THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY
JUNE 29, 2018
A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance
Dirty action for the over 40 crowd
Radical Riders
Raucous riders hit Hollister Hills
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GUYS AND DOLLS P8 | CALERO PARK P16
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Friday, June 29, 2018
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‘Safe, sane’ fireworks on sale in two cities RESTRICTIONS ARE IN FORCE FOR SAFETY AND FIRE PROTECTION Staff Reports
Bryce Stoepfel
“Safe and sane” fireworks are legal in San Benito County, but only in the cities of San Juan Bautista and Hollister. The Hollister Police Department last year for the first time patrolled Hollister neighborhoods to enforce illegal fireworks rules, issuing a number of citations. They will be out in force again this July 4, said Police Chief David Westrick. “We will have multiple officers out during the evening of Independence Day. We will also again utilize the FOREalert App available in the Apple App Store and Google Playstore,” he said. The FOREalert App will go live around 5pm on July 4. This app is for fireworks reports only and is a free download. For emergencies, call 911. “Safe and sane” fireworks are approved by the state fire marshal and do not leave the ground or explode. All other fireworks are considered dangerous and illegal, officials warned, and use of these is a violation of state law and city codes. Fireworks are to be purchased and used by Hollister and San Juan Bautista residents only, and purchasers may be asked to show proof of residence at the time of purchase. Booths that knowingly sell to persons out of town may have their permit
RED, WHITE AND BLUE It’s a few weeks before the 4th of July, but patriotism and the flag were proudly on display at the 85th San Benito County Saddle Horse and Rodeo Show.
Rodeo celebrates 85th
➝ Safe and Sane, 2 Bryce Stoepfel
RIDE EM’ COWKID He might be a little young, but Nathaniel Talavera got his rodeo career started early in the mutton busting event.
The dust flew and the crowds cheered at the 85th annual San Benito County Saddle Horse and Rodeo Show at Bolado Park in Tres Pinos June 22-24. Life on the ranch was on display, for both country folks and city slickers, with arts and crafts, food, roping, riding, bull riding and saddle bronc riding. It was more than a show; it was a family reunion of sorts. The western life still rides.
Board OKs $5M to buy land for school TK-8 SCHOOL SITE IS AT CORNER OF SUNNYSLOPE AND FAIRVIEW Scott Forstner Reporter
The Hollister School District’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $5 million deal to purchase a 12-acre parcel of
land at Sunnyslope and Fairview roads in the Santana Ranch development. The move is a major step in the district’s desire to build a new school for transitional kindergartners through eighth-graders to meet the needs of a growing population. “Yes, it absolutely was a big step (to acquire the land), because we had to correct some errors in the past,” said district trustee
Robert Bernosky. “There are some people who believe that the developer was supposed to donate that land, but we ended up paying for it.” Board President Patricia Moore made the motion to approve the action and was seconded by Trustee Elsa Rodriguez at a May 31 special meeting. Moore, Rodriguez and fellow trustees Bernosky, Peter Hernandez
and Elizabeth Martinez all supported the land deal between the school district and the Larry W. Anderson and Georgeann M. Anderson Revocable Family Trust, according to the agenda. “I’m extremely excited. We need a new school,” said Hernandez. “It’s a void that was filled. But there’s still a lot of growth in the community, so there’s a lot of catching
up to do. This is one good step.” Prior to acquiring the land, the district had already earmarked $36 million in Measure V funds (approved by voters in November 2016) for construction costs. Hollister school leaders are counting on an additional $26 million in matching funds from the state’s ➝ Land, 15