Letters

This is in reference to two of your recent articles in the Hollister Free Lance.

The deadline is Feb. 25 to submit comments to the state for its Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

In response to Bill Corcoran, western director for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, Guest View: “Panoche Valley is wrong for solar project” I would offer the following: Mr. Corcoran neglected to inform readers that Save Panoche Valley, the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society and the Sierra Club (collectively Save Panoche Valley) lost a legal appeal from a trial court’s order denying their petition for writ of mandate opposing the PV2 Energy Solar Project. Save Panoche Valley challenged San Benito County’s certification of an environmental impact report (EIR) regarding the proposed solar power development to which the Appellate Court disagreed.

California is at the center of a multi-state measles outbreak. It presumably started when an infected person (who has not been identified) visited Disneyland Resort Theme Parks in December 2014. About 40 people who visited or worked at the park became infected, and then people who were around those ill people, in doctor’s offices, schools and airplanes also became infected with this highly contagious virus. As of Feb. 6, over 100 cases in seven states had been reported as part of this outbreak. There are no cases in San Benito County.

The energy landscape in California is rapidly changing. In just a few short years, new wind, solar and geothermal power plants have put the state on track to achieve 33 percent clean energy by 2020. Governor Jerry Brown recently announced a plan to derive 50 percent of our electricity from renewable energy by 2030.  

When Eric Tognazzini passed away from cancer on May 20, 2011, San Benito County mourned. He was only 64 years old, but he had somehow managed to become known, loved and an inspiration for an amazing number of people. His smile and friendly wave greeted everyone he passed as he rode around Hollister on his three-wheeled bike, collecting aluminum cans for his recycling business. On any day of the week, Eric could be seen around Downtown Hollister. From Nino’s Pizzeria to Baywood Creamery, from Public Drive-In Market to Schipper’s, from Ladd’s Hardware to Muenzer’s Sporting Goods, Eric was part of Hollister itself.

As a sophomore at San Benito High School I face daily peer pressure; whether it’s from friends wanting me to drink alcohol or smoking cigarettes. I’m constantly told that if I don’t, I am not cool enough. Lucky enough I am the kind of person that if something does not seem right I will not do it, especially to fit in or impress my friends. However, I know of many students who smoke because they do not want to feel left out.