Coming Event: Class of 1971 Scholarship Fundraiser

"Reunions" combined with fundraising are loads of fun and heart. This photo was taken at last year's fundraiser for the Class of 1971 Scholarship, which is sponsored by the Hollister High (aka San Benito High) School Class of 1971. Scholarships are awarded to graduating Balers.

This year's BBQ and Silent Auction Fundraiser will take place on August 7, 2011 at the Betabel Event Center in San Juan Bautista, from 12 to 4 p.m. Lunch plate is $25. Lunch ticket purchases or reservations need to be made by July 20.  Click on the link below for details.

• Class of 1971 Scholarship BBQ and Silent Auction Fundraiser
• Class of 1971 Scholarship

All Balers and non Balers are welcome to join in the fun.

Note to all: I am a 1971 Baler and am involved in the fundraiser. So there, FTC, no hiding here.

Coming Event: Jazz Under the Stars

The Homeless Coalition of San Benito County will be holding its sixth annual Jazz Under the Stars on July 23, 2011 at St. Benedicts Hall (1200 Fairview Road) in Hollister. The outdoor event will feature the Magnolia Jazz Band.

According to Doug Emerson, a board member of the Homeless Coalition, "This is the major fundraising event for the Homeless Coalition of San Benito County. The Coalition's primary source of revenue for the past years has been CDBG grants (Community Development Block Grant); we have received $100,000 – $110,00 yearly. However, due to changes at the Federal and State levels, there will be no CDBG grants in 2011. As a result, it will be a struggle to keep the shelter open next winter. Attending Jazz or making a monetary donation will go a long way towards keeping our shelter open."

For information about the Homeless Coalition of San Benito County, click over to its Web site. For more details about the fundraiser, click here. You can also click on the poster image below to enlarge it for easier reading.

Coming Up: A Crab Feast!

I couldn't resist cropping. Could you? Would you?

The Hollister Exchange Club is hosting its annual crab feed and dance this coming Saturday evening, April 16, at Bolado Park. The fundraiser also includes a raffle and silent auction. Tickets are $40 per person. The proceeds help fund youth activities in San Benito County. For more information, call (831)637-8941 or (831)637-7449.

Weekend Fun for the Save the Music Drive

Last December, the  Hollister School District board voted to eliminate the elementary school music program after this school year because of lack of funds.  To address this problem, the Rancho-Maze Middle School Band Boosters and the San Benito High School Band Boosters established the Mr. Ostenson's Save the Music Drive. Its goal is to raise $156,000 to fund the elementary school music program for two years.

This Saturday, you can contribute to the fundraiser by stopping at their table or booth at the following events:

• Cerra Vista Elementary School Rummage Sale  (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• R.O. Hardin School Carnival (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Zumba! at the Marguerite Maze Middle School Gym (2 to 4 p.m.)

Coming Up: Benefit Concert for the Elementary School Music Program

Mr. Joe Ostenson, a member of the Pacific Brass Band
This photo was taken at last year's concert.

On Monday, March 28, the Pacific Brass Band will hold a benefit concert for the  Mr. Ostenson's Save the Music Drive at Marguerite Maze Middle School on Meridian Street. (Memorial Drive is the cross street.)  The performance will start at 7 p.m.

According to its Web site, the Pacific Brass Band is one of a very few British brass bands that exist on the Pacific Coast, not including the Salvation Army bands. The band is composed of musicians from Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Clara counties. For more information about the band and the spring concerts, click over to its Web site.

The Mr. Ostenson's Save the Music Drive is sponsored by the  Rancho-Maze Middle School Band Boosters and the San Benito High School Band Boosters. Its goal is to raise $156,000 to fund the elementary school music program in the Hollister School District for two years. In December 2010, the The Hollister School District board voted to eliminate the elementary school music program after this school year because of lack of funds. For more information about the fundraising drive, click over to its Web site.

October 17: Immaculate Conception BBQ Fundraiser

Are you heading down Highway 25 this Sunday to check out the Wine Trail, hike the Pinnacles, drive the back roads of San Benito County, or do another adventure?  You're bound to get hungry and wonder what to eat and where to eat.

How about some BBQ in Tres Pinos?

On October 17, the  Immaculate Conception Church will be holding its annual BBQ fundraiser.  The BBQ meal includes chicken (half chicken for adult; quarter for child), pasta, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. Cost is $12 per adult and $6 per child.  You can eat there on the breathtaking grounds or take your plates with you for when you're ready to chow down. Adults who eat on the premise may receive a glass of wine with their meal.

The Immaculate Conception Church is on the south side of Tres Pinos, right off Highway 25. It was built in 1892 and originally was situated across the highway. In 1925, the parish became part of the Sacred Heart Church in Hollister because of lack of funds. Ten years later, the Immaculate Conception parish was able reestablish itself. To help raise funds for the church, the parishioners put on a BBQ fundraiser. This Sunday will be the church's 72nd annual BBQ fundraiser.

The fundraiser will also feature children's games and a cake walk, in which you get a chance of winning a homemade cake. There will also be a white elephant booth which will have knick-knacks, books, holiday decorations, and other items for sale. Most, if not all, items are donated. As one organizer said, "it could be 'junk' to someone and 'treasure' to someone else."

For more information about the Immaculate Conception Church, check out these links:

• Immaculate Conception Catholic Community 
• The Church in Tres Pinos

For info about some of the fun adventures that are available on and about Highway 25, check out these sites:

• Coming Up in October in San Benito County
• Pinnacles National Monument
• San Benito County Wine Trail
• Skydive Hollister
• Swank Farms Corn Maze, Haunted Ranch, and Pumpkin Patch Farm
• Watchable Wildlife
• Highway 25 Motorcycle Ride

Pinnacles National Monument

Shop Locally and Support the Haybalers and Other Non-profit Groups

Many of you have probably heard about the budget cuts to the Haybalers sports program at San Benito High School.  Many of us would like to help, but our budgets are tight as well. So, what to do?

Here's one way: Whenever you shop at Nob Hill, a percentage of each purchase can be donated to the San Benito High School athletic program. You could be buying several bags worth of groceries or just a bottle of soda pop.

Here's how that could be: The high school athletic department is participating in the Quality of Life program sponsored by Raley's, of which the local Nob Hill market is part. (It is also known as the Q-Card Scrip Program.) Raley's contributes 1 percent of a shopper's monthly purchases up to $300; 2 percent for purchases between $300 to $500; 3 percent, between $500 to $600; and 4 percent on purchases over $600. As you can see, that adds up a pretty penny for the Haybaler sports program. You can use your card at any Nob Hill, Raley's, or Bel Air Market.

So, how do you start becoming part of this fun? First, you need to get a Quality of Life card and then register it online at Raley's Web site. When you're at the checkout line at Nob Hill, present your card to the cashier, who in turn will swipe it into the computer. That's it.

Here's how to obtain a Quality of Life card: You can pick one up at the Student Activities Office, or have your child get one for you. By contacting Becky Doty, Athletics Department Clerk, at (831) 637-5831, extension 351 or bdoty@sbhsd.k12.ca.us, you can have the card mailed to you.

For more details, click here  to head over to the athletic department Web site. You'll need to scroll down to the section "E Scrip for Athletics."

For details about the Quality of Life program, click here. 

Other Local Organizations
When I registered my card, I noticed that that the following schools and organizations are participating in the Quality of Life program, too. You can manage your account to divide your contributions between two organizations or among several groups. If you're interested in obtaining a card from a different organization, contact it. Here are the groups:

• Calaveras Elementary PTC
• Calvary Christian School
• Cerra Vista Parent Teacher Organization
• Cienega Union Elementary
• Friends of the San Benito County Library
• Gabilan Chapter—Kinship Center
• Hollister Baseball Academy
• Hollister Dual Language Academy Parent Club
• Hollister FFA
• Hollister Seventh Day Adventist Christian School
• Ladd Lane Parent Club
• Presbyterian Cooperative Preschool
• R.O. Hardin Elementary School
• Rancho San Justo PTO
• Rancho-Maze Band Boosters
• Sacred Heart Parish School
• Southside School
• Spring Grove PTO
• St. Luke's Episcopal Church
• Sunnyslope School