Hillside Christian Fellowship celebrates 10 years
HOLLISTER
– Hillside Christian Fellowship will be hosting special events
Nov. 6-8 to celebrate 10 years working in San Benito County. Dave
Patterson, the founding pastor of Father’s House in Vacaville, will
visit the church Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., at 281 San Felipe Road, in
Hollister. On Nov. 7, at 6 p.m., David
Cannistraci, the senior pastor of Gateway Church in San Jose,
will visit. On Nov. 8, a special service honoring community
agencies will be held at 10:30 a.m. with David Kiteley, who serves
Shiloh Church in Oakland. Mayor Eugenia Sanchez and Sheriff Curtis
Hill will speak at the service, and dozen lo
cal agencies will be recognized for their work in the community.
The event will include a slide presentation and testimonials, as
well as a buffet luncheon. At 6 p.m., Ernest Gentile, the founding
pastor of Christian Community Church in San Jose, will visit.
Hillside Christian Fellowship is on the behavioral health board
and works closely with the probation as well as the drug and
substance abuse departments. The church offers the Celebrate
Recovery program, where 80 people meet weekly for a 12-step drug
and substance abuse program. The church has also been involved in
chaplaincy in the county for the Sheriff’s Department, Hazel
Hawkins Palliative Care and the San Benito County Jail. In
addition, the church has been active in volunteering with the
homeless shelter.
For more information on any of the events, call 630-0800 or RSVP
to hi*************@ms*.com.
Hillside Christian Fellowship celebrates 10 years
HOLLISTER – Hillside Christian Fellowship will be hosting special events Nov. 6-8 to celebrate 10 years working in San Benito County. Dave Patterson, the founding pastor of Father’s House in Vacaville, will visit the church Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., at 281 San Felipe Road, in Hollister. On Nov. 7, at 6 p.m., David Cannistraci, the senior pastor of Gateway Church in San Jose, will visit. On Nov. 8, a special service honoring community agencies will be held at 10:30 a.m. with David Kiteley, who serves Shiloh Church in Oakland. Mayor Eugenia Sanchez and Sheriff Curtis Hill will speak at the service, and dozen local agencies will be recognized for their work in the community. The event will include a slide presentation and testimonials, as well as a buffet luncheon. At 6 p.m., Ernest Gentile, the founding pastor of Christian Community Church in San Jose, will visit.
Hillside Christian Fellowship is on the behavioral health board and works closely with the probation as well as the drug and substance abuse departments. The church offers the Celebrate Recovery program, where 80 people meet weekly for a 12-step drug and substance abuse program. The church has also been involved in chaplaincy in the county for the Sheriff’s Department, Hazel Hawkins Palliative Care and the San Benito County Jail. In addition, the church has been active in volunteering with the homeless shelter.
For more information on any of the events, call 630-0800 or RSVP to hi*************@ms*.com.
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.
BLM lifts fire restrictions
HOLLISTER – The Bureau of Land Management lifted fire restrictions on public lands within the Hollister Field Offices Oct. 16. The land includes Tumey, Griswold, Ciervo and Panoche Hills.
Visitors will be able to have open campfires and barbecue fires at campsites on BLM public lands with a valid California campfire permit, according to Fire Mitigation Specialist Michael Chiodini. Chiodini cautioned that while there has been cooler temperatures and precipitation, some of the grass and brush are still dry in some areas. Visitors should use appropriate methods to contain campfires, build them in areas free of vegetation and be certain that fire is completely extinguished after use. Visitors should have a shovel and water on hand to extinguish the fire.
Gates that were locked during the upland game season are now open to public foot traffic. The areas are protect for wildlife habitat, rare, threatened or endangered species or paleontological resources.
For more information, call Chiodini at 630-5029 or 630-5000, or visit the BLM Hollister Field Office at 20 Hamilton Court.
Cal-SOAP college fair
GILROY – South County Cal-SOAP is inviting students of all ages and their parents to its fifth annual College Fair, Thursday, Nov. 5 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Gilroy High School.
“This is one of the ways Cal-SOAP can reach all students and parents in the four different districts that participate in the South County Cal-SOAP Consortium,” said Erin Gemar, the project director for SCCC, in a press release. “South County Cal-SOAP welcomes students and parents from all over the South Country region, and especially families from Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Aromas-San Juan and the Hollister School Districts for this exciting event.”
Some of the schools present include Gavilan College, California State Unviersity, Monterey Bay, University of California, Santa Cruz and National University.
No reservation is required and the event is open to all community members.
For more information or to donate a door prize, call 408-846-7504.
Hospice Foundation awards local organizations
MONTEREY – The Hospice Foundation will be giving out $1.038 million to local organizations in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Locally, Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital will receive $60,726 to fund the registered nurse program coordinator for palliative care in inpatient, skilled nursing and residential care settings to care for people at the end of life.
“They’ve been with us since the beginning,” said Mary Dixon, the Palliative Care Program coordinator. “Actually, it’s only because of the Hospice Foundation that we have a Palliative Care Program at all. The Hospice Foundation gave us our first grant to start planning the program back in 2003.”
The Palliative Care program offers optimum pain and symptom management, psychological and spiritual care, and bereavement support. The program at Hazel Hawkins services about 60 people a year.
The Central Coast Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, which services Monterey and San Benito counties will receive $171,420 for adult hospice care.
“We are very grateful for the generosity of the community which has helped make these grants possible,” said Alice Kinsler, the Hospice Foundation president and chief executive officer, in a press release. “The grants will help these organizations immeasurably and at a particularly challenging time in our economy.”
Since 1998, Hospice Foundation has awarded $16.6 million in grants locally to help create, develop and sustain a local network of organizations that provide emotional, bereavement, caregiving and hospice services for people at the end of life, and for their families.
Other agencies to receive grants included Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, John XXIII AIDS Services, Catholic Charities and others.
For more information on the Hospice Foundation, call 333-9023 or visit www.HospiceGiving.org.
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.
Open house at St. Francis
WATSONVILLE – St. Francis Central Coast High School is hosting an open house Nov. 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at its campus, 2400 East Lake Ave., in Watsonville. Visitors will have a chance to tour the campus, visit with students, faculty and staff and learn more about the school. The school was established in 2001 and services 200 students from Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara counties.
For more information, call 724-5933.
Latino Student Leadership Conference
HOLLISTER – The 13th annual Latino Student Leadership Conference will be Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at San Benito High School, 1220 Monterey St. The event is open to anyone, and is sponsored by the San Benito County LULAC Council #2890. The event includes workshops on such topics as education, health, law, media, business development, law enforcement and firefighters, with role models as presenters. It also features a special session for parents, as well as a career fair for students. Breakfast, snack and lunch will be provided.
The event is co-sponsored by San Benito High School, the Hollister School District, California Teachers Association, State Farm Insurance, South County Housing, and the Community Foundation of San Benito County.
For more information or to RSVP, call 673-2009 or visit www.sbclulac.org.
Blood drive
HOLLISTER – The American Red Cross will be holding a blood drive Nov. 19 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. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit www.HelpSaveALife.org/NC and enter the sponsor code Hollister. Those who donate in November will be entered in a drawing for a $100 Macy’s gift card.
Auditions for El Teatro’s ‘La Pastorela’
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA – El Teatro Campesino is holding open auditions for its traditional Mexican folk-tale production of “La Pastorela” during the month of October at 705 Fourth St., in San Juan Bautista.
The play will be directed by Adrian Torres, and there are roles available for the Pastores (shepherds), devils and angles. All roles are Spanish speaking and some require singing. Upcoming auditions are scheduled for Oct. 10 at 11 a.m., Oct. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m., and Oct. 17 at 11 a.m.
For more information, go to www.elteatrocampesino.com/audition and complete a form, or call 623-2444.
Lights on deadlines
HOLLISTER – The Hollister Downtown Association is accepting applications for the annual “Decorate a Tree” project. Nonprofit groups, businesses and individuals are invited to sponsor one of the 30 Christmas trees donated by John and Tina Bourdet, of Bourdet Christmas Trees, as part of the annual Lights On Celebration in downtown Hollister Nov. 28. Decorated trees are given to deserving families in the community the second week of December. Applications are due Nov. 6.
In addition to the tree sponsorships, the parade application deadline has been extended to Nov. 6. The Tree Light Sponsorship deadline is Nov. 16. Sponsorships are $75, or this year residents can purchase a tree light sponsorship in honor of a veteran for $35.
For more information, call the HDA at 636-8406 or visit www.downtonwhollister.org.
Tree of Life children’s art contest
MONTEREY – Fifth-graders from Monterey and San Benito counties are invited to enter one original drawing in the Hospice Foundation’s Third Annual Children’s Commemorative Art Contest.
The drawings must depict someone that has made a significant and positive impact on their life. For complete contest rules and an official entry form, go to www.HospiceGiving.org. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 6.
The art competition is held in conjunction with Hospice Foundation’s four Trees of Life lighting celebrations Dec. 10, at the Steinbeck Center Dec. 11, at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Hollister Dec. 13, at King City High School and Dec. 15 at the Monterey Conference Center.
For more information, call 333-9023.
Deadline approaches for academy nominations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) is currently accepting applications for nomination to one of the nation’s service academies. Operated by the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and Navy, these academies provide a college education in exchange for a commitment to serve as a commissioned officer.
For all service academies (except the Coast Guard), applicants must be nominated by one of several federal officials, including U.S. Representatives, U.S. Senators or the vice president.
“The Central Coast has sent some outstanding students to our service academies over the years,” Farr said, in a press release. “I’m looking forward to nominating another great batch of future leaders.
Candidates must be at least 17 years old, but not older than 23 as of July 1, 2010. They must reside in California’s 17th Congressional District, be a U.S. citizen and never have been married.
To download an application, visit www.farr.house.gov. The deadline for applications entering academies in July 2010 is Nov. 1. For more information, call Julian Chacon at 429-1976 or e-mail ju***********@ma**.gov.
Nominate a community hero
HOLLISTER – The Hollister Youth Alliance will be honoring a local hero for his or her contribution to making San Benito County a better place. Nominations are due Nov. 2, and forms can be downloaded online at www.hollisteryouthalliance.org or picked up at the office, 310 Fourth St., in Hollister.
The recipient of the 2009 Community Hero Award will be announced Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at the Cedar House Restaurant.
Call the HYA office for more information at 636-2853.
San Benito Aquatics needs swimmers
HOLLISTER – San Benito Aquatics is accepting swimmers for the 2009-10 swim team. The team has been around for 35 years, and has a highly experienced coaching staff. The team offers an opportunity for students to improve swimming techniques, increase their level of physical fitness and compete in swim meets. Many alumni of the program have received college scholarships and continued on to successful college careers. San Benito Aquatics meets Monday through Friday at the San Benito High School pool.
For more information, visit www.sanbenitoaquatics.org.
Markers available for gravestones
HOLLISTER – The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9242 and the Ladies Auxiliary are offering markers for military and non-military gravestones. The marker will allow an American Flag to be placed at the gravesites. If your family member or friend has a non-military stone and you would like a marker at no cost to you, please call the IOOF Cemetery at 637-3793 or 637-6015.
Library book sale
HOLLISTER – The Friends of the Library Saturday book sales will be held in the bookshed behind the library and the Historical Society, 470 Fifth St. from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday in October. 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.
Veterans Day parade applications available
HOLLISTER – The Hollister Veterans Day Parade will be Nov. 11, at 1:30 p.m. in downtown Hollister. It will be preceded by a veterans benefit fair at 10 a.m., a Veterans Day ceremony at 11:11 a.m., and a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9242 barbecue.
Applications can be sent to the VFW, P.O. Box 99, Hollister, CA 95023 or faxed to 637-6015.
For more information, or for a copy of the application, call Jess Garza at 637-9028, Frankie Arballo at 638-6434 or Richard Herrera at 801-7424.
Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest approaches
HOLLISTER – Hollister VFW Post 9242 will be hosting the Patriot’s Pen Essay Contest, which is open to students in sixth, seventh and eighth grade. Rules and entry forms can be picked up at the County Office of Education, on Fifth Street, or online at www.vfw.org. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 1. This year’s essay topic is “When is the right time to honor our military heroes?”
The winner of the essay contest will be awarded a $200 check.
For questions, contact Bob Burnham at 638-1703.
Manta Rays open to new members
HOLLISTER – The Manta Rays are a nonprofit, competitive swim team for those who desire to be the best possible swimmers. Our team goal is to send swimmers to Stanford to compete at the highest level. Our definition of fun is winning and reaching our full potential with like-minded parents and swimmers. We want to keep our numbers low so we can concentrate on quality. We have room for five more swimmers who would like to accomplish something substantial in the sport of swimming and are willing to work for it.
For more information, or to sign up, call Coach Dave Steele at 637-6559.
Club Ed offers tutoring as school starts
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.
Free art classes
HOLLISTER – Bob Wilkinson will be offering free art classes at Mars Hill Coffee House on Tuesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. or 5 to 6 p.m. Space is limited. For more information, call 635-9218.
High school essay contest open to nations students
ARLINGTON, VA – Local students are eligible to participate in the “Being An American” essay contest administered by the Bill of Rights Institute, a nonprofit educational organization in the Washington, D.C. area. The nationwide contest will award 180 students and teachers cash prizes, and received more than 31,000 essays last year.
“This contest is unique in that it gives students the opportunity to share their thoughts about how the principles expressed in America’s founding documents shape and influence contemporary American citizenship,” said Victoria Hughes, president of the Bill of Rights Institute. “This conversation is vital to preparing the next generation of voters and civic leaders for the challenges that are ahead of them and our country.”
This year’s theme is “What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?”
The top three student winners and their teachers from each of the nine geographical regions will be announced at a special Washington, D.C. gala in spring 2010. First place is $5,000, second is $2,500 and third is $1,250. Honorable mention will go to additional students with a cash prize of $250.
Students in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, U.S. territories and American Armed Forces schools abroad will be judged in the Pacific region. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 1, 2009.
For more information, visit www.BeingAnAmerican.org.
San Benito Stage Company seeks members
HOLLISTER – The San Benito Stage Company is planning its 2010 season of productions, including children’s, teen, family and dinner theater programs. The stage company is seeking support in the form of members, sponsors and volunteers. Members enjoy benefits such as ticket discounts, advertising, and free show passes depending on level of sponsorship. For more information, call 636-0122 or visit www.sanbenitostage.org.
Math Talk program starts
HOLLISTER – The San Benito County Office of Education will host a Math Talk on the first Tuesday of every month, starting this month (no meeting 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.
