Local film fest prepares to celebrate 20th year in South Valley
The Poppy Jasper International Film Festival will mark its 20th anniversary April 8-15 with its most expansive program to date, screening 350 films from 40 countries across five South Bay cities.
Selected from more than 1,100 submissions, the films include documentaries, animated shorts, narrative features...
Comic Con comes to Hollister
Hollister came alive with capes, cosplay and collectibles Saturday as the 10th annual Ohana Comic Con drew fans of comics, anime, video games and movies for an afternoon celebrating all things pop culture at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Hollister.
Dozens of vendors at...
Hollister man arrested in Sunnyvale murder investigation
Police recently arrested two people—including a Hollister resident—on suspicion of killing a woman in Sunnyvale earlier this year.
On March 5, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety SWAT team responded to an address on Hemlock Court in Hollister. Officers arrested Alfonso Inestroza, also known as Franquin...
South Valley nonprofit marks 15 years saving people and dogs
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...
Hollister native aims to disrupt the gig economy
Tommy Sondgroth, who grew up in Hollister and maintains deep roots in the community, recently launched a smartphone application that aims to compete with the big-box behemoths of the gig economy while allowing service workers to keep more of the money they earn.
The app,...
Food Truck Tuesdays return to downtown Hollister
Downtown Hollister was abuzz with a different take on dinner Tuesday evening with an array of choices, from Filipino lumpia to hot tamales as Food Truck Tuesdays unfolded on a closed off section of San Benito Street.
“We want to keep these small businesses that...
Rancho Santana School reaffirms commitment to art
On a recent morning, Rancho Santana School art teacher Stephanie Skow marveled at the work of her students in advance of the San Benito County Arts Showcase coming April 9 at the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Hollister.
Skow showed artwork from all of the...
Regional grant helps expand broadband access in San Benito County
The California Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 26 awarded Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) $463,644 for three projects, known as “Connected Communities Hubs,” that establish free public broadband access sites in San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
The awards are part of $3.29 million...
Bill would allow San Juan Bautista to redirect penalty funds to wastewater projects
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...
Former Hollister teacher charged with felony in child porn case
Rory Dickson, a former teacher in Hollister, remains in custody in San Benito County Jail with no bail and a felony charge of possession of child pornography, according to authorities.
Dickson is scheduled for a hearing in San Benito County Superior Court on Feb. 26,...
