News

A Hollister girl took first place in an age division for Bookshop Santa Cruz's annual Young Writers Contest. Julia Pearson, a seventh-grader at Rancho San Justo Middle School, entered her short story to the contest in October and won first place in the 10-13 year-old age division. It was a fictional narrative that she wrote for her seventh-grade language arts class. Then she got to read a portion of it on KZSC radio station at UCSC on Nov. 19 on Bruce Bratton's “Grapevine” program. Bookshop Santa Cruz is also donating a copy of the book to the school library of each honoree.

In 2013, San Benito County put on a hard hat and got to work on the future.

Mayor Ignacio Velazquez sat down with the Free Lance in mid-December for an interview, a year after the local businessman was sworn in officially as the first elected at-large mayor in Hollister’s history.

Muffins is a 13-year-old gray tabby who is a great companion and would make a great lap cat. She is very sweet and gentle. She is available for adoption at the San Martin Animal Shelter. Interested? Call (408) 686-3900.

Golden Eagle Mortgage Group, 17500 Depot St., Morgan Hill, held a ribbon cutting Nov. 7. Joining owner Pauline Amstutz were many Golden Eagle staff, members, ambassadors and staff of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce. The ribbon cutting was catered by another Chamber of Commerce member, Odeum restaurant. For information on joining the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce call (408) 779-9444. 

Three suspects in the 2011 Park Hill homicide of Mark Arballo had their proceedings pushed back again, with the next hearing scheduled for January, according to court records.

While riding his orange Kubota tractor at approximately 2:30 p.m. Dec. 9, Steve Alexander, who lives roughly three miles east of Saint Louise Regional Hospital in rural Gilroy, saw a mountain lion cross his path just 40 feet away.

The city council voted 3-1 Monday to approve a contract agreement with law firm L&G – which has largely represented agriculture and development interests in the city and county – to provide city attorney services for one year.

Say hello to our little friend … a tiny northern saw-whet owl who has just joined the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center's educational animal ambassador team. It's true that the best presents come in small packages!

The Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce ambassadors welcome the new Morgan Hill Athletic Club into the Chamber. The MHAC is located in the Walmart Center at 126 Cochrane Plaza. They are a very modern gym with all of the latest equipment.