Hollister Free Lance

24/10/2025

Celebrate the best of the best in Hollister Free Lance’s annual “Best of San Benito County.” From restaurants and shops to services and local leaders, this issue highlights the community favorites that make the county shine. See all the winners inside.

17/10/2025

Ghosts and laughter meet on stage as the San Benito Stage Company performs Beetlejuice Jr. in Hollister. The show explores family, grief, and redemption through musical storytelling. It’s a spirited way to celebrate the Halloween season.

10/10/2025

The San Benito County Fair drew families from across the region to Tres Pinos for a weekend of fun. The annual event featured rides, food, livestock shows, and a truck pull. Local students raised over $1 million at the junior auction. Read more on page 10.

03/10/2025

The Hollister Free Lance highlights the 38th Annual Downtown Street Festival & Car Show. Classic cars from across the Bay Area and Central Coast were on display. The event featured food, live entertainment and more than 20 categories of awards. Read the full coverage inside.

03/10/2025

Proponents of an effort to recall San Benito County District 5 Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez—who has served on the board for less than one year—submitted a petition with more than 2,200 signatures to election officials last week.

Proponents of an effort to recall San Benito County District 5 Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez submitted a petition with more than 2,200 signatures to election officials last week.

26/09/2025

Community leaders and nonprofits gathered in Hollister to launch the LISTOS campaign. Supported by a $200k grant from the state, the program prepares residents for disasters. Patsy Gasca and Maria Romero are pictured at the kickoff event. The campaign offers bilingual education and resources for safety.

19/09/2025

Student workers at Gavilan College are organizing to negotiate better pay, sick time, and parking permits. Their effort is part of a growing movement across California community colleges. The cover also reports on a full audit after a fraud scandal and hospital plans for women’s health. More coverage inside Hollister Free Lance.

19/09/2025

Student workers at Gavilan College are organizing what they say would be the first student workers union at a community college in California, aiming to address wage disparities and improve working conditions at their Gilroy and Hollister campuses, and inspire other students to follow their example across the state’s 116 community college campuses. https://sanbenito.com/gavilan-college-student-workers-begin-unionizing/

12/09/2025

In this week’s Free Lance, Faire times begin as the Northern California Renaissance Faire opens at Casa de Fruta. The event runs for six weekends through October 19. More coverage inside the paper.

11/09/2025

After an 18-year absence, Gavilan College reinstituted its women’s soccer program in 2023. Javier Alejo, a Gilroy High graduate who played on the Gavilan men’s soccer team, was named the head coach. The program slowly came back to life and won its first match last week, beating College of the Redwoods 1-0 on Sept. 5. https://sanbenito.com/resurrected-gavilan-womens-soccer-team-nails-first-win/

09/09/2025

After hearing a report from staff on the impact of the 2025 Hollister Independence Rally, members of the city council agreed Sept. 2 to repeat the two-day celebration of motorcycle culture next July. https://sanbenito.com/motorcycle-rally-will-return-to-hollister-in-2026-city-council-says/

05/09/2025

In this week’s Free Lance, Hollister prepares for the Independence Rally to return in 2026 after this year’s event cost the city about $200,000. The cover also features Dancing to the Season, highlighting the final summer concert at Guerra Cellars on September 13. Read more inside the paper.