Hollister resident celebrates 99th birthday
Louise Galdos Branum recently celebrated her 99th birthday.
Born on Jan. 31, 1910, she came to Hollister with her family at
the age of 14. She was the first female employee at K
&
amp;S Market, joining the staff in 1940. The market was then
located on San Benito Street in the Enterprise Electric Building.
During World War II, the grocery store had a steady stream of
soldiers from the Naval Base located at Hollister Airport. She
retired from K
&
amp;S in 1982. Branum fondly recalled the invasion of the
motorcycles in 1947 and dancing all night with the bikers.
Hollister resident celebrates 99th birthday
Louise Galdos Branum recently celebrated her 99th birthday.
Born on Jan. 31, 1910, she came to Hollister with her family at the age of 14. She was the first female employee at K&S Market, joining the staff in 1940. The market was then located on San Benito Street in the Enterprise Electric Building. During World War II, the grocery store had a steady stream of soldiers from the Naval Base located at Hollister Airport. She retired from K&S in 1982. Branum fondly recalled the invasion of the motorcycles in 1947 and dancing all night with the bikers.
She is the mother of four, Pete and Mark Gomez, Marie “Honey” Cunha and Fran Galvin; the grandmother to 30 grandchildren, at last count at least 15 great-grandchildren and one on the way. She was the second child born to Beatrice and Tom Galdos. Her siblings are Marie Vallejo, Louise Branum, Frank Galdos, Helen Garcia, Henrietta Liethle, Eugeno Galdos, Laura Baughman, Tom Galdos, Juanita “Neets” Marcus and Carmen Vieira.
Roberts joins CHP
Jonathan Roberts of Hollister recently completed Highway Patrol cadet training, and has been assigned to duty at the CHP’s Central Los Angeles Area office.
Roberts is a 1998 graduate of Gilroy High School. He also attended Gavilan College. Prior to joining the CHP, he worked as an air conditioning technician at Comfort Zone Mechanical Air.
Roberts’ cousin, Scott Siria, is also a member of the Highway Patrol, working out of the Stockton Area office.
Cadet training includes vehicle patrol, accident investigation, first aid, apprehension and arrest of suspects, traffic control, report writing and emergency scene management.
HYA takes over Drop Zone administration
At the end of 2008, Hollister Youth Alliance was presented with a check from Leadership San Benito County to continue the Drop Zone youth program.
The Drop Zone is a once-a-week youth group that opened June 2008 at the Hollister Community Center, 300 West St.. The youth center started as a Leadership San Benito class project when the group saw the need for a safe and nurturing environment for kids ages 11-14. At the Drop Zone adult mentors plan activities from cooking lessons to board games to basketball with the students. The goal is to offer an opportunity for the kids to interact with positive role models and learn valuable life skills.
The center is open Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and 12 to 30 students drop by each week. The program is going strong, but could use more volunteers.
The funds to open and operate this weekly youth drop-in center came from donations and fundraising events organized by a group of Leadership San Benito class of 2008 members.
“It has been rewarding watching the youth spread their wings and open their minds these past several months,” said Julie Bonnet, a a member of the founding group and a regular volunteer at the center. “We are excited that LSBC has passed the torch to HYA and all of the wonderful volunteers who truly believe in these kids.”
For more information, call Diane Ortiz at 636-2853.
