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THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

APRIL 5, 2019

A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

Motorcycle innovator continues to create the easy ride

SAN BENITO MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE

A COMFORTABLE RIDE Hollister-based Corbin Motorcycle Seats & Accessories known around the world

VOCATIONAL CAREERS P2 | STUDENT PROJECTS P8 | RUN WITH TRIPLETS P12 VERDE VINEYARDS P10 | OPENING NIGHT P12 | CYCLING EVENTS P13

HOLLISTER • SAN BENITO COUNTY

A New SV Media publication

Friday, April 5, 2019

sanbenito.com • Vol. 147, No. 14 • $1

Mobile phones distract teen drivers SB COUNTY BEGINS APRIL CAMPAIGN TO WARN OF DISTRACTED DRIVING DANGERS Staff report

Barry Holtzclaw

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and San Benito County is taking steps to educate the community after experiencing its eighth teen driving fatality in 2018. San Benito has a rate of 187 driving injuries per 100,000 teenagers, according to data provided by the California Highway Patrol. Reckless and distracted driving is the No. 1 killer of teenagers. The CHP reported that in 2017, 66 people died and more than 6,500 were injured statewide in distracted-drivingrelated crashes. California’s 2017 updated cell phone law does not allow any handheld devices to be operated when driving. The phones must be mounted on the dashboard, windshield or center console, and can only be touched one time to activate or deactivate a function. First-time offenders can receive a fine up to $162. Parents and teens in the San Benito and Monterey County are invited to attend a presentation on distracted driving this month at the Natividad Trauma Center. The event requires an RSVP by April 9 to artingerlg@ natividad.com.

HONORED DAUGHTER Sylvia Delgado, of Hollister, was honored in San Martin as the daughter

of the late Cesar Chavez, with her nephew Anthony Chavez.

‘Si, Se Puede!’ BILINGUAL SCHOOL CHEERS DAUGHTER, GRANDCHILDREN OF CIVIL RIGHTS ICON CHAVEZ Barry Holtzclaw Managing Editor

Barry Holtzclaw

The nearly 700 students and staff at San Martin/Gwinn K-8 school got some surprise visitors at their annual school-wide celebration of Cesar Chavez Day, a couple days early on March 29. The school’s walkways were decorated with the red and black flags of the United Farmworkers, founded by Chavez 57 years ago. For these San Martin students, the day was about family. The principal of the dual-language Spanish/English school,

Claudia Olaciregui, stood in front of a large photo of Chavez and his movement’s slogan, “Si, Se Puede!” (Yes, We Can!) and, in two languages, introduced Chavez’ daughter, Sylvia Delgado, who moved to Hollister from Southern California two years ago. Delgado’s daughter, Monica, and nephew, Anthony Chavez, along with Monica’s husband, Jose Anaya, a teacher at Gwinn, and their son—the legendary civil rights leader’s great-grandson—all were cheered at the rally, which kicked off a weekend of celebrations of the March 31 holiday. San Benito High School also held a special event on March 29. Anthony Chavez spoke of the inspiration and commitment to justice and nonviolence of his grandfather, who died in 1993.

MUSICAL TRIBUTE Musician Noah Montoya led students in Spanish and English songs, including “This Land is Your Land.”

San Juan Oaks needs a developer AS INCENTIVE, COUNTY PLANNERS APPROVE FREEZING IMPACT FEES FOR 10 YEARS Jaqueline McCool Reporter

A giant senior living development in San Juan

Oaks, west of Hollister, is still in limbo and San Benito County staff is pushing to lock impact fees for 10 years to attract a new developer. The project would build 1,084 “active adult” and market-rate residential units, a 200-room hotel, a four-acre assisted living/skilled nursing/ memory care facility, up to 65,000 square feet of

neighborhood commercial uses and up to 25,000 square feet of amenity space, according to a Planning Commission staff report. Four years ago, the project was approved for San Juan Oaks LLC and developer Del Webb. The project manager for the development is Scott Fuller and the applicant is San Juan Oaks LLC.

Pulte Homes, a subsidiary of Del Webb, pulled out and the project is currently without a developer. According to documents provided by San Juan Oaks LLC to the county staff, a new developer is expected to be brought on board soon; however, San Juan Oaks requested an extension to the impact fees assigned to the project in 2015.

In exchange for freezing the impact fees for a decade, San Juan Oaks LLC offered to pay a public benefit fee of $6.059 million. The money can be used for any purpose within the county and is applied to the general fund. The Planning Commission approved the agreement on a 3-1 ➝ Development, 4


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