Sewer: Pretty in pink
If Martha Stewart was a civil engineer, these are the pipes she
would use.
The neat piles of large plastic pipe, done up in a lovely and
oh-so-tasteful lavender hue, are part of Hollister’s $140-plus
million sewer renovation project.
Sewer: Pretty in pink
If Martha Stewart was a civil engineer, these are the pipes she would use.
The neat piles of large plastic pipe, done up in a lovely and oh-so-tasteful lavender hue, are part of Hollister’s $140-plus million sewer renovation project.
The job is due for completion by the end of next year and when the valves get turned it will begin a treatment process that will render, how shall we say, “used” water clean enough to drink.
But common sense and state law dictate that people might be a little squeamish about drinking the same stuff they flushed through their toilets, so a portion of the city’s treated effluent will go to a parallel system. The purple pipes – think a shade or two lighter than Barney the annoying dinosaur – will carry water to be used to irrigate public landscaping and the like.
Since we live in what longtime county water district manager John Gregg describes as a temperate desert, getting the most mileage from our water is nothing but a good thing.
For those readers with a real interest in sewer projects, the city offers a live Webcam showing workers busy working on the treatment plant at http://hollister.ca.gov/site/index.asp.
Hey, it beats watching reruns of a certain purple dinosaur’s show.
Speaking of things to be happy about, nearly 200 parents showed up a couple weeks back for a senior parents information night at San Benito High School. Resources were available, and a squadron of staff members took people through a fast-paced Powerpoint presentation about life after high school. It was the first such event in years, and the preparedness and professionalism demonstrated by the school staff was inspiring. Our kids seem to be in capable hands.
If life isn’t weird enough to suit you, you might start paying closer attention to local politics. There are persistent rumors that former county Planning Director Rob Mendiola may be considering a run at the Board of Supervisors next year. That would be the same board that pushed him out of a job in a very public process.
Without guessing at the likelihood of Mendiola’s candidacy, we’re willing to bet that next year’s election for the three-seat majority on the Board of Supervisors is going to be great theater. Stay tuned for further developments.
Moving on up
We recently pulled up stakes and moved 20 years’ worth of accumulated junk as The Pinnacle relocated to bright new quarters on Sixth Street. Leaving the windowless bunker at Fourth and San Benito was a welcome event. Now we can tell at a glance when it’s daytime. There’s hot water in the restrooms. We don’t miss the haunting bouquet of sewer gas that permeated our old digs. Best of all, there’s ample parking for customers.
The result has been more people dropping in with ideas and tips. That makes for better newspapers because it puts the community back into the equation. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, drop in to say hello and tell us what you want to see in the paper. If you come in on a Friday, there might even be a donut in it for you.
If you have some time on your hands next week, the Hollister Downtown Association is playing host at a two-day series of meetings, intended to launch work toward a downtown strategic plan.
The meetings go all day Friday, Oct. 5 and through Saturday, Oct. 6. An outdoor movie is planned for Friday night. The whole thing appears to be an opportunity to paint a brighter future for Hollister and, just maybe, have some fun with our neighbors.
No credentials are required, and details can be had through the HDA office at 636-8406.
Notebook is compiled by Mark Paxton.
