at one of...

Thanks for these tricks and treats in the Free Lance.   The recall effort tries for the trick. Recalling a supervisor shortly after an election seems like a tricky situation. A recall seems as though voters changed their minds rather soon after voting. Since no one volunteered...

The Third Annual Hollister Powwow & Native Gathering—a three-day celebration of indigenous cultures, traditions and heritage—will take place Nov. 7-9 at Bolado Park Event Center in Tres Pinos.  The free community event hosted by the Indigenous Nations Diversity Network and Youth Alliance will feature traditional...