News

The highly debated 400 block proposal for buildings on a cornerstone downtown open space is expected to go before council members next week. In May 2016, Hollister council members unanimously approved going forward in exclusive talks to sell the city’s property in the 400 block...

County supervisors Tuesday extended the window for a public hearing related to the county’s temporary cannabis cultivation ordinance. The board’s unanimous decision gave applicants a 180-day extension for the public hearing. A future date for the hearing has yet to be determined. In September 2016, supervisors...

Local planning commissioners discussed roads and transportation at a joint meeting Tuesday. Commissioners from San Benito County, Hollister and San Juan Bautista gave presentations on and discussed capital improvement projects, housing growth, sphere of influence, affordable housing and public transportation. The meeting was discussion only,...

County supervisors Tuesday unanimously selected Vanir Construction Management to oversee the jail expansion project. According to county documents, estimates show a total cost of about $21.5 million with a $5 million budget shortfall. Vanir will enter into negotiations with the county for a contract not...

After a Mother’s Day brunch with my grown daughters, we headed over to sample the delicious wines of Hecker Pass Winery. Other families, kids and dogs with the same idea were already there, enjoying their picnics under the grapevine arbor. Inside the tasting room we...

After five years of drought, winter rains doused the southern California deserts this past winter. The result has been a desert wildflower super bloom that has made national news. On average, a special desert spring like this occurs about every ten years. Friends who...

In the last several years, yogurt has risen to the forefront as a trendy health food. And for good reason. Yogurt provides belly-filling protein, is loaded with bone-building calcium and the good bacteria in yogurt helps maintain gut health. The latter is especially important...

I try very hard not to roll my eyes when I hear someone extolling “the wisdom of the elderly.” To me, it sounds rather patronizing. Yet when I got a lively discussion going here at Live Oak Adult Day Services on the topic, I...

Environmental activist and journalist Frances “Kate” Woods, 60, died in a car accident on Panoche Road Thursday, according to the San Benito County Sheriff's Office. The single-person collision occurred around 10 a.m. at the 8,000 block of New Idria Road in south San Benito County. CalFire initially responded. San...

The Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival, now in its 38th year, is turning Memorial Day Weekend into a celebration of the mushroom. The annual two-day festival brings in more than 70,000 people. This year’s entertainment will include Saturday’s headliner James Durbin performing with his...