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Holiday SPECIAL MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 23, 2018

GIFT GUIDE 2018

QUILT SHOPS P8 BOOK FINDS P14

LOCAL GOODS P17

Buy local this holiday season

SPECIAL MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SAN BENITO STUDENTS EXCEL P2 | NEW NURSING PROGRAMS P11 | GOLD MEDAL GIRL SCOUT P12

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

NOVEMBER 16, 2018

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE P8

Navy Veteran Trish Graves

A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

GEORGE TROQUATO P17

Psychedelic treatments for trauma

SAN BENITO MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE

HOLLISTER • SAN BENITO COUNTY

Clinical trial offers a way out of pain

Breakthrough Treatment

A New SV Media publication

Friday, November 23, 2018

sanbenito.com • Vol. 145, No. 47 • $1

Panetta looks to farm bill in 2018 THE SENATE AND HOUSE VERSIONS DIFFER ON SNAP PLAN By Barry Holtzclaw Managing Editor

➝ Panetta, 4

Submittedphoto

Congressman Jimmy Panetta, headed to an 80-20 victory in his first re-election bid, isn’t going to be putting his feet up in the next few weeks while waiting for his Democratic Party to take control of the 116th U.S. House of Representatives. One of Congress’ most fervent bi-partisan optimists, Panetta is raring to go back into the fray with many of his lame duck colleagues to get the 2018 Farm Bill renewed before the new Congress is sworn in in January 2019. “I have confidence that a compromise bill will get passed this year,” he predicted on Nov. 15. “Final passage this Congress is the priority.” That could be a tall order, which may be more dependent than anything on the mood of his friends across the aisle, who have been holding out for adding a work requirement to federal food stamps. The work requirement for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients was pushed by President Trump and added to the House farm bill this summer, but was not included in the Senate version of the bill. The resulting farm bill deadlock has increased anxiety levels among tariff-fearing farmers,

FAMILY CELEBRATION Robert Rivas celebrates his victory with his wife Christen and two-year-old daughter Melina.

Family fuels Rivas SAN BENITO NATIVE SON HEADS TO SACRAMENTO By Jaqueline McCool Reporter

Bold. That’s how Robert Rivas, newly elected assembly member to California’s 30th district describes himself, his leadership style and his campaign. “I’m not afraid to make a decision, so long as it’s the right decision to make,” said Rivas said in his first interview after locking in a solid victory Nov. 6 in his first bid for the state Assembly. Rivas’ story is the embodiment of the “California dream,” as he calls it. As the grandson of a migrant farm worker, Rivas grew up in Paicines, in southern San

Benito County. After several years of living in farmworker housing, the family moved to Hollister in 1989, where Rivas attended San Benito High School and got involved early in politics and leadership. The children of a single mother, Rivas and his brother began working in their community at the urging of their grandfather, who had been a guiding voice in Rivas’ life. Despite passing away from cancer in 2011, Rivas’ grandfather got to see Robert Rivas elected to the San Benito County Board of Supervisors in 2010. Eight years later, Rivas is headed to Sacramento, representing the 30th Assembly District. Sitting in his office nestled next to Hollister City Hall, he

was surrounded by stacks of campaign signs in every corner. A piece of white printer paper was still taped to the door leading into the smaller office in the back— “the war room.” The war might be over, but the work is just beginning. For Rivas the new mountain of work isn’t just okay, but welcomed. Throughout his political career hard work has become a celebrated part of his legacy. After his election as supervisor, Rivas took two more jobs to provide for his newly formed family. He’s worked as a grant coordinator and later a student support manager at San Benito High School, while teaching political science at Gavilan College. Shawn Tennenbaum, superintendent for the San

Benito High School district, hired Rivas to work at his alma mater. He said having Rivas work at the school has given San Benito High students the opportunity to model themselves after a leader. “Having that ability to see themselves in Robert,” said Tennenbaum. “That’s invaluable.” Despite an instinctive interest in politics, Rivas said he never envisioned himself as the candidate, rather the man behind the curtain. Early in his career he worked on local campaigns with his brother, Rick Rivas, making connections to leaders within the community, and staying largely out of the spotlight. Having overcome a childhood stutter, Rivas said he had apprehensions

about being in the public eye. Ultimately he decided that he was the person to get the work done. Friends and mentors warned Rivas that he was unlikely to win his first campaign, but he said that only motivated him more. In the first political campaign of his own, Rivas unseated two-time incumbent Patricia Loe for the District 3 seat, winning over 70 percent of the vote. There are no hard feelings now, Rivas said The two have even become friends in recent years. Loe would come to endorse Rivas’ Assembly campaign. “He’s a very truthful, dedicated young man,” said Loe. “I hope to see him go far in the political arena.” ➝ Rivas, 2

Hernandez sees lead grow in District 3 TWO NEW COUNTY SUPERVISORS WIN THEIR RACES Jaqueline McCool Reporter

In an election initially separated by only a few dozen

votes, the District 3 supervisor race at first had seemed too close to call. Peter Hernandez’ lead grew in the days following the election, and as the ballot counting ended its second week, he had finally gained a substantial lead of 379 votes. As of Monday Nov. 19, Hernandez had 55.98

percent of the vote with a 379-vote lead over former supervisor and city council member, Patricia Loe. Provisional ballots were still being verified and counted along with vote-by-mail ballots that were postmarked on Election Day or dropped at polling places.Hernandez is a local business owner

who ran for the District 3 seat vacated by newly elected Assembly member, Robert Rivas. Loe had lost her re-election to the District 3 supervisor seat in 2010 to Rivas. Hernandez told the Free Lance he is excited to bring a new perspective to the board and believes his business background

will provide much needed ideas on cultivating economic development in the county. Hernandez believes his business skills and four years on the school board have prepared him for his new role. He sees his win as the will of San ➝ District 3, 4


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