Arts movement deserves kudos
THUMBS UP: To Mike Smith who, through hard work, perseverance and cheer leading has gotten the ball rolling on revitalizing the arts in San Benito County. Nearly 30 people took time out of their busy schedules on Wednesday evening to gather and discuss how to best to harness the creative energy in our community for the benefit of all. Not only was it a feel-good meeting, there was serious interest in forming an arts council and pursuing funding for an arts center from our political leadership, the city’s Redevelopment Agency and, best of all, local artists. Smith deserves much credit for giving voice to an obvious need in our community. Way to go.
THUMBS DOWN: For Deputy County Counsel Darren Bogie, who argued in court this week that Judge Harry Tobias should not release the full investigative report into District Attorney John Sarsfield’s office because the summary of the report’s findings have already been leaked to the Free Lance. That’s like telling people just to accept the verdict of a criminal trial without seeing the testimony in the court case. The report should be made public, so everyone gets the full picture of how the office is run and can form an educated opinion on the job Sarsfield is doing.
THUMBS UP: For all of those who have already mailed in their ballots for the much-needed $31.5 million Measure L bond to expand and improve Hazel Hawkins Hospital. For the rest of you, make sure to get that ballot in the mail by April 29 or hand deliver them to the Elections Office by 8pm on May 3. There may be some confusion out there because this is the county’s first all-mail election. Those ballots that were delivered to your mail box earlier this month are for real. Take time to read over the material and cast your vote. If you never got a ballot, or threw it away by mistake, you can pick up another one at the county Elections Office at 440 Fifth St., Room 206.
THUMBS UP: For Free Lance readers who kept the pressure on the California Public Utilities Commission and Union Pacific Railroad until they fixed the bumpy railroad crossing just over the county line on Highway 25. The crossing was one of the top complaints heard on the Free Lance’s Red Phone, with good reason. It was more than a nuisance, it was a safety hazard causing drivers to slow way down and veer around the tracks to avoid damaging the undercarriages of their cars. But last weekend, workers fixed the broken concrete panels between the tracks and added some asphalt to smooth the drive into Hollister.
THUMBS UP: For the Free Lance staff, who won five awards in the annual California Newspaper Publishers Association Better Newspapers Contest in a broad range of categories including General Excellence. The Free Lance has gone through a lot of changes in the last year, and the staff’s hard work is being recognized for their efforts. The General Excellence award is particularly impressive because it means the Free Lance team – from editorial and advertising staff to the press and circulation crews – is working together to make one of the finest community newspapers in the state.
