Regions

Mike Fisher, chief volunteer cook for Soup for Seniors. He returns to teaching culinary classes at SBHS on August 13. Photos courtesy of Becky Herbert.

Food / Dining

Soup for Seniors program receives Slow Food grant

$500 award will help with food distribution in San Benito County.

B. B. Barker, date unknown. Tintype mirrored to show true orientation. Photo courtesy of Lee Chandler.

History & Profiles

BL Longform: 1866 gunfight at Kemp’s Saloon ends in death of justice of the peace

A once-forgotten tale of Old San Juan Bautista emerges from the shadows.

San Juan Bautista Waste Treatment Plant. Image from Draft Report.

Environment / Nature

BL Special Report: Solving San Juan Bautista’s water problems

City consultant comes up with solutions to address hard water, aging wastewater treatment plant and other problems.

Thousands of cans wait to be filled with processed tomatoes the morning of Aug. 6. Photo by John Chadwell.

Business / Economy

Meeting between Hollister and San Benito Foods expected on Aug. 10

Interim City Manager Brett Miller said if there is an agreement, it would go to the City Council on Aug. 17.

San Juan Bautista City Hall. File photo.

Government / Politics

Nomination period extended for San Juan Bautista offices

Currently, no one has qualified to run for city treasurer or city clerk.

Photo courtesy of YMCA of San Benito County.

Children and Youth

YMCA of San Benito County program works to support families during distance learning

Excel Beyond the Bell offers lifeline to working parents seeking help with childcare.

A temporary order signed June 22 allowed the San Benito Foods tomato cannery in Hollister to begin operations for the 2020 season, but now the facility must shut down by Aug. 8 unless it pays the city $2.5 million. Photo by John Chadwell.

Business / Economy

San Benito Foods to close Aug. 8 if it does not pay $2.5 million operations fee

Attorney argues the cannery’s closure would cause ‘irreparable harm to the community’ by eliminating 450 local jobs.

San Juan Bautista City Hall. File photo.

Housing / Land Use

San Juan Bautista City Council seeks state aid for renters

City is applying for funding through a block grant program.

Hollister City Hall. File photo.

Community Opinions

COMMUNITY OPINION: Code of Conduct

Hollister Council candidate Tim Burns writes that it's time to adopt a code of ethics and conduct for elected and appointed officials in the city.

Dan De Vries. Photo courtesy of Dan De Vries.

Government / Politics

SJB Councilman Dan De Vries won’t seek reelection

He previously held seats on San Juan and San Benito County Planning Commissions.

Stuff the Bus, put on by United Way of San Benito County. File Photo.

Nonprofits

United Way calling for ‘Stuff the Bus’ volunteers

Volunteers will be given a timeframe to help fill backpacks, in order to comply with social distancing requirements.

Stadium at San Benito High School. Photo by Julia Hicks.

Sports & Recreation

SBHS football returns to practice, then packs it back in

Sports programs stop all activities and receive revamped sport schedules following county’s inclusion on state COVID-19 monitoring list.

The Sakaguchi family at Inaka. Photo by Robert Eliason.

Business / Economy

San Juan’s Third Street makeover keeps restaurants from fully closing

Owners speak about outdoor dining on the main thoroughfare.

Image provided by Wayne Norton.

Community Opinions

COMMUNITY OPINION: Politics of Fear clouds the issue

District 2 Supervisor candidate Wayne Norton writes about staying focused on attracting local jobs and rebuilding the economy rather than the politics of fear.

File photo by Joshua Miller.

Police / Fire

Police serve search warrant in attempted homicide investigation

HPD and other law enforcement agencies make arrest in relation to Memorial Day weekend shooting.

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