Community Corner
🌱 Which Hollister wrestlers could shine in this season’s biggest matches?
Make time for Airsoft 3rd Sunday on the Hollister Patch calendar
Hello again Hollister! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Which Hollister wrestlers could shine in this season’s biggest matches?
- What Hollister’s council just decided about the 2026 biker rally
- Which Rancho San Justo students earned a special taco luncheon?
Also on today's calendar: Farmers Market Hollister and 3 more events.
Find out what's happening in Hollisterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Hollisterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Fog will lift in the morning, with a high of 65 and low of 43 degrees.
- Friday: Low clouds and fog may break, temps: high: 64, low: 51.
- Saturday: Cloudy, with a high of 67 and low of 53 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Despite turnover, Baler wrestling optimistic as season gets underway (benitolink.com) — Hollister High’s wrestling teams are gearing up for a new season with a record 30 girls on the roster and several returning CCS standouts on both the girls’ and boys’ squads. Local fans can catch multiple home meets at Mattson Gym on Monterey Street, including key league matchups in January and the Judy Rider Memorial on Jan. 31. The coach and athletes share big goals for CCS and state. 
2. Hollister council OKs contract for 2026 Independence Rally (benitolink.com) — Hollister residents can expect the 2026 Independence Rally to return after the City Council approved a $40,000 contract with promoter Roadshows Inc., despite lingering questions over 2025 revenue reporting and sponsorships. At the same meeting, the council repealed its growth management policy under state pressure and agreed to join a federal consortium to explore electric air taxi technology, potentially shaping future development and transportation locally.
3. Students rewarded for behavior with luncheon - SanBenito.com (sanbenito.com) — Rancho San Justo Middle School in the Hollister School District recently honored about 45 students with a festive taco luncheon for demonstrating strong behavioral growth and integrity. Teachers each selected one student who best embodied the PBIS model and the school’s Bronco Pride motto, while district leaders helped serve food and celebrate the students’ positive changes.
4. Wisk Aero's Autonomous Air Taxi Flew, But $2 Billion Question Remains (theweeklydriver.com) — Wisk Aero has completed the first autonomous flight of its four-seat electric air taxi at its Hollister test facility, marking a major milestone for the company’s Generation 6 aircraft. While this boosts Hollister’s profile in cutting-edge aviation, Wisk still faces years of FAA certification, infrastructure building, and public acceptance challenges before any commercial service could realistically launch in big-city markets.
5. Crops left to die after Central Coast farm faces labor shortage amid ICE fears (ksbw.com) — A Hollister organic farmer says immigration enforcement fears have scared away workers so badly that up to 90% of some crops were left to rot in the fields this year. With farms in Hollister and Watsonville both affected, he worries reduced planting could mean less fresh food available across the Central Coast next season.
📸 Around Hollister
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Hollister
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Airsoft 3rd Sunday
TAG Paintball, 2120 San Benito St, Hollister
7:00 pm
Sunday December 21
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Monthly Household Hazardous Waste Event
John Smith Landfill , 2650 John Smith Road , Hollister
9:00 am - Merry TubaChristmas Monterey Bay
Mello Center for the Performing Arts , 250 E. Beach St. , Watsonville
3:00 pm - Farmers Market Hollister
Hollister Downtown Association , 350 6th St Suite 102 , Hollister
3:00 pm - In Person Support Group
300 West St , Hollister
9:30 pm - Farmers Market Hollister
Hollister Downtown Association , 350 6th St Suite 102 , Hollister
3:00 pm
Saturday December 20
Wednesday December 24
Wednesday December 31
📣 Hollister Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Farmers Market Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital
Salinas Valley Health Medical Center , 450 E Romie Ln , Salinas
12:00 pm - Christopher vs Salinas
Salinas High School , 726 S Main St , Salinas
4:00 pm - Alisal Trojans vs Mountain View Spartans
Alisal High School , 777 Williams Rd , Salinas
5:30 pm - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
Fox Theater , 241 Main St , Salinas
6:15 pm - Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
Fox Theater , 241 Main St , Salinas
8:30 pm - Monthly Household Hazardous Waste Event
John Smith Landfill , 2650 John Smith Road , Hollister
9:00 am
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- A commercial project is proposed at the intersection of Highway 156 and Fairview Roads.
The project includes fueling stations for passenger vehicles and trucks, two quick service restaurants with drive-throughs, and two commercial flex… (Nextdoor Santa Ana Valley) - Who has seasoned oak?
Or if you have an oak tree down I can take it off your property let me know. (Nextdoor Hollister Heights)
- The Neil Jones Food Company posted a job opening for Boiler Room Attendant Class A in Hollister. Apply here.
- Gavilan College posted a job opening for Part Time General Counselor Pool in Gilroy. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Hollister here.
Ok Hollister! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.