News in brief

Benefit barbecue
HOLLISTER
– A benefit barbecue for John Ament, who was recently diagnosed
with cancer, will be held on Jan. 10 at Paine’s Restaurant from
noon to 6 p.m.
The barbecue menu is quarter-chicken and ribs, beans, salad and
garlic bread plate for $10 or you can pre-order a whole tri-tip and
loaf of garlic bread for $25. Both menu options are available for
take out or stay and eat in the banquet room. Tickets are available
at Paine’s, Muenzer’s, Johnny’s or Cheap Seats.
A raffle drawing will also be held during the barbecue with
excellent raffle prizes donated from throughout the community.
Raffle tickets are available the day of the event.
For more information, call 524-6418 or 638-6434.
Benefit barbecue

HOLLISTER – A benefit barbecue for John Ament, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, will be held on Jan. 10 at Paine’s Restaurant from noon to 6 p.m.

The barbecue menu is quarter-chicken and ribs, beans, salad and garlic bread plate for $10 or you can pre-order a whole tri-tip and loaf of garlic bread for $25. Both menu options are available for take out or stay and eat in the banquet room. Tickets are available at Paine’s, Muenzer’s, Johnny’s or Cheap Seats.

A raffle drawing will also be held during the barbecue with excellent raffle prizes donated from throughout the community. Raffle tickets are available the day of the event.

For more information, call 524-6418 or 638-6434.

Dog licenses due

HOLLISTER – The Hollister Police Department’s Animal Control Bureau reminds dog owners in the City of Hollister and the County of San Benito that annual dog licenses are due.

For Hollister residents, there is no change in the requirements or procedures to obtain a dog license. Annual courtesy notices have been sent to city residents.

For those residing in unincorporated San Benito County, the San Benito County Board of Supervisors passed anordinance requiring all dogs age four months and older residing in the unincorporated areas of San Benito County be licensed. This ordinance, adopted in April 2009, is similar to that of the City of Hollister. The full text of San Benito County Code Section 13.01.030 “Licensing Required; Fees; Term” can be found at www.san-benito.ca.us.

Under contract with San Benito County, the Hollister Police Department’s Animal Control Bureau provides services in the unincorporated areas of the county. As a courtesy to dog owners, the Animal Control Bureau has sent notices advising them of the new requirement to license their dogs. Residents of unincorporated San Benito County should obtain their dog licenses directly from the Animal Control Bureau.

Non-receipt of a courtesy notice does not relieve a dog owner of the requirement to obtain a dog license.

The fees for dog licensing in both the City of Hollister and San Benito County are as follows:

Dogs, not altered: one year – $18; two years – $28; three years – $36

Altered dogs: one year – $9; two years – $13; three years – $18.

The Hollister Police Department’s Animal Control Bureau is located at 1331 South Street. For more information, call the Animal Control Bureau at 636-4320.

Final Hollister Little League registration

HOLLISTER – The final registration for the 2010 season of Hollister Little League will be held on Saturday, Jan. 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Hall at the corner of Seventh and San Benito streets for all levels – T-ball through Senior League (age 15 and 16). Registrants must bring a copy of the player’s birth certificate, medical insurance information and they must complete a registration form and volunteer form, which requires a valid photo ID.

Registration fees are $65 for T-ball; $105 for farm, minors or majors; and $130 for the junior or senior leagues (ages 13 and up). Additional player registrations within a family are $70. Only cash, credit and debit cards will be accepted as payment. No checks.

For more information, go to www.eteamz.com/hollister, where online registration is available; or leave a message on the league hotline, 831-644-5159.

BLM hosts meetings on Clear Creek

HOLLISTER – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Hollister Field Office will host three public meetings to gather comments on the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in January 2010.

“We encourage the public to attend these meetings to find out more about Clear Creek and help us plan for its future management,” said Rick Cooper, BLM Hollister Field Office manager, in a press release.

The draft RMP/EIS covers about 75,000 acres of public lands administered by BLM in southern San Benito and western Fresno counties. The draft RMP/EIS does not include public lands outside of the CCMA

The draft RMP/EIS was developed through a public planning process and considers seven alternatives. The primary issues addressed are public health risk from asbestos exposure in CCMA, recreation, protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources, energy and mineral development, land tenure adjustments, and other planning issues identified during the public scoping process.

Each public meeting will begin with an open house where the public can gather information, talk with BLM specialists, and provide written comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Following the open house, the BLM will give a brief introduction followed by an opportunity for the public to provide oral comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Although oral comments will be noted on flip charts, BLM will only respond to written public comments in the proposed RMP and final EIS. Comments must be postmarked or received by BLM no later than March 5, 2010.

The public is encouraged to attend the public meetings to gather information and provide comments on the draft RMP/EIS.  All public meetings will take place from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at:

– Jan. 13, 2010:         Harris Ranch Garden Ballroom, 24505 W. Dorris Ave., Coalinga

– Jan. 14, 2010:         Veterans Memorial Hall, 649 San Benito St., Hollister

– Jan. 20, 2010:         Santa Clara Convention Center, Great America Meeting Rooms, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara.

The draft RMP/EIS is available online for public review at the Hollister Field Office Web page: www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area/CCMA_RMP.html. Compact disks of the document are available by request from the Hollister Field Office at the address above. For additional information contact the Hollister Field Office at 630-5000.

Si, Se Puede seeks activity leaders

HOLLISTER – The Si, Se Puede! Learning Centers of Hollister and Gilroy are seeking reliable and self-starting college students to work with at-risk youth, between the ages of 5-13, as a Resident Activity Leader (RAL). The RAL will work with the site staff in implementing the after-school and summer program and assist youth with their homework, reading and subject learning center activities.

The Si, Se Puede! Learning Center offers after-school services to youth in grades K-5 and is located on a Housing and Urban Development (HUD), affordable housing complex. The center operates under the National Farm Workers Service Center, a nonprofit established by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in 1966.

Position requirements: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, US citizen or legal resident, have interest in helping a low-income community establish new programs to help children, and able to commit to six months of service. Benefits include: ultimate learning and work experience, monthly living allowance of $2,500 for six months (12 hours/week) or $3,750 for six months (18 hours/week) and an end of service education award of $1,000 (12 hours/week) or $1,250 (18 hours/week). The position will begin in March 2010.  For more information on positions in Hollister, contact Charles Miller at

nf************@gm***.com











or 637-9097 or for Gilroy, contact Jacqueline and Maggie at

nf*********@gm***.com











or 408-847-9162.

Christmas tree pick up

HOLLISTER – Boy Scout troops 436 and 428 will be offering a Christmas tree pick up in Hollister and San Juan Bautista beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 27, and continuing Jan. 2 and 3. A donation of $7 is requested and the trees can be left on the curbside by 9 a.m. on collection days. On Jan. 9, the Boy Scouts will also collect trees at the Veterans Memorial Park in Hollister.

For more information, call Troop 436 in Hollister at 638-9646 or Troop 428 in San Juan Bautista at 636-8360. All donations support Boy Scout activities and the Gerry Rawn Endowment Fund.

Baler Education Foundation accepts nominations

HOLLISTER – The Baler Education Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2010 San Benito High School Hall of Fame, to be held March 27. For a nomination form or more information, call Kenneth Kovanda at 801-0092 or e-mail

kw****@ya***.com











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Homeless shelter needs volunteers, donations

HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Homeless Shelter is in need of donations of warm blankets and paper products such as dinner plates, hot/cold cups, napkins, paper towels and personal-size toiletries. Volunteers are also need to cook meals at the Community Center and shop for supplies.

This interested in helping out can call Kathy Hough at 801-0265 or Cilly Fisher at 637-6357.

High-speed train public info meeting

GILROY – The U.S. Department of Transportation and the California High-Speed Rail Authority will be hosting public information meetings in January about the San Jose to Merced section of the high-speed train.

At the event the high-speed rail authority will display the results of the draft Alternative Analysis Report and its recommendations for carrying alternatives, stations and design options forward in the draft Environmental Impact Report/statement.

The proposed high-speed rail is 800-miles long and will connect major cities in the state.

A public meeting is scheduled in Gilroy, Jan. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 6070 Monterey Road. Other meetings include A Dec. 17 meeting from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Merced Community Senior Center, 755 West 15th St., and a San Jose Meeting Jan. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Roosevelt Community Center, 901 E. Santa Clara St.

Library closed for the holidays

HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Library will be closed for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays through Jan. 1, 2010. The library is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Regular hours of operation will resume Jan. 4, at 10 a.m.

Please call 636-4107 for more information or visit the calendar of events at www.sanbenito.org.

HPD begins electronic messaging

HOLLISTER – The Hollister Police Department is using an electronic messaging system that allows direct communication with interested residents who sign up to receive messages via e-mail, SMS, text or other mobile devices. The service is provided by NIXLE.

Messages that may be sent out include the following:

– Traffic – information related to traffic problems or diversions and parking.

– Community information – information about meetings that relate to public safety Advisories – crime alerts and press or informational releases from events in which the police department is seeking information from the public or when a neighborhood may be impacted by a response.

– Alerts – information on major events, emergencies or things such as Amber alerts.

NIXLE is configured to broadcast to all persons subscribed to the Hollister Police Department NIXLE messaging system or anyone following the Hollister Police Department on Twitter.

Broadcasts can be configured to occur to all persons subscribed or to a geographical area around a particular address.

Residents, businesses or others interested in following the department broadcasts can register securely at no charge at local.nixle.com/Hollister-police-department or by searching for local NIXLE broadcasts at www.nixle.com. The Department can also be followed online at twitter.com/hollisterpolice.

Annual Christmas Bird count set

SANTA CRUZ – A Christmas Bird Count will be hosted in Santa Cruz County Dec. 19 from dawn to dusk. Volunteers, including professional biologists and amateur birdwatchers, will gather locally and nationwide to collect data on the types of birds seen in the region.

Volunteers interested in participating, can visit www.santacruzbirdclub.org or visit www.birding.travel.

Hotline provides traffic info for Hwy. 1

MONTEREY – Caltrans District 5 has created a toll-free hotline that will provide information about traffic on Hwy. 1. The hotline will cover an area of the Big Sur coast highway from Cambria to Carmel.

Motorists are advised to consult the hotline before driving on Hwy. 1 in the Big Sur area. The toll-free phone number is 888-836-0866.

The hotline will be updated as needed with information about construction, traffic delays, and or road closures.

“With the rainy season approaching, we are pleased to be able to provide this service to the traveling public,” said District Director Rich Krumholz, in a press release.

For traffic updates on Hwy. 1 projects between Cambria and Carmel residents can visit www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/road_information.htm or call the District 5 toll-free number at 888-836-0866.

Blood drive

HOLLISTER – The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive Jan. 21 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cultural Hall, 1670 Cienega Road, in Hollister. All donors will be entered into a drawing to win a 50-inch plasma TV and a one-night stay at the Inn by the Lake in South Lake Tahoe. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543) or visit www.HelpSaveALife.org/NC and enter the sponsor code Hollister.

Christmas tree tips

MONTEREY – The Monterey County Fire and Arson Task Force offered tips to locals about Christmas trees during the holiday season. From 2003-2007, about 250 home fires started with Christmas trees, but some tips can help residents keep their homes safe.

– Do not purchase a tree that is already dry or dropping needles

– Place the tree in a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over

– Keep live trees moist by giving them plenty of water daily

– When decorating the tree, always use lights that are in good working order and free of defects. Follow manufacturer’s instructions on how to use lights.

– Connect no more than three stands of lights together designed for indoor use.

– Always unplug tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

– Never use candles to decorate a tree. Make sure any lit candles in the room are well away from tree branches.

– Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source such as a fireplace or heater

– Keep a watchful eye on children when around the tree and do not let them play with wiring or lighting

– Safely recycle the tree when it begins dropping needles or as soon as possible after Christmas. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in the house or garage.

For more information on Christmas tree safety, visit www.nfpa.org.

Nominations open for farmer, ag education awards

DAVIS – Nominations are being accepted for the 2010 Pedro Ilic Awards, which honor dedication to small-scale farming. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 15. The awards will be presented at the California Small Farm Conference in San Diego March 1.

The awards are named for Fresno County small-scale farm advisor Pedro Ilic, whose untimely death in 1994 prompted the UC Small Farm Program to annually honor those who carry out his legacy of personal commitment to small-scale and family farming.

The awards honor an educator and a farmer who embody characteristics that helped make Ilic a success. The honorees are chosen because they envision what can be done and have the imagination, energy and intellect to translate that vision into a successful activity; is part of the solution; is an advocate and risk taker; is an effective teacher; is a dedicated professional; has determination, exuberance, high energy and genuine friendliness; has high personal and family values.

Last year’s honorees included Dan Macon, a Placer County rancher, and Jim Leap, a farm manager for the University of California, Santa Cruz center for agroecology and sustainable food systems.

Nomination forms can be found online at ucanr.org/ilicaward. More information can be found at sfc.ucdavis.edu/awards. For questions call 530-752-8136 or e-mail

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Community Foundation seeks grant proposals

HOLLISTER – The Community Foundation for San Benito County is accepting letters of intent from local organizations and nonprofits for grant proposals. All proposals must support projects in one of six fields of interest: Arts and Culture, Agriculture and Environment, Education and Youth, Health and Social Services, Community Enhancement and Economic Development. The Foundation expects to fund nearly $450,000 in projects.

Applications, guidelines, forms and more details regarding the competitive review process can be accessed at www.cffsbc.org. All letters of intent must be received at the Community Foundation office no later than 4 p.m. Dec. 30.

For more information, call 630-1924.

Oakwood open house

MORGAN HILL – Oakwood, a nonprofit, nonsectarian private school in Morgan Hill, will be hosting an open house for its Pre-K to 12th grade classes Jan 30 from 10 a.m. to noon. The school offers scholarships, sibling discounts, tuition assistance and transfer assistance.

For more information, visit www.oakwoodweb.org or call 408-782-7177.

Community Solutions advocacy training

MORGAN HILL – Community Solutions will be hosting its semi-annual 65-hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Volunteer Advocate Training.

The training lasts six weeks and will begin Jan. 5, 2010. Last year Community Solutions served 10,000 people in south Santa Clara and San Benito counties through the programs they offer in mental health, substance abuse and other programs.

Victims of violence have included people of all ethnicities, gender, class or sexual orientation.

For more information and to complete the application process, call Emma Lucas at 408-776-6288.

Community Solutions Women’s Support Group

MORGAN HILL – Community Solutions for children, families and individuals, Inc. will begin a six-week Women’s Support Group in English and Spanish for women who are survivors of domestic violence. Groups will begin January 12, 2010.

For more information, contact Saozinha Restorick at 408-776-6208.

DUI enforcement boosted for holidays

HOLLISTER – The Hollister Police Department will have more officers on the roads to crack down on drunk driving during the holiday season. Officers will be out in force through Jan. 3.

“If you drive while under the influence, Hollister police officers will be looking for you and they will arrest you,” said Chief Jeff Miller, in a press release. “There will be no exception.”

The zero-tolerance policy will run through Jan. 3. Funding for the increased patrols is through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

By the end of September, Hollister police officers have made more arrests than in each of the prior years.

“Our goal is to make the 2009 holiday season the safest ever,” Miller said.

Since 2005, the number of alcohol-involved fatalities statewide has been dropping, but officers are still working toward zero deaths.

Donations needed for Rancho fundraiser

HOLLISTER – Rancho San Justo Middle School parent volunteers are seeking prize donations for their “Gift of Education Gala” to be held April 16, 2010 at the Elks Lodge in Hollister. Proceeds from the event will help fund participating students for a trip to Washington, D.C. next summer through WorldStrides, an educational company organizing the trip. Donations of gift baskets, gift certificates and other items are welcome. Donations are tax deductible.

For more information, contact Jennifer Ippolito at 638-0900 or Leah Kincheloe at 297-2341.

Hollister Art League calendar on sale

HOLLISTER – The Hollister Art League 2010 Calendars of Victorian homes in San Benito County are now available. Colorful original paintings of watercolors, oils, linocuts and photography have been reproduced. Calendars are now for sale at Country Rose Gallery, 722 San Benito St. and Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito St., in Hollister.

All proceeds go towards San Benito County high school art scholarships for graduating seniors. For more information, call 637-6062 or 638-0277.

PAWS to Light Up the Night

HOLLISTER – Pet Friends and SHARE Animal Rescue Effort will be holding a holiday fundraiser. The groups will be lighting up lights on a tree outside the Pet Friends Center on Buena Vista Road. Lights can be purchased for a $10 donation and donor names will be entered in the 2009 Commemorative Book at the center. A special handmade ornament will be sent to those who donate $50 or more. The lights can be purchased in memory of a beloved pet that shared their live, in honor of a current loved one, or as a gift to someone.

Call 634-1191 for more information, pick up donation forms at the Pet Friends Center or check the Web sites for more information at www.petfriends.org or www.shareanimalrescue.org.

GriefShare meetings start up

HOLLISTER – GriefShare, a Christ-centered recovery and support group for those who are grieving a love one meets at Grace Bible Church, on the corner of Sixth and Monterey streets, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. The meetings include nationally recognized experts on grief and recovery topics. Seminar sessions include “God’s Prescription For Grief,” “The journey of Grief,” “The Effects of Grief” “When Your Spouse Dies” “Your Family and Grief” and “Stuck in Grief.” There will be no meetings on Dec. 23 and Dec. 30.

For more information, call 637-1394.

Members needed for Library

HOLLISTER – The Friends of the San Benito County Free Library is recruiting new members and people to serve on the board to help plan the future of the library. The monthly meetings will be held the third Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m.

Due to the large increase in library cardholders and the increase in circulation, more help and input is welcome.

For more information, call Mary Schneider at 637-1794.

ASSE seeks area reps

HOLLISTER – ASSE International Student Exchange Program is looking for volunteers to serve as area representatives in the community. ASSE offers academic year, semester and short-term exchange programs in the United States for students from around the world between the ages of 15-18. Area representatives recruit and screen prospective host families, interview students to study abroad and supervise the visiting exchange students in their community. Representatives are reimbursed for their expenses.

For more information about ASSE or becoming an area representative, call 1-800-733-2773.

Returning Catholics group

HOLLISTER – Sacred Heart-St. Benedict Parish will be hosting a weekly meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. for returning Catholics. The gathering is an opportunity for participants to understand the church through presentations, questions and discussion. Those who have left the church and are interested in returning are encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact Dolores Fenzel, the adult faith formation coordinator, at 637-9212.

Library book sale

HOLLISTER – The Friends of the Library Saturday book sales will be held in the book shed behind the library and the Historical Society, 470 Fifth St. from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday in November. It will be cancelled on rainy days. Books are available at $2 a bag, as are videos, tapes and more. Donations are accepted, as are donations of used and new books. For more information on the book sale, call 636-4107.

Club Ed offers tutoring

HOLLISTER – Club Ed offers tutoring on a private basis at $14 in all subjects, all grades. They even have tutors for college mathematics. Contact Rachel Flores-Zepeda at 637-5831, ext.370.

Pat’s Place in need of volunteers

HOLLISTER – Pat’s Place, a thrift shop at 101 Fifth St., in Hollister, is in need of volunteers. The thrift shop benefits Community Food Bank, which has seen a 25 percent increase in demand in the last few months.

The store sells slightly used kitchen items, furniture, clothing, books and more at low prices. According to a press release from Mary Anne Hughes, it offers “a revenue source badly needed for the Community Food Bank. The ever-increasing demand on the Community Food Bank’s services requires money to purchase food and supplies.”

She said while monetary donations tend to be seasonal, the hope is that Pat’s will offer a year-round source of income. Donations are accepted for the store, and volunteers are needed to sort the items, price them, stock and sell the items.

To find out about volunteer opportunities, call Mary Anne Hughes at 637-0340 or stop by Pat’s Place, or call 637-5500. Donations are accepted Monday through Saturday. The store is open to the public Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Math Talk program starts

HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Office of Education will host a Math Talk on the first Tuesday of every month (there will be no meeting in January 2010.) The program will help teachers improve their math skills, and will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 460 Fifth St., in Hollister.

For more information or to RSVP, call 459-5703.