Health

He’d been waiting years for a service dog—years marked by crippling anxiety, years of waitlists, years of prices he couldn’t hope to pay. Running out of options, the Marine veteran called a local dog trainer named Mary Cortani and made a desperate plea. That call...

A State Senate bill sponsored by the City of San Juan Bautista would give small communities more flexibility when faced with state water quality fines. The legislation known as SB 1081, introduced this week by State Sen. John Laird, would allow cities to invest...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital has expanded its Women's Health Services by introducing Katherine Volpe, MD, to support women’s health in San Benito County. Dr. Volpe recently joined the HHMH medical staff, adding the specialized field of Urogynecology or “female urology” which treats disorders of the...

The Peninsula Open Space Trust purchased 2,284 acres of ranchland in southern Santa Clara County for $23 million, the organization announced Jan. 29. The acquisition brings POST’s total holdings at the former Sargent Ranch property to 6,114 acres and preserves sacred native land that...

Safely dispose of unwanted tires, mattresses, electronic waste and household hazardous waste, for free, at the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office on Feb. 7.  The free Recycle Day event will take place from 9am-1pm, in the parking lot shared by the sheriff’s office and Resource...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital has invited community members to share their voices and help shape the future of local health care by participating in its 2026 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) online survey. The confidential survey is an important opportunity for residents to provide feedback...

San Benito County is now formally the “Home of Pinnacles National Park,” as local officials and tourism proponents dig into their efforts to promote the site as an economic development wellspring.  The board of supervisors at the Jan. 13 meeting unanimously approved a proclamation declaring...

Santa Cruz and Monterey counties were included in a list of areas statewide where people have been severely sickened by Amanita phalloides—commonly known as the death cap mushroom. A group of doctors from across California warned Jan. 14 that foraging for wild mushrooms can be...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital welcomed the first baby of the New Year on Jan. 1. Baby girl Namina was born at 10:25am at the Hollister hospital, weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and measuring 20 inches long.  Namina’s proud parents are Evelyn Rivera and Kalisto Alik,...

Every year,  lawmakers in Sacramento introduce a flurry of bills, most of which are eviscerated during the legislative process and end up on the Assembly or Senate trash heap. A select few make it to the governor’s desk, and assuming they dodge the veto...