The Red Phone is loving its new digs and the calls its been receiving from Hollisterites eager to bend its crimson ear. This week we’ve heard from a reader about our new delivery time and another caller angry over parking or a lack thereof near his home. Always listening, always on-line, always available at 635-9219.
Early bird doesn’t have time to read the paper
The first caller dialed up the Red Phone to ask the Hollister Free Lance to scrap it’s early morning endeavors.
” I was calling about changing your paper to a morning edition. Some years ago, former owners of your paper also changed the Evening Free Lance to a morning edition. A short time later it was changed back to an evening paper after much resistance from your subscribers. Many residents are on their way to work before the paper is even delivered and they will not see it until they return that evening. For some, the paper will remain outside all day being subject to theft, automatic sprinklers and weather conditions. Please reconsider your plan to change your paper to a morning edition. Thank you.”
The Free Lance is now a true morning newspaper with delivery by 5:30am during the week and 7am on Saturday – publishing editions Tuesday through Saturday. It’s all part of an increased to efforts to bring readers more local coverage earlier, in an easy to read format. Free Lance Publisher Steve Staloch said the staff determined the new publishing schedule and design as the result of a recently completed readership study and a lot of thought was put into the changes.
“I appreciate the input, but it was clear to us that the majority of our readers have limited time to read an afternoon newspaper,” Staloch said in response to the caller. “We were convinced that we needed to be fresher and delivered at a time that fit the majority of our reader’s lifestyle. However, we value each and every subscriber and as always, appreciate the input.”
Parking placement
Another caller told Red Phone his neighbor parks numerous vehicles in an alley way creating a hazard.
“Is there an ordinance against parking and having 10 vehicles parked on both sides of an alley and selling some vehicles also? One person owns and drives all these vehicles and they can’t drive them all at the same time. Some have sat there for months at a time. One car can barely fit to get in and out of the alley. This is a one-way alley. An emergency vehicle couldn’t get through. Who do we complain to?”
Residents can call the police at 636-4330 if the vehicle creates a hazard, according to the Public Works Department. If their only hogging all the space, one could call code enforcement and raise the complaint if the Public Works Department still had one. Hollister laid off it’s code enforcement officer. Actually he quit when he found out he was going to be laid off, leaving no one to complain to, according to the Public Works Department. When in doubt, Red Phone says go to the top, call Hollister City Manager Clint Quilter at 636-4305.
