News in brief

Student art contest 2010
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
– The Native Daughters of the Golden West (NDGW), Parlor #179 of
San Juan Bautista, is sponsoring a Student Art Competition to
encourage the interest of students and the general public in the
historical and natural treasures of California, around the
theme
”
Connect, Communicate, Change.
”
The contest is open to all students in grades 9 through 12 in
any school in San Benito County. Enrollment in an art or
photography class is not required.
Student art contest 2010

SAN JUAN BAUTISTA – The Native Daughters of the Golden West (NDGW), Parlor #179 of San Juan Bautista, is sponsoring a Student Art Competition to encourage the interest of students and the general public in the historical and natural treasures of California, around the theme “Connect, Communicate, Change.” The contest is open to all students in grades 9 through 12 in any school in San Benito County. Enrollment in an art or photography class is not required.

Basic guidelines state that all art work must be original student work of a California landmark or historical location that played a part in the history of California. Also allowed are original illustrations of an event or people, portraying an historical event or period in California. Student photography guidelines state that students may enter photographs of any historic site, park, natural, formation or fauna that contributes to the natural beauty of California. All artwork and photographs must be accompanied by an entry form that includes a brief description of the subject and the reason the subject is important and relevant to the State of California.

Entries may be prepared in class, with suggestions and input from others, but the artwork and photographs must be those of the students.

There will be an outside guest juror to select the artworks best suited for awards at both the local and state levels. The first place winners of the local level, will also be entered in a contest at the state level of the NDGW. All original artworks and photographs are due by May 1.

All entries must be accompanied by an entry form, available from all high school fine arts departments in San Benito County. Darlene Boyd is available to answer inquiries at 623-2750.  

Project Linus meeting

HOLLISTER – The Project Linus San Benito Chapter will be hosting a Make a Blanket Day Feb. 20, at the Hollister United Methodist Church, 521 Monterey St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The group will be collecting new handmade washable blankets, yarn and monetary donations. Project Linus gives security blankets to children in San Benito County who are traumatized or seriously ill. Blankets are handmade by blanketeers and kids helping kids.

For more information, contact Sheron Johnson, the chapter coordinator, at 637-2971.

Second dosage due for H1N1

HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Public Health Department would like to remind parents of children 2 years through 9 years of age who received their first dose of H1N1 vaccine to get their second dose of the vaccine. The CDC’s recommendation is for all children in this age group to get the recommended two doses of H1N1 vaccine approximately one month apart for the optimal immune response.

Free H1N1 vaccinations are available at the SBC Public Health Department by appointment only on Wednesday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Call 637-5367 to schedule an appointment.

In addition, SBC Public Health Department in a collaborative effort with First 5 San Benito is offering free on-site clinics for H1N1 vaccinations throughout San Benito County schools and preschools. To find out if and when an on-site clinic is being offered at a specific school or preschool, interested persons can contact the Public Health Department for additional information.

Everyone is advised to continue to take common-sense steps including:

 Washing your hands frequently;

 Covering your mouth with your arm when you cough and sneeze, and;

 Staying home when you are sick to help protect others from the flu.

For more information on the Seasonal and H1N1 influenza please check the California Department of Public Health’s website at www.cdph.ca.gov.

Free film series for seniors

MORGAN HILL – Gavilan College is offering a free film series for seniors 55 and older at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, Wednesdays, from 2 to 5 p.m. through May 26. The course is open entry, meaning participants do not need to attend all the sessions. The course is noncredit.

Instructor Grant Richards is a graduate of Gilroy High School and Gavilan College, who earned his B.A. in liberal arts at California State University, Chico, and an M.A. from Sacramento State University. He teaches film history and film production at Gavilan College.

Some of the films that will be screened include “Goldrush,” “Psycho,” “Regarding Henry,” “Stranger Than Fiction” and more.

Students can register by calling 408-852-4859.

Better Breathers Club

MORGAN HILL – Breathe California will host a Better Breathers Club meeting Tuesday, March 9, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at DePaul Health Center, 18550 DePaul Circle, in Morgan Hill. The meeting is a resource and support group for people suffering form lung disease, and their family members. At these meetings, guests from various health disciplines speak to the group about ways to breathe easier and more effectively manage their disease, with the goal of improving an overall quality of life. The meeting will feature Ricardo Cordes, a culinary arts teacher.

For more information, call 408-998-5865 or www.lungsrus.org.

Al-anon meetings

HOLLISTER – Al-anon meets Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Mars Hill Coffehouse, 610 San Benito St.

Registration starts for Cardinals

HOLLISTER – The San Benito Cardinals Football and Cheer programs are now accepting applications. Children ages 5-15 can register at Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 261 McCray St., in Hollister from noon to 3 p.m. The season starts Feb. 20. The cost is $175 for all players. Unlimited weights for midget players, and $100 registration.

Coaches are also needed for the cheerleading program. The team competes in American Youth Football competitions as well as Jamz and America’s Best. For more information on being a cheer coach, call 664-6420. For more information on registering for spring football, call 664-6481.

Lenten book study

HOLLISTER – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will host a Lenten book study on “The Violence of Love” by Oscar Romero. For more information, or to participate, call the church office or Rev. Amy Denney Zuniga at 637-7570 or e-mail

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. The Church will also host Ash Wednesday services at 10 a.m., in English and 5 p.m., in Spanish. The meditative service helps those who attend face the reality of death even as they live into the hope of eternal life. Ash Wednesday begins the reflective season of Lent in preparation for Holy Week and Easter.

BLM hosts workshop in Hollister

HOLLISTER – The Bureau of Land Management’s Hollister Field Office will host a workshop Feb. 22 to discuss potential social and economic impacts under alternatives in the BLM’s Clear Creek Management Area draft resource management plan and environmental impact statement.

The workshop will run from 1 to 5 p.m. at San Juan Oaks Golf Club, 3825 Union Road, in Hollister.

The goal of the workshop is to provide business leaders, private landowners and local government with information about the draft plan and to help the BLM identify social and economic trends to consider in public land use planning decisions for CCMA said Rick Cooper, BLM Hollister Field Office manager.

The workshop will include a presentation on economic concepts, the sources of economic data and the processes of economic analysis. Participants will discuss the social and economic values of the region and the role that the BLM public lands in CCMA have in supporting these goals and values. The workshop will focus on social and economic issues, not general planning issues and comments, Cooper said.

Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the social and economic data presented in the draft RMP/EIS and respond to questions about the way public land resources are integrated into the local economy and quality of life. For example:

–        Have businesses seen a drop in activity/revenue since the CCMA closure?

–        Have any businesses closed since the closure of the CCMA?

–        Has there been a rebound in economic activity since the initial closure?

–        How would CCMA draft RMP alternatives affect you economically?

–        How would CCMA draft RMP alternatives affect your lifestyle?

–        Does the information in the CCMA draft RMP/EIS reflect current social and economic conditions and the potential impacts associated with the range of alternatives?

Consultants from Tetra Tech, Inc. are available to answer questions before the meeting about the role of economic analysis in land use planning and how to prepare for the workshop discussions. For more information, please contact Genevieve Kaiser, environmental planner, at 720-406-9110, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time.)

BLM specialists are also available to answer questions before the meeting. For more information, contact Sky Murphy, Hollister Field Office environmental coordinator, at 630-5039, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Parkinson’s caregiver support group

HOLLISTER – Family or friends who are caring for a loved one with Parkinson’s or those suffering form the disease can join a monthly support group that provides information on Parkinson’s disease, current medications and research, how to deal with the loss of function, develop good self care skills, and what steps are necessary to plan for the future.

Monthly speakers address these issues as well as other issues such as finding community resources like home care, adult day care, transportation and other needed services that could be available to you and your family member. Speakers- are provided each month from different organizations on a variety of topics related to Parkinson’s disease or care giving

The group meets the first Tuesday of every month at the First Presbyterian Church, 2066 Cienega Road, in Hollister, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The group is sponsored by Jovenes de Antano, Health Projects Center and Parkinson’s Institute. No fees are required.

For more information, contact Kim Harman at 636-4977 or Shirley Kennedy at 673-3839.

Alzheimer’s support group

HOLLISTER – The Alzheimer’s support group meets the second Thursday of every month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Pamphlets and books on Alzheimer’s can also be checked out from a resource library at the Community Center. For more information, call 636-8838.

Tax help starts

HOLLISTER – The American Association of Retired Persons Tax-Aide program offers free personal tax counseling and preparation assistance to all taxpayers with middle and low income, with special attention to those 60 and older. On Mondays and Fridays through April 13, volunteers will be at the Hollister Community Center, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., to offer help. Appointments are required and residents are asked to bring their tax package they receive in the mail, last year’s return, and all relevant information on income and expense. Volunteer counselors are not trained to assist in preparing tax returns that report business, rental or partnership income.

For more information, or to make an appointment, call Irma at 630-0642.

Library book sale

HOLLISTER – The Friends of the Library Saturday book sales will be held in the book shed behind the library, 470 Fifth St. from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday. Books are available at $2 a bag, as are videos, tapes and more. For more information on the book sale, call 636-4107.