Health

After a slow start to conserving water in our community, residents started stepping up their efforts in late August. We need more of this effort, but it’s very encouraging news to see our community respond. The following data, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, was...

San Benito County residents can get rid of their bulky items for free this weekend at John Smith Road Landfill.  The California Department of Transportation and the county’s Integrated Waste Management are sponsoring the two-day Bulky Item Recycling Event from 9am-3pm March 25-26. The John...

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors approved amendments to the county’s affordable housing ordinance, which include a requirement for future housing developments within 10 miles of an incorporated city to offer affordable units.  The board voted 5-0 this week to approve the amendments based...

Thousands of households in San Benito County who have received extra CalFresh benefits due to pandemic-related hardships will see a reduction in their monthly allotments as of April 1, according to authorities.  During the Covid-19 pandemic, households receiving CalFresh benefits received temporary emergency allotments or...

Applications for the 2022 Hazel Hawkins Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Awards are now available. Each year the Auxiliary awards scholarships to students who are pursuing a medical or medically oriented career.  The total amount awarded to each recipient will be at the discretion of the...

San Benito County’s April 22 Earth Day celebration in downtown Hollister will feature environmental education, interactive activities, awards, giveaways and fun for the whole family, according to event organizers.  Festivities will take place from 11am-2pm, centered around 649 San Benito St. in downtown Hollister.  The Earth...

At a tense board meeting Jan. 25, the San Benito Health Care District board voted to appoint Mary Casillas to the permanent CEO position of Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, with a contract that increases her salary by more than 45 percent. Area residents, hospital nurses—and...

Firefighters and support crews from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection conducted a prescribed burn in San Benito County on Sept. 27. The burn took place on private property in the Gabilan Range, west of Paicines in the McPhails Peak area, according...

The ongoing fight for a mobile food scene in Hollister continues as more than 30 people attended an informal meeting to discuss a new ordinance in the works that will allow vendors to sell food throughout the city. A good cross section of both established...

The Las Vegas-based, family-owned traveling Circus Alegria entertained audiences in Hollister last week with classic big-top performances, animatronic dinosaurs and a 50-foot mechanical gorilla.  The circus stopped at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos for five nights of performances.  “It was really nice,” said Valentina Alegria, who...