Gavilan College student workers begin unionizing
Student workers at Gavilan College are organizing what they say would be the first student workers union at a community college in California, aiming to address wage disparities and improve working conditions at their Gilroy and Hollister campuses, and inspire other students to follow...
South Valley farm maintains Halloween fall tradition
Squeals of laughter and the scent of hay filled the air as children raced through the corn maze, picked out pumpkins nearly as big as they were, and enjoyed rides at the annual fall festival at Swank Farms—a beloved South Valley tradition marking the...
San Benito County advises residents to prepare for delay of November food stamp benefits
Local CalFresh recipients will see a delay in their benefits in November due to the federal government shutdown, says a notice from the San Benito County Health & Human Services Agency.
San Benito County currently serves 7,742 people and 3,794 families with CalFresh benefits, which...
Alliance launches TotalCare all-in-one health plan
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,...
San Benito Stage Company brings ‘Beetlejuice Jr.’ to unlife
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...
County Ed. Assistant Supe honored by Filipina Women’s Network
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...
Letter: Study on wildfire’s health risks is a breath of fresh air
Last week the smaller print piece in the Free Lance side bar labeled “Local Scene” got my attention. The title “State to study cancer risk of fighting wildfires” had me opening the paper focused on further information. Everyone is interested in cancer risk.
Our surrounding...
South Valley Symphony marks 52nd season with Oct. 12 concert
South Valley Symphony is set to embark on its 52nd season, with their opening concert set for 3pm Oct. 12 at Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill.
The special tribute concert, “Adventures Around the Globe,” promises to be a vibrant journey through music from around the...
Locals join ‘No Kings’ rally
Millions of people across the U.S. gathered in thousands of cities Oct. 18 to protest the Donald Trump Administration. Known nationwide as the “No Kings” protest, demonstrators included hundreds in San Juan Bautista and Hollister. Local protesters displayed handmade signs criticizing the Trump Administration’s...
Morgan Hill author delivers debut thriller ‘Dead by Monday’
Kathryn Benton was a privileged young student with every advantage money could buy, but when she suddenly becomes the target of a massive nationwide manhunt, her comfortable world crumbles in an instant in “Dead by Monday,” the debut thriller from Morgan Hill author Chuck...
