HOLLISTER • SAN BENITO COUNTY
A New SV Media publication
Friday, August 25, 2017
sanbenito.com • Vol. 144, No. 34 • $1
LOCAL SCENE
Gavilan’s president floats new bond plan
Pull for a cure
If you like to watch vehicles getting pulled by trucks then you are in for a treat. The 4th Annual Pullin’ for a Cure Benefit Truck Pull is Saturday at 3384 Santa Ana Valley Road in Hollister. All proceeds from the event go to support local Relay for Life teams. The competition is open to all pulling classes from stock to pro-modified, diesels and exhibition class. There will be winners in each class. Helmets are required to pull. There will be food available for purchase and raffle prizes. Remember to bring your own chairs as there will be a limited supply of hay bales. Fun starts at 3 p.m. The fundraiser is an alcohol-free event.
DR. KATHLEEN ROSE SEEKS SUPPORT FOR NEW FUNDING Nicholas Preciado Reporter
Reporter
The notorious coastal fog could not dampen spirits Monday as dozens flocked to Fremont’s Peak to watch the solar eclipse.
my grandkids were here. They are down south.” Taking sneak peaks at the sun while trying to take pictures on his cell phone, John Lara, who drove to Fremont’s Peak from Salinas with his girlfriend, Victoria Andrade, made an admission. “We didn’t really come prepared,” he said, smiling. “But you only get to ➝ Eclipse, 4
The San Benito County chapter of the national nonprofit organization Birthday Cakes 4 Free started last spring and group members have been bringing cakes, cupcakes and muffins to low-income seniors and children ever since then. Since the group started in June, its members have delivered about five cakes a month to the Emmaus House, Chamberlain's Children Center and the assisted living facility Whispering Pines Inn. Now they're looking to expand to individual homes in the county. A2 THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY
HOLDING COURT Jimmy Panetta speaks at a crowded
The day before the Hollister town hall, President Donald Trump in a televised speech at Fort Myer military base in Arlington, Va. insinuated there would be an increase in U.S. troops sent to Afghanistan.
In addition to his position on the committee, Panetta is a veteran of the Global War on Terror and served as a naval officer in Afghanistan. In a statement ➝ Community Talk, 12
AUGUST 25, 2017
TURN TO PIZZA • A8
town hall meeting Tuesday in Hollister. The open forum was officiated by Kristina Chavez-Wyatt, executive director of the San Benito County Business Council.
➝ Gavilan Coffee, 4
of wood-fired oven used to make his pizzas. In starting the business, he is also bringing a taste of his family’s home country to his family’s hometown in Hollister. The Felice family is from the Calabria part of Italy and has deep roots in San Benito County as well. With the opening of Forno, meanwhile, Hollister will once again
Nick Preciado
San Juan resident:
Project planned for Y Road
KATIE HELLAND •REPORTER khelland@freelancenews.com
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Solar revisions
Reporter
Homelessness, the armed forces and drug policy were some of the items discussed at a town hall meeting Tuesday with Jimmy Panetta, the Democratic representative for the 20th congressional district. Panetta was introduced to the packed room at the county administration building by Jaime De La Cruz, chairman of the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. “Jimmy Panetta is a gentleman and a personal friend of mine,” said De La Cruz. “When he was out there campaigning, he was actually walking door-to-door. He came up to me and asked me for my support. And the gentleman has not
The company vying to build a 247-megawatt solar farm in Panoche submitted a draft supplemental environmental impact report addressing plans to examine impacts under a revised, reduced proposal. PV2 Energy filed the supplemental draft EIR on Dec. 23. The prior company overseeing the project, Solargen Energy, had an initial EIR approved by the county board in late 2010. A5
Nicholas Preciado
changed since the day we shook on the gentleman’s agreement. Thank you Jimmy for coming to San Benito County.” The town hall was moderated by Kristina Chavez-Wyatt, executive director of the San Benito County Business Council. Questions were limited to two minutes. The junior congressman looked engaged and confident as he fielded questions on topics ranging from immigration, affordable housing and the homeless population to climate change and cannabis. Resident James Parker told Panetta his son recently joined the army and would likely be deployed next year. “The question I have as a parent and with you being on the Armed Services Committee,” began Parker. “How do we know he’s got the resources he needs and that he’s going to be okay?”
SPORTS
HOLLISTER CA. PERMIT #48
While Californians never experienced complete darkness and only got to see a partial solar eclipse—the path of totality ran along a 70-mile wide path just north of the state from Oregon to South Carolina, enthusiasm for the celestial event remained high. “This is a once in a lifetime thing—one of those bucket list things,” said Arias, tears forming in his eyes. “I just wish
Panetta speaks in Hollister LOCALS ASK ABOUT ARMED FORCES, HOMELESSNESS
****ECRWSS**** Residential Customer
“I sat at home and thought about where I could find the sun so I Googled Fremont’s peak,” said Salinas resident, Michael Arias, as he stared up into the clear morning sky through a welding helmet, one of a variety of unique head gear that could be seen as people tried to get a good view of the solar eclipse while protecting their eyes from the glowing sun.
Soph surge
PAID
Nicholas Preciado
HOLLISTER
58015 02002
COMMUNITY COMES OUT TO SHARE IN MEMORABLE OCCASION
A $16 million bridge stretching 900 feet across the San Benito River is planned to connect Y Road and San Juan Bautista. But in this rural area, the number of people it will serve is small. “It's like our own bridge to nowhere,”
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Eclipse dazzles
A year ago, Brad Sparrer was the No. 5 player in the lineup on San Benito High’s golf team. But entering the 2015 season—practice starts on Feb. 1—the 5-foot-8, 140pound sophomore will likely be the Haybalers’ No. 1 player. Sparrer’s meteoric rise came the good old-fashioned way: hard work. B1
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE
Be one of 400 volunteers needed for one day in November to give county children warm coats and shoes. Visit www. smallstepssbc.org or call 831-638-2111 to learn more.
CELESTIAL WONDER Despite the fog cover overhead, San Juan Elementary School students scan the skies for a glimpse of the solar eclipse behind protective glasses on Monday, August 21. Nearby at Fremont’s Peak dozens of area residents ventured above the fog to relish in the unique experience.
Positive Paths
A section of the Hollister Free Lance
Call for volunteers
Robert Eliason
Lucky Supermarket in Hollister just made it easier for shoppers to get up and go. The grocery store at 291 McCray Street is the site of two new electric car charging stations. The evGo model is one of the fastest charging models out there and can charge vehicles in just 30 minutes—a perfect amount of time for customers to do some grocery shopping. The Hollister location is the 8th Lucky Supermarket store to get an electric vehicle charging station. The company started installing charging stations at their stores in 2015. So far, the company, which includes Lucky and SaveMart stores, have 33 charging stations in 15 cities across California in Northern Nevada—31 fast charging stations and two regular charging stations. The Fremont location is home to a prototype electric vehicle charger, which is not available to the general public yet, but can be used by automakers in the region to test future generation vehicles on it. Next on the list are stores in San Jose, Sand City and San Bruno. “This really marks the growing trend for electric cars. This is where we are all heading,” said Greg Gilliam, the Hollister store manager. California is home to the largest number of electric vehicles in the country.
Cake, anyone?
San Benito County residents gathered Saturday over coffee and cookies to get the scoop on Gavilan College. Dr. Kathleen Rose, college president and superintendent, presided over the informal gathering at Mars Hill Coffeeshop. Of particular concern to the locals in attendance was the continued lack of a college satellite campus in Hollister. Rose said Gavilan College planned to conduct a feasibility study to see if the community would support a general obligation school bond measure in November 2018. The study, which could start as soon as this week, will be a telephone survey of a randomized sample of the population. Measure E, a facilities improvement bond that voters approved in 2004 helped Gavilan College purchase a 75-acre property, referred to as Fairview Corners on Fairview Road near the Ridgemark Golf Club and Resort in Hollister. The lot was purchased as a potential campus site. But after more than ten years, no construction has taken place. “The development has been ongoing ever since,” Rose said. “It’s taken 10 years to get the incidental take permit for the tiger salamander, which allows us to be cleared to do initial building on the property.” While Rose said the college is in continuous conversation with Morgan Hillbased Dividend Homes about the next phase of development on the property, funding is still an obstacle. “The [California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office] requires enrollments for buildups,” Rose said. “Five hundred full-time equivalent students in order to be
Electric cars welcome
Patrick Ellis found his calling at Chamberlain’s Children Center
Inside this issue: Chamberlain’s Childrens Center
CASINO NIGHT P8 | AROMAS DAY P15 | JAZZ IN SPAIN P16
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