THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY
SEPTEMBER 14, 2018
Warrior Serpent
Montoya connects youth with indigenous heritage
SAN BENITO MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance
Hollister’s Noe Montoya helps others reconnect with their roots P4
HOSPITAL TALKS CONTINUE P2 | NEW CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL P4 | STRIKE COULD END SEASON P13
HOLLISTER • SAN BENITO COUNTY
A New SV Media publication
Friday, September 14, 2018
sanbenito.com • Vol. 145, No. 14 • $1
Monterey Street parking plan to ease jam at SBHS UP TO 49 SPOTS GENERATED BY NEW PROJECT Staff report
➝ Parking, 9
Robert Eliason
There may be some relief this month for both parking and traffic headaches around San Benito High School. The City of Hollister has agreed to create reverseangle parking on both sides of Monterey Street in front of San Benito High School north to B Street, according to the latest San Benito High School District newsletter. The spots will be marked on both sides of Monterey Street and will add spaces, “promote improved driver visibility and easier loading and unloading of vehicles, all while enhancing trafficcalming efforts,” according to district staff. By creating the angled parking, the city is helping to reduce the double parking that occurs on both sides of the street, as well as relieving parking congestion in the surrounding neighborhood. The concept of reverse-angle parking is new to Hollister, but it is not new across the country, as it is a staple in many communities, according to district staff. Hollister officials informed San Benito
CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT Wearing the blue uniforms of the Grand Army of Republic, young men re-live history.
Blue battles Gray History buffs donned 19th-century attire, mounted horses, carried and loaded muzzleloading rifles and re-enacted Civil War skirmishes Sept. 7-9 during Tres Pinos Civil War Days. The event, held in the San Benito County Historical Park, was put together by the National Civil War Association and included military camps, a period civilian town and a
19th-century bat-and-ball game known as rounders. Visitors had the opportunity to witness Confederate forces go head to head with Federal forces on the battlefield, as well as watching weapon and clothing demonstrations during the three-day affair. For more information about the National Civil War Association, visit: ncwa.org.
Mayor seeks ‘smart growth’ votes NOVEMBER VOTE COULD DECIDE PACE OF GROWTH IN HOLLISTER By Jaqueline McCool Reporter
Any trip to a Hollister City Council meeting would display a usual scene. A typical vote? Three in favor and one against. For almost the entire
last year of his two-year term, Mayor Ignacio Velazquez has voted no on any bill that has to do with growth or development. This, he says, is intentional. In an interview, Velazquez says he can no longer approve residential projects in Hollister, he says the city’s infrastructure cannot support it. Velazquez acknowledges the vote is largely in protest and says, “that’s how
it’s been, three for, one against.” But with an election looming, and three district seats on the line, the mayor—who is facing his own re-election battle— could finally get his majority. Only one incumbent council member, Mayor Pro Tem Mickie Luna, is seeking re-election. Another seat, for District 1, was recently vacated by Ray Friend and will see a replacement
appointed at the Oct. 1 meeting of the City Council. Despite the appointment, if slow-growth candidates win in two of three races in Districts 2, 3 and 4 and if the mayor wins his race, he would no longer be the lone vote against new development. District 2 candidate, Rolan Resendiz had said that the commercial development of the 400 block was a reason he
got involved in local politics. He said that while he could not guarantee he would always vote with the mayor, if he is reelected, he believed that he and Velazquez shared a similar position on growth. “I think that our interests definitely align,” said Resendiz. Luna has voted for residential development during her tenure on City ➝ Mayor, 9