News

Until I received a call from the lovely reporter from KION yesterday I had no idea that the city had lost its mind again.

Hollister officials in recent months have talked about the annual motorcycle rally carrying a total cost of $180,000, but city records show a 2016 tab of just over $168,000, according to documents obtained by the Free Lance.

County officials are wrapping up their ballot-counting efforts three weeks after the General Election, with the final tally expected by Thursday.

Lovers of great music performed by virtuosos in an intimate setting are in for an artistic treat in Gilroy.

A 2-2 stalemate vote at city council’s special meeting Monday leaves the future of the Hollister Airshow uncertain and, perhaps, in the hands of the incoming council member.

Council members at a special meeting Monday reviewed contract changes relating to the Hollister Independence Rally, with a final decision expected Dec. 5.

San Benito County diverted $4.8 million of rate-payer funds from the Landfill-Solid Waste enterprise to the General Fund and implemented a crippling agreement with the landfill operator to increase acceptance of out-of-county waste in order to get their hands on the money. In addition to diverting the funds, which the county denies was illegal, its own internal documents reveal that it failed to take adequate actions to protect the landfill capacity, address the environmental concerns or transportation impacts including road maintenance/litter, and failed to obtain a any revenue increase from out-of-county waste, which was the agreement’s original purpose.

For the first time that anyone at Gavilan can recall, the women’s volleyball team is headed to the state playoffs following a three-set sweep of City College of San Francisco.

I was anxious to see Janu and Jason Goelz’s brand new tasting room, inside The Stomping Ground, an ambitious and exciting venture between the Goelz’ and Tim Slater, owner of Sarah’s Vineyard. A three-year plan for the venue includes several other boutique wineries, a brewery and a distillery—along with upscale eateries. I passed through a courtyard with tables and a water feature as I made my way into the eclectic tasting room.Instead of the usual adjectives to describe each wine, the extensive menu only lists the percentages of the various grapes contained in each wine. Bill Corneth, pouring wines that day, explained, “We don’t try to tell you what you’re going to taste because we don’t want you to feel like you’ve done something wrong if you don’t taste what you think you should.” Bill poured the first wine, a Pixalated Rose, a blend of grenache, mourvedre and pinot noir grapes. It is a dry rose, with a creamy mouthfeel—a pretty aperitif for the holidays.  The 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a juicy bing cherry of a wine with a long, smooth finish. It’s 80 percent cabernet—blended along with four other varietals. Thoughts of pairing this wine with a rib eye steak drizzled with melted blue cheese crossed my mind.I tend to like wines with a little age on them so really enjoyed the 2011 Estate Merlot. This is a rich, full-bodied wine with complex flavors of dark fruits and well-structured tannins, making it an age-worthy wine. Purchasing two bottles before I left, I’ll have one bottle at this year’s holiday and save the other for next year.

San Benito High seniors Brooke Shaffer and Sydney Starke will realize a dream when they perform in the second Varsity Spirit Spectacular at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. from Dec. 1 to 4.