THUMBS UP: For the 81st San Benito County Fair at Bolado Park
this weekend. The fair, with rides, hypnotists, friendly
competitions and pig kissing to raise money for 4-H, is the kind of
down-home tradition that makes this a wonderful place to live. So,
go to the fair, have fun, eat too much, visit your friends and
neighbors and relish the country atmosphere of our county. The
gates are open today at 10am.
THUMBS UP: For the 81st San Benito County Fair at Bolado Park this weekend. The fair, with rides, hypnotists, friendly competitions and pig kissing to raise money for 4-H, is the kind of down-home tradition that makes this a wonderful place to live. So, go to the fair, have fun, eat too much, visit your friends and neighbors and relish the country atmosphere of our county. The gates are open today at 10am.
THUMBS DOWN: For the San Benito County Board of Supervisors who have failed to take any leadership role in the District 5 debacle. Seven months after the March primary, there is still doubt about the final outcome of the race because the possibility of criminal charges still is hanging over supervisor-elect Jaime De La Cruz. What have the supes done about this mess? By and large nothing. Someone on the board should be pushing the district attorney, the Secretary of State’s office and whoever else is involved to settle this issue so voters will know for sure who their supervisor will be. In fact, the entire board should have made that push months ago. Why are we still waiting?
THUMBS UP: For a proposal for a new building on the grassy lot at Fourth and San Benito streets. The mixed-use building could be exactly what the city needs to bolster shopping in downtown Hollister, and it will add an aesthetically pleasing structure to the empty lot. Here’s to hoping they secure the financing to make the artistic rendering a reality.
THUMBS DOWN: For Hollister resident Timothy Murphy who has filed a lawsuit to stake a claim to Barry Bonds’ 700th home run ball. Murphy claims he had possession of the ball in his crotch before it was stolen from him by Steve Williams. Another fellow has also entered the legal battle. Alex Patino says (neener, neener, neener) he had the ball. What we need here is a judge with, ah, … enough wisdom to make a Solomonesque decision. Get all the interested parties into court, invite the TV cameras and shred the ball in front of everyone’s eyes. That might quiet the whining and bad sportsmanship we’ve seen in tandem with Barry’s historic home run romp. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone actually stood up and said, “I had it and I muffed it.”
THUMBS DOWN: For West Nile virus. Confirming suspicions that it already was in the county, scientists said that three dead birds were infected with the mosquito-borne disease. Until this week, San Benito County was only one of two counties in the state that did not have a confirmed case of West Nile. It stretches one’s credulity to think that we would escape unscathed. Now that we know the disease is here, remember to use bug spray with DEET in it, wear long sleeve shirts when outside and empty standing pools of water.
THUMBS UP: For a successful season of Farmers Markets at the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets. The market not only allowed residents the opportunity to experience delicious and fresh locally-grown produce, it put money into the hands of the numerous farmers in the area. We can’t wait for the market’s return next summer.
THUMBS DOWN: For the Monterey Insurance company and their obstinate refusal to pay the City of Hollister’s claim for an airport building that burned down almost two years ago. The city and its residents paid for insurance on the building with the expectation the company would stand behind its policy. Now the battle for the bucks is in court, wasting local officials time and resources, and costing the taxpayers even more money.
THUMBS DOWN: For the rolling earthquake shaking up Hollister earlier this week. Though no damage was caused from the 6.0 temblor near Parkfield, it did cause about 10 seconds of fear for residents wondering if the “big one” had hit.
THUMBS UP: For the continued decline in California violent crime according to a Department of Justice report. All four categories of violent crime dropped 3.4 percent from 2002 to 2003 following an 11 year decline. The discovery that violent crime is at its lowest rate statewide since 1973 is welcome news.
