THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY
JUNE 14, 2019
A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance
Horse show, rodeo returns with new activities Kick Off
SAN BENITO MAGAZINE INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo returns for 86th year
PANETTA: DON’T DRILL P8 | PRESCRIBED BURN P10 | FIRE RESTRICTIONS P10 CALENDAR OF EVENTS P8 | GARDENING P16 | REAL ESTATE P19
HOLLISTER • SAN BENITO COUNTY
A New SV Media publication
Friday, June 14, 2019
sanbenito.com • Vol. 147, No. 24 • $1
Three to vie in 2nd district KOLLIN KOSMICKI, WAYNE NORTON, VALERIE EGLAND FOR SUPERVISOR Jaqueline McCool Reporter
Wayne Norton
Wayne Norton is a former editor of the Hollister Free Lance, a board member ➝ Supervisors, 2
Robert Eliason
It’s only been a few weeks since District 2 County Supervisor Anthony Botelho announced he’ll retire at the end of his term in 2020. Three candidates wasted no time in announcing they were running for Botelho’s open seat; Wayne Norton, Valerie Egland and Kollin Kosmicki. Botelho is retiring after 16 years as a supervisor of the district that covers Aromas, San Juan Bautista and the San Juan valley. The Free Lance spoke with each of the candidates about their campaigns, why they’re running for supervisor and what they think needs to be changed in San Benito County.
TIME TO CHEER San Benito High School graduate Alyssa Ito is all smiles after receiving her diploma June 7.
A beautiful Baler day SAN BENITO HIGH GRADUATES 650 IN CLASS OF 2019 ON SUNNY JUNE 7 Scott Forstner Reporter
The 650 members of the San Benito High School graduating class of 2019 were awarded their high
school diplomas under sunshine and warm temperatures during a picturesque day in Hollister. “I was very impressed with our 2019 graduates. We had amazing singers and articulate student speakers,” said Board President Steve Delay, who was front and center
with his board colleagues for Friday’s graduation festivities. “I expect there will be some incredible accomplishments from these students.” The newest SBHS grads will soon head off to various post-secondary paths from junior college to fouryear universities to trade
schools, with others entering into job apprenticeships and other endeavors. Jaron Cota (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Frederick Keith (UCLA) were co-valedictorians for the Class of 2019, while Stanfordbound Ian Sills was the 2019 class salutatorian.
The Class of 2019 earned hundreds of college acceptances this year, spanning eight University of California campuses (including Berkeley, UCLA, Santa Cruz, Davis, Irvine and Santa Barbara); nine California ➝ San Benito, 14
Council takes fights to Facebook SOME COUNCIL SPEAKERS URGE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY Jaqueline McCool Reporter
Visitors to recent Hollister City Council meetings have likely seen increasing tension between council members boil over into shouting matches. The
most recent flashpoint was the hearing of an appeal by Mayor Ignacio Velazquez on a council downtown development decision. The council conflicts have gone beyond council chambers, spilling over onto the pages of Facebook. Complaints and questions about the growing social media presence of Velazquez and
District 2 Councilmember Rolan Resendiz were raised multiple times by their council opponents and some members of the audience at the June 3 council meeting. Resendiz and Velazquez are active on Facebook and within public Facebook groups on the online platform. Velazquez hosts monthly town halls on Facebook
Live on the first Sunday of each month. Velazquez often reaches out to the public from his “Hollister Mayor-Ignacio Velazquez” account. While most council members frequently take to Facebook to share personal information, they have also used it as a way to voice political concerns or gauge public interest. Council members Honor
Spencer and Marty Richman also have Facebook accounts, both of which are private. Richman has an account that was used for his 2018 campaign, but no posts have been made since 2018 shortly after the election. Some Hollister residents urged city staff at the June 3 meeting to ➝ Social media, 4
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