Foreclosure prevention workshop
HOLLISTER
– The City of Hollister and County of San Benito are hosting a
free foreclosure prevention workshop on Saturday, May 23 from 9:30
a.m. to noon at the Veterans Memorial Building conference room
#204, 649 San Benito St. Doors open at 9 a.m. for the workshop,
which will provide an overview of the for
eclosure process along with tops on avoiding foreclosure and
predatory lending, as well as discussing loan modification
options.
The bilingual workshop will feature speakers Maeve Elise Brown,
executive director of Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, and
Francisco Casas, the City of Hollister’s housing programs
coordinator.
Seating is limited, so RSVP to Christopher
”
C.J.
”
Valenzuela at 637-1763 or e-mail
cv*********@pl******.us
.
‘Sicko’ movie night
HOLLISTER – San Benito Health Care for All is sponsoring a screening of “Sicko” at Neighborhood Pizza, 580 Tres Pinos Road, Tuesday May 12, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $8 for all-you-can-eat pizza, salad and soda, and the movie. For more information, call Vanessa at 801-9067, Natasha at 630-1059 or Mary at 637-6445.
Foreclosure prevention workshop
HOLLISTER – The City of Hollister and County of San Benito are hosting a free foreclosure prevention workshop on Saturday, May 23 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Veterans Memorial Building conference room #204, 649 San Benito St. Doors open at 9 a.m. for the workshop, which will provide an overview of the foreclosure process along with tops on avoiding foreclosure and predatory lending, as well as discussing loan modification options.
The bilingual workshop will feature speakers Maeve Elise Brown, executive director of Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, and Francisco Casas, the City of Hollister’s housing programs coordinator.
Seating is limited, so RSVP to Christopher “C.J.” Valenzuela at 637-1763 or e-mail
cv*********@pl******.us
.
Chamber mixer
TRES PINOS – San Benito County Chamber of Commerce invites you to a mixer hosted by the SBC Fair, Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Association and the SBC Chamber at Bolado Park Wednesday, May 13, at 5:30p.m. Chamber members bring a raffle prize and promote your business. Non-members $5 charge at the door.
For more information, call 637-5315.
CASA of San Benito info session
HOLLISTER – Court Appointed Special Advocates of San Benito County is hosting an informational session at Starbucks, in the Nob Hill Shopping Center, Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. Those interested can learn about becoming an advocate for an abused, neglected or abandoned child.
For more information or to RSVP, call Esther at 637-4992.
R.O. Hardin flea market
HOLLISTER – The R.O. Hardin Parent Teachers Club is hosting a flea market Saturday, May 16, from 8 p.m. to noon, at 881 Line St., to raise money for the school. Vendors can reserve a parking spot to sell their items for $20 each, and spots are still available. The flea market will offer plenty of items at a bargain for interested shoppers. For more information, call Maria Spandri at 636-4440 or stop by the office at R.O. Hardin to reserve a parking spot.
Farm to school workshop
HOLLISTER – The Community Alliance for Family Farmers will host a workshop on the Farm to School program, Monday, May 18, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building, 649 San Benito St., in Hollister. The event will offer a discussion of ways to bring more local, fresh produce into school cafeterias; increase nutrition education in classrooms; and promote school gardens. For more information, call 1-866-361-0477.
Memorial Day events coming up
HOLLISTER – The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Ladies Auxiliary Posts 9242 and 6359, and the American Legion Post 69 will be hosting services in memory of their fallen comrades May 25. Services start at 9 a.m. at San Juan Cemetery and will proceed to IIOF Cemetery at 10 a.m. and Calvary Cemetery at 11 a.m. The memorial will finish up with a barbecue chicken lunch at the Veterans Memorial Building, 649 San Benito St. at noon.
For more information, call 637-9499 or 245-9773.
Hollister United Methodist hosts tea social
HOLLISTER – Members of the Hollister United Methodist Church will host their annual tea social May 30 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the church social hall at the corner of Fifth and Monterey streets. The theme this year is “It’s a Dolls’ World” and dolls will be used as decoration and as silent auction items and raffle prizes. Other items will also be included in the silent auction. The event will include delectable food, fun and entertainment for a $10 donation.
To donate items to the auction and raffle, or for more information, call Annie Laura Bradford at 805-440-4394.
Free energy efficiency help for nonprofits
MONTEREY – The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, in conjunction with PG&E, is offering free energy efficiency services to local nonprofit organizations throughout Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. The Energy Watch program provides free energy assessments to help nonprofits identify quick and easy ways that AMBAG can lower their energy bills. After the assessment is completed, energy specialists will install energy-efficient lighting, occupancy sensors, LED EXIT signs, and vending machines where applicable. Services are free of charge and will help reduce energy bills as well as CO2 emissions related to energy consumption. To date, AMBAG has installed nearly 1.5 million kilowatt hours for local nonprofits, amounting to a decrease in CO2 emissions of 1,050 metric tons per year.
For more information, contact Charlie Buck of the Energy Watch Program at 883-3750 or by e-mail at
cb***@am***.org
.
Digital TV switch approaches
HOLLISTER – The switch to all-digital broadcasting is June 12. Consumers using analog TVs with antennas can request a $40 coupon from the federal government toward the purchase of a converter box that will allow them to continue to use their existing TVs. Each household may request up to two $40 coupons to help pay for the cost of certified TV converter boxes through the TV Converter Box Coupon Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Coupon supplies are limited and expire 90 days after mailing.
For more information, call 1-888-225-5322 or visit www.dtv.gov.
PG&E provides credit for winter savings
SAN FRANCISCO – PG&E has issued a total of $59 million in bill credits for customers who cut their natural gas use last winter, an increase of 36 percent over last year’s credits under the utility’s winter gas savings.
The credits began appearing on customer bills in March and April. To earn the credit, customers had to reduce their cumulative natural gas usage during January and February below the three-year historical average at their home or business. Customers who reduced their gas usage by 10 percent of more received an automatic 20 percent credit. For decreases below 10 percent, customers received an equal percent credit.
“We launched the Winter Gas Savings Program three years ago as an incentive to help our customers conserve natural gas during the winter months,” said Helen Burt, a senior vice president and chief customer officer, in a press release. “We are pleased with the results, which show a significantly increased commitment from our customers to conserve energy, lower their energy bills and sustain California’s leadership in energy conservation.”
Donate old clothes to theater department
GILROY – The Gavilan College Theater department is collecting donations of old formal wear or vintage clothing. They are looking for men’s formal wear, such as tuxedos and uniforms; bridal, bridesmaid and prom dresses; vintage clothing that is pre-1980s; ladies’ hats and purses; men’s hats; belts, accessories and costume jewelry; and children’s formal wear. The department is in need of dresses for the summer STAR production of “Grease!” Donations are tax-deductible, and will be accepted at the Gavilan College Theater stage door, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd., Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact John Lawton Haehl at 408-848-4860.
Odyssey Theatre Company auditions
GILROY – The Odyssey Theatre Company is hosting auditions for its summer production of “Seussical.” Auditions are Saturday, June 6 from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, June 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m; and Sunday, June 14, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Auditions are open for singers, dancers and actors age 6 to adult. Callbacks will be Monday, June 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Prepare a song and sheet music for the audition, and wear clothing that allow free movement across the stage.
The show features the Cat in the Hat as a narrator of sorts as the stories for Dr. Seuss are told onstage. Performances will be July 32, Aug. 1, 7-9, and 13-15. For more information, e-mail
bo****@uc*.edu
.
Basketball Jones Hoops Camp
HOLLISTER – The eighth annual Summer Day Basketball Camp will be held at Rancho San Justo Middle School, June 8-12, from 8 a.m. to 4 pm. Boys and girls ages 7 to 15 can attend. Campers receive 40 hours of instruction, a basketball, a T-shirt, a water bottle and a DVD. The camp will also run at South Valley Middle School in Girloy, June 29-July 3. For more information or to register, visit www.basketballjonescamps.com or call 1-800-348-3803.
Cinco de Mayo celebration
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA – The English Language Advisory Committee is hosting a family-friendly Cinco de Mayo celebration at San Juan Elementary School, 100 Nyland Drive, on Friday, May 8, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The event will feature school performances, authentic Mexican food and drinks, arts and crafts, and music. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Home and School Club, a nonprofit organization that funds field trips and educational programs for the school.
For more information, contact Sergio Martinez, ELAC president, at 623-4538.
Stamp out hunger food drive
HOLLISTER – The National Association of Letter Carriers will be hosting its “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive Saturday, May 9. To donate, residents can put a bag of nonperishable food items near their mailbox. The letter carriers will pick up the food and bring it to local food banks.
For more information, call 408-982-9738.
Mental health services open house
HOLLISTER – San Benito County Behavioral Health Department staff will be hosting a community event Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Esperanza Center, 327 Fifth St., in Hollister. The event is meant to bring together community members as they promote “empowerment and recovery in the mental health field.” The event will include skits and a panel about mental health; a watermelon eating contest and water balloon toss; face painting and other activities for families.
For more information, call 636-4020.
Historic park seeks volunteers
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA – The San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is seeking volunteer docents who can portray early California life through costumes, information and demonstrations. A class will be offered Sunday, May 9, at 10 a.m. at the Plaza Hotel in San Juan for those who are interested. For more information, contact Nikki at 623-2753 or
ac****@pa***.gov
.
Float-building workshop
HOLLISTER – The Hollister Downtown Association is sponsoring an amateur float-building workshop Tuesday, May 12, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Veterans’ Memorial Building in Room 218. The workshop fee is $10 per organization or business and is open to participants of any local parade include the Saddle Horse Parade, the Homecoming Parade, the San Juan Bautista Easter Parade, the Veterans’ Day Parade, the Fourth of July Kiddie Parade, Mexican Independence Day Parade and the Lights on Celebration.
The workshop will offer information on design concept, construction, decorative materials and parade day appearance.
To RSVP or register with payment, send checks to Hollister Downtown Association, 455 San Benito St., Ste. 21, Hollister, CA 95023. For more information, call 636-8406 or visit www.downtownhollister.org.
HOPE collects e-waste at fair
HOLLISTER – During the Eco-nomics Expo and Job Fair May 14, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Building, HOPE Services will be collecting e-waste items. The items include televisions, monitors, microwaves, laptops, keyboards, printers and fax machines. HOPE assists individuals with disabilities to live and participate in the community. While 65 percent of its funding comes from state funds, the rest is raised through contract work, fundraising and e-waste recycling. For more information, call 638-6851.
The job fair will feature several workshops for job seekers including sessions on interviewing skills; dressing for success; do’s and don’ts and vocational training providers.
Culinary & Hospitality Foundation fundraiser
TRES PINOS – The Culinary & Hospitality Foundation will be hosting its Passport Weekend Gala Dinner Americana Friday, May 15, as a fundraiser for its scholarship program. Gala dinner tickets are $125 a person and include a complimentary pass for the entire Passport Weekend Festivities. The event starts with a no-host social hour at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and a silent auction and brandy snifter and cigar service at 10 p.m. The meal will include four courses of gourmet cuisine, with wine from Calera Winery, Six Strings Winery, Fortino Winery, McManis Family Vineyards and Hallcrest-Brigantino Winery. Semi-formal attire required
For more information, call 628-3320
Casey’s pledge
HOLLISTER – The Friday Night Live chapter at San Benito High School, sponsored by the San Benito County Behavioral Health Services’ Substance Abuse Prevention Program, will invite students to take Casey’s pledge, a promise to be sober, or not to drink and drive before their prom May 16. It is a statewide prevention program that encourages youth to take an active role in reducing the negative effects of underage alcohol use and drinking and driving.
It is named in remembrance of Casey Goodwin, an advocate for healthy lifestyles free of alcohol and drugs, who was killed in an auto accident by an underage drunk driver in March 2003. Casey’s friends created the pledge as a way to honor her.
Youths sign a pledge card in the shape of a star and receive a wristband to wear during the prom at and future events. The stars are on display at the high school the week before and after the prom. Last year, 600 students at SBHS signed the pledge.
For more information, contact Renee Hankla at 636-4020 or
rh*****@sb***.org
.
Employee handbooks workshop
HOLLISTER – The Gavilan Employer Advisory Council and the California Employment Development Department will present Employee Handbooks, Wednesday, May 13, at San Juan Oaks Golf Club, 3825 Union Road, in Hollister. The event is $30 for members and $45 for nonmembers. Laura Innes, of Simpson, Garrity & Innes, will discuss how employee handbooks can be an employer’s best defense. Innes is a member of the Editorial Advisory Committee for the Employer’s Resource Institute and is an associate of the Associated General Contractors Legal Advisory Committee. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast at 8 a.m. and the program at 8:30 a.m.
Send RSVPs to Valerie Westerdale, 2290 Bert Drive, in Hollister or fax to 637-2952. Full payment due unless reservation is cancelled by May 12.
Blood drive
HOLLISTER – The American Red Cross will host a Blood drive May 21, from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church Hall, 1670 Cienega Road.
To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit HelpSaveALife.org and enter the sponsor code HOLLISTER.
Wings of Freedom Tour
HOLLISTER – The Collins Foundation is bringing the Wings of Freedom Tour to the Hollister Municipal Airport May 13-15. Tours are available of the B-17, B-24 and P-51, as are flights. Walk through tours are $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under, to tour all of the aircraft. WWII veterans can take walk through tours for free. To reserve a ride, call 978-562-9182 or visit www.cfdn.org.
Flight availability and costs:
B-17 Flights – 30 Min. experience
$425 donation per person
(min 6 passengers / max 9 passengers)
B-24 Flights – 30 Min. experience
$425 donation per person
(min 6 passengers / max 8 passengers)
B-25 Flights – 30 Min. experience
$400 donation per person for forward fuselage passengers,
$325 donation per person for rear fuselage passengers
(min 4 passengers, 2 in front and 2 in rear / max 6 passengers)
Friends of the Library book sale
HOLLISTER – Books for all ages and interests are available for purchase at $2 per bag at the shed behind the San Benito County Free Library on Fifth Street every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 636-4107.
Club Ed tutoring available
HOLLISTER – Club Ed, a club at San Benito High School, offers private tutoring for students in first through 12th grade in math and most language arts subjects. Tutoring takes place in the SBHS library from 3 to 4 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $14 an hour. For more information, contact teacher Rachel Flores-Zepeda at
rf*****@sb***.us
or 637-5831, ext. 370.
In search of Sacred Heart class of ’82
HOLLISTER – Members of the Sacred Heart class of 1982 are looking for missing classmates for a summer reunion. Bonnie Brown, maiden name Goodwin, and Michael Kirch are asking anyone who is in contact with a member of the Sacred Heart class of 1982 to help them pass the message along. They hope to have the reunion this summer in San Juan with all 48 class members present, with a date and location to be announced soon.
For more information, please contact Bonnie at
bo*********@wi******.net
or Michael at
mi**********@ho*****.com
.
